The NFL’s decision this week to restrict team-supplied smelling salts has sent ripples beyond the gridiron — sparking questions about whether professional hockey could be next.On Tuesday, the NFL announced that all team-provided ammonia inhalants — commonly known as smelling salts — are now prohibited in locker rooms, on sidelines, and during games. The league cited safety concerns, referencing a 2024 U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory warning that smelling salts can irritate the respiratory system, provide no proven performance benefit, and, more worryingly, mask concussion symptoms. Players are still allowed to bring and use their own, but the change marks the first time a major North American pro league has directly limited their availability..The decision drew instant and colourful reactions from players. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle joked on live television that he was “distraught” and had “considered retirement” over the change, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield acknowledged the health concerns but questioned the need for a ban.Now, attention is turning toward the NHL, where smelling salts remain a familiar fixture — often tucked into trainers’ kits or handed out freely on benches between shifts.Unlike the NFL, the NHL has no policy restricting their use, either at the team or league level. Players from rookies to veterans use them as part of pre-game rituals or to “reset” during play.“There’s definitely a culture around them in hockey,” said Dr. Laura Nguyen, a sports medicine specialist familiar with both leagues. “They’re seen as harmless, but that perception could change quickly if the NHL views them as a concussion risk like the NFL does.”.While no formal discussions about a ban have surfaced at the NHL level, there is already precedent in Canadian hockey.In Feb. 2025, Hockey Quebec — the provincial governing body — announced a complete ban on smelling salts in all sanctioned games, practices, and activities.The rule applies to players of all ages under its umbrella, from competitive midget leagues down to under-11 house leagues. The move followed reports of coaches handing out ammonia inhalants to very young players, sometimes using them as a reward for extra ice time.“Hockey is a fast, high-contact sport, and we have to be mindful about anything that could hide the symptoms of an injury,” said Hockey Quebec director Marie-Claude Gagnon when the policy was introduced.“At the youth level, safety has to outweigh tradition.”
