Windsor Spitfires' Marc Cantin, right, collides with Kitchener Rangers' Gabriel Landeskog, left, during OHL hockey playoff action on Sunday, Apr. 25, 2010 in Windsor, Ont. Drummondville Voltigeurs centre Sean Couturier, Kitchener Rangers left-winger Gabriel Landeskog and Red Deer Rebels centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are among the top prospects in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's preliminary rankings for the 2011 draft. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg PlanteGreg Plante/The Canadian Press
The Ontario Hockey League is instituting equipment changes designed to make the game safer.
The league announced Wednesday that all players must wear soft cap shoulder and elbow pads for the upcoming season.
The change came after a review of safety issues and is designed to "limit the number of head injuries suffered each season," according to the league.
The OHL's board of governors also vows to hand out more punishment to players who repeatedly get caught throwing checks to the head.
The regular season starts on Sept. 21.