Neck guards in high demand as more hockey leagues make them mandatory

In a normal year, Maggie MacTavish says she would sell about 200 neck guards out of her sports equipment store in Fredericton. She'd only sell a handful to a few new skaters this time of year.

But MacTavish estimates she has sold about 50 over the last week. 

"With the uptick, certainly I think most stores are going to find they didn't have enough," said MacTavish, co-owner of MacTavish's Source For Sports. 

The demand for neck guards follows the death of 29-year-old Adam Johnson, who died after he was slashed in the neck by the skate of former University of New Brunswick Reds player Matt Petgrave during a game in the United Kingdom. Now leagues across Canada are looking at making neck guards mandatory.

The Canadian Junior Hockey League, which includes the Maritime Hockey League, announced on Friday that it would require the players on all its 122 teams to wear the protective gear whenever they are on the ice. 

"It was a unanimous decision that we thought was in the best interest of our athletes," said CJHL president Andy Harkness. 

He said teams will be given time to get the equipment, but the new rule is already in effect.

"Based on the unfortunate circumstances, it looks like there is a demand in the marketplace for neck guards and there just may not be availability," said Harkness. 

"Our member leagues and teams are working through suppliers to see when they can get it as quickly as possible."

A regular neck guard costs about $15 while the pro neck guard costs $30. MacTavish said that while they still have regular neck guards available, the pro model is almost sold out. 

"Right now Bauer is sold out of them so as soon as our stock is gone, probably will be mid-December before we are able to get any more," said MacTavish.

Minor hockey in New Brunswick has long required players to wear neck guards. Nic Jansen, executive director of Hockey N.B., said the organization will also look at the requirements for other levels of hockey. 

Currently, senior league and the junior B and C league players are not required to wear neck guards. Jansen said there are national meetings in November, where countrywide mandates will be discussed. 

"Depending on the direction that happens at the national meetings, if it's not mandated nationally, there's the potential that there could be further mandates from a provincial standpoint," said Jansen.