The first hockey player to wear a neck guard wore it almost 50 years ago, yet neck guards still aren't mandatory in all leagues.

Kim Crouch suffered a neck injury while playing hockey in 1975 when he was cut by a skate and almost lost his life. His Dad made him a neck guard to prevent any further injuries, making Crouch the first hockey player to wear a neck guard. Almost 50 years later, neck guards still are not mandatory in all leagues. Following the death of Adam Johnson in the UK, it brings forward the question of whether this should change.