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. 2022 Jul 23;19(15):8952.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19158952.

Elite Adolescent Ice Hockey Players: Analyzing Associations between Anthropometry, Fitness, and On-Ice Performance

Gaëtan Martini  1   2 , Jean-François Brunelle  1   3 , Vincent Lalande  1   2 , Jean Lemoyne  1   2
Affiliations

Elite Adolescent Ice Hockey Players: Analyzing Associations between Anthropometry, Fitness, and On-Ice Performance

Gaëtan Martini et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

In the field of ice hockey, body mass and height have always played a role in team selection. This study aims to analyze the associations between anthropometry and multiple dimensions of performance among elite adolescent ice hockey players.

Methods: 187 adolescent players (males: n = 80, 13.81 years; females: n = 107, 14.96 years) took part in the study, in Camp 1. Off-ice fitness and on-ice skating tests were performed. Camp 2 consists of on-ice tests and match performance with players selected by coaching staff at Camp 1. Camp 2 data came from official matches performance and a combination of skating tests and intrasquad matches. Hockey Quebec's selection process consists of going from an entire pool of athletes to a team of twenty-five players, through several camps spread over two years. Correlation analyses were conducted to verify associations between anthropometric measures and performances.

Results: In Camp 1, heavier-taller male athletes displayed better performances in most off-ice fitness tests, while heavier female athletes tended to display poorer performance. Camp 2 showed no significant correlations in on-ice tests and match performance. However, some tendencies were observed: heavier male players were less involved in blocked shots, and taller females were more agile.

Conclusions: Despite off-ice advantages, the taller-heavier prototype does not translate directly to better performance on the ice among elite adolescent players. Coaches should analyze anthropometric characteristics with caution, and place more focus on match-specific abilities to identify talent.

Keywords: body mass; fitness assessment; height; match performance; on-ice testing; selection camps; talent identification; young athletes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schedule timeline of Hockey Quebec selection process, and assessment fields during Camps 1 and 2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The 44.8-m skating sprint test.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The skating agility test, with the four-step procedure.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Association between body mass and shot blocking (game blocked shots).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Association between height and skating agility test (seconds).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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