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Home : Top Stories : OHL players voice opposition to neck-guard rule

OHL players voice opposition to neck-guard rule

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toronto.ctv.ca

Date: Thu. Mar. 6 2008 2:56 PM ET

A storm of protest has erupted online from Ontario Hockey League players who oppose a new rule that forces them to wear neck guards on the ice.

The new rule comes into effect March 10 but players are doing what they can before then to make their opposition heard loud and clear.

A new group named "Keep neck guards out of the OHL" was created on Facebook early Wednesday morning. By Thursday afternoon, more than 180 people joined the group on the popular social networking website to sound off on the new regulation.

One group member wrote, "We might as well put the cage on if we have to wear neck guards."

Another hockey player posted a note saying he simply won't wear it.

"I probably shouldn't be in this league anyway but I'll be pumping gas before I will wear a neck guard," he wrote.

Some of the players said wearing extra equipment is uncomfortable and restricts their playing ability.

The ruling was prompted by a dangerous incident during an NHL game on Feb. 10 when Florida Panthers player Richard Zednik was cut in the neck by his teammate's skate.

The cut severed Zednik's external carotid artery. He was upgraded to good condition and has since been quoted as saying he will wear a neck guard once he returns to the ice.

Drake Berehowsky, the assistant coach of the Barrie Colts, said there was the same type of opposition when visors were made mandatory a few years ago.

"When we brought in mandatory visors in the OHL a lot of guys complained about it but they seem to getting used to it now," he said Wednesday in an interview with A-Channel.

"There's always going to be guys complaining, guys who don't like it but you know what, they'll get used to (neck guards)," he added. "It just takes some time to get used to and hopefully it will keep everyone a little safer."

The Colts' head athletic therapist, Kelly McKeraghan, said she couldn't agree more.

"A neck getting cut by a skate doesn't happen very often but when it does it can definitely be a life-threatening injury so for them to be taking this approach and trying to prevent it is a good idea," she told A-Channel Wednesday.

Players were also quick to voice their displeasure with the neck guards at the arena.

John Tavares, a star player with the Oshawa Generals, said he's not in favour of the change.

"It's very thin, it's not even really that protective I think," he said in an interview with TSN Wednesday. "Personally I would like to stay the way we are. Everything's okay for us. It's a debatable issue I guess."

Comments are now closed for this story

Gerry B
said

Wow. If we're this concerned about freak accidents and safety in general then why don't we just outlaw hockey? Better yet, wrap the players entirely in foam.


Po
said

Those complaining don't have to play... simple as that.
OHL just wants to reduce the risk to players in their league and I, for one, find it admirable.


Chris
said

This is riduculous! Why wouldn't they want to protect themselves? I never understood these arguments...no helmets, no visors, no neck guard. Fine...don't wear one if you don't want to. I'll have no sympathy for you if you happen to a victim of one of these horrible accidents.


Kris
said

For those guys who won't play without a neckguard....there are hundreds of guys waiting in the wings who will put on a neckguard if it means they can play in the OHL.
As an fyi, short track speed skaters wear neckguards as part of their protective equipment and they can skate an awful lot faster than any similar level hockey player.


BOBT
said

What are these kids worried about - image? These neck guards are very lightweight and offer no restriction to movement. I wore one for years as a goalie and it is no more noticeable than a turtleneck top. It could save your life. Remember, an incident that is 1 in a million is no consolation if you are the 1.


Dexter
said

Any player who refuses to wear a neck-guard shouldn't be in the league. Don't give me that BS that it restricts your playing ability. EVERY player has worn a neck-guard AND a cage since they first put skates on. The one player on the ice who needs to see the puck better than any other player wears a cage (the goalie). This is an ego thing - they want to look cool. If you employer tells you you have to do something for safety, you do it.


Hockey Fan
said

I guess all these players who oppose the neck guard should speak with Richard Zednik. It could happen to anyone anytime and it is too bad that they don't appreciate that the league is trying to keep them alive to fulfill their dreams. And to those who would rather pump gas then wear the neck guard....shame on them. This is for their own safety. I guess when the day comes that the neck guard saved their life is when they will appreciate it.




AMS
said

If those players can prove it's going to affect their level of play then they have grounds for protesting. If they are protesting wearing the neck guard b/c of a physical appreance, get over it guys, your looks aren't worth your life....


W.K.
said

Oh come on.They're just trying to make the sport a little more safe.We didn't complain about it in Minor Hockey!!.Just wear them,we are trying to be role models to the younger generation of Hockey players.Think of how it looks to them...What's the phrase? "monkey see monkey do"


Eric
said

Make em wear neck guards and cages. These arguments about inhibiting vision and movement are nothing more then young teens saying you can't tell me what to do. The kid saying he'd rather pump gas then a shot at the NHL?!?!? HAHAHAHA $10 says he's bluffing. I wear full equipment in a mens league with no contact. I have no issue with vision and movement. I actually feel safer and thus am willing to get into situations where I may otherwise not out of fear for my safety.


Enwright
said

Some OHL players say a neck guard restricts their playing abilities? WOW. I grew up playing hockey in Southern Ontario and knew lots of guys who went to the O and played Junior hockey. That being said, the only reason these guys wont put a neck guard on is because they got the idea in Midget hockey that they were not cool. Grow up guys. Anyone who went to high school with these guys knows what I am talking about.


Bernard DeGagné
said

If they were working in industry and refused to wear mandated safety equipment they would be fired on the spot. The league has done the responsible thing and has exercised due diligence. It is now time to quit complaining and play.


Lars
said

Why is that everyone jumps on the Facebook bandwagon to make a protest? Man up....issue a written petition and present it in person.


N
said

Unfortunately, we're talking mostly about teenage guys, an expected result. They think they're immortal. Many are under 18, and the parents would most definitely not want to see their son's neck get slashed (at least I hope so), as rare as it happens. For those who are worried about image, looks, whatever, go sign up for the hockey version of ECW, "Extreme Championship Hockey". Remember that everyone in OHL will be wearing it (for those who obey the rules), so everyone would be on equal ground.

I concede that it probably won't happen very often, but slicing your carotid is too serious and life-threatening. At least a stick in the face, maybe you'll only lose an eye or so, maybe a few teeth, but at least you'll be alive. In both cases, your hockey career could be over, but at least you'll have your life with a neckguard and that's more valuable than anything else. I also admit that it isn't perfect, but we have to do what we can to be responsible for personal safety over personal performance.


Barry
said

Oh come off it guys!! this is a safety issue you can't buck it. Instead try and come up with a colar that you can play with.. Like how about a Kevlar stitched dickey that comes up the neck to comply with the ruling, that would stop most of the slashes around the neck, It's lightweight relatively low cost. There you go it took all of 30 seconds to come up with a life saver. Unless hockey players bleeding to death in front of thousands of fans is more exciting to you....


car
said

I don't see the big issue. All young kids today wear them and seem to be fine. If it saves a kids life, then wear it!


Andrea from AB
said

If buddy wants to pump gas instead of playing hockey with a neckguard, let him! Then he can find out the danger of people smoking while pumping gas. The neckguards are so light-weight I find it impossible how anyone can turn around and say it's restricting their play. If that's the case maybe you shouldn't be on the ice in the first place! Why wear a jock, why wear elbow pads, shin pads, etc, why wear a seatbelt when in a vehicle? Get with the plan guys and stop whining.


peter from bc
said

Hey, it goes with the territory. If you want to play, accept the risks. I say NO to neck guards. Society has succumbed to the fear mongering of the states. One guy having an accident doesn't mean the sport is unsafe. Two in the last 15 years doesn't mean the sport is unsafe. If you are an avid sports fan, you won't side with the new ruling. If you do, I'd suggest not driving your car. Take mass transit. You are far more likely to die in your vehicle than playing hockey. Get real people......honestly.....


M
said

Ok I'm just amazed of the opposition given the age groups of these players. I can assure you that when they were playing a lower levels "neck Guards" were mandatory at it is at this time with all minor hockey associations. I sure want both my sons to continue wearing their neck guards not everyone may get a lucky as Zednik and it's not a simple "bandaid" solution when such injuries are sustainded. I say get a grip put in on or go play golf!


Dean
said

Who would be the first to complain about lack of protection? The severly injured player, or his/her parents? How silly. Then again, most hockey players aren't MENSA club candidates either. At least in other major sports, the players have at least some decent measure of an education.


Trent
said

Another NANNY STATE knee-jerk regulation.

Why must everything result in regulation? Accidents will always happen no matter what.


CT
said

I am a hockey mom and a trainer. All hockey players, minor, OHL, NHL, should have neck guards, cages, mouthguards. If you didn't have this equipment in the lower levels, you would have been too injured to have been able to get to where you are now. You have no idea how much this equipment has already done for you. We can still see your pretty faces!!!


Chops
said

Soon, waking up will be bad for your safety.
Freak accidents happen and the only way to stop them from happening on the ice is if no one played hockey... guess what, that will never happen.


James
said

This is a good rule. There are plenty of fabrics that can do the job. I think that for the short term players may be uncomfortable but with some work a solution could be found before the start of next season. Take a look at the fabric that fencers use, kevlar, ballistic nylon etc. Having worn these fabrics I can say that you will not even notice it.

So short term uncomfortable plastic thingy long term comfortable brotective clothing = really good new rule.


ScottS
said

Of course they oppose it! What the hell has become of this country? One player in the NHL gets his throat cut, and lives I might add, and they want a mandatory law enacted. Situation normal in Canada. People of Canada need to unite against these idiotic ideologies that are pressed on us by the insecure. Why not ban all cars, or put govenors on them so they don't speed past 100km? The socialist movement in this country wants everyone to be a little mushroom.


P.E. Carr
said

I was at the game where Zednik was injured. My 18 year old son said "That is the scariest thing I have ever seen." My 22 year old said "I will never forget the look in his eyes as he came to the bench" (we were 19 rows behind the players's bench). Both of my sons grew up playing hockey and wearing neck guards. Any player who is in the OHL now is at the age where he MUST have worn a neck guard growing up. This is not something they have never had to do. They are a simple form of very effective protection. Put them on and quit whining.


Robert Jones
said

I am all for neck guards and anything else that protects the players. As for Peters comment on numbers, no one has said the sport is unsafe, they just want to ensure the players are kept safe. I use the recall of my sons carseat as an example, out of millions sold less than .1% had a part failure issue. Does this mean that the company should not have recalled the item, becasue 1 out of 10000 failed. Would you be willing to take that chance with your kid. I think not. That said, if and when my kid plays hockey he will be wearing all safety gear provided, manditory or not. If you think you are too cool and tough to wear one then lets see how tough you are and get rid of the jock too.


Tori
said

I am glad to see the OHL take a step towards safety. I think the NHL should follow.
Yes a slash from a skate in the neck is pretty darn rare however when it does happen it is very dangerous.
I don't see how wearing a neck guard can be restricting. If the ones available now are so bad I am sure Nike and Reebok will make a more acceptable one pretty darn quick.
There are lots of players who given the chance would wear a suit of armor if required to play in the AHL, OHL, NHL or any other one you want to talk about.
Leave the rule stand, make the equipment safer, after all it is a game and a neck guard sure won't stop a good player from scoring goals but may stop a good player from dying.


Steve Dolesch
said

Pardon my bluntness but if the players don't want to wear neck guards, to me that is telling me that they want to be either dead or disabled. What then, are they going to sue the OHL because they wanted to the players to be safe as possible? Better yet, susppend the playeers, for good.

When I take the Para Transit vehicles (I'm disabled at birth) I want to be secured as much as possible. Give the players a lesson.



Manuel-Alberta
said

As an arena employee for 6 years now, I am amazed the number of neck cutting incidents isn't alot higher, I have watched countless players crash the net with the goalie jumping out of the way just barely missing the neck of the opposing players....some of these players don't notice how close to serious injury or death they have come.


Thomas,Sydney NS
said

In the QMJHL it is 100% required by all players to wear neck guards and its not a problem. If you look at the player the guard can barley be seen over the jersey. Those same people complaining about wearing guards will probably be the same group of people complaining if another accident like Zednik's happened to them or in the league


JonF
said

First look at Richard Zednik's neck.

Second look at the width of a neck guard.

You're not able to cover the whole neck. If Zednik had been wearing a neck guard, do you think it would have helped? I do not believe so.

Neck guards are uncomfortable and ineffective. Never in my many days of minor hockey did I see a neck guard reduce or negate a serious accident.

By the way, I wear a full cage because I don't see the point in demolishing my face for minimal vision enhancement.

But hey, don't drive with your convertible top down, because an airplane may land on you.


Ken - SW Ont
said

I don't know how rare this type of incident is but it happened to my son in PeeWee. There was a scrum in front of the net and my son found him self on the ice and someone elses skate came up caught him on the neck. Instead of a trip to Emerg I had a trip to the sporting goods store to buy a new neck guard. You can rest assured that my son always makes sure he has his neck guard on.


Tom Pizolinas
said

SAFETY is #1 in all aspects of sports events. Excellent rule on wearing neck guards. Too many hotshot hockey players that don't want to wear them think they are too good. Just like some officials that don't wear ear piece protection for there helmets.


Bruce
said

When I was 14 I had my neck cut and I was wearing a neck guard (the type that isn't anchored down)

It didn't stop my neck from getting cut, however it may have prevented it from hitting the jugular vein. My pulse is right beside the edge of the cut.

Though rare, this can happen to anyone.


Brett G
said

Looks like the WHL will become even more of a desired destination for players. Out here in the Wild West, we don't panic and run screaming into the streets, hysterical, making policy every time something unusual happens.
OHL will soon look like a gladiator arena.



Adrian T. a Speedskating Dad
said

My kids have to wear them for speed skating or they are not allowed on the ice. It's that simple.

If you want to die because you are too tough to wear a $7 piece of nylon and kevlar, take your stick and go home.

This debate sounds familiar. A generation ago it was over helmets in the NHL, and then the use of
face shields.

It's PPE. WEAR IT or GET OFF THE ICE! No sport is worth dying over.


David
said

It's quite obvious that the OHL has to protect the players from themselves. The Facebook group is proof of that. As the game and players evolve, so does the protection of players. Imagine the game today with no helmets, soft padding, no slapshots and no facemasks for goalies. Who'd go out there on the ice then?
Does someone actually have to bleed to death on the ice for it to be taken seriously? Lets hope not.


sm
said

I recall when cages became mandatory in high school hockey and players complained.

The coach said fine. If you don't wear the cage, you can't wear shin pads either!

They all put the cage on.


Bigjake
said

These guys are makng such a fuss over something everyone has had to wear since they stepped on the ice to play minor hockey. That rule has been in place with Hockey Canada since the late 80's. I believe USA hockey has had the same rule in place aroud the same time Hockey Canada has. The QMJHL has had the neck guard rule in place a longtime and not a single person there complains.

They need to have one of these guys get there throat slashed in front of them,and the guy nearly bleed to death infront them to prove the point of the neck guard. I almost lost a friend because of not wearing one. I've been playing hockey for over 20 years as a goalie and I won't hit the ice without a neck guard one. It's almost as dumb as not wearing a jock. I'd questioned these tuff OHL players why wear a jock ? How many times do you give hit there ? So if there is no need to wear neck why wear a jock ?


HGL
said

Remember back in the day when protective hockey equipment was minimal. How many serious injuries were there, not many. The game of hockey has inherent risks and the players know this and should play within those guide lines. Freak accidents such as Zednik's will happen regardless the amount of safety equipment. The more safety equipment you make them wear, the harder they will play and more accidents will happen. How about wrapping them completely in Kevlar and let them go at it!


Colin
said

All ringette players are required to where them. I don't see the issue, it is for personal safety.


Hockey Fan
said

After reading all of the comments, I had to respond again.

First of all Dean ... Who are you to say that hockey players are not intelligent. I would dare you to say that to the likes of Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Darryl Sittler and any one of millions of hockey players worldwide. I can only assume that you too are not Mensa material to make such a statement. I happen to know that most hockey players are quite intelligent, articulate and well-spoken which is more than I can say for you.

For those of you who are against this neck guard, obviously you do not have children playing hockey. You must remember something. Most of the players in the OHL are still minors. They have not reached the age of adulthood yet and the OHL is showing due diligence and trying to protect them from the perils of their sport. We know they are not ready to take on the responsibility yet of watching out for their best interests when they petition on Facebook and make stupid comments about pumping gas before wearing the neck guard or will play without it anyway.

To the posters who said that the western hockey league does not require this, this is coming from the same provinces that allow Sikhs an exemption from wearing a helmet on a motorcycle I bet. The Quebec Junior Hockey League already has this in place, now Ontario and how long do you think it will be before the west does as well.

I don't understand you who are against organized sports trying to protect it athletes from any and all conceivable incidents where their lives could be put in danger. Have you no shame. We are talking about a very lightweight guard that could save their lives. I guess you bitch for the sake of bitching!


Bean
said

They all grew up wearing them in Minor hockey. deal with it and move on!


Stephanie W
said

Opposing Neck Guards is ridiculous. I've ALWAYS worn one, even if they weren't mandatory I would wear one. I saw when Borje Salming nearly died from a skate blade, and it scared the bejesus outta me. Why fight something that could save your life? I also played with a girl who if not for that neck guard, surely would have died from an errant blade. Suck it up boys, they're not uncomfortable, and if you don't want to play because of them, well then your loss, another kid is standing in the wings to take your place. I would never let any of my sons step on the ice without one.


Bee
said

I'm with Gerry B. Every time an isolated incident occurs, the government or governing bodies feel the need to protect us.

Freedom is about taking risks, and knowing those risks. Each individual should be able to decide what risks to take.

Let's educate, not legislate!


dano
said

what are you folks talking about , do you even play the game? or have ever even wore a guard? The odd of getting it in the neck are slim. the odds of the neck guard protecting you are far from 100%. It's not like a seat belt.

My 2 kids are in Hockey, the guard does not protect you 100%, FAR FROM IT.
lets put every one in a glass bubble and play. How mani incidents is that, 2 in the last 20 years.
you people are jumping on the band wagon here.
if you don't wnat to get hurt in life stay in you bubble


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