Prevention

Players can reduce their risk by:

• Wearing properly fitted protective equipment, including a certified helmet and mouthguard.
• Performing strength and flexibility training.
• Warming up before games and practices.
• Learning proper checking and skating techniques.
• Following the rules regarding dangerous hits and checking.

If a player experiences severe pain, cannot bear weight, loses consciousness, or has symptoms of a concussion, they should stop playing immediately and be evaluated by a healthcare professional before returning to the ice.

Hockey is a fast, physical sport, so injuries are relatively common. The most frequent injuries include:

• Concussions – Often caused by body checks, collisions, or being struck by the puck or boards. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, confusion, and sensitivity to light.
• Shoulder injuries – Dislocations, separations, and rotator cuff strains frequently occur after impacts with the boards or other players.
• Knee injuries – Sprains of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can happen during sudden stops, twists, or collisions.
• Ankle sprains – Common when a skate twists awkwardly or after contact with another player.
• Groin strains – Frequent due to the powerful skating motion and rapid changes in direction.
• Hamstring and hip flexor strains – Result from explosive skating and acceleration.
• Wrist and hand injuries – Fractures, sprains, and finger injuries can occur from falls, stick contact, or blocking shots.
• Facial injuries – Cuts, broken noses, dental injuries, and eye injuries can result from sticks, pucks, or collisions. Full-face protection greatly reduces the risk.
• Back injuries – Muscle strains and lower back pain can develop from repeated skating motions or hard impacts.
• Lacerations – Skate blades can cause serious cuts to the legs, wrists, neck, or other areas, although these injuries are relatively rare.