Successful patient care of the injured shoulder of a hockey player involves interdisciplinary cupertino. Images allow an interpretation of a static dimension but may not be sufficient enough to develop a surgical treatment strategy, since all injuries to the shoulder have its origin in a dynamic pathology with some kind of external impact. This article classifies various traumatic shoulder problems and the mechanism of injury, it outlines clinical tests and stresses key facts an imaging report should include in order to plan conservative or surgical treatment. Basic treatment options as performed in our institution for the injured shoulder of a hockey player are summarised briefly.