Relationships between general and specific physical characteristics and match-related indicators in elite Finnish ice hockey players at different playing positions

Kuvaus:

One of the challenges in ice hockey is understanding the differences in physical characteristics between players of different rink playing positions. In game situations, differences are obvious mainly because of tactical elements of game activities. Differences have occurred by various on-ice and off-ice tests of which many have correlated with each other. For example, general and specific speed and power tests have showed significant relationships whereas only low correlations between endurance tests. Only a few authors have investigated association between strength and on-ice performance showing contradictory results. Regardless of the lack of research in this area, authors have observed high-intensity performance during game correlating with cardiovascular loading in submaximal Yo-Yo intermittent recovery ice hockey tests, level 1 (Yo IR1-IHSUB). The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between on- and off-ice tests and match-related indicators. Especially speed-power tests are usable tools to assess on-ice performance. However, it seems that body composition of players does not affect significantly to on-ice performance. According to this study, positional differences do not occur in physical qualities but do appear in game activities. Due to these findings, coaches should focus more to develop physical performance corresponding with positional demands in match activities.