USA Hockey requires the use of neck laceration protection for players in all age classifications, other than adults, in games and practices, as well as for on-ice officials under the age of 18, effective August 1, 2024. For clarity, the requirement includes players in the youth, girls, and junior age classifications.
Players are required to wear a neck laceration protector that is commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose. Additional details and Frequently Asked Questions are posted on the USA Hockey website.
According to the Missouri Ice Hockey Officials Association, starting August 1, 2024, the following guidelines will be used regarding neck laceration protection in a USA Hockey sanctioned game:
• Neck laceration protectors must be commercially manufactured for the purpose of neck protection of skaters during a game. They must be worn in the manner for which they were designed and cannot be altered in any way.
• The common foam neck-loop, turtleneck, shirt or dickey-collar protectors are acceptable.
• Hanging goalkeeper throat protectors do not serve as a substitute for neck laceration protection.
• If a player (including goalkeeper) loses neck laceration protection during play it is treated the same as a mouthpiece. Play shall be allowed to continue until the next stoppage at which point the player must replace the equipment or be substituted by a teammate.
• Any player who enters the game (during a stoppage) while missing a neck laceration protector will be ordered back to the team bench and substituted by a teammate. Furthermore, the team will be issued an equipment violation warning and any further equipment violation by a player on that team will result in a misconduct penalty.
• A head sweatband or common turtleneck shirt will not satisfy this rule. Game officials are instructed to use good judgement while determining if the equipment is legal and to always err on the side of protecting the player.