DENVER (AP) — At first, the protecting undershirt resembling a mock turtleneck was scorching and uncomfortable. It even brought on Jayson Megna’s visor to fog up.
However the journeyman hockey participant caught with sporting the long-sleeved base layer designed to guard his neck from a razor-sharp skate blade.
Because the dying of Adam Johnson in October 2023 throughout a sport in England, protecting gear has been a chief subject at each degree of the game. The American Hockey League, the highest developmental league under the NHL, took an enormous step this season by requiring all skaters, referees and linespersons to put on some kind of cut-resistant neck safety.
Just like the requirement of eye-protecting visors a decade in the past, the neckwear might take some getting used to. It’s turning into extra frequent for gamers of all ages — Hockey Canada has mandated neck guard safety for youth gamers for 3 many years and USA Hockey made it necessary for U.S. gamers underneath 18 as of Aug. 1 — and now all eyes are on the professionals.
“Hopefully that’s what’s going to finish up taking place as we transfer ahead right here, that it’s simply going to be a bit of their gear,” mentioned AHL president and CEO Scott Howson, whose league has lengthy been a testing floor for the NHL, together with 3-on-3 extra time and the mandate for cut-resistant socks and sleeves final season. “With the totally different merchandise on the market, hopefully all of the gamers can discover one thing that they will adapt to and ultimately like — or, on the very least, not discover once they’re enjoying hockey.”
The dying of Johnson was a horrific reminder of the dangers. The previous NHL participant was minimize within the neck throughout a sport and died at a hospital. Tips exist for a lot of youth applications in North America and past, however not on the highest ranges of hockey, the place league and gamers’ union leaders have mentioned the subject for years.
Neck guards are getting a trial run within the AHL, which begins Friday, with unanimous backing from NHL executives on the competitors committee.
“Final yr some groups simply determined, ‘Properly, I can’t do it within the NHL, however I can do it within the American League,’” Howson defined. “We’ll see the place it goes.”
Why not put on neck safety?
The arguments towards protecting neckwear vary from it being too scorching to too restrictive to gamers merely being creatures of behavior.
“Clearly, there’s issues that folks ought to do, however I believe we’re caught in our methods, additionally,” mentioned New Jersey Devils ahead Jack Hughes, who added he doesn’t put on almost sufficient protecting gear. “Bought to be snug.”
Longtime NHL participant Pierre-Edouard Bellemare had deliberate on sporting a neck guard this season for the Colorado Avalanche earlier than he was let go final week. He exalted the advantages of visors by pointing to the cuts in his beard that might’ve been worse if not for the attention safety.
As a result of on the ice, something can occur.
“The sport is quicker and you’ve got much less management, generally to your physique and the slicing in all places is just not one thing you wish to see,” Bellemare mentioned.
Bellemare merely wished to pave the way in which for the subsequent era, like different gamers did earlier than him with visors.
“It doesn’t value me a lot” to put on protecting neck gear, Bellemare mentioned. “Come on, it’s a neck guard. That’s not going to alter my season. I’m not going rating 70 as a result of I’ve a neck guard or not.”
Veteran defenseman Dylan McIlrath, who captained Hershey to back-to-back Calder Cup championships within the AHL, didn’t experiment with any neck safety throughout coaching camp in Washington and concedes gamers will endure some rising pains with the gear. However the 32-year-old is just not protesting an excessive amount of.
“To be trustworthy, I believe it’s in all probability the best name,” McIlrath mentioned. “Clearly it’s a youthful league and the subsequent era developing … guys can get used to it going into the NHL after enjoying within the American League just a few years, they don’t actually discover the adjustments.”
Testing issues out
Megna, who was lately assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, has tried out various kinds of neck safety and types. He’s been sporting one by T.J. Oshie’s Warroad Hockey Attire that boasts “an adjustable neck collar constructed from premium grade minimize resistant cloth and high-impact foam.” His undershirt has cut-proof sleeves.
Megna additionally wears cut-proof socks, which prevented a doable calf or Achilles harm final season when a participant stepped on him with a skate blade.
“I might really feel the skate there — felt like a burning sensation, and the protecting sock saved me,” Megna mentioned. “I didn’t actually have a scratch. … Any time you’ll be able to shield your gamers and enhance security, it’s a superb factor.”
Megna mentioned it didn’t take lengthy to regulate to the brand new gear — perhaps a session or two.
“After that, I haven’t even thought of it,” mentioned Megna, who’s frolicked with a half-dozen NHL organizations. “It’s simply a part of what I put on now.”
NHL resistance
The NHL at the moment doesn’t have any mandate that gamers should put on cut-resistant gear. That may require an settlement between the league and union.
St. Louis ahead Robert Thomas understands the hesitation.
“For lots of fellows, it’s international, and also you don’t wish to change up what you’ve been doing all of your entire life,” Thomas mentioned. “I believe they’ve carried out a superb job of getting all that accessible to us. Some guys put on it, some guys don’t. I believe giving guys the selection is finally the best determination.”
Eagles defenseman Jacob MacDonald anticipates that after he begins sporting the additional safety for his neck, it’ll develop into a part of his routine — whether or not he’s within the AHL or known as as much as the NHL.
“I don’t have a crystal ball, however I believe that it’ll positively get extra well-liked,” MacDonald mentioned. “If it saves one life, it’s price it.”
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AP Sports activities Author Mark Anderson and freelance author W.G. Ramirez in Las Vegas contributed. Whyno reported from Arlington, Virginia.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
