Written Option 1:

Slip McScruff is convinced that the secret to such a long career with no injuries to any players is actually an illuminati conspiracy of clones, simulations, and aliens.

First off, every player has on tap clones which can be wheeled out at a moment's notice if the previous iteration is injured. The previous iteration is taken out back to the dressing room and the team doctor comes out with the new version two minutes later. That two minutes is the time it takes to do a full memory transfer. The previous iteration is carted off to the farm where they get a new identity and job maintaining the league in secret.

Second, this is all a simulation because the technology to do this clone replacement doesn't actually exist in the real world. Two minutes for a lifetime of memories? That is science fantasy. In reality, this would take 30 minutes which is much too long to be practical for a hockey game.

Third, aliens. Who has the power to run such a large simulation for such a silly social experiment? Aliens.

Slip McScruff has the photos and the scars to back up his experience in the SIMULATION hockey league.