Groan-tastic!

Via The Hill:

Climate change is impacting the next generation of hockey players directly, according to a report released Monday by the National Hockey League (NHL).

The report, the first-of-its-kind produced by a professional sports league in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, details a plan for the NHL to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

“Major environmental challenges, such as climate change and freshwater scarcity, affect opportunities for hockey players of all ages to learn and play the game outdoors,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in statement on Monday.

The 2014 Sustainability Report took roughly two years to compile, using data on energy usage, waste management, and procurement at 30 NHL arenas throughout North America.

It found that one NHL game will emit 408 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equal to about 900,000 gallons of gasoline. That also equates to 56 pounds per attendee, not including a fan’s transportation to the game.

The overall output of greenhouse gas emissions from NHL events is relatively small, however, the report states, coming in at under 400,000 tons annually from 2012-2013.