Head and Neck Injuries Among Ice Hockey Players Wearing Full Face Shields vs Half Face Shields

Abstract

Ice hockey has been characterized as the fastest and most violent team sport in the world played with clubs (hockey sticks), a bullet (puck), and knives (skates).¹ The high intensity of the sport results in frequent collisions between players and forceful impacts with the side boards, goal posts, pucks, and hockey sticks. The head and neck are particularly vulnerable to hockey-related injury,^2-10 and the search for improved player safety to prevent these injuries has been an ongoing process for sports governing bodies and researchers.¹¹