PWHL Makes Neck Guards Mandatory for All Rosters
The new safety rule takes effect immediately as the league prepares for its first full season with 12 teams.
By Oliver Bennett ·
The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced on Thursday that every player must wear neck protection starting this season. The change, designated as Rule 9.10, requires cut-resistant gear to be worn in all games and during pre-game warm-ups.
The league is set to begin regular-season play on December 5. The Frost will open their schedule against expansion team San Jose before hosting Las Vegas on December 10. Twelve teams split into two conferences will play a total of 180 regular-season games through April 18.
Jayna Hefford, the PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, said player safety and innovation have been priorities since the league began. "We believe these objectives are represented in this season’s rule updates," Hefford said. The new mandate joins other leagues that adopted similar measures after high-profile incidents.
The push for neck protection gained momentum following the death of Adam Johnson in October 2023. Johnson, a 29-year-old from Hibbing and a Minnesota Duluth graduate, died after his neck was slashed by an opponent’s skate during a professional game in England. His death prompted several amateur and professional leagues to mandate the gear.
The NHL and NCAA have not required neck protection for all players, though the NHL began requiring it this season for rookies. Rieger Lorenz, a rookie wing for the Minnesota Wild, is the only player on that roster currently required to wear the protection.
Alongside the safety gear mandate, the PWHL introduced changes to gameplay rules. Body checking is now permitted when a player establishes and maintains body position to separate an opponent from the puck. Players are also allowed to high-stick pucks during play.
The league is testing a new overtime protocol during the preseason. If a minor penalty occurs during a 3-on-3 overtime period, the non-offending team can choose to take a penalty shot instead of playing a 4-on-3 power play. Any eligible player in the lineup may take the shot.
