Ice training workload relation to the game workload in ice hockey

Kuvaus:

The purpose of this study is to provide insights into the amount of load and intensity of forwards and defensemen in the ice practices in relation to game amount of load and intensity. The data for the study was collected from a professional team playing in the Finnish main league, Liiga, during the 2022-2023 regular season.

The data collection utilized Firstbeat Sport Sensors (Firstbeat Technologies) to gather information on the amount and intensity of load in the ice practices and games. Data was collected from ice practices (GD-2, GD-1, GD-0) and games (GD). The key variables in this study are the internal load variable TRIMP, the external load variable movement load, and the intensity of the internal load variable TRIMP/min and intensity of the external load variable movement intensity.

The study demonstrated that the load and intensity in the ice practices decreases as the game approaches, regardless of player position. When examining both internal and external load, games were significantly more demanding than ice practices for both forwards and defensemen. Regarding the intensity of the load variable, movement intensity was higher during ice practices than games for both player positions. The results aid coaches in considering the planning of ice training to achieve game-like loads for both player positions throughout the team's training week.