The physiology of ice hockey performance: An update

• DOI: 10.1111/sms.14284
• Publication Date: 2022-12-15T04:12:04Z
• Authors: Jeppe F. Vigh‐Larsen; Magni Mohr
• Keywords: Ice hockey; Sprint

Abstract Ice hockey is an intense team sport characterized by repeated bursts of fast‐paced skating, rapid changes in speed and direction frequent physical encounters. These are performed on‐ice shifts ~30–80 s interspersed with longer sequences passive recovery, resulting about 15–25 min time per player. Nearly 50% the distance covered at high‐intensity skating speeds accentuated activity pattern forwards compared to defensemen. During ice match‐play, both aerobic anaerobic energy systems significantly challenged, heart rate increasing toward maximum levels during each shift, great reliance on glycolytic phosphagen ATP provision. The favors muscle glycogen as fuel, leading pronounced reductions despite relatively brief playing time, including severe depletion a substantial proportion individual fast‐ slow‐twitch fibers. Player‐tracking suggests that ability perform compromised final stages game, which supported post‐game repeated‐sprint ability. Muscle degradation, particular fibers, well potential dehydration hyperthermia, may be prime candidates implicated exacerbated fatigue whereas multiple factors likely interact impair exercise tolerance shift. This includes PCr inadequate resynthesis fast‐twitch fibers situations actions. Finally, recovery inadequately described, but seems less long‐lasting than other sports.