In recent news, the death of former NHLer Steve Montador has sparked a discussion among Kraken players about the importance of neck protection. Montador, who died in 2015, was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. His death has raised questions about the safety of hockey and the need for better protective gear.
Kraken players are now considering the need for neck protection in order to prevent head trauma and potential CTE. While helmets are already mandatory in the NHL, neck protection is not. Some players believe that neck protection should be mandatory in order to reduce the risk of head trauma and CTE. Others argue that the risk of head trauma is already low and that neck protection would only add unnecessary weight and bulk to the equipment.
The debate over neck protection has been ongoing for some time, but Montador’s death has brought it to the forefront of the conversation. The NHL has yet to make any changes to its rules regarding neck protection, but some teams, including the Kraken, are taking steps to ensure their players’ safety. The team has implemented a mandatory neck guard policy for all players and is exploring other ways to protect their players from head trauma.
The debate over neck protection is far from over, but Montador’s death has certainly raised awareness about the importance of protecting players from head trauma. It is clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of hockey players, and the Kraken are taking steps in the right direction by implementing a mandatory neck guard policy. It remains to be seen whether or not other teams will follow suit, but one thing is certain: neck protection is an important part of keeping hockey players safe.
