After a skate blade killed a player to the neck during a game in England, the issue of player safety and protective equipment has come up again in the world of professional men’s hockey. Following this tragedy, many hockey fans have wondered why the NHL, the highest level of professional hockey, does not require its players to wear neck shields, wrist protection, and cut-resistant materials. Â
People who are unfamiliar with hockey may be surprised to learn that player safety problems are still being debated at the National Hockey League level. Change in hockey may be sluggish, as seen by the sport’s history. Helmets were not required for new NHL players until 1979, and masks were not needed for goalies until 2013 (with a grandfather provision for former players). Some players continue to refuse to wear visors during games. Â
The tragic episode in England has underlined the significance of enforcing more arduous safety procedures, particularly when it comes to the usage of cut-resistant equipment. Despite the incorporation of advancements such as Kevlar and other cut-resistant materials into player equipment, the National Hockey League does not require the use of neck guards or wrist protection.
They are more vulnerable to injury than the shoulders and elbows, which are usually protected. Several players are hesitant to utilize these tactics because they are concerned that they may impair their comfort and effectiveness on the field. Â
Erik Karlsson, who had his Achilles tendon ripped apart by a skate blade in 2013, is a prominent supporter of cut-resistant socks. His injuries, he feels, played a crucial influence in influencing players to consider using this equipment. Many players now use them because they look and feel like conventional socks while giving an added layer of protection. Â
Many hockey players may relate to getting stitches for skate wounds or watching a teammate suffer a terrible accident. Despite these events, the league has been sluggish in requiring the wearing of helmets and other kinds of protective equipment by its players.
Notable injuries include Buffalo goaltender Clint Malarchuk’s in 1989 and Florida player Richard Zednik’s in 2008. Both players were able to return to activity due to prompt medical intervention. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Adam Johnson, who died tragically as a result of complications from a skate cut. Â
Mercyhurst College men’s hockey head coach Rick Gotkin is among those who believe that the game must change since players are skating on razor blades and that this risk must be addressed. Gotkin began campaigning for the mandated use of neck protection after learning that one Army player underwent surgery for a neck cut. Â
Some athletes are taking precautions to ensure their safety. After Johnson’s death, T.J. Oshie of the Washington Capitals claimed he received a lot of criticism on cut-resistant apparel. Warroad Hockey, where he worked, suddenly ran out of supplies. Bauer Hockey, like the England Ice Hockey Association, has pledged to work with other manufacturers to encourage and, if required, mandate the use of neck protection in ice hockey. Â
The NHL, like several youth organizations in the United States, Canada, and other countries, still needs to regulate the use of cut-resistant materials. However, in light of recent occurrences, league and union officials have begun to discuss the establishment of such legislation. Â
Despite current talks between the NHL and the NHLPA over potential rules, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that players are able to wear cut-resistant apparel at this time. Hockey’s long history and deeply established traditions make it highly sluggish to adapt to new ideas and technology. Â
However, there are indications that attitudes are changing across the league, with more players recognizing the value of protective gear. Colorado’s Ross Colton, for example, wears cut-proof socks pulled up to his knees and wrist protection to underscore the need for safety procedures. His father, who had been slashed in the wrist, instilled in him the need for safety and caution. Â
Adam Johnson’s death is a terrible reminder of the necessity for professional sports to enhance player safety. Despite the ongoing discussion about protective equipment, many people remain hopeful that the NHL will make efforts to reduce the hazards posed by its players and prevent a similar tragedy. Hockey supporters are working hard to safeguard the safety of all players, but they accept that progress is gradual and that more has to be done. Â
News Reference Â
(N.d.). Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/death-player-skate-neck-reignites-hockeys-stubborn-debate-104582606Â
