02/01/2026
safety gear
If you have players who are trying to get away with ā or pretending to forgetā¦ or actually forgetting ā their safety gear before they hit the ice, they may need a friendly reminder that this isnāt the ālookā NMHA is going for.
Please check your players before theyāre on the ice and on the bench whenever possible. Weāve started to notice a trend of players trying to play:
āHide the neck guardā
āRoll the neck guardā
Or the very worst version, āOops, Iām not wearing a neck guard.ā
Some players are coming out of the dressing room wearing them, then rolling or tucking them away during the game. Weāre also seeing some taped to make them thinner.
If safeties, coaches, and managers could please ensure this isnāt happening on your teams, it would be greatly appreciated. Neck guards are extremely important and help keep our players safe.
Although Iām sure youāre all aware, the penalties for failing to wear a proper neck guard are significant and can impact both the player and the team. Letās work together to prevent avoidable penalties ā and, more importantly, avoidable injuries.
