A little over a year ago, T.J. Oshie came across a story about a young boy who was injured by a skate blade during a hockey game. Oshie immediately contacted his partners at Warroad, the hockey apparel company he co-founded, to discuss creating turtlenecks to protect players’ necks. Despite Warroad successfully developing a sleek turtleneck with cut-resistant panels, Oshie and other NHL players have chosen not to wear them due to factors such as the heat of the rinks, superstitions, and the belief that neck guards aren’t cool.
However, the recent death of former NHL player Adam Johnson, who was cut by a skate blade, has prompted Oshie to reconsider. Oshie has ordered five turtlenecks for himself and his teammates to try and plans to play in them. The incident has forced the hockey community to acknowledge the life-threatening risk involved in the sport and the need for better protection.
Another player, Jason Dickinson, had a similar realization after accidentally injuring Boston’s Jakub Lauko with his skate. Dickinson expressed relief that Lauko was okay and sympathized with the player whose skate caused the injury. Skate-cut injuries are often labeled as freak accidents, but some argue that they are more common due to the nature of the game, with players moving at high speeds and wearing dangerous equipment.
Hayley Wickenheiser, an emergency physician and hockey figure, believes that neck protection should be a standard part of hockey equipment to prevent such injuries. Many players have stories of close calls and near misses, indicating that these incidents aren’t as rare as they may seem.
While it may be challenging to guarantee complete protection on the ice, many believe that with time, neck protection will become normalized and mandatory in the NHL, just as helmets and visors did in the past. The hope is that lower leagues’ adoption of neck protection will eventually lead to its integration in the NHL, minimizing the risk for players.