Jim Montgomery Relates To The Recent Tragic Passing
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,
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,
As seen on boston
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 30 | 342 ANSWERS Jim Montgomery Relates To The Recent Tragic Passing Do you think the NHL needs to do something to make the game safer? | ||
| Yes | 230 | 67.3 % |
| No | 112 | 32.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
