Overview
- An IIHF spokesperson told BBC Sport that neck guards will be compulsory at the Milano-Cortina Games under the federation’s rule book.
- Neck protection was previously optional at the Olympics, so this marks first-time mandatory use for many senior-level players.
- The Olympic hockey schedule runs February 5–22, 2026, with women beginning February 5 and men February 11, and NHL players expected to take part.
- The move follows the October 2023 death of Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson, who suffered a fatal skate cut during an Elite Ice Hockey League game.
- Policies elsewhere vary: the NHL will require guards only for new players from the 2026–27 season, Ice Hockey UK mandates them for Great Britain teams, and the EIHL has not made them compulsory.