Contact sports like ice hockey are potentially hazardous. Professional ice hockey players who play in the National Hockey League (NHL) are likely to suffer injuries at some point in their careers and could suffer considerable financial and career disadvantage without effective insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance should be carried by each major ice hockey team in the NHL, allowing a claim to be made in the event of an injury while playing in a league game or even when training. All NHL players are involved in the National Hockey League Players Association whose representatives can be used to proffer advice if an injury does occur. The National Hockey League Players Association The National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) was established in 1967 to work on the behalf of all professional ice hockey players who play in teams which are part of the NHL in both the U.S. and Canada. The NHLPA, through its player representatives and Executive Board, works to enhance the working conditions of NHL players. The NHLPA had a rocky start as there was a lot of opposition to its inception by team owners and the league itself. The union has continued to face aggressive tactics from the league but has succeeded in remaining a supportive voice for its members. Each of the 31 teams in the NHL appoints one of its players to take part in the Executive Board. Typical Ice Hockey Injuries Ice hockey is inherently dangerous, although all players do wear protective clothing and headgear and training and tactics can help to prevent some of the worst injuries. The fact is that the game is played at high speed on a very unstable, slippery surface and it is virtually impossible preventing the occasional high speed, high impact crash between players or a fall onto the surface of the rink or part of the perimeter barrier. Ice hockey injuries can affect just about all parts of a player’s body. Some typical injuries are caused by the crouching stance of the hockey player when moving around the rink. Shoulder, elbow, knee and hip injuries are probably the most common. Even though helmets protect the head from the worst head injuries, concussion remains another typical injury with symptoms often developing well after the actual accident. Steps to be Taken by an Injured Player Like all workers’ compensation procedures there is an established process which should be followed by an injured hockey player if compensation is to be achieved. The immediate priority after a collision or fall on the ice is to deal with the medical issues. The important thing to remember if a claim is to be filed later is that all medical reports and bills should be kept as evidence and made available with the claim itself. The accident and injury should be reported formally to the team manager followed by an accident report. Failure to do so within a state mandated time frame may invalidate a future claim. Your NHLPA representative, usually one of the players in the same team, should be able to provide advice about a workers’ compensation claim and also pass on information about the accident to the team management if you have been seriously injured and hospitalized. If you do decide to file a claim for compensation with the team’s insurer, make sure you do so within the time limit determined by the state workers’ compensation legislation. How a Workers’ Comp. Attorney Can be of Help A workers’ compensation attorney can be approached for legal advice and help with a claim if there are complications involved. Typically, an attorney is used to help negotiate an appeal against a denied claim or if compensation payments seem minimal or unsatisfactory. It's a good idea to contact an attorney if you need advice about your case, or if you were denied. Further Reading If you were injured on the job as an NHLPA member, you may want to know more about the workers' comp laws in your state, along with how specific injuries relate to a workers' comp claim. You can find out more about both at these pages: Workers' Compensation Claims by Injury Workers' Compensation by State *Disclaimer The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation
