In-Season Session Training Load Relative to Match Load in Professional Ice Hockey

Abstract

In-season session training load relative to match load in professional ice hockey. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 486-492, 2022-The aim of this study was to describe match load and intensity across player positions and match periods, the distribution of pregame training load and intensity over training days before a match, by player position, and the cumulative weekly training load over a season. Fifty professional ice hockey players, which at one time or another were part of the roster for the Laval Rocket during the 2017-18 season of the American Hockey League, participated in this study. External load was monitored in every training session and match over the season using portable inertial measurement units. Data are reported in absolute and relative values to a match. Defensemen have a lower intensity during matches than forwards (21.70 OIL•min 21 ) while load is similar across position. The first period shows a higher relative load (+5.28% relative on-ice load [OIL]) while the third has a lower relative intensity (22.91% OIL•min 21 ). Defensemen seem to train at a systematic higher relative intensity than wingers and centers (+8.34% relative OIL•min 21 ). Finally, the weekly training load remains relatively constant throughout the season (equivalent of 3.56 6 1.69 matches played per week). Our results support the need for player monitoring in ice hockey using an individualized approach.

Differences in External Workload Demand between Session Types and Positions in Collegiate Men’s Ice Hockey

“…All four cumulative workload measures (i.e., PL, SL, EE, and HFS) were significantly higher in matches compared to training, indicating that matches required higher volumes of both total and high-intensity work. PL•min -1 and SL•min -1 were higher in training, which is in contrast to previous reports of higher measures of work rate in competition compared to training (Allard et al, 2020;. This discrepancy may be reflective of population differences or philosophical differences related to the overall tempo of training design.…”

“…In support of this, despite no differences in total distance covered between positions, forwards competing in elite international U-20 competitions covered significantly greater distances at very fast and sprint speed thresholds, whereas defensemen covered greater distances within very slow, slow, and moderate speeds (Douglas & Kennedy, 2020). Similarly, across an American Hockey League season, forwards performed at a higher relative intensity in matches compared to defensemen, but the total load was similar across positions (Allard et al, 2020). The higher intensity outputs are apparently sufficient to cause forwards to accumulate higher total training volumes and higher work rates, despite the decreased exposure time compared to defensemen.…”

“…Forwards and defensemen both accumulated higher PL in matches compared to training, but only defensemen had a higher PL•min -1 in matches. In contrast, no significant differences were reported between forwards and defensemen in match or training On-Ice Load (OIL), a derivative of PL filtering out the lowest band of activity, when tracked across an entire season of men's professional hockey (Allard et al, 2020). Defensemen had lower match OIL•min -1 compared to both forward positions, but higher OIL•min -1 in training.…”

Simulated Game-Based Ice Hockey Match Design (Scrimmage) Elicits Greater Intensity in External Load Parameters Compared With Official Matches

“…PlayerLoad TM per min has been reported in three of the studies (Douglas et al, 2019b(Douglas et al, , 2020Neeld et al, 2021), however, none of them excluded time on the bench, which makes it challenging to compare this metric to our results. Similar to our study, however solely using the inertial movement unit-device within the Clearsky T6-unit, Allard et al (2020) applied on ice load to quantify external load in a group of fifty male American Hockey League players over an entire season. On ice load was intended to be a more representative and precise measure of PlayerLoad TM in ice hockey, removing all low ACCs (<0.3 m/s −2 ) that typically occur (i.e., time on the bench, substitutions, coasting, gliding, standing, and resting) but at the same time comparable (Pearson correlation: R 2 = 0.98).…”

“…Further analysis of ice hockey match demands has revealed significant differences in intensity distribution between positions, periods, and odd-man situations (Douglas and Kennedy, 2019 ). Typically, forwards cover more distance in high-intensity zones (>17 km/h) compared with defensive players (Lignell et al, 2018 ; Douglas and Kennedy, 2019 ; Allard et al, 2020 ) and both total distance and intensity have been shown to decline from 1st to 3rd period (Brocherie et al, 2018 ; Lignell et al, 2018 ; Douglas and Kennedy, 2019 ; Douglas et al, 2019a ; Allard et al, 2020 ). Interestingly, one study by Douglas et al ( 2019b ) compared the external load difference between training and matches in a group of elite female players.…”