Hockey is famously marketed as a dangerous game, this is often one of the many selling points of the sport and what makes the NHL different from any other professional league. The fights and significant hits are what many fans crave when watching a game of hockey, cheering for this can often be heard in the rafters of stadiums. However, as with anything, playing a game such as this has its fatal risks, and it certainly did for Adam Johnson. Adam Johnson is a former NHL player, having played 2 seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins and played for the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden, and he most recently played for the Nottingham Panthers in England.
On October 28 though, in front of friends and family, Johnson was involved in a “freak accident” and during a collision with another player, was sliced in the neck by the other player’s skate. After the accident happened the arena was evacuated as medical personnel rushed to the scene. Johnson was taken to the hospital and was later pronounced dead, he was 29 years old.
Adam Johnson was a professional hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Johnson had played for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 2 seasons and also had success in the American Hockey League (AHL), the minor league right below the NHL.
Professional hockey players must wear specific padding to ensure their safety on the ice. Some of the required padding includes shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, and gloves. These pieces of equipment help protect players from injuries during the fast-paced and physical nature of the game. While safety is of the utmost importance in the NHL, currently the league does not require neckguards.
The neck guard is super important in hockey because it helps protect your neck from injury. It’s designed to provide extra padding and support, reducing the risk of serious neck injuries. Because of the death of Adam Johnson many British leagues are calling for neck guards to be a required piece of equipment not only in the UK but in the US as well.
Unfortunately, incidents similar to Johnson’s have happened in hockey before. Last year, in Connecticut high school sophomore Teddy Balkind died after his neck was cut in a collision. In 1989, Buffalo Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk had his neck cut during a game against the St. Louis Blues but survived. Hockey has always been a dangerous game but because of this officials always try to make sure that the safety of players is a top priority.
As the NHL season continues, we look to the league and see what new regulations they might enforce in light of this tragic accident. They can post as many Instagram stories as they would like and have as many moments of silence as possible, but if they aren’t planning on making any changes of substance, it all means close to nothing. At the end of the day though, for fans who can’t make those changes, we hope for the best of the future of player safety and that Adam Johnson rests well.
