Smelling salts spark a cross-league safety debate
As the NHL studies its stance on ammonia-based smelling salts, a broader North American conversation about safety, impulse and habit is playing out on two major fronts. In the NFL, a recent move to curb direct distribution of smelling salts followed an FDA warning in 2024 that questioned safety and the possibility that such stimulants could mask concussion symptoms. The NHL, meanwhile, keeps its policy allowing teams to provide smelling salts under review, signaling a cautious approach that acknowledges both the routine role these packets play and the concerns raised by medical authorities.
NHL policy under scrutiny but not overturned
In the NHL, small snap-open packets remain a frequent sight on benches. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly indicated there are no immediate plans to change the league’s policy—that teams can still distribute smelling salts—while acknowledging the issue is being studied. “I’m not sure we necessarily share the NFL’s concern,” Daly said during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas, where he noted the FDA warnings were issued “on kind of false advertising basis that it does something that it doesn’t do.” The stance reflects a balance between the perceived quick energy boost players report and the ongoing safety questions raised by regulators and health officials.
Safety concerns ripple through hockey governance
Beyond the NHL, regional bodies have taken steps. Hockey Quebec banned smelling salts in February after at least one coach faced suspension tied to their use among players in the under-11 age group, while Sport P.E.I. has also voiced concerns. Hockey Canada has stated that while there isn’t a formal policy on stimulant products like ammonia-based smelling salts, questions about availability and use are being explored and will be discussed with members across Canada. The organization pledged to “continue to work with our members to better understand the availability and use” of these products across hockey’s landscape.
On the professional women’s side, the Professional Women’s Hockey League directed teams not to supply smelling salts and urged players that their use is strongly discouraged beginning with its inaugural 2023-24 season. The calls to curb or ban smell salts reveal a shared anxiety: that in the drive for focus and energy, athletes aren’t compromising safety or medical oversight.
Players weigh in with mixed views
Among players, opinions vary. Montreal’s Dubois, who moved to the Washington Capitals after stints with several clubs, says the truth for him isn’t about endorsing smelling salts so much as understanding their place. “I would never do them in a different context than hockey,” he explained. “It’s waking you up, and right before the first faceoff it’s like, ‘OK, this is game time.’” He added that the ritual helps set a mental tone rather than serving as a serious performance enhancer.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas described the sensory effect writ large: a rush that makes him feel “the oxygen get through your whole body,” a jolt that leaves him feeling a bit clearer. “A lot of guys love it,” he said, suggesting the appeal is more than superstition but a common, shared routine among teammates.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis offered a more cautious take. “I think people exaggerate a little bit, but they do help,” he said. “Wakes you up, shocks your system a little bit. Kids shouldn’t be doing it, and it’s probably smart that they ban that. But I like them.” The thrust here is simple: some players feel a practical benefit before a game, but there’s broad recognition that younger players shouldn’t be exposed to the same risks.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, a standout rookie, gave a measured view: “Startles you a little. I don’t think they need to be banned. We’re adults. We can make our own decisions. If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for you.”
Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart offered lighthearted candor: “The only times I smell them is when someone has it beside me, and I catch a whiff. I’d love it if they banned them.” The remark underscores a practical reality—the scent often travels from one bench to another, provoking both laughs and a genuine safety discussion.
The path forward for smelling salts in hockey
With NFL scrutiny still fresh and hockey’s own governance weighing the evidence, the future of smelling salts in the NHL and affiliated leagues remains unsettled. The conversation centers on safety, clarity of medical guidance, and the devices’ real effects on alertness and performance. While some players defend the practice as a harmless pregame cue, others emphasize caution, especially around youth players and those still developing on the ice. The key question is whether policy should err on the side of caution or respect the routine culture that players say helps them “flip the switch” before competition.
As the leagues consider further study and potential policy adjustments, one thing is clear: smelling salts have become more than a momentary jolt. They sit at the intersection of athlete autonomy, medical caution and the evolving norms of professional sport. The debate will continue as governing bodies, teams, players and medical experts weigh safety, efficacy and the authentic needs of players at the highest levels of play.”
