The statement ‘playing through the pain’ is commonly heard, and praised, in hockey.

Despite being an already physical game, the intensity increases come playoff time. The crowd gets riled up anytime the gloves are dropped or a hard check is laid out.

It is also not uncommon to hear that a player is playing through injury.

There are many risks of injury in hockey, especially during high-contact plays. But it seems once a player is injured, there is a rush to get back into the game.

The reality is the toxic hockey culture of playing through pain is setting a harmful precedent for future generations of hockey players.

There is absolutely nothing normal about playing with a broken rib. Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron played through this injury during Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, an embrace of hockey culture.

At the time, Bergeron had played with a broken rib, separated shoulder, and a punctured lung. Following Game 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Bergeron was taken to the hospital after his lung collapsed and spent three days there.

Most recently, Matthew Tkachuk was ruled out of Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals due to an upper-body injury. Tkachuk, who had sustained a broken sternum in Game 3, played through injury in Game 4.

Tkachuk later revealed that he relied on tremendous help from his brother, Brady, and teammates.

“I mean, my brother was staying with me and had to get me out of bed and get me dressed to come to the rink, and I had guys tie my skates and putting on my jersey and just helping me with everything,” Tkachuk told NHL.com’s Alain Poupart.

“[Stinks] that it had to happen, especially at that time, but most guys were playing through stuff," he said. "It's just the way playoffs are and [a] long season.”

Many hockey players have adopted the ideology to remain tough, which often results in playing through injury to maintain this image.

This presentation of grit and relentlessness has become a trait valued among hockey players.

Until the toxic culture changes, future generations of hockey players will feel they must also play through pain and present the same levels of resilience they grew up watching.

Although it may be difficult to speak out about pain, especially when it is glorified, we must alter the environment and create a space in the sport where support is offered. For the sake of the youth, let’s normalize recovery and health.