PWHL mandating neck protection for all players

The Professional Women s Hockey League announced Thursday several rules changes, including mandatory neck protection worn by all players starting this season. The Frost begin their regular season with games Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 at expansion San Jose and Las Vegas, respectively. Twelve teams divided into two conferences will play a combined 180 regular-season games through April 18. Neck protection became an international issue after the death of Adam Johnson, a Hibbing native and Minnesota Duluth graduate, whose neck was slashed by an opponent s skate during a professional game in England in October 2023. Johnson was 29, and in the wake of his death, several amateur and professional leagues — including the NHL's top developmental league — mandated neck protection for all players. The NHL and NCAA have not followed suit, although the NHL has begun requiring this season for all players who join the league for the first time this season. So far, rookie wing Rieger Lorenz