QUESTION: Can you please clarify what is to be the proper procedure if an official under the age of 18 shows up to referee a game and does not have a Neck Laceration protector.

ANSWER: The neck laceration protector is now a required piece of equipment for officials under the age of 18 and not having one to wear to officiate a game should be handled the same as if that official did not have a helmet. The official should either borrow one, purchase a new one or get a replacement official but they cannot work the game without one.

QUESTION: Can the official still officiate the game? Is the game canceled? If the game continues and a coach protests the official not being properly protected, what is the proper response?

ANSWER: What happens to the game depends on what officiating system was being used. If it was a one referee/2 linesperson then it goes to a 2-official system. If it was a four official system then it reverts to a 1 referee/2 linesperson system. If it was a 2-official system then a replacement official must be secured.

The following guidelines should be used for the 2024-25 hockey season starting on 8/1/24 to determine if a neck laceration protector is acceptable to wear in a USA Hockey sanctioned game.

All neck laceration protectors must be commercially manufactured for the purpose of neck protection of skaters during a game. They must be worn in the manner for which they were designed and cannot be altered in any way.

Further:

The common foam neck-loop, turtleneck shirt or dickey-collar neck protector are acceptable.

Hanging goalkeeper throat protectors do not serve as a substitute for a neck laceration protector.

If a player (including goalkeeper) loses their neck laceration protector during play it is treated the same as a mouthpiece. Play shall be allowed to continue until the next stoppage. At which point the player must replace the equipment or be substituted for by a teammate.

If a player enters the game (during a stoppage) while missing a neck laceration protector, they will be ordered back to their team bench and substituted for. Furthermore, the team will be issued an equipment violation warning, and any further equipment violation by a player on that team will result in a misconduct penalty.

A head sweatband or common turtleneck shirt will not satisfy this rule. Game officials are instructed to use good judgement while determining if the equipment is legal, and to always err on the side of protecting the player.