JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Epidemiology of Professional Ice Hockey Injuries in the National Hockey League: A Retrospective Analysis From 2012 to 2023.

  • Published In: American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2026, v. 54, n. 5. P. 1193 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Knapik, Derrick M.; Tartibi, Darius Sina; Brophy, Robert H.; Smith, Matthew V.; Matava, Matthew J. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article analyzes injury patterns among National Hockey League (NHL) players from the 2012-2013 through 2022-2023 seasons, excluding the COVID-19–shortened 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons, using data from the league-mandated Athlete Health Management System (AHMS). It found that while the greatest number of injuries occurred during the regular season, the highest injury incidence density (IID) per 1000 athlete-exposures was during the playoffs. Forwards experienced the highest injury rates, with most injuries occurring in the first period and primarily caused by puck-related mechanisms. The head and hand were the most commonly injured body regions, but knee and shoulder injuries resulted in the greatest average time lost, measured in man-games and days. Predictors of more severe injuries (≥5 man-games lost) included knee and abdominal injuries, body checks, the goaltender position, and injuries sustained during the preseason and regular season.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026/04, Vol. 54, Issue 5, p1193
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Sports and Leisure
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0363-5465
  • DOI:10.1177/03635465261418983
  • Accession Number:192584411
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Journal of Sports Medicine is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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