GMHL renews partnership with Headcheck Health

GMHL Commits to Concussion Safety, Renews 2025/26 with HEADCHECK Health

After a successful inaugural season, the league continues its commitment to concussion safety, reporting enhanced protocol adherence and streamlined care.

Bradford, ON — The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) and HEADCHECK Health (HEADCHECK) are proud to announce the renewal of their partnership for the 2025-26 season, building on their first year that elevated the league's standard of player care.

The renewal follows a successful implementation across the GMHL's teams in Ontario, where the digital platform was used to standardize concussion protocols from baseline testing to safe return-to-play.

"The health and safety of our players is our highest priority, and our partnership with HEADCHECK has been a game-changer for our league," said Ken Girard, Commissioner of the GMHL. "Last season, we made the logical decision to move to a single, league-wide standard of care. The feedback from our team trainers and owners has been positive."

The HEADCHECK platform provided the GMHL with a centralized, digital system to manage concussion testing and documentation. This ensured that every player, regardless of their team, received the same high level of care, reducing administrative burden and minimizing potential errors.

"We are thrilled to continue our work with the forward-thinking leadership at the GMHL," said Harrison Brown, CEO at HEADCHECK. "The league's commitment from the top down, from Commissioner Girard to the teams, has been incredible. They've fully embraced the technology, and the result is a safer environment for their athletes. This is exactly the kind of outcome we strive for."

Established in 2013 from a concussion research lab, HEADCHECK's digital platform is trusted by thousands of sports organizations worldwide, including MLS, the CFL, and the Olympics. The GMHL's renewal underscores the league's position as a leader in player safety within Canadian junior hockey.

2024/25 season GMHL Votes Yes on Enhanced Concussion Management

HEADCHECK Health will provide a best-in-class digital platform and support services across the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League to elevate safety standards. Bradford, ON —The Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL) are thrilled to announce a new partnership with HEADCHECK Health (HEADCHECK), which will enhance concussion and injury management for its 17 teams across Ontario and Quebec. The GMHL is an elite Canadian developmental junior ice hockey league and aims to utilize HEADCHECK to provide consistency and standardization in how concussions are managed across all teams. “I’m proud of our team owners and their enthusiasm for taking the lead on player safety,” said Ken Girard, Commissioner. “This new program will ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our players.” HEADCHECK is the industry-leading digital platform that simplifies the implementation and execution of concussion protocols. The technology will be used for baseline, post-injury, and return-to-play concussion tests throughout the season, ensuring team staff can achieve a high standard of concussion care for all players. 

“Niagara Predators owner, Robert Turnbull, adopted HEADCHECK for his team within a week of finding out about it,” said Eric VanderHelm, Enterprise Account Executive at HEADCHECK. “When I told Ken, he was interested right away in a league-wide solution. This will be a great group to work with.” Established in 2013 from a concussion research lab, HEADCHECK was created to address a critical challenge in sports: the complexity of implementing concussion protocols leaves athletes and organizations vulnerable to risk. Since its inception, HEADCHECK's digital platform has been embraced by thousands of sports leagues, governing bodies, and regulators, including MLS, the EOJHL, and the CFL. Notably, HEADCHECK has been relied on in some of the world's most prestigious sporting events, including the Olympics and Tour de France.