Situational factors associated with the frequency and severity of head impacts in varsity ice hockey

We examined situational factors associated with the frequency and severity of head impacts in men’s varsity ice hockey, through analysis of 409 head impacts captured through video and helmet-mounted sensors. We found that the most common scenarios were head impact to the glass or hand of an opposing player, but shoulder-to-head impacts produced higher mean values of peak linear acceleration and angular velocity of the head. Puck possession at the time of impact did not affect head impact severity. About one in eight head impacts led to the player being visibly affected by the collision, and measured values of head impact severity were higher in these cases.