Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Paediatric concussion is a common injury in ice hockey that has critical implications for child and youth health. Clinical and research evidence indicates that children and youth are vulnerable to concussive brain injuries and are at risk for lasting effects of these injuries on neurocognitive function and behaviour. Prevention is the only true cure for paediatric concussions. The goal of our knowledge exchange cafe on concussion in youth hockey is to provide the opportunity for the various groups who support children's participation in hockey, parents, coaches, officials, hockey associations, to exchange knowledge on paediatric concussions with scientific, medical and athlete development experts. From this shared knowledge, our cafe facilitator will engage these different groups in active dialogue on the concept of a collaborative stewardship for the risk management for concussion in minor hockey, identifying specific short-term actions in which parents, coaches, officials, and hockey associations can work together in the coming season to enhance safe participation. A second goal will be to identify the knowledge and actions needed from the local scientific, medical and athlete development experts to support this community-collaboration and advance risk management strategies.