Concussions account for 15 to 20% of all NHL injuries from 2006 to 2022, but the risk is not spread evenly across roles and leagues. In the NHL 2022 to 2023 regular season, 84 concussions were reported and goaltenders made up 12.5% of injuries while logging only 4% of player ice time. Across tournaments, incidence can swing from 0.45 per 1000 athlete exposures in NCAA men’s hockey to 15.8 per 1000 player-games at the IIHF World Championship.
Key Takeaways
- Concussions account for 15-20% of all NHL injuries from 2006-2022
- Youth hockey concussion rate 0.5 per 1000 AE in USA Hockey 2019-2023
- NHL 2022-2023 season: 84 concussions reported, 17.8% of total injuries
- In the 2022-2023 NHL regular season, goaltenders experienced 12.5% of all injuries despite comprising only 4% of player ice time
- Youth hockey players aged 10-14 had an injury incidence rate of 4.2 per 1000 athlete-exposures in USA Hockey data from 2019-2022
- During the 2021 IIHF World Championship, injury rates reached 15.8 per 1000 player-games, highest among forwards
- ACL tears comprise 12% of lower extremity injuries in women's hockey 2018-2023
- Medial collateral ligament sprains: 28% of knee injuries in NHL 2020-2023
- Groin strains account for 18.4% of all hockey injuries per Swedish study 2019-2022
- Body checking banned leagues reduce injuries by 50% per Hockey Canada 2022
- Helmets with cage reduce facial injuries 76% youth USA Hockey data
- Neck strengthening programs cut whiplash 42% in juniors Finland 2021-2023
- Clavicle fractures represent 22% of upper body fractures in NHL 2018-2023
- Shoulder dislocations: 14.5 per 1000 player-seasons elite hockey
- Acromioclavicular joint separations grade 3: 8.2% of shoulder injuries
From 2006 to 2022, concussions made up 15 to 20 percent of NHL injuries, with recovery averaging 14.2 days.
Related reading
01 · Category
Concussion Statistics26 stats
01
Concussions account for 15-20% of all NHL injuries from 2006-2022
02
Youth hockey concussion rate 0.5 per 1000 AE in USA Hockey 2019-2023
03
NHL 2022-2023 season: 84 concussions reported, 17.8% of total injuries
04
Female ice hockey concussions 1.2 times higher than soccer per NCAA 2021
05
IIHF tournaments 2015-2022: 12.3% of injuries are concussions
06
Junior hockey Canada: 22% of injuries concussions in body checking leagues
07
NCAA men's hockey concussions: 0.45 per 1000 AE 2020-2023
08
Goaltender concussions in pros: 8.2% of position injuries 2018-2022
09
Body checking introduction in youth raised concussions by 35% per Hockey Canada study
10
NHL average recovery time for concussion: 14.2 days median 2015-2023
11
Elite Swedish hockey: 10.1 concussions per 1000 game hours 2020-2023
12
U.S. high school hockey concussions: 0.61 per 1000 AE 2019-2022
13
Repeated concussions in NHL careers: 12% of players have 3+
14
Women's international hockey: 14.5% concussion prevalence 2022 Olympics
15
Pee Wee hockey concussions: 0.3 per 1000 AE non-checking
16
KHL concussions: 9.8% of total injuries 2021-2023
17
Collegiate hockey RTP after concussion: 92% within 10 days with protocol
18
Adolescent elite hockey: 18% concussions from stick contact
19
NHL concussion baseline testing compliance: 98.7% in 2023
20
Inline hockey concussions 40% lower than ice at 0.28 per 1000 AE
21
World Juniors concussions: 11 per tournament average 2018-2023
22
Long-term CTE risk in retired NHL players: 18% suspected from imaging
23
Bantam checking leagues: concussion rate 2x non-checking
24
Goalkeeper concussion mechanism: 45% puck impact 2019-2022
25
NCAA women's hockey concussions: 0.38 per 1000 AE
26
Symptoms duration post-concussion hockey: average 12.5 days youth
Interpretation
Concussion Statistics Interpretation
Despite the sport's relentless efforts to improve safety with baseline testing and return-to-play protocols, the stubbornly persistent concussion crisis in hockey—from youth leagues introducing body checking to the professional ranks—reveals a sobering truth: the culture of the game is still getting its head handed to it by the physics of the game.
02 · Category
Incidence Rates30 stats
01
In the 2022-2023 NHL regular season, goaltenders experienced 12.5% of all injuries despite comprising only 4% of player ice time
02
Youth hockey players aged 10-14 had an injury incidence rate of 4.2 per 1000 athlete-exposures in USA Hockey data from 2019-2022
03
During the 2021 IIHF World Championship, injury rates reached 15.8 per 1000 player-games, highest among forwards
04
NCAA Division I men's ice hockey reported 2.9 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures in the 2020-2021 season
05
In Swedish Elite League 2017-2020, overall injury incidence was 22.4 per 1000 game hours
06
Canadian minor hockey leagues saw 3.1 acute injuries per 1000 hours in 2018-2022 data
07
NHL playoffs 2015-2022 averaged 18.7 injuries per series
08
Female collegiate hockey injury rate was 1.8 per 1000 AE, 35% lower than males in 2019-2022
09
Junior A hockey in British Columbia reported 5.6 injuries per 1000 player-games from 2016-2020
10
Olympic ice hockey 2018 had 11.2% injury prevalence among players
11
Finnish Liiga league 2019-2023 saw 28.3 injuries per 1000 match hours
12
USA Hockey Pee Wee level (11-12 years) had 2.4 injuries per 1000 practices
13
Professional hockey in DEL Germany 2020-2022: 19.5 injuries/1000 hours
14
Inline hockey injury rate 1.9 per 1000 AE vs 3.2 in ice hockey per 2021 study
15
NHL 2020 bubble playoffs: 25% increase in injury rate to 14.2 per 1000 games
16
Adolescent hockey players in Quebec 2017-2021: 4.8 injuries/1000 hours
17
Elite women's hockey in SDHL Sweden: 16.7 injuries/1000 hours 2019-2022
18
Bantam hockey (13-14 years) USA: 3.5 per 1000 AE
19
KHL Russia 2021-2023: 24.1 injuries per 1000 game exposures
20
Recreational adult hockey: 2.1 injuries/1000 hours per Canadian data 2020
21
NHL 2010-2020 decade average: 472 injuries per season
22
Midget hockey (15-17 years) injury rate 6.2 per 1000 games
23
AHL affiliates 2022: 31.4 injuries/1000 player-games
24
Norwegian GET-ligaen: 20.8 per 1000 hours 2018-2022
25
College women's hockey: 2.2 per 1000 AE 2021-2023
26
SHL Sweden juniors: 18.9 injuries/1000 hours
27
World Juniors U20 2022: 13.4 injuries per tournament
28
Pond hockey leagues USA: 1.5 per 1000 hours low-contact
29
Elite U18 hockey Finland: 25.6 per 1000 match hours
30
NHL training camps 2023: 9.7 injuries per camp across 32 teams
Interpretation
Incidence Rates Interpretation
While the goalies take a bruising far beyond their ice time share, the universal truth emerges that from peewees to pros, no level of hockey escapes its own statistically predictable tax of pain.
03 · Category
Lower Body Injuries24 stats
01
ACL tears comprise 12% of lower extremity injuries in women's hockey 2018-2023
02
Medial collateral ligament sprains: 28% of knee injuries in NHL 2020-2023
03
Groin strains account for 18.4% of all hockey injuries per Swedish study 2019-2022
04
Ankle fractures in youth hockey: 0.12 per 1000 AE USA 2021-2023
05
Hamstring injuries: 9.2 per 1000 hours in elite juniors Finland
06
Hip labral tears diagnosed in 15% of NHL lower body MRIs 2022
07
Meniscus tears: 22% of knee surgeries in pro hockey 2015-2023
08
Quadriceps contusions: 14.7% of thigh injuries in college hockey
09
Achilles tendon ruptures: 0.05 per 1000 AE rare but career-ending 10% time
10
Adductor strains peak in playoffs: 25% increase NHL data
11
Tibial plateau fractures from checks: 3.2% of leg injuries juniors
12
IT band syndrome: 8% of overuse lower body in recreational hockey
13
Patellar dislocations: 4.1 per 1000 knee exposures women college
14
Calf muscle strains: 11.3% post-training in elite leagues
15
Femoral neck stress fractures: 1.8% in female hockey players 2020-2023
16
Plantar fasciitis: 6.5 cases per 1000 recreational players annually
17
MCL grade 3 tears recovery 8-12 weeks average NHL
18
Hip pointers (iliac crest contusion): 19% of hip injuries amateurs
19
Ankle sprains: 32% of lower extremity injuries high school hockey
20
Gluteal strains: 7.4% in speed skaters transitioning to hockey
21
Knee contusions: 12.6% from puck impacts goalies
22
Shin splints: 9.8% overuse in youth practices 2021-2023
23
Quadriceps tendonitis: 5.2 per 1000 elite forwards
24
Lateral collateral ligament injuries: 3% of knee traumas NHL
Interpretation
Lower Body Injuries Interpretation
Hockey's physical toll becomes a grim anatomy lesson, revealing how every stride, check, and sudden twist writes its own painful statistic onto the ligaments and bones of players at every level.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prevention and Epidemiology25 stats
01
Body checking banned leagues reduce injuries by 50% per Hockey Canada 2022
02
Helmets with cage reduce facial injuries 76% youth USA Hockey data
03
Neck strengthening programs cut whiplash 42% in juniors Finland 2021-2023
04
Full-face protection lowers concussions 32% college men NCAA 2020-2023
05
Off-ice training reduces groin strains 28% elite Swedish leagues
06
Rule changes post-2008 NHL cut head hits 39%
07
Hip pads usage correlates with 25% fewer adductor injuries amateurs
08
Baseline ImPACT testing identifies at-risk players 85% accuracy
09
Non-checking youth leagues: 60% lower injury rate Pee Wee- Bantam
10
Shoulder pads with sternum protection reduce clavicle fx 35%
11
Fair play programs decrease fighting penalties 22% juniors Canada
12
Core stability training cuts lower body injuries 19% women college
13
Video analysis coaching reduces illegal checks 47% elite U18
14
Mouthguards reduce dental injuries 88% all levels 2022 meta-analysis
15
Age-appropriate checking delay to 15+ years lowers concussions 38%
16
Goaltender blockers redesigned cut wrist lacerations 51% NHL
17
Fatigue monitoring apps prevent overuse 24% thigh strains
18
Elbow pads extended coverage reduces fractures 29% collisions
19
Hydration protocols cut cramps 33% marathon-like games
20
Player-to-player contact rules IIHF 2023 reduce injuries 15%
21
Balance board training post-ACL 72% lower re-injury rate
22
Shin guards thicker foam absorb 40% puck impact energy
23
Mental health screening prevents burnout injuries 18% juniors
24
Dynamic warm-ups reduce ankle sprains 37% pre-game
25
AI injury prediction models 82% accurate NHL 2023 season
Interpretation
Prevention and Epidemiology Interpretation
The data clearly shows that hockey's greatest defense against injury isn't just courage, but a smart combination of better gear, smarter rules, and common sense preparation.
05 · Category
Upper Body Injuries23 stats
01
Clavicle fractures represent 22% of upper body fractures in NHL 2018-2023
02
Shoulder dislocations: 14.5 per 1000 player-seasons elite hockey
03
Acromioclavicular joint separations grade 3: 8.2% of shoulder injuries
04
Wrist fractures from slashes: 11.3% of hand injuries juniors Canada
05
Rotator cuff tears: 19% in players over 30 NHL 2022 MRI data
06
Finger dislocations: 25.4% of upper extremity traumas recreational
07
Labrum tears SLAP lesions: 28% of shoulder surgeries pros 2015-2023
08
Elbow fractures: 4.7 per 1000 collisions college men
09
Hand lacerations from skates: 16.8% of upper injuries goalies
10
Biceps tendon ruptures: 2.1% career risk NHL enforcers
11
Scaphoid fractures: 6.3% of wrist injuries from falls
12
Sternoclavicular dislocations: 1.4 per 1000 high-impact games
13
Thumb UCL tears: 12% from stick handling amateurs
14
Cervical spine sprains: 7.2% from hits juniors 2020-2023
15
Metacarpal fractures boxer's: 18.6% fighting penalties NHL
16
Pectoralis major tears: 3.8 per 1000 bench press injuries
17
Radial head fractures: 5.1% elbow impacts college women
18
Triceps strains: 4.9% off-season training pros
19
Rib fractures: 21% from body checks elite leagues
20
Distal radius fractures falls: 13.7% youth practices
21
Glenohumeral instability recurrent: 15% post-dislocation NHL
22
Mallet finger injuries: 9.2% puck deflections goalies
23
Facial fractures from pucks: 11.4% upper body goalies 2019-2023
Interpretation
Upper Body Injuries Interpretation
Reading this catalog of carnage, it's clear that hockey players seem to be assembling a human body less through athleticism and more through tragic, high-velocity collage work.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Hockey Injuries Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hockey-injuries-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Hockey Injuries Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hockey-injuries-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Hockey Injuries Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hockey-injuries-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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