ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a summary of the National Hockey League (NHL) concussion program and focuses on important issues regarding the evaluation and management of the concussed hockey player. The initial evaluation of the concussed college or professional hockey player begins on the ice or at rink-side and the athletic trainer or team physician usually completes the first assessment of the athlete’s status. The NHL concussion program was initiated in 1997 to minimize concussive injuries in NHL players and involves the cooperative efforts of the NHL Players Association, the NHL team physicians, athletic trainers and consulting neuropsychologists. The use of baseline testing also allows for the evaluation of the player over time and will assist the NHL in tracking athletes throughout their careers. At the NHL level, the player’s post-injury symptoms as measured initially at rink side via the mental status card and by the concussion symptom inventory at the time of the neuropsychological evaluation.
