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I think if NHL players don't have to wear neck guards why should we in minor hockey. We all look up to our favourite heros. Nothing ever happend to them. Half the time kids aren't even wearing them right.

For all those people that say these kinds of accidents dont occur enough to warrent manditory visors and neck guards, wait till it happens to you or someone you care about, then post your comments,
Thomas Pleckanc seems to be doing pretty good wearing a neck-guard and visor dont you think ?

I for one don't understand how a player in todays game would play pro hockey without a neck guard and eye visor. Would those same players play without a jock strap or shoulder pads. I think not. Why are the General Managers in the N.H.L. even posturing on this issue. The G.M.'s are hired by the owners to run there clubs to the best of there ability and to protect the clubs assets. If I were a club owner I wouldn't necessarily want my Sidney Crosby or an Alexander Ovechin taking the risk of a career ending injury simply because it was my.."choice"..not to wear them. They should be mandated to wear anything that conceivably could deter a tramatic injury.

The first time I played men's rec hockey I pulled off that cage and hit the ice! I was a MAN!! A PRO!! The next morning when I arrived home from emerg., with 5 stitches holding my chin together, I grabbed my manly tool box and screwed that cage right back on!! Any protection, if it doesn't impede your play, or hurt others(i.e. big plastic elbow pads), and neck guards certainly do not do either, should be used! Especially if it can literally save a life.

well I say they should wear kevlar vests,full facial shields and each player should have a personal bodyguard. take the boards out and put foam in; have medics stationed around the arena every five feet and make em take their skates off and use rubber hockey sticks. neck guards eye guards stop bodychecking and and ban anyone over 5 '4" from playing have a weight restriction around 110 lbs and then finally all will be safe.....

It's HIGH time that SAFETY FIRST gets on the front burner.Most players have wives & kids to worry about. They have to use COMMON SENSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see the neckguards as a bandaid sol'n, both literally and figuratively. These may or may not prevent getting cut by a skate and will apply pressure to lessen the bleeding if they are cut.

However, technologically speaking, head and neck protection was better in King Arthur's day. I'd like to see one-piece body armour that would provide neck and head protection. Neck injuries are few; head injuries happen just about every night.

It's time for equipment designers to get up to speed before someone gets killed or paralyzed.

Why not just put them in a chainmail and let them play on horses instead of skates. That should clear up any future problems. For an accident that rarely occurs this seems like a big overreaction (again by fans and leagues). The OHL is now making neck guards mandatory based on this one incident. The players aren't thrilled about this, and considering how fast it was introduced probably weren't consulted. I don't see the league trying to crack down on late hits, hits to the head or knee on knee hits. Far more devestating injures are caused by the neglect of Colin Campbell and his ridiculous way of handing down suspensions. Why is Chris Simon still in the league? Corey Perry was slashed in the leg by a skate a couple days ago and will be out for six weeks. I bet everybody will have another answer for that as well. Our fans and hockey leagues are like overprotective parents, who must protect their kids from everything. Have head injures gone down with the introduction of helmets? No. I can't wait to see Jarome Iginla skating down the ice on a breakaway in chainmail. They are grown-ups let them make their own decisions based on what is right for them.

I think players should all be put in bubbles before each game so they can't actually touch each other. Maybe line the bubbles with marshmellow hearts as well for extra protection. Then we can all sleep at night knowing that these grown men are safe from harm.

Scott,you state (in regards to Junior):The responsibility of the people running the leagueis to best protect the players health. I agree,but shouldn't that also be the case in the NHL or International as well? NHL owners have a lot more invested in their operations than any Junior franchise and I would think it would definitely be in their best interest to protect their assets,don't you? This shoud not be that difficult for the NHLPA/NHL to agree on.Isn't it supposed to be "Safety First",or is that just lip service.Also,for all the Droids out there who would like to see minimal or no protective gear worn,get into Mixed Martial Arts or perhaps,dueling pistols...now there's a REAL mans sport!(not much of a career,though)

Last year, whilst wearing my coach's hat, I had a kid that got shot in the throat with the puck during a bantam hockey game. Okay it was a weak shot but I still had the kid checked out at the hospital (thank you Gillam Health Centre staff). Attending medical professional was of the opinion that the neck guard had weakened the force of the shot; kid had some bruising but was okay. If neck guards were just for looks I suppose we could just use a basic towel; the point is that neck guards are safety equipment and are meant to keep you safe. If the NHL has no intention of concerning itself with the safety of its players/employees then I seriously wonder if good judgement is as rare as the dodo bird. I guess neck guards will be treated like ear guards on NHL player helmets-mandated for only amateur players. I also have to make known my gripe about the crappy spelling I see demonstrated here. Folks; spend some time with a dictionary, I know that some of the writers here must have English as their major language so it'd be good if they could spell the words the way they should be written-not the way you think they could/should be spelled.

A puck to the face can lead to blindness but it can kill you so no wearing a visor could kill. I think it should be a players choice if they want to wear the neck guards.

Luongo has been hit in the throat at least twice since coming to Vancouver and he was the neckguard build into his mask.

What about players wearing protection on their calves - Bieksa missed 40+ games due to a laceration so should the team have refused to pay him because he did not wear anything to prevent the injury.

I agree with Kyle from centerHice, it's just a freakin neck gaurd I mean what's the big deal? It's just like visors, how many people in the OHL, AHL, WHL and other junior teams complain about having to wear a visor? the answer is NONE.
I mean how much is a neck gaurd going to affect the way you play? the answer is NOT AT ALL!!! Ok so just suck it up and hey I played hockey for a while and I know what it's like to wear a neck gaurd, i't not that bad OK so just lay off.
Just because it only happens once in a while it doesn't mean it won't happen more often!!! Do you think Zednik and Malarchuk knew this was going to happen and don't you think they were scared when it did happen?
I just think we should do something about this before someone actually dies from their throat getting slashed.
If someone does die then everyone is going to jump on the NHL's back for doing something about it sooner. I'm sure that many of you people against it would change your mind if your favorite player such as Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Dany Heatley, Roberto Luongo and even future stars such as John Tavaras and Kyle Turris was killed because his throat was slashed by a skate. So neck guard haters maybe you should think twice about what your saying and once again, LAY OFF!!!

Okay, Dave from Calgary, I sincerely hope that you are not a parent. How can you say that it should not be mandatory to have children, who are already less-than-steady on their skates and more likely to injure or be injured, to wear neckguards? These rules inform parents who are perhaps new to the sport what equipment is required. How many non-hockey types whose child begged to play would think that a skate could seriously harm / kill your child?
I get that the players want the choice. I agree that it is a dumb move. If wearing that neckguard, which will not impact your performance, can prevent even one scare like Mr. Zednik and his family must have experienced, I say mandate it. If the players refuse then the owners should absolutely refuse to play when they get hurt. I saw the replay of the injury in question and so did my 10 year old son and I had to explain to him that that is why he has to wear his neckguard before stepping on the ice, even in practise, irregardless of what the NHL players do. These guys are supposed to be role models, not worst-case-scenarios.

maybe this can work like the introduction of helmets to the NHL. those that choose not to wear them are grandfathered in, like say, craig mactavish was.

if junior players must wear them now, just continue that into the NHL past a given date, say, 2009 season. all players entering the NHL from that point onward are required to wear a visor and neckguard.

neckguards and visors are not restrictive, don't change performance and make sense for protecting players from needless injuries. it just makes sense.

it's high time that intelligent and safe decision-making is the norm instead of macho bravado.

and i, as a player, practise what i preach. i wear a mouthguard, neckguard and visor. it's not 100% protection from injury, but it's better than the alternative.

Some interesting comments; admittedly I can see both sides (the "it's my choice" arguement as well as the "they should be mandatory" arguement). Personally I choose to wear one in my beer league along with a visor (but then I have to be able to go to work in the morning!).

I do think that juniors up to age 19 should be required to wear a visor and a neck guard.

Based on these previous posts, one would think that with this epidemic of neck slashing coming into full force, how could the NHL just stand idly by?!!

Oh, wait a minute... its only happened a few times in the last 40 years? And of those, there have been less than few career ending injuries?

Lets try and keep our hockey mom and dad opinions at home. This is a professional sport, and I think that these athletes are in a position where they can look at the risks they are facing and make the choice of whether to wear it or not.

The extreme infrequency of neck-slash injuries in the NHL make the wearing of neck guards unnecessary. This is a man's game, not a sissy sport. If you can't handle it, go play cards. Oh, I just remembered -- you might get a paper cut, so wear gloves.

100% preventable? That's laughable. A neck guard does not cover up the entire neck. This incident could have still occured if a neck guard was on Zednik's throat.

Why don't we just encase them and Ironman-esque suits if you want to make the players 100% free from injury? Then we can go dance in the meadow when it rains candy.

All this is, is a knee jerk reaction.

Thank goodness most real unions care about the protection of their members and their dependents to demand appropriate on-the-job safety equipment. Perhaps a few visits from the Department of Labour might clear some rather foggy thought processes. It appears that team and union managements are still run by the Don Cherry types - you know, the ones that have taken too many shots to the head and think that anyone who doesn't want to be just like them is a sissy.

Better where boots instead of skates too.

I just love all the paternalistic comments so far. No shortage of how: "I, the ominscient one, know what is best for everyone else." Good grief.

If I choose to play hockey (professional or otherwise) without a helmet or a shield or any other piece of equipment, it is I who bears the responsiblity and physical consequences of this decision. In a free society people would have the liberty to choose, within the rules of the game, what equipment to wear. This is precisely what I do twice a week when I lace up for a game. For the rules of the game make clear, for example, that I cannot make an offside pass but I can play without shoulder pads if I choose.

But things as they are in this country, whenever there is a freak accident or egregious carelessness, well meaning but misguided individuals scream for more stiffling rules and regulations which detract rather than enhance the sport.

If the objective were to eliminate the risk of any injuries in hockey this can only be accomplished by prohibiting anyone from playing. Even then, I am sure the biggest bed-wetters would still remain unsatisfied.

Dan

It's amazing how one incident has made people hyper-sensitive and united on this one issue. Should neck guards be mandatory? My answer is "NO", I don't see a time wear a freak accident (which is what this was), is going to make million dollar athelets change thier ways. While in the minors players don't have a choose they have to play by and within the rules and code of pracitses if they want to play. When they graduate to the NHL they have more chooses and the decsions that they make will dictate how long of a career they will have. If the biggest issue that none hockey fans have is madatory neck gaurds then we have a bigger problem with the game. Incidents are going to happen from time to time they are a freak occurance is a sport that combines football, baseball, soccer, rugby, boxing and jousting.

In a game where "There's no place to run, no place to hide and you can't run out of bonds", neck guards and visors are far from my mind, but if I were the insurance companies coving these injured players I would look at all these safety issues closely.

Looking to see Lord Stanley cup up close again.

A Flames fan.

I love the fighting the throwing off of heleuts;but, please guys, I don't want to see the coroners van.

If all these NHL players wear neck protection growing up....why does it suddenly become such a nuisance in the big league? Absolutely ridiculous. This is another example of pro athletes not setting a good example for kids, putting their macho image in front of health.

Let me quote Jeremy Roenick:
"NHL! WAKE UP!"

The only thing worse than a tragedy is a tragedy that could (and should) have been prevented. Had Zednik died on the ice, there would have been little debate on the issue and the vast majority would agree they should be required. Since he pulled through, now we can chance it until somebody does get killed?
Neck guards are not nearly as restrictive, and nobody will say "I would have had that defenseman but my neck guard prevented me from turning to the right."
Make them mandatory and avoid the possibility of having to introduce a Richard Nednik trophy in the coming future.

It's been snowing here in Hamilton lately, and I feel there's a danger of people falling and hitting their heads - consequently, I feel it's appropriate that a law be passed requiring all citizens to wear certified helmets while outdoors. Once it warms up a bit we should probably also look into a bill outlawing exposed skin. We wouldn't want anybody to risk skin cancer, especially when we tax payers will have to foot the bill.

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way but isn't it a matter of choice. It is not a rule that people can't smoke even though that could kill them. It is not a rule to wear reflective clothing when jogging at night because you may get hit by a car and that could kill you. It is a matter of choice. Me personally, if I played hockey I'd wear a neck guard and visor but that's my choice. I think it is ridiculous when people don't wear seat belts because it is such an easy way to protect yourself but in the end everyone has a choice.

I am sick of mandatory rules being implemented because of one accident. Think of how many hockey games are played. In the entire history of the NHL for example, there have been 2 major neck/throat injuries. Because of this everyone needs to wear a neck protector? Give me a break. People should stop trying to protect everyone. Why is everyone so interested in protecting people they do not know, who are taking risks they are well aware of? Even with children, why do people feel it necessary to mandate protection? If you have your own child, feel free to protect them as much as you want, but stay out of other peoples lives and allow them the same freedom to allow their child to be unprotected, should the parent choose. More rules and regulations are only breeding stupidity and carelessness, as the general public seems to think that someone else should always be protecting them, rather than them THINKING for themselves.
I am sick of my right to choose being taken away in the name of "safety".

injuries are everywhere. You can die in a boxing ring but punching isn't illegal! I think there is a need to promote safety to people in all situations not just in the ring but there are somethings that happen despite our best efforts. Zednik's injury was truly a close call but it is the second one in how many years? Hundreds of players are getting life altering concussions and the root cause appears to be hard plastic "safety equipment" (shoulder pads)
Many people site the Quebec junior league as an example of mandatory neck guards, ask to see one sometime they are pieces of string! People need to relax on the whole neck guard thing, it will happen soon enough (just like visors are more common).

"Basil Carroll

If the players have a choice then the owners should too. The owners should have a right to choose if they want to pay a player while he is injured"

just, please for my sake, read this over to yourself.

.... does it still make sense?

"Sorry mr. Zednik, we're really glad your alive, but we can no longer pay you seems we've concluded you must be mentally damaged seems you decided not to wear a neckguard, however once your heeled 100%, we would like you back because your such a skilled player, and hope you don't hold a grudge against us, and be sure to keep playing with the amount of heart and character that you did prior to the injury"

....well it started off that i was going to cut your post up and try to make a joke. But i think i actually justified your point to myself.

All in favor for Basil's suggestion

I

clearly im board at work

it's simple....can construction workers choose to work without a hard hat? or a harness? Sure they can, but when they split their wig, good luck trying to apply for workman's comp....
same issue. If you're grown and "man" enough to choose to play without a neck guard, then you should also be grown and man enough to support yourself while you're waiting for your throat to heal before being able to return to the ice...if ever.
All the comments here seem pretty unanimous...wear the neck gear, it just makes sense.
PS GO HABS

we seem to have a serious problem with a simple solution. The thing standing in the way is a few morons . If the NHL or the players assoc. don't do what is required it is very simple the government must make it mandatory. This is a job safety issue and nothing more. Our only problem with my idea is it takes 1/2 day to write and pass this kind of measure but the current parliament of Canada is only interested in getting credit for work not in actually doing it.

I, for one, think that every NHL player should be wearing a visor and a neck guard. It doesn't mean that they're "sweethearts" - it means that they're SMART.
However, NHL players are grown men who are payed to play hockey. The decision to wear protective equipment needs to be made by the players themselves and no one else.

I have been frustrated that USA Hockey does not require neck guards for peewee and older... yet mandates mouthguards which tend to be all chewed up and unlikely to do much for concussions.

I'm sick and tired of these young welfare recipients called hockey players (think they're not charity recipients?? - check out the tax structure of their teams' "business"), dictating what they'll do and what they won't do in the interests of being macho. Who pays for their health care when they get injured, their team?? Yeah, right. Ditto for Basketball players - did you see Bargnani smash his head on the floor last night? Why don't they have to wear helmuts????

I think that players should have to wear them beacause they help you.

If the players have a choice then the owners should too. The owners should have a right to choose if they want to pay a player while he is injured

A song by Don Freed has the line ...." for every rule some poor bugger got hurt"..Kim Crouch, Richard Zednik survived due to the sheer luck of medical people in the house. Why wait until someone gets really unlucky? Other sports that are dangerous (biathalon, skiing, bobsleigh, speed-skating) take precautions to minimize risk. Hockey should also.

So it is different for the NHL? Isn't the responsibility of those who run a hockey to protect the players, irregardless of age of the player? Doesn't the same logic apply? Obviously it does. The NHL has an obligation to protect players. The goalies adjusted their equipment when Clint Malarchuk nearly died on the ice from having his throat cut by skate. This is no different. Mandatory equipment and fines/suspensions for not following it is the only way to go. None of this "grandfathering" phase in stuff. No one wants to see someone die on the ice from something that is 100% preventable.

This is a professional business. Contractors are mandated to wear saftey equipment and are not covered if injured and not following proprer procedure why is this business different. Like anything there is an adjusment in getting used to equipment and given the age of a large majority of these players they grew up wearing cages, visors and neck guards and they performed well enough to get where they are now. Enough with the excuses and justifications, like helmets make it mandatory and in time they will get used to it and I'm sure performance will not drop off.

There's a reason why helmets are mandatory - it's the same reason why neck guards should be mandatory. Brain injury and severe injury to the neck can *kill* you.

Ice is a very hard surface, and to be honest, your brain is like a ripe melon - even a relatively mild head injury can result in a subdural hematoma, which if left untreated, can be fatal.

Two NHL players in the last decade or so have had their lives saved only because a doctor performed an emergency tracheotomy - in Trent McCleary's case, while lying on the ice - after being struck in the throat by a slap shot. As for vascular injury, it's nothing short of a miracle that Clint Malarchuk and Richard Zednik are the only two NHLers who are on the list, and even luckier than both survived relatively unscathed.

How often during a playoff run has a player thrown himself to the ice and into the path of an opposing player to block a shot?

I might think that only an idiot would play without a visor, but if a player chooses not to do that, at least about the worst that can happen is blindness.

Being blinded won't kill you, but a collapsed larnyx, severed major vein or artery, or severe brain injury will.

As a paying customer do I really want to see a player's blood gushing onto the ice because they are uncomfortable wearing a neckguard? I didn't come to the game to see that. It seems that brains are obviously optional as well.

I loved this article. I didn't make it far in hockey but never went on the ice without my neckguard. It weighs what 100 grams soaking wet?
The only reason why people don't like them is because of their on ice fashion statments. Hell everyones played with people who didnt wear shoulder pads. Anything a player can do to get that "im tougher then i look" image will always dominate their logical decision makeing skills.

Personally, I think the NHL should lead by example, wearing a neckguard will not in anyway hurt your game in any shape, way, or form.

but it all boils down to the same old answer "theres no way that will happen to me"

I say suck it up, a neck guard is the second most important piece of a males equipement.

p.s. this is all coming from a 22 year old, not a 54 year old. Smarten up guys.

I'm sure that technology is now such that a neck guard that offers excellent neck protection is not horribly imposing, restrictive, or uncomfortable. If indeed that is true, I see no reason why they shouldn't be required, rare as these accidents are.