A little over a year ago, T.J. Oshie came across a story about a young boy who had been injured by a skate blade to the neck during a youth hockey game. Oshie immediately contacted his partners at Warroad, the hockey apparel company he helped establish, to find a solution. What began as a mission to create comfortable undershirts quickly evolved into a business dedicated to developing cut-resistant fabrics for player protection.
Oshie’s latest goal was to create turtlenecks to shield the most vulnerable part of a hockey player’s body: the neck and the carotid artery within. Warroad successfully designed a turtleneck called “tilo” with integrated cut-resistant panels.
Although the product proved effective, Oshie noticed that not a single player in the NHL was wearing similar gear. Even though neck guards are mandatory in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League, and other companies offer Kevlar-style turtlenecks, the NHL players had their reasons for not adopting them. The rinks were getting hotter, making it uncomfortable to wear turtlenecks in such conditions. Superstition played a role, as players clung to their familiar gear and routines. And perhaps most significantly, neck guards simply weren’t considered cool.
But everything changed when Oshie learned about Adam Johnson’s tragic death. Johnson, a former Pittsburgh Penguins player, suffered a fatal skate blade injury during a game in England. This devastating incident made Oshie realize the inherent risks of playing the game without proper protection.
Motivated by Johnson’s death, Oshie ordered five turtlenecks from his own company for himself and his teammates to try. Despite concerns about comfort and style, Oshie recognized the importance of prioritizing safety over appearances.
Other players also had close calls with skate cuts. Jason Dickinson, a Chicago Blackhawks player, inadvertently injured Boston’s Jakub Lauko with his skate during a game. Although Lauko luckily avoided a serious eye injury, Dickinson felt immense relief and reached out to ensure Lauko was okay.
The frequency of skate-cut injuries is a cause for concern. Hayley Wickenheiser, a Team Canada legend, emergency physician, and assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs, rejects the notion that these incidents are freak accidents. She believes that neck protection should be mainstream and integrated into every player’s equipment.
While incidents like Johnson’s are rare, many players have their own stories of narrow escapes and near-misses. The risks of the game are evident, considering the high speed, force, and dangerous skate blades involved. Although some argue that total protection is impossible and that players accept the risks, others like Richardson envision a future where neck protection in the NHL becomes normalized, just as helmets and visors did in the past.
In memory of Adam Johnson, Oshie hopes to lead the way by embracing neck protection and encouraging other players to do the same. The tragedy and potential preventability of Johnson’s death have sparked a crucial conversation about player safety in hockey.