Pucks and Paychecks: What Injured Pro and Semi-Pro Hockey Players Need to Know About Workers’ Comp in North Carolina

Whether you’re grinding it out in the minors, training as an NHL affiliate, or playing under the bright lights of the NHL itself, hockey carries serious injury risks, and the consequences can be career-defining. From broken bones and concussions to dental trauma and torn ligaments, hockey players put their bodies on the line every time they hit the ice. If you’re injured while playing in North Carolina, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that can help protect your health, income, and future in the sport.

At Ramsay Law Firm, Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys help minor league, NHL-affiliated, and NHL players understand and pursue the benefits they deserve.

Do Professional Hockey Players Qualify for Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina?

Yes—under the right conditions. Minor league players, those signed as NHL affiliates, and even full NHL roster members who train, compete, or are injured in North Carolina may qualify for workers’ compensation if they are considered employees under state law.

If you’re under contract, receiving a wage, and performing duties on behalf of your team, such as games, practices, travel, or training, you may have a valid workers’ comp claim in North Carolina.

This includes:

• AHL and ECHL players assigned to North Carolina teams or playing games in the state.
• NHL-affiliated players injured while conditioning or competing for farm teams in-state.
• NHL players who suffer injury while on assignment, in preseason/training camps, or during sanctioned games played in North Carolina.

Each case must be evaluated based on your contract, team assignment, and where the injury occurred, but the potential for coverage is real and valuable.

What Benefits Can Injured Hockey Players Receive Under North Carolina Law?

A high-impact sport like hockey often results in severe and sometimes long-term injuries.

If your injury occurred during team activities, workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina may include:

• Medical treatment: From orthopedic surgery to concussion protocols, rehab, and dental reconstruction.
• Wage replacement: Temporary or permanent disability benefits while out of play.
• Permanent impairment compensation: For career-ending or lasting injuries.
• Reimbursement for medical travel and costs.
• Vocational rehabilitation: If your injury prevents you from returning to the sport, and you need a new career path.

Whether you’re recovering from a separated shoulder in the minors or facing reconstructive dental work after an NHL game in Raleigh, you need a legal team that understands both the physical demands of hockey and the technical demands of the law.

Legal Complexities for Minor League, NHL Affiliate, and NHL Players

Injuries are tough enough, but when your career spans multiple teams, states, or contracts, determining where to file, what benefits apply, and who’s financially responsible becomes even harder.

Ramsay Law Firm has experience managing jurisdictional issues, navigating team and league insurance plans, and ensuring injured players are not left to fight when career-impacting injuries occur in North Carolina.

Ramsay Law Firm Fights for Injured Hockey Players at Every Level

No matter what league you play in—from the minors, through your time as an NHL affiliate, to full NHL status—an injury in North Carolina shouldn’t jeopardize your health, contract, or future.

Contact our Mecklenburg County workers’ compensation attorneys at Ramsay Law Firm at 704-376-1616 or online for a free consultation today. We’re here to help professional hockey players at every level recover what they’re owed—and get back on their feet after injury.

A Voice For The Injured.  Here Every Step of The Way.