(Laval) Laval Rocket forward Lias Andersson has realized that his life is worth more than a slight discomfort and he has no intention of turning back.
Hockey culture has often praised the high pain tolerance threshold of its players, even if they put their health or their lives at risk. Scary events have sometimes led to changes in the sport, whether it is the wearing of masks for goalkeepers or the obligation to wear a helmet and half-visor for players.
Perhaps the tragic death of Adam Johnson this weekend will have the same effect and Andersson hopes that it will.
During a professional hockey game in England, Johnson was hit in the neck by the blade of one of Matt Petgrave’s skates. Johnson, a former Pittsburgh Penguins player, succumbed to his injuries. He was only 29 years old.
Andersson, who was Johnson’s teammate in the American League with the Ontario Reign, wore the neck guard during the Rocket’s practice Tuesday at Place Bell. The 25-year-old Swede was visibly still shaken and called for change in the world of hockey.
I think neck guards should be mandatory. We have seen injuries like this happen before, although they are rare. Go look at photos over the years, it’s been close a few times. When these injuries happen, it makes you realize things.
Lias Andersson
In Andersson’s case, a text message from his younger brother also put things into perspective. If something were to happen to him, he wouldn’t be the only loser in all of this. This is one of the reasons that prompted him to wear the neck guard for the rest of the season, and possibly the rest of his career.
“I’m going to get used to it and keep it for the rest of my career. If something happens and it protects me even 10%, it works,” said the Rocket forward. I also want to be a role model for the younger ones because we don’t want this to happen again. Especially to friends and teammates. »
Although not compulsory among professionals, the neck protector is compulsory in the minor ranks and women’s leagues registered under the Hockey Canada banner as well as in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and in the Quebec Hockey League. Ontario.
Canadian women’s hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser, who also studied medicine after announcing her retirement, also made an outing on the X platform to ask for the obligation to wear neck protectors at all levels.
As was the case with many pieces of equipment, players seem to be waiting for league mandates before taking action.
“I think the players are waiting for it to be mandatory. It’s a bit cumbersome, but it saves lives too. We have seen incidents like those of Richard Zednik or Clint Malarchuk. It’s just sad to have to wait for things like this to react. We’ll have to adjust, but I’m convinced that the guys would all go in the same direction for that,” said Rocket forward Nathan Légaré, who worked with Johnson during his first camp with the Penguins.
Légaré still does not know which side he will fall into, but he admitted that he would talk about it with his teammates.
“I think this is the kind of thing that will be done at the last moment,” he noted.
It will only remain to be seen whether the discussions created by this sad event will not be forgotten within a few weeks.