PWHL mandates neck guards for all players beginning with its fourth season
After a trend that has been growing since American hockey player Adam Johnson died from a skate cut in a game in England in 2023, NEW YORK (AP) - The PWHL is mandating neck guards for all players beginning this…
After a trend that has been growing since American hockey player Adam Johnson died from a skate cut in a game in England in 2023, NEW YORK (AP) – The PWHL is mandating neck guards for all players beginning this season.
Article outline
- What happened
- The details
- The bottom line
For context, the league confirmed the rule change on Thursday, a month before its fourth season begins. Goaltenders and skaters must all wear neck protection of a certain level of cut resistance.
"Player safety and innovation have been at our forefront since the league's inception, and we believe these objectives are represented in this season's rule updates, " executive vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford remarked in an official note.
High-sticking the puck is now allowed without a stoppage in play, and the PWHL is experimenting in exhibition games with teams getting to choose a penalty shot or a power play in overtime.
Meanwhile, the neck guard addition follows a movement that has included the NHL adding them for newcomers, along with the American Hockey League, ECHL and International Ice Hockey Federation mandating them. See AP's full women's hockey coverage here.
In short, PWHL mandates neck guards for all players beginning with its fourth season is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.
