Ice hockey neck guards mandatory at 2026 Olympics

Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson died after being struck in the neck by an opponent's skate

Players will wear neck guards at the 2026 Winter Olympics for the first time, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed.

The rule change follows the death of Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson in October 2023.

Johnson was fatally hit in the neck by a skate during an Elite League match against the Sheffield Steelers.

The IIHF announced in December that year that neck guards would become mandatory in all their competitions, however a date that this rule would be introduced was not announced.

But a spokesperson has now told BBC Sport: "We can confirm the neck guards will be mandatory according to the IIHF Rule Book."

Neck guards have previously been optional in Olympic competition, while in other competitions around the world they are not required.

While the guards are compulsory at youth international level, having to wear the guards will be a new experience at elite level for some of the world's best players.

The NHL - regarded as the number one league in the world – will make the guards mandatory for new players entering the competition from the 2026-27 season onwards. However, those who already play in the league will not need to wear the protective equipment.

NHL players will feature at next year's Milan-Cortina Olympics, having not appeared at the past two Games because of disruption to the domestic season in 2018 and concern over coronavirus at Beijing 2022.

The Elite Ice Hockey League, the top level of competition in Britain, made neck guards mandatory in January 2024.

The Olympic ice hockey competition will take place in Milan between 5 and 22 February 2026.