PWHL discussing whether to adopt neck guard policy after Adam Johnson's death

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is discussing whether to adopt a policy on neck guards after the death of American hockey player Adam Johnson in England last Saturday.

A league spokesperson says discussions on the issue of a neck guard policy are ongoing, but the direction is still undecided. The PWHL is working on creating a number of policies and protocols before the new league is set to begin playing games in January.

Brian Burke, executive director of the PWHL players' association, said he's guessing the league will mandate neck guards.

Burke said everyone's attention has been focused on the issue.

"[Anywhere] where they play hockey, they're looking at this now. Every level." he said.

Johnson's neck was cut by a skate blade in what his club, the Nottingham Panthers, described as a "freak accident" during the second period of a Champions Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers.

He was transported to a hospital, where he died. The 29-year-old Minnesota native was in his first season with the U.K.'s Elite Ice Hockey League, and had previously played in several other leagues, including 13 games with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

Johnson's death prompted tributes throughout the hockey world, along with a reckoning on how to prevent something similar from happening in the future.

Earlier this week, the English Ice Hockey Association mandated neck guards from the beginning of 2024.

And on Thursday, the Western Hockey League announced it will require players to wear neck guards beginning Friday or as soon as teams can get the equipment. Neck guards were already mandatory in the two other major junior hockey leagues in Canada, the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Canadian Press