I remember when USA hockey decided to stop mandating neck guards. Their concern was that it actually acts as a guide to the skate blade and made injuries more severe.
In other words the blade ran along the edge of the guard.
USA has never mandated a neck guard. The current debate about instituting such a mandate is what standard do you apply how is it tested and how does the gear become certified. I am also sure that the cost factors are also being reviewed. BNK certification would be an annual thing for a maker and is over $10,000US. At this time, there is no organization nor test house that performs this function such as Hockey Canada.
While the lexan dangler for the goal can guide the skate blade into the neck area, a BNK certified kneck guard or padded/gel fabric covered will trap the blade into a 1 axis movement, much like a sawing motion. To receive a BNK cert. the guard must "trap" the blade and not promote lateral slide once a min amount of downward force is applied. It must also withstand cut through from a specific number of passes of a well ground skate with a specific amount of foot/lbs applied.
Other than the Maltese gel (player and goalie) or other goalie throat protectors, none offer more than a dubious amount of protection from puck or other blunt force. While the maltese hockey site states GOALTENDING in its slogan, His (phil Maltese) mission is of a much wider scope. He has been lobbying the USA Hockey organization for several years about the need for a mandate.
Yes, it would impact his revenue generation in the states on the major plus side Maltese would also incure the cost of this new certification process that would have to be established. With Phil where youth hockey is concerned it(revenue) is secondary to the safety of all our youth players, world wide. Just one life taken in playing the game due to a preventable incident is to high of a cost for USA to be so derelict in their leadership role.
The best you can do is to e-mail your local USA hockey reps to pester them about this important issue. I know of no USA sanctioned youth league that does not mandate them. This is not to include High School hockey. These games are not USA qualifiers. Why cant USA simply do the same but increase the certification to include blunt force protections as well, and make it a point of focus.