Local hockey players are sporting some new gear in the wake of the death of a former NHL player in England.

The British Columbia Hockey League has made the decision for protective neck guards to be mandatory last week, after American hockey player Adam Johnson, who appeared in 13 NHL games with Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020, died when his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England on Oct. 28, 2023. He was 29.

The South Surrey-based Surrey Eagles team started donning the neckwear prior to the mandate, with Eagles head coach Cam Keith saying it was an easy decision.

91裸聊视频淲e felt it was good timing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏asically, it91裸聊视频檚 a band that Velcros in the back91裸聊视频� it covers that vital area of your neck, so if a skate were to come up, it would restrict it from cutting it open.91裸聊视频�

The Eagles players grew up wearing neck guards in minor hockey leagues, Keith noted, so it was more of a matter of getting used to wearing them again.

91裸聊视频淧ersonally I91裸聊视频檝e always felt why not wear a neck guard 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 not inhibiting your sight. It can obviously save your life, you just never know.91裸聊视频�

The Western Hockey League made neck guards mandatory Nov. 3, 2023, and BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker confirmed Monday (Nov. 27) that the entire BCHL league has now made it mandatory as well.

91裸聊视频淓arly last week was when it was formally brought in,91裸聊视频� Cocker said.

91裸聊视频淭o me, it was honestly a no-brainer91裸聊视频� it certainly wasn91裸聊视频檛 a difficult one to get unanimous support of our league. One of our pillars 91裸聊视频� we have four pillars and one of them is player safety.91裸聊视频�

The difficulty many teams have been having since the tragic England incident has been actually finding neck guards, he noted.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hit-and-miss right now and the simple fact is, stock isn91裸聊视频檛 available.91裸聊视频�

Any mandatory requirements are based on the availability, or stock, of neck guards for players, and Cocker said the BCHL is working with its partners to secure such stock.

91裸聊视频淲e knew there was a stock issue, but I91裸聊视频檓 hoping it91裸聊视频檚 not too much longer now that every player has this available to wear,91裸聊视频� said Cocker.

While professional hockey players have been injured by skates 91裸聊视频� even in the neck 91裸聊视频� before, Johnson91裸聊视频檚 death raised a more immediate sensitivity to the issue, both Cocker and Keith said.

91裸聊视频淚t was really unfortunate that had to happen to create more awareness about it,91裸聊视频� Keith said.

Police in England arrested a man on Nov. 14 on suspicion of manslaughter and while they didn91裸聊视频檛 name him, other media outlets reported Matt Petgrave 91裸聊视频� the other player involved in the incident 91裸聊视频� was released on bail after the arrest.

The Peace Arch News has also reached out to White Rock Whalers and the Pacific Junior Hockey League about neck guards for players, but has yet to receive a response.

The Surrey Eagles, who started off their season leading the league in points and undefeated several games in a row, are still leading the BCHL91裸聊视频檚 Coastal Conference 20 games in with 32 points, despite losing their last three games (all away games).

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They return to The Nest, their Olympic-sized rink in South Surrey, for a four-game homestand starting with the Cranbrook Bucks this Sunday, Dec. 3, with a 4 p.m. puck drop.

Despite a few recent losses, Keith is still extremely happy with the Eagles91裸聊视频� efforts so far this season.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going great! There91裸聊视频檝e been a lot of positives throughout the season so far 91裸聊视频� not just the results,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e have three of the leading scorers in the league right now, players (are) winning scholarships91裸聊视频� our team is getting recognized in that way a lot.91裸聊视频�

So far, five Eagles players have earned scholarships: forward Ryden Evers (University of Nebraska-Omaha); right winger Ryan Schelling (Providence College), centre Zachary Wagnon (Yale), defenseman and team captain Ty Brassington (Clarkson University) and goalie Ajeet Gundarah (Sacred Heart University).

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e had some good home games with some good results,91裸聊视频� Keith noted.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e only lost one home game so far so we feel like this could be a good year for us to try to win a championship.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频� files from Leaha Hammond, Associated Press