HERSHEY, Pa. — The hockey world continues to react to the shocking death of former NHL player Adam Johnson.
Johnson died after being cut in the throat by a skateblade during a professional game in England. While local parents at the youth level are looking for protection, one Hershey Bear who played with Johnson remembers his teammate days after the incident.
"Such a freak accident. It could happen to anybody," said Hershey Bears forward Matt Strome. Johnson's death hits a little closer to home for the Hershey hockey player.
"Just to hear that news, it's devastating. I know it's gonna take a long time for his family and friends and teammates to get [through] this recovery process. But hopefully, there's some good that comes out of it," he told FOX43.
Strome is still processing the passing of his former teammate. The two played together for Lehigh Valley during the 2021-22 season. His locker that season was right next to Johnson's and he has nothing but good memories of his former teammate and friend.
"He was just so happy. He made the room a better place to be. He always wanted to be at the rink. He was always having a good time," he recalled. "[Johnson] was always trying to keep the mood light. So, if people don't know that about him, I would like people to know that he was just a great teammate,"
Following the passing of Johnson, the debate over neck protection has intensified. Currently, the AHL does not require neck guards. This past offseason, the board of governors did pass requirements to wear wrist and leg protection with cut-resistant material.
At the youth levels in Canada, the governing body does require neckguards. USA Hockey, on the other hand, does not. Some people feel that needs to change.
"Hopefully, this time, the people in charge will make this a requirement for youth hockey," says Mike Sherman, the owner of Hockey Plus and Goalies Plus in Harrisburg. He has spent his entire life in the hockey business.
Sherman ordered 200 neck guards after Johnson's accident and demonstrated how the guards and protective shirts fit and work.
At the counter, orders are already being placed to buy the protection. Sherman backs up his words, requiring his son to wear a neck guard.
FOX43 spoke with Matt Roberts, whose two sons play hockey. He was pushed to require his sons to wear neck guards after a fatal incident of a high school player in 2022.
"Better safe than sorry, I know I've seen other things on message boards with other parents where the kid got cut because the skin got caught in the neck guard. With the data that we saw, it seemed to make more sense to have them wear the neck guard versus not," Roberts explained.
Meanwhile, Sherman hopes this incident spurs change.
"Why USA Hockey hasn't gone and made this requirement, I don't know. Hockey Canada made this requirement probably going on 10 years ago. This isn't new technology. And the fact that we didn't follow suit with that is really quite shocking to me," he said.