The Western Hockey League, which includes the Prince George Cougars, will fall into line with the rest of the major-junior Canadian Hockey League by joining the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to make it immediately mandatory for its players to wear neck guards.
The OHL and QMJHL already had the policy in place.
The new policy for the WHL will come into effect Thursday, “or as soon as the protective equipment is available to the clubs,” said the league.
“The WHL anticipates challenges in delivery of protective neck guard equipment from licensed suppliers due to increased demand following the tragic passing of Adam Johnson,” the league said in a statement.
Johnson, a player with the Nottingham Panthers of the professional British Premiership EIHL, was killed when the skate blade of Sheffield Steelers player Matt Petgrave cut Johnson’s neck in a game last weekend in Sheffield, England.
The death has sent ripples through the hockey world.
Jesse Adamson, director of communication for The B.C. Hockey League, which includes the Prince George Spruce Kings, said Wednesday that "the BCHL’s competition committee is meeting this week to discuss any league-wide policy going forward.”
Neck guards are mandatory in all levels of youth hockey in Canada up to junior.
