Local hockey players are sporting some new gear in the wake of the death of a former NHL player in England.

The British Columbia Hockey League has made the decision for protective neck guards to be mandatory last week, after American hockey player Adam Johnson, who appeared in 13 NHL games with Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020, died when his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England on Oct. 28, 2023. He was 29.

The South Surrey-based Surrey Eagles team started donning the neckwear prior to the mandate, with Eagles head coach Cam Keith saying it was an easy decision.

B次元官网网址淲e felt it was good timing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏asically, itB次元官网网址檚 a band that Velcros in the backB次元官网网址� it covers that vital area of your neck, so if a skate were to come up, it would restrict it from cutting it open.B次元官网网址�

The Eagles players grew up wearing neck guards in minor hockey leagues, Keith noted, so it was more of a matter of getting used to wearing them again.

B次元官网网址淧ersonally IB次元官网网址檝e always felt why not wear a neck guard B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not inhibiting your sight. It can obviously save your life, you just never know.B次元官网网址�

The Western Hockey League made neck guards mandatory Nov. 3, 2023, and BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker confirmed Monday (Nov. 27) that the entire BCHL league has now made it mandatory as well.

B次元官网网址淓arly last week was when it was formally brought in,B次元官网网址� Cocker said.

B次元官网网址淭o me, it was honestly a no-brainerB次元官网网址� it certainly wasnB次元官网网址檛 a difficult one to get unanimous support of our league. One of our pillars B次元官网网址� we have four pillars and one of them is player safety.B次元官网网址�

The difficulty many teams have been having since the tragic England incident has been actually finding neck guards, he noted.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hit-and-miss right now and the simple fact is, stock isnB次元官网网址檛 available.B次元官网网址�

Any mandatory requirements are based on the availability, or stock, of neck guards for players, and Cocker said the BCHL is working with its partners to secure such stock.

B次元官网网址淲e knew there was a stock issue, but IB次元官网网址檓 hoping itB次元官网网址檚 not too much longer now that every player has this available to wear,B次元官网网址� said Cocker.

While professional hockey players have been injured by skates B次元官网网址� even in the neck B次元官网网址� before, JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 death raised a more immediate sensitivity to the issue, both Cocker and Keith said.

B次元官网网址淚t was really unfortunate that had to happen to create more awareness about it,B次元官网网址� Keith said.

Police in England arrested a man on Nov. 14 on suspicion of manslaughter and while they didnB次元官网网址檛 name him, other media outlets reported Matt Petgrave B次元官网网址� the other player involved in the incident B次元官网网址� was released on bail after the arrest.

The Peace Arch B次元官网网址 has also reached out to White Rock Whalers and the Pacific Junior Hockey League about neck guards for players, but has yet to receive a response.

The Surrey Eagles, who started off their season leading the league in points and undefeated several games in a row, are still leading the BCHLB次元官网网址檚 Coastal Conference 20 games in with 32 points, despite losing their last three games (all away games).

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They return to The Nest, their Olympic-sized rink in South Surrey, for a four-game homestand starting with the Cranbrook Bucks this Sunday, Dec. 3, with a 4 p.m. puck drop.

Despite a few recent losses, Keith is still extremely happy with the EaglesB次元官网网址� efforts so far this season.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going great! ThereB次元官网网址檝e been a lot of positives throughout the season so far B次元官网网址� not just the results,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have three of the leading scorers in the league right now, players (are) winning scholarshipsB次元官网网址� our team is getting recognized in that way a lot.B次元官网网址�

So far, five Eagles players have earned scholarships: forward Ryden Evers (University of Nebraska-Omaha); right winger Ryan Schelling (Providence College), centre Zachary Wagnon (Yale), defenseman and team captain Ty Brassington (Clarkson University) and goalie Ajeet Gundarah (Sacred Heart University).

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had some good home games with some good results,B次元官网网址� Keith noted.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e only lost one home game so far so we feel like this could be a good year for us to try to win a championship.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� files from Leaha Hammond, Associated Press