WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A tragedy on the ice is renewing the push for safety in hockey.
It comes as people are still mourning the loss of former National Hockey League player Adam Johnson.
In a horrific turn of events, Johnson recently died after his neck was cut by a skate blade during an ice hockey game in England.
He was 29 years old.
It's this situation that's starting a conversation about safety in hockey leagues across the Triad.
Head Coach and General Manager of the Carolina Thunderbirds, Steve Harrison, said safety has come a long way.
Harrison said he grew up in Canada, played professionally for 15 years, and has coached ever since.
Throughout those years, he said the added safety procedures changed drastically. Leagues now require helmets, mouthguards, visors, and pads. These are all changes he has witnessed over the years.
"When I played, helmets weren't required," Harrison said.
Harrison said now the games are faster, the players are bigger, and everything is quicker, which can make things more unsafe.
The latest safety precautions leagues are discussing are neck guards and collars.
"Growing up in Canada, my goalie is the one who invented the collar," Harrison said. "He got his jugular vein a little nicked when he was playing. A few years ago, he was the one who invented it and said safety should come first. All the kids in Canada, grew up wearing their collar right off the bat, so it's just something that eventually is going to happen."
Harrison said it's not mandatory for the Carolina Thunderbirds, but the league just had a meeting and is discussing it.
The players do have the choice to wear them if they want to as well.
Harrison said that he believes putting more safety measures in place is not going as fast as it should be, but believes every league is making moves to make the game safer.
"One thing about players is they are going to say, 'Oh I don't like it,' but once you start wearing it, and you get used to it, you don't even know it's on you," he said. "You put it on, just like your helmet and I see it's coming; I think it's a good thing for hockey."
Right now, many leagues recommend the added protection but have not made these neck guards and collars mandatory for players.