Jim Montgomery Relates To The Recent Tragic Passing

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Austin Sabourin
October 30, 2023 (3:29 PM)

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The hockey community was deeply saddened by a tragic incident over the weekend when former NHL player Adam Johnson lost his life due to a skate blade accident during a game in England. Johnson, originally from Minnesota and a player with a brief NHL stint of 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020, was just 29 years old.

This unfortunate accident occurred while Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers. During the second period of the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield's Utilita Arena, a "freak accident" resulted in his fatal injury.

The news of Johnson's passing had a personal resonance for Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, who had experienced a similar tragedy during his youth in Montreal. Montgomery shared his thoughts, stating,

"It is awful, and it's tragic. The neck guards - a kid I played with when I was 14, Jamie Lechman, back in Montreal, I think was the first player to pass because of the same thing... Just hearing the story and it's very similar. Skate accidentally hits someone... And it was horrific. I remember going to his funeral and how hard it was on all of us at such a young age. And then Adam Johnson, I coached against him in college. And so, when you're close - I wasn't close to Adam - but you just feel awful."

Adam Johnson's passing has also ignited a discussion about the use of neck guards in hockey, particularly at the professional level. On Monday, the English Ice Hockey Association made an announcement that neck guards will become mandatory for all players during on-ice activities starting December 31.

While incidents like this are rare, they have tragically occurred on the ice over the years. Notable examples include the cases of Teddy Balkind in 2022, Richard Zednik in 2008, and Clint Malarchuk in 1989, all of whom suffered life-threatening neck injuries from skate blades.

Some players on the Providence Bruins chose to wear neck guards during a recent game against the Springfield Thunderbirds, though it was a personal choice rather than a team mandate. Coach Montgomery emphasized that the decision to wear a neck guard should ultimately be left to the player, acknowledging the comfort and potential restrictions associated with them. He stated,

"I think it's a personal choice... It's tragic. It's horrific, and it's happened, I think, three or four times now in the last 30 years, maybe 40 years. I think it's a personal choice."

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