Predicting On-Ice Skating Using Laboratory- and Field-Based Assessments in College Ice Hockey Players.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the predictability of common laboratory/field and novel laboratory tests for skating characteristics in Canadian college ice hockey players. METHODS: A total of 18 male hockey players from the university's varsity hockey team age 20-25 y (height 180.7 [6.4] cm, weight 87.1 [6.7] kg, and body fat 16.2% [4.0%]) completed common laboratory-/field-based testing (ie, standing long jump, vertical jump, off-ice proagility, V˙O2max, Wingate), novel laboratory-based testing (ie, Biodex dynamometer, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan), and on-ice testing (ie, 30-m forward sprint, 30-m backward sprint, on-ice proagility). RESULTS: Pearson correlations and stepwise regression revealed relationships between on-ice forward sprint and 4 off-ice tests (Wingate relative peak power [r = -.62, P < .01], standing long jump [r = -.45, P < .05], off-ice proagility left [r = .51, P < .05], and vertical jump impulse [r = .60, P < .01]). On-ice proagility left was correlated with off-ice proagility left (r = .47, P < .05), Wingate relative peak power (r = -.55, P < .01), and vertical jump impulse (r = -.53, P < .05). The 30-m backward skating test and the on-ice proagility right were not correlated with any off-ice test. CONCLUSION: Commonly used laboratory/field tests are effective in predicting 2 important primary abilities in ice hockey.