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The purpose of this study was to examine the three-dimensional movement profile of the blade during a stationary slap shot, as a function of blade construction properties and player skill level. A total of fifteen subjects participated in this study; eight were classified as elite and the remaining seven were recreational. Performances were evaluated by simultaneously recording the movements of the stick's lower shaft and blade with high-speed video (1000 Hz), the time and duration of stick-ground contact with two uniaxial forceplates, and time of blade-puck contact with a uniaxial accelerometer mounted within the puck. Data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA for several dependent variables, including: linear kinematics, temporal phase data, and global angles. The results indicated that elite shooters tended to alter timing parameters (i.e. phase length), magnitude of linear variables (i.e. displacement, etc.), and the overall blade orientation to achieve a higher velocity slap shot. These analyses helped to identify a unique rocker phase within the execution of the slap shot in both groups. Further studies are needed to discern the precise role and function of the rocker phase, in order to advance the cause of hockey stick, specifically blade design and development.

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Objectives. The purpose of this study was too determine whether there were significant kinematic differences between recreational and elite hockey players and between contra-lateral lower limbs during forward hockey skating. / Methods. While skating on a hockey treadmill subjects were filmed with four synchronized digital video cameras while wearing reflective marker triads on the thighs, shanks and skates. Subjects skated within a calibrated volume at a self selected speed that they could maintain comfortably for one minute. Each subject completed three trials separated by 5 minutes of rest. Data was reduced and analyzed using programs written in MATLAB. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey Post Hoc tests were used to determine statistic significance. / Results. Elite and recreational subjects were significantly different (p≤0.05) during knee abduction and knee rotation at push off, as well as during knee abduction and knee flexion at blade contact. Contra lateral lower limbs were significantly different (p≤0.05) during ankle abduction and hip rotation at blade contact as well as during knee abduction at push off. / Conclusion. Some aspects of the skating stride are similar in elite and recreational hockey skaters but there were several kinematic differences between skill levels and contra-lateral legs. The skating kinematics of elite hockey players may serve as a model for young hockey players and recreational hockey players, helping them develop a more efficient and effective stride.

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This study compared the plantar force distribution between forward ice hockey skating and treadmill skating. Four varsity hockey players from McGill University (age = 22.1 +/- 1.2 years, height = 1.8 +/- 0.1 m, mass = 82.2 +/- 8.6 kg) skated on ice surface and on a specialized treadmill at three velocities (22, 24 and 26 +/- 0.5 km/hr). Results showed higher plantar forces were seen during treadmill skating prior to push off and this discrepancy was due to consistently larger forces in the fore region of the foot. This phenomenon was speculated to be the result of differences in skate stability during ice and treadmill skating. With respect to the loading dynamics, the heel region was the same during ice and treadmill skating.

The purpose was to compare the blood lactate response and performance of varsity hockey players to recreational players, and to provide a shift by shift analysis of blood lactate accumulation in a simulated ice hockey task. Ten university, varsity players and ten recreational players performed a continuous aerobic treadmill test (VO2max), a 45 s Wingate test, and four trials of the Repeat Sprint Skate (RSS) test. Each RSS test consisted of four repetitions of a 91.4 m skate with repetitions initiated on 30 s intervals. To simulate game, competition, 5 min of recovery separated each RSS test. Results indicated: (1) performance of the varsity players was superior (p < 0.01) to that of the recreational players in the RSS test; (2) four shifts of the RSS test elicited similar peak blood lactate concentrations for the varsity and recreational groups; (3) change in blood lactate following 15 min of passive recovery was similar in the two groups, and (4) there was a significant relationship (&prop; = 0.05) between performance indices in the RSS test and corresponding variables measured in the 45 s Wingate test.

The purpose of this study was to measure the intensity and duration of ice hockey play for six university hockey players (three forwards and three defencemen) and to compare them with the results to a similar study published in 1976. Comparisons of heart rate output and time-motion characteristics between forwards and defencemen were examined as well as differences in intensity between practices and games. The players performed at significantly lower intensity, had less playing time per shift, and had less playing time per game than the players in the 1976 study. Both investigations had similar bench times between shifts. The forwards had significantly different time-motion characteristics from the defencemen but similar playing time intensity. The intensity of games was higher than practices in terms of on-ice intensity but similar in terms of total time above a threshold intensity ($ geq$ 70% of HRmax).