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Check the label and your rules
Some bodies require a certified neck guard and some only a purpose-made one. Nothing on this page says a product is certified or legal for play. Check the label on the guard and your association's current rule.
What the rules require
A neck guard, called a throat protector in Hockey Canada's rules and a neck laceration protector in others, is meant to reduce the risk of a skate blade cutting the neck. The main rules as of October 2026:
| Body and rule | Who | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Hockey Canada 2026-28 Playing Rules, Rule 3.6(c) | Players registered in minor and female hockey; goaltenders with a throat attachment on the mask must still wear one | BNQ-certified |
| USA Hockey 2025-29 rules | USA Hockey says all youth, girls and high school players and officials under 18; AP's 2024 report said adults are strongly recommended, not required | No certification requirement confirmed (see below) |
| NFHS (US high school), Rule 3-4-4, new for 2024-25 | All players; goalkeepers also need a separate flapper-style throat protector (Rule 3-3-1) | Unmodified and worn as the maker intended |
| IIHF Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 9.12 | All players in all categories of IIHF competition | A protector designed for the purpose, covering as much of the neck as possible, unmodified |
| England Ice Hockey, Ice Hockey UK and Scottish Ice Hockey | All players, all on-ice activity, from 1 January 2024 | ISO 10256-5:2017 and/or a BNQ standard |
| NHL Official Rules 2026-2027, Rule 9.8 | Skaters and goaltenders with zero NHL games | Cut resistance of at least A5 under the ANSI/ISEA standard; no rolling, taping or cutting |
| NCAA Division I men and National Collegiate women | Cut-resistant neck, wrist and ankle protection encouraged in 2026-27, mandatory from 2027-28 | No cut level specified |
Leagues and branches add their own rules. Hockey Eastern Ontario, for example, has required a BNQ-certified throat protector for all registered players and officials in all on-ice activities since 1 December 2023. The full list is on the neck guards page.
Where the sources disagree
- USA Hockey certification. A neck-guard maker's blog says HECC-certified neck protection became required for USA Hockey youth players from 1 August 2025 (claim), while AP's 2024 report describes no certification requirement. We found no USA Hockey text confirming a HECC requirement, so ask your association.
- Age ranges. Retailers give different ages for both the USA Hockey and Hockey Canada rules (claims). Hockey Canada's rule says minor and female hockey without stating an age.
Our picks by category
Neck guards
Match the label to your rule. In Hockey Canada play, the Pashby fitting guide says the guard must carry the BNQ certification label, fit snugly and cover the throat fully. For NHL players with no NHL games, the 2026-27 rule sets a minimum A5 cut level. The IIHF asks for a design that covers as much of the neck as possible, a useful test even where your rule names no standard. A retailer, HockeyMonkey, recommends an ANSI cut level of A6 or higher (claim); that is its recommendation, not a rule we found.
Best for: Every youth player, and any player whose league requires one
Base layers
The IIHF's 2026/27 Rule 9.5 strongly recommends cut-resistant socks, sleeves or undergarments for all players, and the NCAA's 2027-28 requirement covers the wrist and ankle areas as well as the neck. Where your rule requires a neck guard or a certified protector, check with your association before treating any base layer as meeting it.
Best for: Players adding cut-resistant wrist, leg and body layers
How to choose
Read the label
- BNQ. The Standards Council of Canada lists CAN/BNQ 9415-370 as the neck protector standard, current version 2013, reaffirmed 2026. Some retailers cite "BNQ 9300-040" instead, which may be a certification protocol rather than the standard (search summaries).
- ISO 10256-5. The ISO part for neck laceration protectors covers players, goalkeepers and referees, and does not cover impacts from pucks or sticks, per search summaries of it.
- ANSI/ISEA cut levels. The NHL rule uses this US hand-protection scale, which runs from A1 to A9; A5 is the NHL minimum.
- HECC. A retailer says HECC launched a neck protector programme in 2025, testing to ISO 10256-5 (claim). We could not reach HECC's site to confirm it.
Fit
HockeyMonkey advises measuring the neck just below the Adam's apple and checking the fit with shoulder pads, helmet and jersey on (claim). Once fitted, wear it as made: under the NHL's 2026-27 Rule 9.8 and the IIHF's Rule 9.12 it must be worn as intended and unmodified, and Hockey Saskatchewan's 2024 memo says cutting, taping or altering a BNQ guard counts as improper wear under Hockey Canada rules.
Goaltenders
A hanging throat protector on a goalie mask is not a neck guard. The IIHF allows one in addition to the mandatory protector, Hockey Canada's Rule 3.6(c) still requires the BNQ throat protector, and the NFHS requires both, with its December 2025 interpretations confirming a minor penalty for a goalie wearing only one. See the goalie gear guide.
Care and replacement
The Pashby guide says to hang throat protectors to dry after use. HockeyMonkey says to replace a guard that is cut, frayed, stretched or no longer closes securely (claim).
Neck guard rules are new and still changing. Check the label on your guard and your association's current rule before every season.
Sources
- IIHF Official Rule Book 2026/27, Version 1.0 (PDF, FISG copy)
- Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028 (PDF)
- NHL Official Rules 2026-2027 (index of NHL rulebooks at Scouting the Refs)
- USA Hockey, 2025-29 playing rules changes (16 September 2025)
- AP via 13abc, USA Hockey will mandate neck laceration protection (28 January 2024)
- NFHS, Ice Hockey Rules Changes 2024-25
- MIAA, NFHS ice hockey rules interpretations, 3 December 2025 (PDF)
- England Ice Hockey, neck laceration protector mandate
- NCAA, cut-resistant equipment approved in ice hockey for DI men and NC women (23 July 2026)
- Hockey Eastern Ontario, protective equipment policy (December 2023, PDF)
- Hockey Saskatchewan, memo on officials wearing BNQ throat protectors
- Standards Council of Canada, CAN/BNQ 9415-370
- ISO 10256-5, neck laceration protectors
- Ice Warehouse, what is BNQ certification for hockey neck guards (retailer)
- HockeyMonkey, hockey neck guards buying guide (retailer)
- HockeyMonkey, hockey neck guards rules, fit and buying guide (retailer)
- Titan Battlegear, neck guard for USA Hockey compliance (manufacturer)
- A Guide to Fitting Hockey Equipment, Hockey Development Centre for Ontario and the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund (PDF)