Every year in the United States, an estimated 12,590 players younger than 19 years seek care in the emergency department for ice hockey–related injuries. The yearly estimated incidence of ice hockey–related injuries among 9- to 14-year-olds increased by 163% from 1990 to 2006.
For the years 2008–2012, the game-related injury rate of 4.18 to 6.08 per 1000 athlete-exposures, second only to boys’ high school football. For this same time period, the proportion of severe injuries (>21 days’ time loss) sustained during competition in boys’ ice hockey (6%–17%) was comparable to that in football (6%–12%).
–Pediatrics, June 1, 2014
