The Canadian Junior Hockey League, which includes the 12 teams of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, announced Friday that certified protective neck guards will be mandatory equipment for all players effective immediately, dependent on the availability of equipment. The neck guards will be worn for all on-ice activities, including games and practices.
The decision was reached unanimously by the CJHL's nine members.
The move comes in the wake of the tragic death of Adam Johnson, a hockey player with the Nottingham Panthers in the EIHL in the United Kingdom. He died after a skate blade cut his neck during an on-ice collision.
The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings had been the first team in the SJHL to announce they were adopting neck guards, noting the team already wore Kevlar cut-resistant undershirts.
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