The effect of specialization and level of competition on injury in elite male ice hockey players

Objective: Young players experience pressure to focus on ice hockey at the exclusion of other sports in order to improve chances of success. Early specialization in other sports has been associated with increased injury without the benefit of improved success. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether earlier specialization results in increased injury without higher rates of career success. This study also aimed to compare rates of injury in athletes at various levels of competition. Methods: An original survey was issued to men's ice hockey players at the junior A, collegiate, and professional levels. The survey consisted of 34 questions on various demographic, specialization, and injury variables. All participants were >18 years of age. Results: The survey was completed by 101 athletes. The mean age at specialization was 13 (+/- 4) overall and 14 (+/- 3), 13 (+/- 4), and 11(+/- 4) for professional, collegiate, and junior players, respectively. There was no difference in age at specialization between each group and professional players did not specialize earlier than the remainder of the cohort as a whole (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between age at specialization and total injuries (p > 0.05). There was no difference in concussions causing missed play time between groups (p > 0.05) but professional players had more overall concussions and underwent more surgeries due to hockey-related injuries (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Specializing exclusively in ice hockey earlier in life was not associated with playing professionally. Both collegiate and professional players do not tend to specialize prior to age 12. Age at specialization was not associated with overall number of injuries. Professional players with longer careers appear to sustain more concussions and undergo more surgery.