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Title: Czechs and Slovaks in the first season of the second century of NHL Abstract The theme od the thesis are Czechs and Slovaks in the first season of the second century of NHL. The main aim of my work is to analyze the course of the season 2017-2018. In my work I will focus on the Czech and Slovak players and their comparison with players from the other European countries and with USA and Canada ice hockey superpowers. The comparison will be focused on the number of players, Canadian points, players' productivity in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, their average age, and the players' age versus productivity. I will also focus on the team statistics (representation of Czechs, Slovaks and Europeans in each team). Key words Ice hockey, NHL, ice hockey players, Czechs, Slovaks, Europeans, goals, points

In todays society sports has become a major part in people’s life, with the emerging of professionalization it’s become a thriving business that generates big money. An outcome of this evolution of sports as meant that most athletes must put more time and energy in to their athletics to have a chance to reach their dreams of being a professional athlete. And if an athletes dream get cut short somehow, the process of moving out of sport has been shown to somtimes be a difficult process for athletes that don’t have anything to fall back on. That’s why it is important for athletes to have the option to be able to combine their athletics with academics. The purpose of this study was to examine how a duel career, support services and life skills help to balance out the negative outcomes of pursuing a professional career in sports while also working for a higher education. During this study eight men and two women that where playing ice hockey and studying at an NCAA division 1 university where interviewed about their perceptions being student-athletes in a high performance university that has high standards on academics and sports. The results showed that most of support services offered to the student athletes helped them in reducing stress and having a more balanced life between sports and studies. The results also showed that the student-athletes perceived that they prioritized hockey and studies highly and their free time to do other things suffered because of that. Another aspect in the result showed that community service, which was part of the student-athlete program, helped them with putting things in perspective and affected them in a positive way in being student-athletes.

Title: Use of Crossfit in condition training of junior ice hockey players Objectives: Main idea of this thesis was to prove, that Crossfit is usefull in ice hockey while pre-season. We aimed to proved crossfit improvment at generally condition presupposition, compare to other training method. Main area of condition were speed and power presupposition. Methods: In our thesis we used a method of analysis and a method of comparison. We apllied the method of analysis in pre-season of ice hockey and the method of comparison in comparing the two different types of training method. We used Crossfit as training method, which was applied on junior hockey. Strength training based on Crossfit exercise is going to be compared with running training, This running training program is use for training of junior hockey players. In the period under consideration of the performance stage we assess the change of power and speed performances of the ice hockey players. To assassmnet we used battery of test which is identify for Czech junior hockey league. We applied this test on junior players at age 17-20, which are playing 2. Czech league. Results: This thesis proved that Crossfit can be used in pre-season training oj junior hockey. At the same time proved that explosive power assumption on players which used Crossfit...

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the processes and influences that underlie the choice of retired elite athletes to further their education and assume the adult learner role. In the current study, focus was applied specifically to professional ice hockey players who were in a period of retirement from active play. Elite athletes often retire at a time when most other professions are just beginning or reaching a level of stability. Research suggests that many retired elite athletes experience a difficult transition to an early retirement from athletics that is fraught with depression and unemployment. A select number of these elite athletes choose to further their educations after their careers have expired. The literature suggests that some of these retired elite athletes find educational programming a valuable coping strategy in the often traumatic post-athletic career adjustment. Unfortunately, this choice is made by only few athletes. It would be desirable to encourage more retired athletes to consider and engage in educational activities; however, currently, there is only very little knowledge on the processes underlying athletes' choice to participate, or not to participate, in education in their retirement years. Using a theoretical framework that includes adult learning theory and adult development theory, in conjunction with expectancy-value theory of motivation, the impact of individual characteristics and environmental opportunities on post-athletic career choices made by professional athletes may be better understood. The primary instrument for data collection was a personal interview with ten retired professional hockey players, conducted over a consecutive six-month period resulting in significant data. Utilizing the constant-comparative method for data analysis, common themes were identified as indicators of educational engagement: Informal Mentorship, Head Injury Related Retirement, and Pre-Transition Planning. In addition to these themes, the findings reflected an alternative adult developmental model possibly unique to professional hockey players. The findings of this study are valuable to the larger conversation regarding adult learners, adult development, and elite athlete career transition. / Educational Administration

Title: Process of motional abilities for under 16 ice hockey players in preliminary term Author: Bc. Branislav Lobotka Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Jiří Suchý, Ph.D. Objective: The aim of this thesis was to design and implement a training program for development of motor skills of junior ice hockey players and it's subsequent verification in practice during preparation period 2011/2012. This thesis is based and builds on author's Bachelor thesis, in which the author analysed fitness preparation of juniors in preparation period 2010/2011. In the thesis are both fitness programs compared and analysed. As for scientific research, the author worked with hockey team HK Dukla Trencin. Conclusions and hypothesis are listed in the conclusion of the thesis. Methods: In thesis was used method of research, the method of observation, methods of literary sources, method of interview and method of measurement and testing. Results: The obtained results should form a basis for further development of fitness plans for junior ice hockey players' preparation periods. Key words: ice-hockey, athletic phase, motional abilities, U16 ice-hockey players, training, tests.

This study examines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the industry of sports and more precisely in regards to professional ice hockey players. The purpose of this study is to achieve a deeper understanding of how professional ice hockey players organize themselves through philanthropic CSR and why these engage in this CSR-work and in turn how it affects their brand. To attain this purpose the study need to answer the following three questions: how do ice hockey players organize themselves using philanthropic CSR, what motivates them to do philanthropic CSR-work and lastly how is their brand affected by doing philanthropic CSR.To achieve this deeper knowledge eleven interviews were carried out to collect the empirical data for the study. The interviews were conducted with a deductive viewpoint which gradually turned into a inductive one. With this in mind the study has been carried out with previous studies being taken in consideration and after the conclusion of the interviews into the position of the individual hockey players. After analysing the results a strong connection between the empirical data and the theoretical framework could be confirmed and it became clear that the players did not use CSR for their own gain or benefits. The motives behind the players engagement with CSR-activities could be connected to their unique prerequisites, but also through the encourage they received from their surroundings. The motivation for CSR seemed to come from the will to transcend into the life after sports. / Denna studie behandlar Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) inom idrottsbranschen, med inriktning mot professionella ishockeyspelare. Studiens syfte är att erhålla en förståelse för hur professionella ishockeyspelare organiserar sig av filantropiskt CSR, samt undersöka vad som motiverar dem till det filantropiska CSR-arbetet och hur detta i sin tur påverkar ishockeyspelarens varumärke. Följande frågeställningar ska besvaras för att uppnå syftet: hur organiserar sig ishockeyspelare genom filantropiskt CSR-arbete, vad motiverar dem till filantropiskt CSR-arbete samt hur deras varumärke påverkas av filantropiskt CSR-arbete? För att nå den djupa förståelsen har empirin samlats in genom elva semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien har utgått från ett deduktivt synsätt men har gradvis övergått till ett induktivt synsätt. Således har studien utgått från tidigare kunskap för forskningsämnet men efter de utförda intervjuerna övergått till ishockeyspelarnas ställningstagande. Efter en analysering av studien kunde starka kopplingar mellan det empiriska materialet och den teoretiska referensramen konstateras. Efter arbetets gång blev det tydligt att ishockeyspelarna inte använder sig av CSR för sin egna skull eller för sin egna vinning. Motiven bakom ishockeyspelarnas engagemang för CSR kunde kopplas till deras unika förutsättningar, men även av uppmuntran av sin omgivning. Motivationen för CSR engagemang visade sig fortleva i livet efter idrotten.

Background: The ice hockey community is founded on masculine norms and values, and the hockey rink is often described as “the home of men’s ice hockey”. Despite a growing popularity, women’s ice hockey has low priority in comparison to the men’s game. On top of that, the women’s game does not allow body checking, which makes it deviant from what some see as “the real game of ice hockey”. The checking prohibition causes physiological requirements to differ from the men’s game, and since women are underrepresented in ice hockey research, not much is known regarding the physiological- and socio-cultural conditions of women’s ice hockey. The overall aim of this doctoral thesis is to investigate physiological- and socio-cultural conditions important for performance in women’s ice hockey. Methods: This thesis is unique in terms of the interdisciplinary approach between physiology and gender science, and the inclusion of studies based on both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative thematic interviews with ice hockey coaches from Sweden, Canada, and the United States were used to explore socio-cultural conditions in relation to performance and sport development (Paper I). Relative age effect (RAE) in relation to maturity status was examined through anthropometric measurements and a player questionnaire (Paper II). Physiological field- and laboratory assessments were used to investigate physiological conditions and performance in female competitive ice hockey players from Sweden (Paper III-IV), and players from Canada (Paper IV). Results: The findings from Paper I suggest that coaches need to maintain a holistic approach to coaching to be able to coordinate and optimize the effects based on available conditions. Socio-cultural conditions, such as structural and financial support, are mentioned as important to support opportunities in women’s ice hockey. Furthermore, the results (Paper I) show that female players in Canada and the United States have superior opportunities compared to female players in Sweden. These advantages are mainly attributed to the support provided by the North American education systems. The findings from Paper II suggest that the relative age effect (RAEs) in women’s hockey are also influenced by socio-cultural conditions. Significant RAE (p<.05) was found for Swedish players born in the third quartile (Q3) and for Canadian player born in the second quartile (Q2). Players born in the fourth quartile (Q4) are significantly (p<.05) underrepresentated in both countries. Players tend to be average or late maturers, but no differences can be found by country or position. The findings from Paper III show that field-based assessments are comparable to laboratory assessments with the purpose of predicting skating performance. The Prediction models accounted for 13.6 % to 42 % (laboratory-based models) and 24.4 to 66.3 % (field-based models) of the variance in skating time. Regardless of assessment method, uni-lateral assessments are superior to bi-lateral assessments. The results support the use of field-based assessments in Paper IV. The findings from Paper IV show various physiological profiles for female Swedish and Canadian players. Swedish players had less body fat (p=.007), more lean mass (p=.005), and greater aerobic fitness measured with the20-meter shuttle run beep test (p=<.001). Canadian players had greater maximal isometric leg strength (p=.026), exhibit a greater running acceleration (p=<.001), performed better in single leg standing long jumps (right leg p=.002, left leg p=.030), and showed better anaerobic endurance (p=.029) on- ice. No significant differences can be found between forwards and defenders. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that physiological- and socio-cultural conditions should both be considered in relation to performance in women’s ice hockey. For example, the various physiological profiles are probably an effect of the different socio-cultural conditions in Sweden and Canada. The Canadian profile may be better adapted to performance in ice hockey, but further research is needed to establish a relationship. Since women’s ice hockey often has somewhat limited resources, this knowledge may help optimize the effect of the available resources, and thus improve performance. Improved performance may have a positive long-term effect on the symbolic view of women’s ice hockey. Women can probably further optimize their physical performance in relation to their current conditions. But for permanent changes to occur, power structures in sport must also change. Women themselves have limited opportunities to affect the dominating gender norms and values in ice hockey. / Bakgrund: Ishockeysamhället är grundat på maskulina normer och värderingar, och hockeyrinken beskrivs ofta som "herrishockeyns hem ". Trots en växande popularitet är damishockey lågt prioriterad i jämförelse med herrishockey. Tacklingar är inte tillåtna i damishockey, vilket gör att den skiljer sig från herrishockey som ofta benämns som "riktig ishockey". Tacklingsförbudet innebär att de fysiologiska kraven förändras gentemot om tacklingar skulle vara tillåtna, och det medför att studier gjorda på herrishockey inte är generaliserbara till damishockey. Eftersom kvinnor är underrepresenterade i ishockeyforskning så saknas det kunskap om de fysiologiska såväl som sociokulturella förutsättningarna inom damishockey. Det övergripande syftet med denna doktorsavhandling är att undersöka fysiologiska och sociokulturella förhållanden som är viktiga för prestation i damishockey. Metod: Denna avhandling är unik när det gäller det tvärvetenskapliga tillvägagångssättet mellan fysiologi och genus, samt att den inkluderar studier gjorda med både kvalitativa och kvantitativa metoder. Kvalitativa tematiska intervjuer med ishockeytränare från Sverige, Kanada och USA användes för att utforska sociokulturella förhållanden i förhållande till prestation och idrottsutveckling (Studie I). Relativ ålderseffekt (RAE) i förhållande till mognadsstatus undersöktes genom antropometriska mätningar och en spelarenkät (Studie II). Fysiologiska fält- och laboratorietester användes för att undersöka fysiologiska förhållanden och prestation hos kvinnliga ishockeyspelare från Sverige (Studie III-IV) samt Kanada (Studie IV). Resultat: Resultaten från Studie I visar att tränare måste försöka ha ett helhetsperspektiv för att kunna samordna resurser och optimera effekterna av dessa utifrån sina förutsättningar. Sociokulturella förhållanden, såsom strukturellt och ekonomiskt stöd, nämns som viktiga faktorer för att skapa utvecklingsmöjligheter inom damishockey. Dessutom visar resultaten (Studie I) att kvinnliga ishockeyspelare i Kanada och USA har överlägsna förutsättningar jämfört med kvinnliga ishockeyspelare i Sverige. Dessa fördelar uppkommer främst på grund av det ekonomiska och strukturella stöd som de nordamerikanska utbildningssystemen bidrar med. Resultaten från Studie II föreslår att även relativ ålderseffekt (RAE) i damishockey påverkas av sociokulturella förhållanden. Signifikant RAE (p <.05) hittades för svenska spelare födda i tredje kvartilen (Q3) och för kanadensiska spelare födda i andra kvartilen (Q2). Spelare födda i fjärde kvartilen (Q4) är signifikant (p <0,05) underrepresenterade i båda länderna. Mognadsstatusen på spelarna uppmättes till medel eller sen utifrån tid för första menstruation, men inga skillnader hittades mellan länderna eller mellan positioner. Resultaten från Studie III visar att fälttester är jämförbara med laboratorietester när syftet är att prediktera skridskoåkningsförmåga. Prediktionsmodellerna förklarade 13.6 % to 42 % (laboratoriebaserade modeller) och 24.4 % to 66.3 % (fältbaserade modeller) av variansen i åktid. Oavsett bedömningsmetod visar sig unilaterala tester överlägsna bilaterala tester att prediktera skridskoåkningsförmåga. Resultaten stöder valet av fälttester i Studie IV. Resultaten från Studie IV visar att de svenska och kanadensiska spelarna hade olika fysiologiska profiler. De svenska spelare hade mindre kroppsfett (p = .007), mer fettfri massa (p = .005) och högre aerob kapacitet mätt genom beeptest (p = <.001). De kanadensiska spelare hade högre maximal isometrisk benstyrka (p = .026), bättre löpacceleration (p = <. 001), bättre hoppkapacitet i stående längdhopp på ett ben (höger ben p = .002, vänster ben p = .030) och högre anaerob uthållighet (p = 0,29) på MRSS. Inga signifikanta skillnader hittades mellan forwards och backar. Slutsats: Resultaten från denna avhandling visar att såväl fysiologiska som sociokulturella förhållanden bör beaktas i förhållande till prestation i damishockey. Till exempel är de olika fysiologiska profilerna troligen en effekt av de olika sociokulturella förhållandena i Sverige och Kanada. Den kanadensiska profilen kan vara bättre anpassad till prestation i ishockey men ytterligare forskning behövs för att fastställa om det finns ett verkligt samband. Eftersom damishockeyn ofta har begränsade resurser kan den här kunskapen bidra till att damlag kan nyttja sina resurser på ett mer effektivt sätt och därmed förbättra sin prestation. En förbättrad prestation skulle kunna ha en positiv effekt på damishockeyns symboliska värde, men för att permanenta förändringar ska uppstå måste maktstrukturerna i sporten också förändras. Kvinnorna själva har begränsade möjligheter att påverka den dominerande könsnormen i ishockey.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background In sport, competitive athletes are required to perform to the best of their ability, with some athletes seeking the use of chiropractic treatment to improve performance. For example, hockey players are required to perform at peak physical function whilst executing a drag flick. The action of a drag flick involves a player hunched over low down in front of the ball and the hook of the hockey stick makes contact with the ball, which is then ball is pushed along the ground with the ball moving slightly up the shaft of the stick. The player then performs ‘slinging’ action, which means they ‘flick’ the ball towards the goal posts. The drag flick is an explosive sequential movement involving the player’s pelvis, trunk and upper limbs, requiring the use of the spine to generate the speed of the stick and ball. As a result any decreased spinal movement could reduce performance. Therefore this study attempted to assess the use of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in improving the drag flicking performance of hockey players. SMT has been shown to be a safe and effective way of increasing spinal joint mobility Objectives To determine and compare the effect of placebo and spinal manipulative therapy in terms of subjective and objective measurements on drag flicking performance of premier league field hockey players. Methods A comparative, experimental study of forty asymptomatic premier league hockey drag flickers were divided into two groups of twenty each. Group A received SMT of fixated joints of the spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) as determined by motion palpation by an experienced qualified chiropractor. Group B received sham manipulation. Pre and post intervention ROM of the spine and drag flicking speed where measured using CROM, Inclinometer, BROM II and Speed TracX Speed Sport Radar. The subject’s perception of a change in drag flicking speed post intervention was also recorded. SPSS version 21 was used to analyse the data. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Significant differences in ROM were noticed in the inter-group analysis in cervical: extension; LLF; RR PA, thoracic: extension; LLF, RLF, lumbar: extension, LLF, RLF. There was a significant increase in drag flicking speed post SMT, but between the SMT and sham manipulation groups were not significantly different. A significant correlation was seen between subjects’ perception of change in drag flicking speed post intervention and the objective results obtained. Conclusion The immediate effect of SMT on drag flicking performance of hockey players was inconclusive. The outcomes of this study suggests that SMT results in an increase in the average speed of drag flicking, however further larger studies are required to confirm this. / M

SAMMANFATTNING  Bakgrund: Ishockey tillhör en av de idrotterna med högst skadefrekvens. Det finns olika faktorer ur ett biopsykosocialt perspektiv som har inverkan på spelares respons och beteende vid skada och rehabilitering. Fysioterapeuter har som uppgift att stötta patienter i rehabilitering och återgång till målaktivitet. Till författarnas vetskap finns det ingen forskning på fysioterapeuters upplevelse av spelares beteende under en rehabiliteringsprocess inom svensk elitishockey.  Syfte: Syftet med följande studie var att undersöka fysioterapeuters upplevelser kring spelares beteende i relation till rehabiliteringsprocessen vid skada inom svensk elitishockey.  Metod: En kvalitativ design med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Ett ändamålsenligt urval användes där sex fysioterapeuter inkluderades från Hockeyallsvenskan och Svenska Hockeyligan (SHL). En kvalitativ innehållsanalys genomfördes med induktiv ansats.  Resultat: Den tematiska analysen resulterade i fem kategorier och 20 subkategorier. Kategorier som framkom var personliga faktorer påverkar beteende, erfarenhet påverkar beteende, omgivningsfaktorer påverkar beteende, egna prioriteringar påverkar beteende samt kunskap om skada påverkar beslutsfattande.  Slutsats: Studien belyste hur samspelet mellan individ- och omgivningsfaktorer hos spelare påverkar beteende under rehabilitering. Identifiering av dessa faktorer visar att rehabilitering med fördel kan utgå från ett biopsykosocialt perspektiv. Spelares hantering av skada upplevdes variera beroende av olika copingstrategier samt hur skadan värderades. / ABSTRACT  Background: Ice hockey is one of the sports with the highest incidence of injuries. There are different factors seen from a biopsychosocial perspective which all influence the players response and behavior during an injury and rehabilitation. The task of physiotherapists is to support patients in their rehabilitation and return to their target activity. There is a limited knowledge of the experiences of physiotherapists regarding player behavior during a rehabilitation process in Swedish elite ice hockey.  Aim: The aim of this this study was to examine physiotherapists experiences of players behaviors in relations to a rehabilitation process after an injury in Swedish elite ice hockey.  Method: A qualitative design with semi structured interviews. An expedient selection was used with six physiotherapists who were included from Hockeyallsvenskan and Svenska Hockeyligan (SHL). The interviews were analyzed with qualitative content analysis with inductive approach.  Results: The thematic analysis resulted in five categories and 20 subcategories. The categories identified were personal factors affects behavior, experience affects behavior, environmental factors affect behavior, personal priorities affect behavior and knowledge about injury affects decision making.  Conclusion: The study illustrated how the interplay between individual- and environmental factors affected player behavior during rehabilitation. Identification of these factors shows that rehabilitation benefits from a biopsychosocial perspective. The experience was that players management of an injury variated depending on different coping strategies and how the injury was valued.