Skip to content

AHL mandates cut-resistant neckwear for players and officials starting in 2024-25

ea8010ca94c51eca81bde9096db67a9ee5a513012c0ece2c6eea592af37a09b7
The American Hockey League has mandated the use of cut-resistant neck protection by all of its players and on-ice officials. The Laval Rocket play the Utica Comets during an AHL hockey game in Laval, Que., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

SPRINGFIELD — The American Hockey League has mandated the use of cut-resistant neck protection by all of its players and on-ice officials.

The ruling goes into effect for the start of the upcoming 2024-25 season.

It was unanimously voted on by the AHL's board of governors.

Cut-resistant socks and wrist sleeves were previously mandated for AHL players and officials beginning with the 2023-24 season.

The AHL is among a list of organizations and leagues to go through with such a mandate, including the IIHF which mandated the neck protection for senior, under-20 and U18 levels.

Neck protection became more prominent after the death of American Adam Johnson, who was stuck in the neck by a skate blade during a game in Britain's Elite Ice Hockey League last year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press


Looking for National Sports News?

VillageReport.ca viewed on a mobile phone

Check out Village Report - the news that matters most to Canada, updated throughout the day.  Or, subscribe to Village Report's free daily newsletter: a compilation of the news you need to know, sent to your inbox at 6AM.

Subscribe