IIHF Mandates Neck Guards at All Levels Following Player's Death

Implementation Date Dependent on Supply Situation; English Ice Hockey Association to Follow Suit in 2024

Following the death of American player Adam Johnson, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced that neck guards will be mandatory at all levels of their competitions, including the Olympics and men's and women's world championships.
The exact date for this mandate to go into effect for senior categories is yet to be determined, depending on the supply situation of neck guards.
Neck guards were already mandatory for the U20 and U18 categories as per the IIHF Official Rule Book.
The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) has also confirmed that wearing a neck guard will be mandatory during all on-ice activities from 2024 onwards.
The National Hockey League (NHL) does not currently mandate neck guards, and any such mandate would require an agreement between the league and the players' union.