External Loads Of Men’S And Women’S Varsity Ice Hockey Players During A Practice And Game

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quantify and compare the external load demands of men’s and women’s varsity ice hockey players during one practice and game using a local positioning system (LPS). METHODS: Female (n = 24, 19.8 ± 1.4 yr, 68.0 ± 6.9 kg, 168.1 ± 5.9 cm) and male (n = 26, 22.1 ± 1.1 yr, 85.9 ± 5.4 kg, 181.3 ± 5.1 cm) varsity ice hockey players consented to wear a player-tracking sensor (accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer) during one practice (P) and one game (G) in an arena outfitted with an LPS. On-ice measures (mean ± SD) included accelerations, decelerations, accumulated acceleration load, distance travelled, and skating speed. RESULTS: The average number of accelerations per skater were not different for females (P: 30.7 ± 12.6 vs. G: 26.6 ± 10.3; p=0.259) but were significantly greater in P than G for males (71.6 ± 26.7 vs. 48.0 ± 23.2; p=0.004). The average number of decelerations followed a similar trend between P and G for females (38.9 ± 14.7 vs. 47.5 ± 18.6; p=0.101) and males (79.6 ± 27.8 vs. 56.0 ± 24.8; p=0.006). Average peak acceleration did not differ between P and G for females (3.7 ± 0.7 vs. 3.6 ± 0.5 m/s2; p=0.586) or males (4.2 ± 0.5 vs. 4.3 ± 0.8 m/s2; p=0.591), while accumulated acceleration load was higher for P vs. G only for females (138.4 ± 23.1 vs. 165.0 ± 40.5; p=0.012). There was no difference in P or G distance travelled for females (4577.7 ± 1127.7 vs. 5332.6 ± 1614.5 m; p=0.084) or males (6439.8 ± 1456.0 vs. 7485.3 ± 2495.2 m; p=0.096). Although P and G peak skating speed was similar for females (29.3 ± 5.0 vs. 27.7 ± 3.9 m/s; p=0.236) and males (32.6 ± 3.6 vs. 30.8 ± 4.1 m/s; p=0.128), average P skating speed was lower than G for both females (3.7 ± 0.9 vs. 7.0 ± 2.0 m/s; p<0.001) and males (5.4 ± 1.5 vs. 6.7 ± 1.9 m/s; p=0.005). Males had significantly greater accelerations (count and peak), accumulated acceleration load, distance travelled, and peak skating speed in P and G compared to females (p<0.019). Peak decelerations and average speed in P and G did not differ between females and males (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Preliminary data captured using an LPS suggests that several components of external load are different between P and G for female and male ice hockey players. Furthermore, the external load of ice hockey appears to be greater in males than females. This research was funded by a grant from Mitacs and PepsiCo.