RCMS hockey players’ opinions on neck guard have greatly changed ever since ex-hockey player Adam Johnson, 29, died in an accident on Oct. 28 due to another player’s skate slashing his neck.
Ben Schaffer, a 14-year-old on the Dolphins said, “You have to buy a neck guard but they’re all sold out.”
Adam Johnson was an ice hockey player who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nottingham Panthers and has become a household name for hockey families. But not for the right reason. What was thought to be a classic rivalry between the Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers soon became an unfortunate turn of events.
Johnson was skating up the rink during an away game against the Sheffield Steelers when Matt Petgrave, a defender on the Sheffield Steelers slashed Adam’s neck. Adam was soon losing blood and was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he soon died due to excessive blood loss.
“It will definitely push people away from playing hockey,” said Gage Mastroianni, a 12-year-old on Dream Team.
The main reason why Johnson died is due to the lack of neck guards worn around the world. After Johnson’s death, students said they expect more people to wear neck guards so this doesn’t happen to them, or their friends and family.
Ben said, “I think it’s better ‘cause nobody else gets cut, and nobody dies.”
Mr. Kevin Scott, a social studies teacher for Dream Team also stated, “I think it will become mandatory over time, just like helmets.”
The NHL and other leagues have certain requirements to prevent injury. When the NHL first started, goalies and skaters didn’t need to wear helmets. Because of this, injuries were way more common, with teeth getting knocked out, pucks to the face, as well as sticks.
The NHL was very dangerous, until they decided it was enough, and decided to implement a new rule in 1979, requiring goalies and skaters to wear helmets. Fans expect this to happen in the near future where leagues will require neck guards to be worn.
Lots of players see injuries and some even experience them themselves. Ben once got cut in the neck, Calum MacRae of the All-Stars Team witnessed a kid break his arm and Mr. Scott saw a kid crash into the boards around the rink and broke his leg.
Gage said, “My dad slipped and fell, and was unable to get up, which probably fractured something when he fell.”
Students around RCMS have a passion for playing hockey, with some starting to play the sport around the age of 5. Many of their friends or family members introduced the sport to them, and they have been playing ever since.
Calum, 12, said, “I guess I watched a game or two,” which ultimately began his career as a goalie. Ben and Mr. Scott said they had a friend introduce it to them. Since they have been playing for around seven years and Mr. Scott has played for over 20, they love playing hockey.
Mr. Scott said, “I enjoy the speed of the game.”
Ben likes the game for similar reasons.
“I like how aggressive and fun it is to play,” he said.
All of them have made many good friends from the sport.
Gage said, “I like the thrill of it, and enjoy meeting new people.”
