The USA hockey team fell to Canada in today’s semifinal game of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, ending its bid for the gold medal. The U.S. will face Finland tomorrow to compete for the bronze medal, and Canada will match up against Sweden on Sunday for the gold medal final.

The path to that last game has not been without casualties, though. In fact, two players for the Florida Panthers suffered injuries that ended their Olympic play and may cause them to miss games once the regular season resumes in the U.S. Tomas Kopecky, of the Slovakian team, sustained a head injury from an illegal high hit in a game against Slovenia last weekend, a sober reminder of the long-term consequences such moves can have. In addition, rookie Aleksander Barkov of Finland sustained a knee injury in a game against Norway, also a tournament-ending wound.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g-forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.