Proposed Bill Would Mandate Neck Guards For Youth Hockey In CT

GREENWICH, CT — A proposed bill under consideration this legislative session would require the use of neck guards in youth ice hockey activities and interscholastic and intramural ice hockey events.

Raised Bill No. 5156 specifies that participants of such events, like scrimmages, practices and games, are no less than 3 years old, and no more than 18 years old.

The legislation was proposed in response to the January death of Teddy Balkind, 16, a hockey player at St. Luke's School in New Canaan. Balkind died on Jan. 6 after he was accidentally cut on the neck by an ice skate during a game at Brunswick School in Greenwich.

The bill was referred to the Committee on Children. A public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.

According to the proposed bill, those who run youth hockey teams or events would notify parents no later than July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, that their child is required to wear a protective neck guard.

On Oct. 1, 2022, "no operator of a youth ice hockey activity or an intramural or interscholastic ice hockey event shall permit a child to participate in such activity or event unless such child is wearing a protective neck guard," the proposed legislation says.

The proposed bill states that "no operator, or agent or designee of such operator, shall be subject to civil liability for failing to ensure that a child is wearing a protective neck guard while participating in a youth ice hockey activity or an intramural or interscholastic ice hockey event."

In written testimony submitted for Tuesday's public hearing, Rick Branson, executive director for the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, supported the legislation.

"Our schools follow the NCAA protocols and recently many CAIS schools and their athletic associations have acted to recommend or require neck guards," Branson said.

"CAIS supports the proposed state legislation to require neck guards for scholastic athletes as another strategy to keep our student athletes safe. We recognize that schools cannot eliminate all risk to students and student athletes, but this legislation is an appropriate action for student safety," he added.

President of the Connecticut Athletic Trainers Association Perry Siegel wrote that the CATA supports the intent of the bill and increasing awareness for proper health and safety equipment, but opposes the proposed bill in its current state.

"The CATA believes the bill’s intent to increase the protection and safety of student athletes is commendable. The CATA has supported legislation regarding health and safety in sport through the years, and we acknowledge the need to continue to update the current Connecticut statute to address the safety of athletes.," Siegel wrote. "We would recommend the formation of a working group to address the concern for proper use of all safety equipment in sport to protect the health and safety of youth athletes."

The Connecticut State Medical Society opposes the bill altogether.

"We understand and empathize with the heartbreaking event that has given rise to this proposed legislation and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Teddy Balkind," said Layne Gakos, executive director for the CT Medical Society, in written testimony. "A catastrophic laceration to the neck during an ice hocky game is a tragic event; it is also a very rare event."

Gakos said the governing body of youth ice hockey, USA Hockey, the National Federation of High Schools, as well as the NCAA and the NHL recommend but do not require neck guards as part of the ice hockey uniform.

"The public, independent, parochial schools and youth hockey programs decisions are guided by the information from their governing sports bodies and may or may not mandate their athletes use neck guards," Gakos added. "The Connecticut State Medical Society Sports Medicine Committee must oppose House Bill 5156 because we do not have sufficient medical evidence to support the recommendations contained in this Bill."

In January, one of Balkind's friends started an online petition to make neck guards mandatory to play hockey.

To date, the petition has garnered over 108,000 signatures.