What must I do when a player shows signs of a concussion?

Under the Hockey Canada Concussion Protocol (effective May 6, 2025), safety personnel, coaches, trainers, team staff, parents and officials are all responsible for recognizing and reporting a suspected concussion.

Suspect a concussion if a player takes an impact to the head, face, neck or body and shows one or more observable signs or reports one or more symptoms (listed in the Concussion Recognition Tool 6). This includes cases where nobody saw the impact. Signs listed on Hockey Canada's team staff education sheet include lying motionless on the ice, being slow to get up, disorientation or confusion, being unresponsive, unsteadiness or poor balance, a blank or vacant stare, and a facial injury. A player does not need to be knocked out.

What to do:

1. Remove the player from the activity immediately. They must undergo medical assessment as soon as possible.
2. If any red flags are present (for example loss of consciousness, convulsions, worsening headaches, repeated vomiting or neck pain), suspect a more severe head or spine injury, follow first aid principles and get emergency medical assessment. An ambulance should be called immediately. Do not remove equipment (unless formally trained to) or move the player, and do not leave the player alone until the ambulance arrives. For a youth player, contact the parents or guardians immediately; for an adult, contact their emergency contact if one has been provided.
3. If there are no red flags and a licensed healthcare professional is present, they assess the player. A youth player (under 18) suspected of a concussion must not return to the game or practice and is referred for medical assessment. If no licensed healthcare professional is present, refer the player to a medical doctor or nurse practitioner as soon as possible.

If the player is removed only as a precaution and shows no signs or symptoms, they can return but should be monitored for delayed symptoms for up to 48 hours.

Source: https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Safety/Concussion/Downloads/hc-concussion-protocol-e.pdf and https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Safety/Concussion/Downloads/hc-pre-season-concussion-education-sheet-team-staff-e.pdf