Physical Qualities Discriminate Playing Level In Elite Youth Hockey Players

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare physical test results between playing levels and positions in youth elite hockey players. METHODS: Subjects (n=49) came from 3 distinct levels: Bantam AAA Relève (the lowest, n=16), Bantam AAA Major (the second highest, n=17), and Midget Espoir (the highest, n=16). Physical characteristics and qualities were measured. The stationary broad jump was utilized to measure lower-body power. Jump distance was measured from toes to the closest landed heel. The best of two attempts was marked as the final score. The seated medicine ball throw was utilized to measure upper-body power. Throw distance was measured from the back of the wall to where the ball first made contact with the ground. The 20-meter shuttle run test was utilized to measure aerobic capacity. VO2max was estimated from the last level completed with the Leger-Lambert formula. Results are presented as mean and standard deviation. A single factor (level or position) ANOVA and when significant a post-hoc analysis was also performed by using the least significant difference (LSD) for pairwise comparisons between groups tests results. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Analysis was conducted with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 25. RESULTS: Hockey players of the two higher levels were significantly (p<0.05) taller (1.73 ± 0.08m and 1.74 ± 0.08m, respectively, vs 1.63 ± 0.09m), heavier (66.68 ± 8.09m and 68.60 ± 10.96m respectively vs 53.52 ± 8.73m), jumped further (2.25 ± 0.13m and 2.26 ± 0.12m respectively vs 2.01 ± 0.20m), and had greater aerobic capacity (3.87 ± 0.52 L/min and 3.84 ± 0.57 L/min respectively vs 2.96 ± 0.49 L/min) than the hockey players from the lower level. However, the higher level players, scored lower than the middle level at the seated medicine ball throw (3.74 ± 0.49m vs 4.60 ± 0.48m), even though the middle level scored higher than the lower level (4.60 ± 0.48m vs 3.49 ± 0.53m). Results also show that the goaltenders were significantly taller than the other hockey players (1.77 ± 0.10m vs 1.72 ± 0.08m for defensemen and 1.67 ± 0.10m for forwards). CONCLUSION: The stationary broad jump, the seated medicine ball throw and the 20 meters shuttle run are field tests that could be used in order to discriminate playing levels in youth elite hockey players.