Relationship of Physical Fitness Test Results and Hockey Playing Potential in Elite-Level Ice Hockey Players

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the fitness variables with the highest capability for predicting hockey playing potential at the elite level as determined by entry draft selection order. We also examined the differences associated with the predictive abilities of the test components among playing positions. The secondary purpose of this study was to update the physiological profile of contemporary hockey players including positional differences. Fitness test results conducted by our laboratory at the National Hockey League Entry Draft combine were compared with draft selection order on a total of 853 players. Regression models revealed peak anaerobic power output to be important for higher draft round selection in all positions; however, the degree of importance of this measurement varied with playing position. The body index, which is a composite score of height, lean mass, and muscular development, was similarly important in all models, with differing influence by position. Removal of the goalies' data increased predictive capacity, suggesting that talent identification using physical fitness testing of this sort may be more appropriate for skating players. Standing long jump was identified as a significant predictor variable for forwards and defense and could be a useful surrogate for assessing overall hockey potential. Significant differences exist between the physiological profiles of current players based on playing position. There are also positional differences in the relative importance of anthropometric and fitness measures of off-ice hockey tests in relation to draft order. Physical fitness measures and anthropometric data are valuable in helping predict hockey playing potential. Emphasis on anthropometry should be used when comparing elite-level forwards, whereas peak anaerobic power and fatigue rate are more useful for differentiating between defense.

Physiological Correlates of Skating Performance in Women's and Men's Ice Hockey

“…It appears that the men in the current study (Table 2) had a relative aerobic capacity (VO 2peak 56 ml · kg -1 · min -1 ) comparable to previous findings. A study of the players in the NHL entry draft (graded cycle ergometer test) reported an aerobic capacity of 58.1 and 56.7 ml · kg -1 · min -1 for forwards and defensive players respectively (6), and a study from collegiate athletic ice hockey (graded treadmill test) reported an aerobic capacity of 59 ml · kg -1 · min -1 (17).…”

“…Off-ice physiological fitness in men's ice hockey players has been studied before (1,3,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) and the physiological profile has changed over the years as the players of today are taller and more physically fit, but with an unchanged body composition (1,7). Recent research has studied the physiological profiles of women's ice hockey players as well (11)(12)(13) On-ice tests for ice hockey players may measure physiologic fitness as well as skill, depending on the structure of test (3).…”

Assessment of Mechanical Cardiac Function in Elite Athletes

“…Standardized fitness testing protocols performed according to Burr et al, [37] were used to assess all fitness parameters used in this study. A 30-sec modified Wingate test performed on the Monark 834E Wingate ergometer was used to assess anaerobic performance, while aerobic power (VO 2 max) was assessed on the Monark 828 cycle ergometer ( Table 1a).…”

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“…It is difficult to compare our results with others, because there is a great variation among studies in used off-ice tests (Mascaro et al, 1992;Geithner et al, 2006;Burr et al, 2008;Ransdell & Murray, 2011;Ransdell et al, 2013;Henriksson et al, 2015). Moreover, above mentioned studies are conducted predominantly in elite women ice hockey players.…”