Why Are Neck Guards Important?
Neck lacerations occur in hockey when a skate blade comes into contact with a player’s neck, usually when a player loses balance and uncontrollably swings a foot into another player’s neck. Neck injuries can also happen when a player steps on another player's neck. Lacerations can result in severe injury or even death due to damage to the nerves, airwaves, and critical blood vessels. Neck guards are worn around the neck and provide a barrier between the player’s neck and an errant skate blade. Neck guards are designed using cut-resistant materials, such as Kevlar, to protect the vulnerable areas of the neck while maintaining acceptable levels of comfort for the player.