12 replies to this topic

[Aerowyn]

If you're a hockey person, you no doubt saw about Richard Zednik's accident--his throat came into contact with a teammate's skate, slashing it. He's recovered since, but we know from experience (BLOOD WARNING: 1989--Malarchuk had a similar incident) how dangerous sharp skates can be.

So what do you think? Should the NHL require neck guards for all its players, to prevent these sorts of incidents from happening? Or are they so rare that they are not necessary?

Edited by Aerowyn, 22 February 2008 - 08:19 PM.

[Oaken]

I saw the 1989 video a while back and was pretty shocked by it. It took a while for anybody to even notice that his throat had been slashed. Even though it's rare....it could easily kill someone so surely some form of protection may be needed.

Giving the player the option to wear some kind of neck protection could always be a possibility.

[Jakerz]

I saw the 1989 video a while back and was pretty shocked by it. It took a while for anybody to even notice that his throat had been slashed. Even though it's rare....it could easily kill someone so surely some form of protection may be needed.

Giving the player the option to wear some kind of neck protection could always be a possibility.

They already have the option, but none of them wear them. I think it should stay like that. It is the same with visors. Although it is really bad when it happens, it barely ever happens. It's unfortunate it happened to Zednik, glad he's okay, I saw the video atleast 85 times :\

A lot of players were interviewed after the incident about neck guards and they all said they shouldn't be made mandatory.

[Sunset]

I was watching something about the same topic on the news last night and I think neck guards should be a must! They were lucky the 2 times it happened and survived but who says there wont be a 3rd time and who says that if there is a next time that it would be a happy ending?

I know that most hockey players don't want to wear them but really if they have a family of any kind they should think of them and wear one regardless!

[tastyphoxette]

If there already are neckguards, why don't the players wear them? Are they uncomfortable, or otherwise hinder their movement in some way?

If so, sounds like a design flaw to me. Maybe they should be redesigned, so there would be no reason for them NOT to wear a neckguard.

[Germ]

I was watching something about the same topic on the news last night and I think neck guards should be a must! They were lucky the 2 times it happened and survived but who says there wont be a 3rd time and who says that if there is a next time that it would be a happy ending?

I know that most hockey players don't want to wear them but really if they have a family of any kind they should think of them and wear one regardless!

Absolutely right. I really think it is a must but if all of them don't want it then I don't think it will happen.

[Hawk]

Keep them optional. There were two incidents of this, in the NHL, in 18 seasons. Think of all the game time between those two incidents. This is not a regular problem, and the nuisance doesn't outweigh the risk.

[Blizzard]

Well what is those two incidents could of be prevented.

And I got a question about NHL, if you do wear a neck guard does it somehow effect the way you play?

[Hawk]

Well what is those two incidents could of be prevented.

And I got a question about NHL, if you do wear a neck guard does it somehow effect the way you play?

Do you play hockey?

They could have been prevented, but to put this in perspective, about (possibly more, I just did a rough calculation without factoring in the expansion) 1 million minutes of GAME TIME has been played between these two incidents. Plus all the practices, and all the other skating. It is a rare occurrence, and they should not require neck guards because of it.

I play hockey, and neck guards, when I wore them (Once you get past like, 10 years old they are no longer required) they were a nuisance.

[Aerowyn]

With how sharp the blades are, it's a wonder that cuts from the skates aren't more common. I understand that this is ice skating, but it makes a good enough point. If someone were to fall and someone else happens to be rushing by, injury CAN happen. Sure, it was only twice in the history of the game that that area happened to be the throat. But who is to say that it couldn't happen to someone's arms or legs, or midsection. The skates are basically knives strapped to shoes.

I think, if the neck guards are as uncomfortable as Hawk has said they are, they need to be re-made to be more comfortable and easier for players to wear. Though these incidents are rare, I do think it would be good on the part of the NHL to have them.

Edited by Aerowyn, 24 February 2008 - 05:43 PM.

[Jakerz]

With how sharp the blades are, it's a wonder that cuts from the skates aren't more common. I understand that this is ice skating, but it makes a good enough point. If someone were to fall and someone else happens to be rushing by, injury CAN happen. Sure, it was only twice in the history of the game that that area happened to be the throat. But who is to say that it couldn't happen to someone's arms or legs, or midsection. The skates are basically knives strapped to shoes.

I think, if the neck guards are as uncomfortable as Hawk has said they are, they need to be re-made to be more comfortable and easier for players to wear. Though these incidents are rare, I do think it would be good on the part of the NHL to have them.

This is protection on most of the body, and if they remake neck guards to be comfortable, they will most likely have little to no effect if a skate hits it.

Edited by Jakerz, 25 February 2008 - 07:08 AM.

[ROFLCopterz]

With how sharp the blades are, it's a wonder that cuts from the skates aren't more common. I understand that this is ice skating, but it makes a good enough point. If someone were to fall and someone else happens to be rushing by, injury CAN happen. Sure, it was only twice in the history of the game that that area happened to be the throat. But who is to say that it couldn't happen to someone's arms or legs, or midsection. The skates are basically knives strapped to shoes.

I think, if the neck guards are as uncomfortable as Hawk has said they are, they need to be re-made to be more comfortable and easier for players to wear. Though these incidents are rare, I do think it would be good on the part of the NHL to have them.

Almost your hole body is protected so I will not do much if it hits your arms or legs, I've had it happen to me many times.

[Hawk]

With how sharp the blades are, it's a wonder that cuts from the skates aren't more common. I understand that this is ice skating, but it makes a good enough point. If someone were to fall and someone else happens to be rushing by, injury CAN happen. Sure, it was only twice in the history of the game that that area happened to be the throat. But who is to say that it couldn't happen to someone's arms or legs, or midsection. The skates are basically knives strapped to shoes.

I think, if the neck guards are as uncomfortable as Hawk has said they are, they need to be re-made to be more comfortable and easier for players to wear. Though these incidents are rare, I do think it would be good on the part of the NHL to have them.

What would a streamlined neck guard do? They need to be thicker and have padding to protect it, and thats where the problems come in.