In the light of the Adam Johnson tragedy, hockey leagues around the world are starting to mandate players wear neck gaurds to prevent cuts to the neck/throat area.  Everyone is wondering what the largest governing body for youth hockey in the Unites States will do, and so far the answer is nothing as stated below:

USA Hockey, citing a sports medicine specialist from Mayo Clinic, found neck guards still don’t completely eliminate the risk, saying most lacerations are only superficial and could limit the cervical spine range of motion.

“USA Hockey has come out with some studies and they say the benefits of them (neck guards) just doesn’t outweigh the risks. And so they still think that things can happen up there. The equipment can deflect it higher into their face so there’s different reasons why they have not yet mandated it,” Gregoire said.

“It’s a comforting fact knowing that he has some level of protection, and that it’s just one less major injury for us to have to constantly have to think about,” Uphoff said.

Finding a neck guard locally may be a pain in the neck. One of the area’s largest hockey retailers said they have the less desirable ones in stock. They are more like large bands that wrap around the neck.

The ones most people want — the ones built into a shirt — may not be in stock until December due to the worldwide demand.