Injuries in amateur ice hockey: a two-year analysis.

A compilation of injuires sustained in an amateur ice hockey program over a tw0-year period revealed that the majority of those injuires were facial lacerations. The number of injuries increased with the level of players' skill and with the intensity of the games. Youth players who were required to wear head and total face protection had fewer injuries than either the adult league or semi-professional players. Injuries were greatest to the semi-professional players who wore little or not head protection, and no facial protection. Physicians have a duty to urge all hockey players to wear adequate head and face protection to prevent such injuries. Equipment which is currently available is illustrated.