Physical Performance Testing Measures Are Poor Predictors Of Ice Hockey Game Performance

Abstract

Physical performance testing is used to evaluate ice hockey players’ physical preparedness for competition. Identifying relationships between performance tests and game performance outcomes (GPO) could be valuable for predicting which players will be most successful. PURPOSE: To evaluate relationships between measures obtained during off- and on-ice physical performance tests and GPO during a collegiate ice hockey season. METHODS: Nineteen male, collegiate ice hockey players (age = 18-24 yr; ht = 1.8 ± 0.1 m, wt = 85.3 ± 5.1 kg) completed physical performance tests including vertical jump (VJ), 30-sec Wingate, incremental treadmill (TM), and a repeated shift ability (RSA) test during preseason. Players received 3-5 attempts to perform their maximum vertical jump (nearest 0.5 inch). The 30-sec Wingate was performed with 0.075 kg per kg of body weight and provided peak power (WPW) and percent fatigue decrement (WFD). Time to volitional exhaustion was measured on the TM which entailed 3-min run stages separated by 90-sec rest. The RSA was performed on-ice in full gear. The RSA involved eight, ~22-sec maximal skating shifts with 90-sec rest between each shift. The fastest shift (FS) and fatigue decrement index (FDI) were measured and calculated. Throughout the 2019-2020 season, Corsi For (CF) and Ice Time (IT) were recorded each game. Spearman correlations were used to assess relationships between each performance test and GPO. RESULTS: VJ heights averaged 30.4 ± 2.5 in, WPW and WFD averaged 11.6 ± 1.4 W/kg and 14.8 ± 4.8% respectively, TM time to exhaustion averaged 20.1 ± 1.5 min, and FS and FDI averaged 22.0 ± 0.4 sec and 7.7 ± 2.5% respectively. Correlations revealed TM times were inversely associated with FDI (r = -0.52, p < 0.05), CF (r = -0.60, p < 0.05), and IT (r = -0.65, p < 0.01). No relationships were identified between other physical performance and GPO measures. CONCLUSION: Inverse relationships between TM times and CF and IT were surprising as we expected greater aerobic fitness to contribute to faster recovery and consequently, more ice time and higher CF during competition. We also anticipated measures from the VJ, Wingate, and RSA to relate to GPO. Further investigation into how off- and on-ice performance test measures relate to aspects of competition could improve the rationale for using these preseason tests.