- On-Ice Safety
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- On-Ice Safety
- On-Ice Safety
- …
- On-Ice Safety
- On-Ice Safety
- …
- On-Ice Safety
- On-Ice Safety
- …
- On-Ice Safety
Protective Equipment that you need to be safe:
For whenever you're at an organized practice or just playing hockey with friends. The equipment listed is not all of what you need to play but these are the pieces of equipment that people will choose not to use at times, but are necessary.In addition to the items listed, you should wear an Athletic Cups/Supporter for boys and for girls there is an option to wear a "Jill" which is the female “pelvic protector” jockstrap.
Helmet with Full Cage/Shield
Full Chest Guard
Elbow Pads
Shin Guards
Mouthguard
Neck Guard
To help prevent or lower the risk of a hockey injury, follow these steps:
1Warm up to prepare your body for activity.
2Stretch your lower back, hips, and groin.
3Wear proper protective gear designed for each position.
4Know the rules of the game and abide by them.
5Wear proper protective gear designed for each position.
6Train in the off-season to make your body stronger, more coordinated, and flexible.
7Maintain proper nutrition and hydration to help you stay healthy.
- Intentional hits to the head: It may seem obvious, but hits to the head cause more concussions than hits to the body. Avoid contact to the head whenever you can. Keep your shoulders, elbows, arms and fists down. There are accidents and incidental contact, but if we’re all more aware on the ice, we can reduce the risk.
- Checking from behind: Do not do this! A player facing the boards is in a very vulnerable position. An impact from behind makes them susceptible to injury. They are not prepared for an impact, and a hit from behind will likely cause the head to whip back and forth, or send them crashing into the boards. This is a dangerous play.
- Body checking: This has been removed from the game at some minor hockey levels, which is a good thing. We’re not going to get into the debate here, but it’s clear that any contact sport has inherent risk for head injuries. Players unprepared for an impact such as those looking the wrong way or watching a pass with their head down are often at higher risk.
- Colliding with teammates or opposing players: This is a very common way that concussions occur. Neither player is expecting an impact, which puts them at significant risk. Keep your head up, and work on awareness on the ice.
- Puck or stick to the head or face: This is less likely than the scenarios above, but it can happen.
- Fighting: Fighting in hockey is less common at the minor and youth levels, but definitely something that’s hotly debated at the professional level. Any time punches are thrown, there is a risk for concussion. Interestingly, a 2016 documentary titled Ice Guardians suggested that less 5% of concussions in NHL hockey was due to fighting.
Are concussions in hockey preventable? Yes!
Read the information in the boxes to further understand how concussions are preventable.Education, Awareness and Protocols:
Education and awareness is often the first step towards proper injury management. Research shows that most concussed patients can make a full recovery; however, receiving a second concussion prior to full recovery of the first could lead to long-term complications. Having concussion protocols in place can encourage proper recognition, management and recovery.Annual Comprehensive, Multimodal baseline Testing (for some levels and age groups):
At the time of this blog post, baseline testing is one the best ways to reduce the risk for further injury and long-term complications. How? By knowing what an athlete is capable of in a healthy state, it allows healthcare practitioners to make better decisions regarding recovery and when it is safe for the athlete to return to their sport after a concussion.Consider your Position:
If you’re more prone to injury or had previous concussions, you may want to consider a different position. An NHL study showed that forwards are more susceptible to concussions because there are more of them on the ice, and they often move at a higher speed. They also have the puck more often.Always use Caution Early on in a Game:
Research shows that in game awareness is one of the ways to reduce concussion risk. If a player knows they are going to be hit, they can brace for the impact. An NHL study showed that more concussions occur in the first period, when teams try to “set the tone” early. Be ready as soon as the puck drops.Enforce the Rules:
Oftentimes, plays that cause a concussion aren’t recognized as a penalty. Referees and coaches have an obligation to enforce the rules and call penalties. These repercussions for on-ice actions could reduce inappropriate behavior. Eliminating checks to the head, hits from behind or other dangerous plays can also help.[1] Some leagues should consider limiting intentional contact in younger age groups.Practice Makes Progress:
Ensure that concussion awareness measures and prevention techniques are used in practice. The more players become accustomed to this style of play in practice, the more likely they will use it in games. Further, strong skill development and in-game awareness (or “Hockey IQ” – think of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky) may help players anticipate and avoid high risk plays.Make sure your Equipment Fits:
Wear equipment that fits properly and is Hockey Canada, USA Hockey and/or CSA approved. All hockey equipment including helmets, mouth guards and neck guards should be worn consistently and correctly, and be in good shape.Respect:
Having respect for opposing players as well as the coaches and referees can help to keep everyone safe.
