Lignell, E, Fransson, D, Krustrup, P, and Mohr, M. Analysis of high-intensity skating in top-class ice hockey match-play in relation to training status and muscle damage. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1303-1310, 2018-We examined high-intensity activities in a top-class ice-hockey game and the effect of training status. Male ice-hockey players (n = 36) from the National Hockey League participated. Match analysis was performed during a game and physical capacity was assessed by a submaximal Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Ice-hockey test, level 1 (YYIR1-IHSUB). Venous blood samples were collected 24-hour post-game to determine markers of muscle damage. Players performed 119 ± 8 and 31 ± 3 m·min of high intensity and sprint skating, respectively, during a game. Total distance covered was 4,606 ± 219 m (2,260-6,749 m), of which high-intensity distance was 2042 ± 97 m (757-3,026 m). Sprint-skating speed was 5-8% higher (p ≤ 0.05) in periods 1 and 2 vs. period 3 and overtime. Defensemen (D) covered 29% more (p ≤ 0.05) skating in total than forwards (F) and were on the ice 47% longer. However, F performed 54% more (p ≤ 0.05) high-intensity skating per minute than defensemen. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) was 338 ± 45 (78-757) U·L 24-hour post-game. Heart rate loading during YYIR1-IHSUB correlated inversely (p ≤ 0.05) to the frequency of high-intensity skating bouts (r = -0.55) and V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (r = -0.85) and positively to post-game CK (r = 0.49; p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, ice hockey is a multiple-sprint sport that provokes fatigue in the latter half of a game. Forwards perform more intense skating than defensemen. Moreover, high-intensity game activities during top-class ice hockey are correlated with cardiovascular loading during a submaximal skating test. Taken together, training of elite ice-hockey players should improve the ability for repeated high-intensity skating, and testing should include the YYIR1-IHSUB test as an indicator for ice-hockey-specific physical match performance.

We sought to examine whether goal scoring opportunities (GSO) in elite ice hockey was affected by tactical and contextual variables. An ice hockey specific notational match analysis instrument was applied to collect 4886 GSO from 192 competitive games in the top Swedish tier. Data were collected from one elite male team and its opponents during three consecutive competitive seasons. All GSO were categorised in tactical and contextual variables. In total, 13.2% (644) of all GSO (4886) resulted in a goal. Two logistic regressions were conducted to examine the impact of tactical and contextual variables on the outcome of GSO. The multivariate analysis demonstrated higher probability to score when shooting from an area close to the goal (OR [95%CI]=.54 [.42-.69]; p <.01). Additionally, differences in numbers of involved players in specific positions, both forwards and defenders affected the probability to score a goal (p <.05) and that the probability to score from a GSO was higher in second ; p<.05) and third (OR [95%CI]: 1.38 [1.04-1.83], p <.05) compared to first game-period. Summarised, the study provides an insight of how goal scoring is impacted by several tactical and contextual variables.