Concussions and hockey have been in the spotlight this week, with former National Hockey League players accusing the league of not taking head trauma seriously.

However, issue of concussions and hockey is not limited to the NHL. Mathew Astle has experienced eight concussions in his 19 years - all while on the ice playing the game he loves.

“You don't really know what's going on or what's around you,” says Astle. “You don't feel the same. You feel a lot more emotional, like depressed, sad, and kind of in a fog.”

Astle has played hockey for 15 years, making it all the way to the Maritime Junior Hockey League and hoping to move up to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

But on January 28th, the 5’11, 166 pound defenseman experienced his eighth concussion.

He says it was the scariest one, but not for the reasons you'd think.

“The first thing I think is, ‘oh, I'm done hockey. It's over,’” says Astle. “That's what really scared me the most. Once I got to the dressing room, the right side of my face went numb.”

This time, it landed him in the hospital.

A month and several doctors later, Astle and his family made the decision to hang up the skates to save his brain.

Head coach of the St. Thomas Tommies and former professional player Kyle McAllister says head trauma has never been more top-of-mind for coaches.

“Concussions are always the toughest because you never know the effect it's going to have,” says McAllister.

He says players used to play through it. Now, coaches are constantly asking how players feel.

Change has also come to fighting.

“The onus now becomes on the hitter,” says McAllister. “So it's not yourself responsible to protect yourself, you've got to be, the guy that's throwing the check, you've got to be responsible for your own actions.”

Astle is still recovering from that last concussion, but he has a new symptom this time – trying to deal with withdrawal from the game he loves. 

“I try to go to as many games as I can, but when I'm sitting there I'm just itching, I want to be out there,” says Astle. “I wish more than anything I could be out there.”

Astle’s focus is now on his brain and attending school to become a therapist.

He says he is feeling better, taking it day by day, and hopes other players know there's no shame in leaving the game.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Laura Brown