Local hockey players are sporting some new gear in the wake of the death of a former NHL player in England.

The British Columbia Hockey League has made the decision for protective neck guards to be mandatory last week, after American hockey player Adam Johnson, who appeared in 13 NHL games with Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020, died when his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England on Oct. 28, 2023. He was 29.

The South Surrey-based Surrey Eagles team started donning the neckwear prior to the mandate, with Eagles head coach Cam Keith saying it was an easy decision.

含羞草研究社淲e felt it was good timing,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淏asically, it含羞草研究社檚 a band that Velcros in the back含羞草研究社� it covers that vital area of your neck, so if a skate were to come up, it would restrict it from cutting it open.含羞草研究社�

The Eagles players grew up wearing neck guards in minor hockey leagues, Keith noted, so it was more of a matter of getting used to wearing them again.

含羞草研究社淧ersonally I含羞草研究社檝e always felt why not wear a neck guard 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 not inhibiting your sight. It can obviously save your life, you just never know.含羞草研究社�

The Western Hockey League made neck guards mandatory Nov. 3, 2023, and BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker confirmed Monday (Nov. 27) that the entire BCHL league has now made it mandatory as well.

含羞草研究社淓arly last week was when it was formally brought in,含羞草研究社� Cocker said.

含羞草研究社淭o me, it was honestly a no-brainer含羞草研究社� it certainly wasn含羞草研究社檛 a difficult one to get unanimous support of our league. One of our pillars 含羞草研究社� we have four pillars and one of them is player safety.含羞草研究社�

The difficulty many teams have been having since the tragic England incident has been actually finding neck guards, he noted.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 hit-and-miss right now and the simple fact is, stock isn含羞草研究社檛 available.含羞草研究社�

Any mandatory requirements are based on the availability, or stock, of neck guards for players, and Cocker said the BCHL is working with its partners to secure such stock.

含羞草研究社淲e knew there was a stock issue, but I含羞草研究社檓 hoping it含羞草研究社檚 not too much longer now that every player has this available to wear,含羞草研究社� said Cocker.

While professional hockey players have been injured by skates 含羞草研究社� even in the neck 含羞草研究社� before, Johnson含羞草研究社檚 death raised a more immediate sensitivity to the issue, both Cocker and Keith said.

含羞草研究社淚t was really unfortunate that had to happen to create more awareness about it,含羞草研究社� Keith said.

Police in England arrested a man on Nov. 14 on suspicion of manslaughter and while they didn含羞草研究社檛 name him, other media outlets reported Matt Petgrave 含羞草研究社� the other player involved in the incident 含羞草研究社� was released on bail after the arrest.

The Peace Arch News has also reached out to White Rock Whalers and the Pacific Junior Hockey League about neck guards for players, but has yet to receive a response.

The Surrey Eagles, who started off their season leading the league in points and undefeated several games in a row, are still leading the BCHL含羞草研究社檚 Coastal Conference 20 games in with 32 points, despite losing their last three games (all away games).

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They return to The Nest, their Olympic-sized rink in South Surrey, for a four-game homestand starting with the Cranbrook Bucks this Sunday, Dec. 3, with a 4 p.m. puck drop.

Despite a few recent losses, Keith is still extremely happy with the Eagles含羞草研究社� efforts so far this season.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going great! There含羞草研究社檝e been a lot of positives throughout the season so far 含羞草研究社� not just the results,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e have three of the leading scorers in the league right now, players (are) winning scholarships含羞草研究社� our team is getting recognized in that way a lot.含羞草研究社�

So far, five Eagles players have earned scholarships: forward Ryden Evers (University of Nebraska-Omaha); right winger Ryan Schelling (Providence College), centre Zachary Wagnon (Yale), defenseman and team captain Ty Brassington (Clarkson University) and goalie Ajeet Gundarah (Sacred Heart University).

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e had some good home games with some good results,含羞草研究社� Keith noted.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e only lost one home game so far so we feel like this could be a good year for us to try to win a championship.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社� files from Leaha Hammond, Associated Press