Comparison Of Off-ice And On-ice Performance Tests In Collegiate Ice Hockey Players

Abstract

Ice hockey is a high-intensity sport that requires optimally performing energy systems to compete at an elite level. Typically, off-ice performance tests are used to evaluate player fitness, but little is known about their relationships to on-ice tests. PURPOSE: To compare performance, blood lactate (LAC), and heart rate (HR) obtained during off- and on-ice fitness tests in collegiate ice hockey players. METHODS: Nineteen male, collegiate ice hockey players, (age=18-24 yr; ht=1.81±0.05m, wt=84.9±4.74 kg) were assessed off-ice using a discontinuous, incremental treadmill (TM) test. 3-min run stages were separated by 90-sec rest, until players reached volitional exhaustion. The on-ice test, in full gear, was a repeated shift ability (RSA) test consisting of eight, ~22-sec stages of maximal effort skating with 90-sec rest between stages. Fatigue decrement index (FDI) was calculated by subtracting fastest from slowest RSA stage times. During both tests, fingerstick LAC was obtained during rest intervals and HR was measured continuously. Spearman correlations were used to assess the relationship between TM completion time and FDI, as well as the relationships in Stage4 LAC and HRrecovery between off- and on-ice tests. RESULTS: TM times to exhaustion averaged 19.8±1.1 min, and RSA times averaged 22.0±0.4 sec. Corrrelations revealed no relationship between TM time and FDI (r=0.301, ns). Average HRmax during the TM tests was 192±6 b.min-1 versus highest achieved HR of 175±9 b.min-1 (91% of TM HRmax) during the RSA tests. For the TM tests, Stage4 LAC and HRrecovery averaged 10.2±2.8mmol and reduction to 76±8% HRmax, respectively. For the RSA tests, Stage4 LAC and HRrecovery averaged 13.3±1.9mmol and reduction to 74±4%HRmax. Stage4 TM and RSA LAC values were significantly related (r=0.52, p<0.05); however no significant relationship existed between Stage4 TM and RSA values for HRrecovery (r=0.34, ns). CONCLUSION: The lack of relationship between TM time and FDI was expected given the two tests’ emphases on different energy systems and the homogeneity of the athletes’ overall fitness. Moderate to high correlation found between LAC measures, regardless of test modality, supports previous research from our lab indicating the predictive value of LAC measures on ice hockey player performance.