What is the Hockey Canada Safety Program, and does every team need a safety person?

The Hockey Canada Safety Program is a risk management and safety education program for the volunteer safety person on all minor, junior, female and senior hockey teams. Its goal is for the safety person to make safety the primary responsibility and first priority during all hockey related activities, on and off the ice, using a proactive, preventative approach while being ready to react to accidents, injuries or medical emergencies.

Every team needs one: Hockey Canada's 2026-27 By-Laws and Regulations say a team must include at least one team official qualified in the Hockey Canada Safety Program, and the Playing Rules require at least one Hockey Canada Safety Person among the registered team officials on the Official Game Report (Rule 2.1 (b)). Up to five registered team officials are permitted on the players' bench.

The safety person is a team official (the By-Laws list "safety person/trainer" among team officials) and supports the head coach. Hockey Alberta's job description describes the role as identifying and managing risks, leading injury management, and championing a safe environment within the team and organization.

Sources: https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Safety/Safety-Program/Downloads/safety_persons_responsibilities_e.pdf and https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Corporate/About/Downloads/2026-27-bylaws-e.pdf and https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf and https://www.hockeyalberta.ca/uploads/source/Safety/Team_Safety_Person_Job_Description.pdf