Adam Johnson's horrific death leads English Ice Hockey Association to mandate neck protection

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The horrific death of English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) player Adam Johnson after being cut in the throat by a skate blade has led to a big rule change. 

The EIHA made an announcement on Monday, two days after Johnson’s tragic accident, that players will be required to wear neck guards and protectors starting in 2024. 

Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers when his throat was cut by a skate blade in a collision during a game against the Sheffield Panthers in Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) play on Saturday.

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Adam Johnson of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on March 31, 2019. (Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

"Undoubtedly, this moment in time casts a somber shadow upon our global sporting community, serving as a stark reminder of our collective responsibilities as custodians of the sport," the EIHA said in a statement. "As in all sports, the safety of our players must take precedence above all else. We are firmly committed to our obligation to exhaust every possible means to ensure that a tragic incident of this nature never befalls our sport again."

The EIHA explained that the recommendation to wear neck guards and protectors is a short-term safety protocol at all levels of English ice hockey. That recommendation will run through Dec. 31. 

When the new year arrives, it will be mandatory at all levels to wear the neck guards. 

EX-NHL PLAYER ADAM JOHNSON, 29, DEAD AFTER SUFFERING HORRIFIC NECK INJURY IN ‘FREAK ACCIDENT’ DURING GAME

But that’s only the first step of the EIHA’s plan. They want "relevant