Fitness Tests and Match Performance in a Male Ice Hockey National League

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Thomas Haugen ◽  
Will Hopkins ◽  
Felix Breitschädel ◽  
Gøran Paulsen ◽  
Paul Solberg
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measures ◽  
Bench Press ◽  
Marginal Utility ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Repetition Maximum ◽  
National Team ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Fitness Tests ◽  
National League

Purpose: To determine if generic off-ice physical fitness tests can provide useful predictions of ice hockey players’ match performance. Methods: Approximately 40 to 60 defenders and 70 to 100 forwards from the Norwegian male upper ice hockey league were tested for strength (1-repetition maximum in squat and bench press), power (40-m sprint and countermovement jump), and endurance (hanging sit-ups, chins, and 3000-m run) annually at the end of every preseason period between 2008 and 2017. Measures of match performance were each player’s season mean counts per match of assists, points, goals, penalty minutes, and plus-minus score. Results: Overall, match performance measures displayed trivial to small correlations with the fitness tests. More specifically, points per game had at most small correlations with measures of strength (range, approximately −0.2 to 0.3), speed (approximately −0.2 to 0.3), and endurance (approximately −0.1 to 0.3). After adjustments for age that showed moderate to large correlations with player match performance, multiple-regression analyses of each test measure still provided some predictability among players of the same age. However, players selected for the national team had substantially better mean scores for most tests and match performance measures than those not selected, with a moderate to large difference for age, 1-repetition maximum squat, and 1-repetition maximum bench press. Conclusions: Fitness tests had only marginal utility for predicting match performance in Norwegian hockey players, but those selected into the national team had better general fitness.

scholarly journals Assessment of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in German national ice hockey players preparing for the world championship

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Hof zum Berge ◽  
Fabian Loch ◽  
Karl Schwarzenbrunner ◽  
Alexander Ferrauti ◽  
Tim Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
World Championship ◽  
National Team ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
The World ◽  
National League

Abstract Objectives Objectives were to examine subjective sleep quality and daytime sleepiness of the German ice hockey junior national team prior to the world championship to identify athletes of concern and areas of optimization with the intention of equally preventing injury and enhancing performance. Methods Twenty-one athletes (Mage = 18.5 ± 0.6 years, Mheight = 181.7 ± 4.3 cm, Mweight = 81.4 ± 7.1 kg), playing for national (n = 13) and international (n = 8) home clubs, answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) before training camp (T1, day 1) and prior to tournament (T2, day 11). Results Overall, 9 players at T1 and 7 at T2 were identified as bad sleepers (PSQI > 5), while high sleepiness (ESS > 10) was found for 6 athletes at each measurement time. Group means and standard deviations reduced descriptively for PSQI (T1 = 5.38 ± 2.31, T2 = 4.57 ± 2.36) and ESS (T1 = 9.24 ± 3.74, T2 = 8.48 ± 3.28). Tendential differences were visible for PSQI in international-based players (Z = −1.7, p = 0.09) and ESS in first-national-league players (Z = −1.73, p = 0.08) over time. Higher PSQI values for international-based players (6.25 ± 2.6) were found compared to first-national-league (5.83 ± 1.60) and lower-league players (4.00 ± 2.08), with large effect sizes for lower-league compared to international (d = 0.95) and national players (d = 0.98) at T1 and small effect sizes compared to first-league players (d = 0.24) at T2. Conclusion Findings emphasize great vulnerability and individuality and underline the importance of intraindividual sleep monitoring to meet the requirements needed to equally obtain health and enhance overall performance.

scholarly journals Game Intensity Analysis of Elite Adolescent Ice Hockey Players

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Stanula ◽  
Robert Roczniok
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Maximal Heart Rate ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
National Team ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Physiological Demands ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Uptake Test ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine ice-hockey players’ playing intensity based on their heart rates (HRs) recorded during a game and on the outcomes of an incremental maximum oxygen uptake test. Twenty ice-hockey players, members of the Polish junior national team (U18), performed an incremental test to assess their maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ O2max) in the two week’s period preceding 5 games they played at the World Championships. Players’ HRs at the first and second ventilatory thresholds obtained during the test were utilized to determine intensity zones (low, moderate, and high) that were subsequently used to classify HR values recorded during each of the games. For individual intensity zones, the following HRs expressed as mean values and as percentages of the maximal heart rate (HRmax) were obtained: forwards 148-158 b⋅min-1 (79.5-84.8% HRmax), 159-178 b⋅min-1 (85.4-95.6% HRmax), 179-186 b⋅min-1 (96.1-100.0% HRmax); defensemen 149-153 b⋅min-1 (80.0-82.1% HRmax), 154-175 b⋅min-1 (82.6- 94.0% HRmax), 176-186 b⋅min-1 (94.5-100.0% HRmax). The amount of time the forwards and defensemen spent in the three intensity zones expressed as percentages of the total time of the game were: 54.91 vs. 55.62% (low), 26.40 vs. 22.38% (moderate) and 18.68 vs. 22.00% (high). The forwards spent more time in the low intensity zone than the defensemen, however, the difference was not statistically significant. The results of the study indicate that using aerobic and anaerobic metabolism variables to determine intensity zones can significantly improve the reliability of evaluation of the physiological demands of the game, and can be a useful tool for coaches in managing the training process.

scholarly journals Perfectionism and achievement goals in young Finnish ice-hockey players aspiring to make the Under-16 national team

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Stoeber ◽  
Oliver Stoll ◽  
Olli Salmi ◽  
Jukka Tiikkaja
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Goals ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
National Team ◽  
Hockey Players

scholarly journals Standing on the ice: experiences of women national ice hockey players in Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
Sena Nur Doğusan ◽  
Funda Koçak
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Symbolic Interaction ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Life Space ◽  
National Team ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Symbolic Meanings

AbstractThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine within the framework of symbolic interaction theory and field theory how women national ice hockey players understand ice hockey through their experiences. Semi-structured interviews were used to understand the experiences of 21 ice hockey players from the Turkish women’s national team, and themes were developed from the data using the thematic analysis methods. A total of three main themes and two sub-themes were created after the analysis. In this context, three main themes related to the theoretical framework were established: “Symbolic Meanings: A Strong Ice Hockey Player,” “Ice Hockey As a Life Space,” and “A Hard Fight On the Ice.” In addition, under the main theme of “Ice Hockey As a Life Space” are two sub-themes: “World of Emotions” and “Constraints.” Ice hockey is perceived by women players as a living space that expresses a firm stance towards life. Despite the presence of traces of the concept of gender, ice hockey is not seen as a fully gendered area by Turkish players. In general, women players reported the lack of financial and social support as limiting factors for participation in ice hockey, while moral support and high motivation were supporting factors.

Perceived Barriers to and Facilitators of an Injury Prevention Program Among Professional Male Ice Hockey Players and Staff Members

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Romana Brunner ◽  
Mario Bizzini ◽  
Nicola A. Maffiuletti ◽  
Karin Niedermann
Keyword(s):  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Perceived Benefit ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Injury Prevention Program ◽  
National League

Context: Injury prevention programs for the lower extremities are effective in team-sport athletes. Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators among professional ice hockey players and staff members for adhering to an injury prevention program. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting and Participants: A questionnaire about barriers and facilitators related to knowledge/perceptions, beliefs, adoption, and habits about injury prevention was filled out by Swiss professional male ice hockey players and staff members. Main Outcome Measures: Frequencies of ratings were calculated and binary logistic regression analysis was applied to predict a relationship between a high/low perceived benefit of an injury prevention program and player characteristics. Results: Knowledge, perceived benefit, and relevance of injury prevention as well as awareness of high risk of injuries in ice hockey were identified as important facilitators. Players’ habit of exercise performance was identified as a barrier. Program understanding of staff members was identified as a facilitator and barrier. No significant relationships were observed between a high/low perceived benefit of an injury prevention program and age (P = .85), nationality (P = .53), level of education (P = .63), National League experience (P = .50), or occurrence of lower-extremity injuries in the previous season (P = .10). Conclusions: Players and staff members clearly rated perceived benefits of an injury prevention program, which can be considered an important facilitator of the uptake and adoption of such a program in ice hockey teams. Players should be educated about well-performed injury prevention exercises. Staff members should be educated about the aim of a regular injury prevention program. An injury prevention program might be implemented in players of all ages, levels of education, and experience in the National League, irrespective of previous injuries. Identified barriers and facilitators should be addressed when implementing an injury prevention program in a setting of professional ice hockey teams in the future.

Velocity Performance Feedback During Ballistic Training: Which Is the Optimal Frequency of Feedback Administration?

Motor Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
Alejandro Pérez-Castilla ◽  
Ainara Jiménez-Alonso ◽  
Mar Cepero ◽  
Sergio Miras-Moreno ◽  
F. Javier Rojas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Feedback ◽  
Average Velocity ◽  
Bench Press ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Optimal Frequency ◽  
Knowledge Of Results ◽  
Velocity Feedback ◽  
Repetition Maximum ◽  
The Impact

This study explored the impact of different frequencies of knowledge of results (KR) on velocity performance during ballistic training. Fifteen males completed four identical sessions (three sets of six repetitions at 30% one-repetition maximum during the countermovement jump and bench press throw) with the only difference of the KR condition provided: no feedback, velocity feedback after the first half of repetitions of each set (HalfKR), velocity feedback immediately after each repetition (ImKR), and feedback of the average velocity of each set (AvgKR). When compared with the control condition, the ImKR reported the highest velocity performance (1.9–5.3%), followed by the HalfKR (1.3–3.6%) and AvgKR (0.7–4.3%). These results support the verbal provision of velocity performance feedback after every repetition to induce acute improvements in velocity performance.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Traumatic and Overuse Injuries in Swiss Professional Male Ice Hockey Players

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 232596712096472
Author(s):  
Romana Brunner ◽  
Mario Bizzini ◽  
Karin Niedermann ◽  
Nicola A. Maffiuletti
Keyword(s):  
Relative Effect ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Overuse Injuries ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Time Loss ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Trauma Research ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
National League

Background: Ice hockey injury patterns in Europe were last evaluated in the 1990s. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency, type, location, and incidence of traumatic injuries, as well as the prevalence and relative effect of overuse injuries in professional male ice hockey players. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Traumatic injuries were assessed using a standardized injury report form over a 1-year period (including the preparatory phase and season). The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire was used to determine overall and substantial overuse injuries and their relative effect on ice hockey players. Results: Five Swiss National League teams participated in the study. From a total of 321 recorded injuries, 179 led to time loss from sport. The game-related time-loss injury incidence during the season was 88.6/1000 player-game hours.Time-loss injuries affected mainly the hip/groin/thigh region (23%), followed by the head (17%). Most time-loss injuries were classified as muscle strains (24%), followed by concussions (18%). The most common injury mechanism involved collision with an opponent’s body (31%), and right forward players (23%) were most likely to report a game-related injury. Most injuries (27%) occurred within the defending zone along the boards. The average prevalence rates of all overuse and substantial overuse injuries were 49% and 13%, respectively. The hip/groin displayed the highest average prevalence for all overuse problems (16%), translating to the highest relative effect. Conclusion: Muscle strains and concussions were the most frequent time-loss injuries in Swiss professional ice hockey players. The hip/groin was the most affected region for both traumatic and overuse injuries.

scholarly journals Normative Reference of the Single Leg, Medial Countermovement Jump in Adolescent Youth Ice Hockey Players

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Anthony S. Donskov ◽  
Jeffrey S. Brooks ◽  
James P. Dickey
Keyword(s):  
Functional Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Asymmetry Index ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Male Youth ◽  
Hockey Players

Functional performance tests provide quantitative information on specialized sport movements and are important for documenting training and fatigue. The single leg, medial countermovement jump provides objective measures of frontal plane force, velocity and power, and is relevant for ice hockey players given the similar lateral movement to ice skating. This study measured normative single leg, medial countermovement jump parameters (i.e., vertical and lateral maximum force, average concentric power and average concentric power during the last 100 ms) amongst male youth ice hockey players and assessed interlimb asymmetry in these healthy athletes. Ninety-one elite youth players participated in the study. Participants completed three right and three left jumps. Non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate between-jump and between-group comparisons. Many differences in jump force and power parameters were observed between the 10U/11U and 12U/13U age groups, and the 12U/13U and 14U/15U age groups, but differences were not as consistent between older or younger players. The average asymmetry index for each age group was less than 15% for force parameters, while the power parameters had larger asymmetry indices (between 9% and 22%). Our results provide age-specific reference values and asymmetry indices for male elite youth ice hockey players aged 10–18 years performing the single leg, medial countermovement jump.

Improvement of Ice Hockey Players’ On-Ice Sprint With Combined Plyometric and Strength Training

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 893-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torstein E. Dæhlin ◽  
Ole C. Haugen ◽  
Simen Haugerud ◽  
Ivana Hollan ◽  
Truls Raastad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strength Training ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Sprint Performance ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Repetition Maximum ◽  
Repeated Cycle ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Level Ice ◽  
High Level

Background:Combined plyometric and strength training has previously been suggested as a strategy to improve skating performance in ice hockey players. However, the effects of combined plyometric and strength training have not previously been compared with the effects of strength training only.Purpose:To compare the effects of combined plyometric and strength training on ice hockey players’ skating sprint performance with those of strength training only.Methods:Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups that completed 5 strength-training sessions/wk for 8 wk. One group included plyometric exercises at the start of 3 sessions/wk (PLY+ST), and the other group included core exercises in the same sessions (ST). Tests of 10- and 35-m skating sprints, horizontal jumping, 1-repetition-maximum (1 RM) squat, skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT), maximal oxygen consumption, repeated cycle sprints, and body composition were performed before and after the intervention.Results:The participants increased their 1RM squat, lean mass, and body mass (P < .05), with no difference between the groups. Furthermore, they improved their 3×broad jump, repeated cycle sprint, and SMAT performance (P < .05), with no difference between the groups. PLY+ST gained a larger improvement in 10-m on-ice sprint performance than ST (P < .025).Conclusion:Combining plyometric and strength training for 8 wk was superior to strength training alone at improving 10-m on-ice sprint performance in high-level ice hockey players.

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