Kevin Fiala’s Friends’ Charity Game in Zurich raised funds for St. Gallen Children’s Hospital and youth hockey, featuring NHL stars vs. ZSC Lions.

Los Angeles Kings Left Winger Kevin Fiala brought NHL star power to Switzerland this summer, hosting the first-ever Fiala’s Friends charity game on Friday at the Swiss Live Arena in Zurich.

Advertisement

The event was a mix of elite-level hockey with a mission to give back, raising funds for the Children’s Hospital in St. Gallen as well as youth hockey programs for the ZSC Lions and EHC Uzwil.

The evening was an exhibition match featuring the ZSC Lions — one of Switzerland’s premier professional clubs — and a team of NHL players handpicked by Fiala.

Dubbed “Fiala’s Friends,” the team included several Switzerland-born NHL players, along with other elite professionals, giving fans in the area a rare chance to witness their global heroes skate together on local ice in a relaxed, though competitive, environment.

Advertisement

Along with the on-ice activity, the event featured fan interactive experiences like autograph sessions, photo sessions, and merchandise auctions, all of which contributed to the fundraising effort.

The organizers would like to make the Fiala’s Friends Charity Game a yearly tradition, creating a long-term relationship between the NHL and Swiss hockey and making a tangible impact in the community.

To Fiala, the night was more than hockey. It was a night of charity, friendship, and the sport that brought them all together — demonstrating that even off the ice in the off-season, the NHL’s best can still make big plays both on and off the ice.

Keith Allain spent 18 seasons as head coach at Yale. (Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

Yale’s men’s hockey program will have a new look behind the bench this season.

Longtime coach Keith Allain announced his retirement on Friday after 18 seasons as head coach of the Bulldogs, who will begin the 2025-26 season on Nov. 2 at Dartmouth.

“It is with profound gratitude that I announce my retirement from Yale Hockey,” Allain said in a press release. “My wife, Mi, our three children and I have been truly blessed by our time with the Bulldogs. I want to thank each of my players, who inspired and challenged me to be at my best; the coaches and administrators who became like family as we worked toward a common goal; and our alumni and fans, whose unwavering support in both good times and bad made Ingalls Rink a true home for all of us. Serving as Yale’s head hockey coach has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Thank you.”

Since taking over as coach in 2006, Allain, 66, compiled a 282-254-54 (192-176-36 ECAC) record. Yale went 6-21-3 (5-14-3 ECAC) this past season.

Allain (Worcester, Mass.) helped guide the Bulldogs to six NCAA tournament appearances and a national championship in 2013, when Yale defeated cross-state rival Quinnipiac, 4-0. His staff in 2013 included the late Red Gendron (Boston, Mass.) and newly hired Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse (Canton, Mass.). It was the program’s first national championship appearance and its second Frozen Four appearance, the first of which came in 1952.

In 2024-25, a total of 396,525 youth players were registered with USA Hockey. All of them, effective Aug. 1, 2024, were required to wear neck protection during games and practices following a new USA Hockey rule covering all age classifications except adults.

All players entering the NHL in 2026-27 and beyond must wear neck guards as part of the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and NHLPA. Neck protection was already mandatory for professional players in England, Finland, Germany and Sweden. In Canada, neck guards are required in minor hockey, CHL and women’s hockey.

These rules satisfy Teri Weiss personally and professionally. She is the mother of Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei. Her son’s safety was the reason Weiss founded Skate Armor, a Wisconsin-based company that designs and manufactures neck guards.

As of July, Weiss projected she would sell approximately 12,000 units in 2025-26. No current NHLers use her neck guards.

As for her son, Lohrei started the 2025 World Championship in Sweden and Denmark wearing a Team USA-issued neck guard. All players must use neck protection during IIHF competition. 

Weiss shipped a Skate Armor neck guard overseas for Lohrei to wear during the tournament. It arrived as Lohrei became a healthy scratch. It stayed in his bag. Lohrei does not use a neck guard during NHL play.

“I just hate wearing a neck guard in general. Wasn’t a fan of it,” said Lohrei, who appeared in five of Team USA’s 10 games. “That being said, I didn’t play a ton of the games over there. Didn’t have to wear one up in the stands.”

Weiss ceded that her 24-year-old son has aged out of parental reach. So she worries. 

On Feb. 3, 2024, while playing for the AHL’s Providence Bruins, Lohrei suffered a skate cut on his knee. Weiss immediately knew what had happened by the manner in which he went down. Lohrei did not play again for 13 days. 

“You want to make this choice,” Weiss said of players like her son who decline to wear neck protection. “But if you care about the people that love you, that have gotten you to this game, that have spent time and effort and money, then you’re going to go out and skate without a neck guard on? Something that, yes, is rare. But if it does happen, it can kill you. So why? If you have a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister, a wife, children, why aren’t you wearing a neck guard?

“Do I want to throttle him about it? Absolutely.”

Weiss believes in her neck guard. It has yet to catch on. Even her son will not wear it.

A mother’s invention

One day, Lohrei returned from the rink with a bruise on the side of his neck. Lohrei, then nine years old by Weiss’ recollection, had taken a stick up high. 

The neck guard Weiss had bought was in Lohrei’s bag. He did not like wearing it.

Binding on the seams irritated his skin. Upholstery foam inside the neck guard retained Lohrei’s sweat, making it heavier. Weiss had no trouble cutting the neck guard open.

“I took my kitchen knife I use to cut chicken with,” Weiss recalled. “Literally the first pass, I sliced right through it.”

Weiss entered her family room where Lohrei was watching TV. She poked her thumbs through the gash she had opened and showed the neck guard to her son.

“Mom,” Lohrei said. “If you make me something, I’ll wear it.”

The Skate Armor neck guard is designed to cover the neck up to a player’s ears. (Photo courtesy of Teri Weiss)

Weiss dug in. She settled on SpectraGuard, a polyethylene Honeywell product used in cut-resistant gloves in the food processing industry.

As for design, Weiss devised tabs that cover the sides of the neck up to the ear lobes. The tabs include rubber that prevents them from rolling down. 

Weiss believed this protected more of the neck than collar-style guards, which, depending on their height, can expose the area under the ears. The carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, travel through each side of the neck to the base of the skull. The jugular veins, which transport blood from the brain to the heart, run along the spine and on the front of the neck.

In 2015, a Mayo Clinic study tested 14 brands of neck guards to determine skate cut resistance. The Skate Armor neck guard and one of three models of the Reebok 11K neck guard did not fail under a compression load of 600 Newtons. The test defined failure as damage to polyethylene foam positioned between a neck guard and a neck form.

“I think I designed the best neck guard on the market right now as far as coverage and cut resistance,” Weiss said. “Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

When Weiss was first bringing her creation to market, wearing a neck guard was recommended but not mandatory. A recommendation became a requirement during the USA Hockey Congress winter meeting on Jan. 28, 2024. It was not a coincidence the change occurred three months after former NHLer Adam Johnson died because of a skate cut to his neck.

“It’s a very rare occurrence,” said Kevin Margarucci, USA Hockey manager of player safety. “But when something like that happens, it opens your eyes a little bit more. That definitely was one of the events leading up to our requirement that increased our conversations in looking into this a little bit further and ultimately leading us to the requirement.”

In theory, the rule change should have helped Skate Armor land on more players’ necks. In practice, that has not necessarily been the case.

Industry standards

At Pure Hockey in Needham, Mass., there are five neck guards available for purchase: CCM NG900, CCM NG600, Shock Doctor Ultra 2.0, Bauer NLP21 and Aegis Interceptor. All are made in Vietnam.

Each of the neck guards is certified by the Bureau de Normalisation du Quebec (BNQ), confirmed by a BNQ label. This means the neck guards have been tested to meet BNQ’s safety standards.

Similarly, the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) certifies helmets, goalie masks, face masks, visors and neck guards. Manufacturers contact HECC to express interest in certification. HECC then connects manufacturers with the CSA Group, a Toronto-based corporation that conducts testing on a range of products, including home appliances and personal protective equipment. USA Hockey’s guidance for HECC was to measure neck guards’ cut resistance and coverage area.

“If you have a product that’s really stiff but covers a lot of neck, kids are going to try to not wear it as tight, roll it down or whatever. Now they’re not wearing it properly,” said Margarucci. “Equipment can only protect what it’s covering.”

The objective of HECC certification is to help consumers determine which products have passed safety tests. But the marketplace can be confusing.

Terry Smith, chair of the HECC certification committee, noted how Amazon’s ease of purchase and delivery could convince families to order non-certified helmets that may not have undergone safety testing. Ryan Miosek, HECC general counsel, said counterfeit labels are regularly placed on products that are not HECC-certified.

“It’s a complicated process. But it’s complicated because it’s important for the consumer and for the marketplace,” Miosek said. “We don’t, at HECC, just hand out certification labels just because you want it. You have to earn it. Our manufacturers that have that label on their helmet, they’ve earned it. They’ve earned the right to carry that certification on their product to let the market know that this meets a standard.”

As of Aug. 1, 2025, USA Hockey mandated that all neck guards must be HECC-certified. BNQ-certified neck guards will meet this criteria for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, according to Margarucci, giving manufacturers time to pursue HECC certification.

“It’s just part of your gear you put on now,” Margarucci said. “Over time, it’s going to be seamless.”

The rule puts Skate Armor on the clock. Weiss previously had BNQ certification. The BNQ logo — it looks like a ladle inside a square with rounded corners — is affixed on Skate Armor’s current inventory. According to Weiss, BNQ certification costs $25,000 Canadian the first year and $13,000 every other year following.

Weiss chose to let her BNQ certification lapse, partly because of the upcoming HECC requirement. She is also testing newer fabrics that, among other qualities, have cooling features and does not want to pursue HECC certification before a design change.

On March 19, Weiss received a $10,245.56 quote from CSA for HECC certification. Weiss would also have to carry $5 million in insurance annually. She estimated policy costs to range between $12,000 and $25,000 per year. 

As a small business owner, Weiss considers these costs significant. She does not have a choice because of USA Hockey’s HECC requirement.

“That is the bottom line,” Weiss said. “You’re going to have to have HECC.”

‘My job is done’

The way Weiss remembers it, she was driving from her home in Wisconsin to Michigan when she got the call. Weiss was en route to watch daughter Zoe Lohrei, a former player at Adrian College, play a game. 

Caller ID showed Grand Rapids, Minn. Weiss thought it was a customer when she answered.

“Hi Teri, this is Sue Johnson,” the caller said.

“Hi Sue,” Weiss responded. “How can I help you?”

“I’m Adam Johnson’s mom,” the caller replied.

Weiss was stunned. They had never been in contact.

Johnson told Weiss stories about her son. He had been planning to propose to his girlfriend. He was thinking about retiring from hockey, buying a farm and starting a career in finance.

Johnson then told Weiss she liked what she saw on the Skate Armor web site.

That call helped validate Weiss’ work. They have since become friends. Skate Armor donates $1 from every neck guard sold to the Adam Johnson Memorial Fund.

Weiss has spoken to larger manufacturers about licensing to broaden Skate Armor’s footprint. No deals have been made. She has been told that margins on neck guards are thin.

Other manufacturers offer a portfolio of products, from sticks to skates to protective equipment. They also produce neck guards at greater scale and lower costs. Skate Armor has three neck-specific items: the neck guard, a neck guard shirt and an impact insert.

Overseas production could save Weiss money. She does not want to risk compromising the manufacturing process. The materials for the neck guard are laser-cut in Wisconsin. Manufacturing takes place at Brownmed in Spirit Lake, Iowa. 

So Weiss makes Skate Armor neck guards available for purchase online and in three retail locations in Littleton, Colo.; Appleton, Wis.; and Fargo, N.D. Skate Armor is profitable, according to Weiss. 

“There’s nothing like when I have a parent call me and tell me a story about it saving their kid,” Weiss said. “I’m like, ‘Well, my job is done.’ I didn’t do it thinking I’m going to sell millions of these and make all kinds of money. I did it because I saw that change still needs to happen so this part of a hockey player’s body is covered and we do our very best to prohibit this thing from ever happening again.”

(Top photo of Teri Weiss and Mason Lohrei during his days at Culver Military Academy: Courtesy of Teri Weiss)

Peart returns to Hamden after a one-year stint as an Assistant Coach for Dartmouth Women’s Ice Hockey. At Dartmouth, Peart oversaw the forwards while managing power play strategy and skills. She also led all recruiting outreach and relationship-building off the ice for the Big Green. 

Prior to that, Peart finished her career as the second-highest scorer in Quinnipiac program history. She totaled 124 points on 60 goals and 64 assists, while playing in 169 games, the most in program history. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sadie back to QU as our Director of Operations and Player Development,” said head coach Cass Turner. “With 124 points and two NCAA tournament appearances, Sadie brings a wealth of experience that will continue to elevate our culture of success. She’s the kind of player and leader who makes everyone around her better, and she approaches her work with incredible professionalism, organization, and a true passion for helping players grow. Her presence on staff will make an immediate impact as we prepare for an exciting season ahead.” 

She was named team captain for the 2023-24 after serving as an assistant the season prior and holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a master’s degree in business administration. Peart was also Chair of Quinnipiac’s Big Event for QCoor. In this role she organized a campus-wide volunteer event that involved 1,500+ students. 

In her time as a Bobcat, Peart also organized youth skates and was named a Wayne Dean Sportsmanship Award finalist as a graduate student. The center was also dominant at the faceoff dot in her career as a Bobcat, finishing with a 52.4 win percentage while taking nearly 1,700 draws over her last two seasons in Hamden. She ranked fourth nationally in faceoffwins in 2023-24. 

“Returning to Quinnipiac in this role truly feels like a dream come true,” said Peart. “This program has always felt like home, surrounded by passionate leaders whose example continues to inspire and challenge me. I’m eager to get started with this exceptional group of women and staff, building on a tradition of excellence together.”

As a team, QU had success during each year in Peart’s time, making the ECAC Hockey playoffs each season, with three trips to the semifinals. The Bobcats also had two NCAA Tournament appearances in that period, with Peart scoring a goal and an assist in four games played. 

Prior to Quinnipiac, Peart was a standout at Grand Rapids High School, scoring 234 points. This earned her a spot as a top-10 finalist for the Minnesota Miss Hockey Award. 

Away from Quinnipiac and Dartmouth, Peart also served in 2022 and 2023 as a USA Hockey Team Leader at the U18 National Development Camp. She also was an on-ice coach at Caroline Hurricanes Hockey Camp in 2022. 

For an inside look at the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey program, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_WIH or go to gobobcats.com/wih.

I recently came across a YouTube video about new discoveries at Pompeii, the famously buried city located at the base of Mount Vesuvius in southwestern Italy.

I’m a bit of a history nerd, but what really caught my eye was the fact that I’d been there before. I knew exactly what they were talking about in the video. I’d seen the cobblestone streets and the bakeries lining the main road. I’d even seen a partly excavated site where we were strictly monitored when taking photos and videos.

Frankly, I was giddy. Pompeii was no longer some abstract historical site. It was a memory. A place I’d gone before and marveled at in person.

I visited Italy for the first time in January and spent three and a half months studying abroad in Florence.

Before my experience abroad, I never even thought about spending such a long time in a foreign nation. I generally don’t like change and living in an entirely different world was something I knew I didn’t want to do.

I was having a bit of a tough time my sophomore year and realized that, not only would I not be missing out on anything in Pennsylvania, but I was actually missing out on everything by staying.

I can’t recommend spending a semester abroad enough. Living somewhere new, rather than simply visiting, is almost indescribable.

Delving into a new culture, a new language, a new atmosphere, new food, new friends and best of all, new experiences was something I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Abroad, there are so many opportunities I never would have experienced otherwise.

I learned how to make pasta from scratch. I visited hundreds-of-years-old Sephardic (Spanish Jew) synagogues. I saw the Colosseum, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

I was even able to travel relatively cheaply to six different countries and see incredible sites, entirely foreign and unknown to me. Not to mention all of the places in Italy, I was fortunate enough to visit.

In Venice, Italy, I was able to ride a gondola and explore the city, miraculously still on the water.

In Split, Croatia, I was able to visit ancient Roman structures and swim in the most beautiful beaches.

In Prague, Czech Republic, I was able to see magnificent churches and even an infamous site from World War II.

But in Florence, I was able to truly live like an Italian. I shopped at Italian grocery stores, ate Italian food and rubbed shoulders with Italian people. I lived like a local, and boy, was it worth every anxious thought I harbored before I arrived.

The usual collegiate activities pale in comparison to the expansion of your mind and the breadth of your experiences while in another country.

The United States is my favorite country in the world. If my ancestors hadn’t been so fortunate as to receive one of the few visas reserved for Jews in the first half of the 20th century, I most likely wouldn’t be alive today.

But living in America, though such an incredible opportunity, means that we only see a small, albeit mighty, subsection of global cultures.

I’m not one for the forced and minutiae “diversity” I see being shoved down our throats in the United States. I appreciate being able to love our culture while marveling at the cultures of countries globally.

Some of my favorite culture shocks in Florence included the immense chivalry of Italian men, the coffee being served at practically all times of day and the simplicity of the food.

Without studying abroad, I never would have had the opportunity to spend enough time in any foreign country to live like a local. I never would have been so well-traveled (so hoity-toity I am!). I never would have had the time to do all of these things if it weren’t for study abroad.

I originally thought studying abroad meant missing out on a semester of college.

What I never could have imagined is the world I would’ve missed if I had stayed behind.

I urge everyone to think outside of their own worlds long enough to see other ones.