Objective: This study was conducted to identify the circumstances, timing,
frequency, and types of injuries for a Junior A hockey team in an attempt t
o develop injury prevention strategies.
Design: This study was a prospective review of injuries sustained by a hock
ey ream during one season.
Setting: Players were evaluated in a private practice clinical setting and
during practices and games.
Participants: Twenty-two hockey players (16-20 years old) were evaluated. A
n injury was defined as any event requiring the attention of a physician or
trainer. The players sustained 83 injuries throughout the course of the se
ason. Seventy-four were considered independent events.
Main Outcome Measures: The effects of the following variables on injury rat
es were analyzed: position, game situation versus practice, and timing of i
njury during the game.
Results: Players were 20 times more likely to injure themselves during a ga
me than practice. Although forwards sustained the highest total percentage
of injuries, defensemen had the highest incidence of injury in games. More
injuries occurred in the later periods and in the later minutes of each per
iod. Injury incidence decreased for the second half of the season compared
with the first half.
Conclusion: Our data suggest goaltenders are at the lowest risk of sustaini
ng an injury, but forwards appear to be at a higher risk in practice situat
ions and defensemen in games. Game situations place players at a much great
er risk of injury than practice sessions, particularly in the later portion
s of each period and toward the end of the game. Given the propensity for i
njury in the early season and later in the game, endurance training before
and during the season may be important in injury prevention.