They are not the kind of statistics anyone likes to keep, but several seasons’ worth of data have begun to give researchers an idea of which elite hockey players are more likely to sustain concussions. The profile, in simplified form: short players, defensemen or those who take a lot of penalties.

Younger players may also be more susceptible to concussions, as well as players with a concussion history. Despite Sidney Crosby’s head injuries in recent years, higher-scoring players do not seem to sustain more concussions than lower-scoring players, suggesting that the often-cited head hunting of stars does not actually take place.

“It’s of interest to know whether certain types of players are more likely to get concussions,” said Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon who leads the injury prevention unit of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and advocates stricter rules to reduce head trauma in hockey.

“As with heart disease or flu or injuries in a workplace, you’d want to know if certain people are more susceptible,” Cusimano, whose team is compiling more data for an additional study, said Friday in a phone interview. “If they are, you might be able to take extra preventive measures.”