Vancouver Canucks Duo Make Bold Choice with Rare NHL Equipment, Others to Follow Suit?
Photo credit: Bob Frid - USA TODAY Sports
A pair of Vancouver Canucks are among a very small amount of players in the National Hockey League that wear neck protection during games.
A recent report came out from the National Hockey League saying that only 7.7 percent of their 708 skaters in the 2024-25 season have worn any neck protection.
The new figures come a little over a year after the tragic passing of former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Adam Johnson, who suffered a skate cut to his neck during an EIHL game in England between the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.
Pair of Vancouver Canucks among 55 players to wear neck protection
Conor Garland and Carson Soucy of the Vancouver Canucks are the only two members of the club to wear neck protection each time they take to the ice.
Both Garland and Soucy spoke with Kaija Jussinoja of CTV News recently and opened up about their decision to wear the neck protection.
Soucy was a former teammate of Adam Johnson and said that he decided to wear one after his passing, and after he had a close call during the 2023-24 season.
"Adam was a teammate and a good friend, so that was kind of what got the ball rolling there,» Soucy said. "I tried one that was a little higher, a little bigger, and it just kind of bugged me a little bit. This one's nice and comfy; you barely notice it."
As for Conor Garland, he says that wearing neck protection makes him feel a bit safer on the ice.
"I don't think anyone should be concerned about what anyone wears. I'm not. I'm not in a position to tell anyone to put it on, but, you know, I feel safer with it, so I enjoy wearing it," Garland said.
At the NHL General Managers meeting in Toronto last week, all 32 GMs were told to continue the discussion with their players regarding neck protection, but it doesn't sound like a league-wide mandate is coming anytime soon.
Previously on CanucksDaily
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 20 | 440 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Duo Make Bold Choice with Rare NHL Equipment, Others to Follow Suit? Should neck protection be mandated by the NHL for every player? | ||
| Yes | 316 | 71.8 % |
| No, it should be up to the players | 124 | 28.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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