Player safety at forefront for Mason hockey Neck guards required to prevent catastrophic injury

Sololiya Ebba | The Chronicle

The Mason Men’s Hockey team has spun off the 2024-2025 winter season with fresh goals and renewed excitement. New to the rink this season, they have been required to wear additional protection to keep themselves and their teammates safe.

Hockey is notorious for its aggressive nature, making it one of the most dangerous contact sports. The combination of high-speed skating, close-quarters play and the use of a hard stick and puck make the game incredibly risky. Due to these factors, hockey players across the board are required to wear pounds of protective gear, whether it be at the high school level or the professional level. This includes a helmet, shoulder pads, a chest protector, elbow pads, protective gloves, padded pants, and a mouth guard. 

In addition to the pounds of gear already required, a new piece of equipment, a neck laceration protector, has been made mandatory for all players on the rink. As the Mason Hockey team plays under the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), players are required to adhere to any rule changes implemented. The OHSAA has joined The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to ensure safety for all athletes. Due to the Ice Hockey Rule Change 3-4-4, all players are required to wear a neck laceration protector while participating. If a player’s neck laceration protector is not worn or comes off while play is in progress, an official will send the player to the bench and play will continue. If the player does not comply, play will be stopped and they will be penalized.

Senior Tanner Levin has been a part of the Mason Hockey program since his freshman year, and while he is fortunate not to have had any serious hockey-related injuries, he is aware of the reality of the possibility of injury on the rink. 

“On TV, you see people that get cut in the neck, and some people have died from it,” Levin said. “So it’s definitely a good precaution to have.” 

On the other hand, some players are unphased by the new rule. Before this change, players may have chosen to wear the neck guard for their safety, even if it was not required. Senior Finn Albers has played hockey for most of his life, for the school and his club team, the Cincinnati Cyclones. 

“I already wore a neck guard, so it really didn’t affect me,” Albers said. “ I know a lot of other players don’t really like the feel of the neck guard, or they feel like it affects their ability to move.”

At the end of the day, protective gear is designed to make everyone feel safer on the ice. Senior Eli Natorp, in his fourth hockey season, has not had to wear a neck guard before, but he knows its importance. 

            “There are some things I don’t think are necessary,” Natorp said. “But if knowing you have the proper gear makes you feel more comfortable playing, I think it’s worth it [to take the extra precaution].”