No description available.

The aim of the study was to examine the muscle activities of fifteen male participants (23.44 ±2.63 years) during unilateral hockey bag load carrying of different weights (10%, 20%, and 30% bodyweight) and sizes (small and large). Walking without a hockey bag was the control condition. The results showed that increased peak and integrated EMG occurred with an increased load weight in the semitendinosus, gastrocnemius, rectus abdominis, and vastus medialis. The left rectus femoris and left semitendinosus were both significantly greater than the right corresponding muscle. Carrying the large hockey bag produced greater peak EMG in the right rectus abdominis and the right rectus femoris, whereas the right vastus medialis showed a larger peak EMG in the small hockey bag. It was concluded that the posterior-lateral carrying style of hockey bag load carriage explained the results being similar to both backpack and side pack load carriage studies.

The overarching purpose of this study was to describe and to understand what it means to become and be a coach in ice hockey. The following areas were considered: how Swedish ice hockey has been developed, the recruiting of ice hockey coaches, the work of a coach, how the actors view the development of ice hockey and how the club directors, players, and the coaches believe a good coach should act. A fundamental theoretical point of departure for this work is Kalevi Heinilä's totalization theory. The recruiting of coaches is understood with the aid of Schelin's views on early involvement and socialization in sports and Patriksson's model of socialization. The coaches' activities and the forces that affect the coach will be described according to Chelladurais' multidimensional model of leadership. The empirical material comprises questionnaires to coaches and chairpersons from 205 clubs, interviews conducted with twenty ice hockey coaches and twenty ice hockey players and a literature study to describe the development of Swedish ice hockey. The results showed the there has been a striking increase in the number of matches and that there is a conflict between the sports and marketing aspects. This situation places demands on the actors to win but also play in an entertaining manner. Economic aspects control the development of sports to an ever greater extent but also offers an opportunity for a professional career for both players and coaches. The process of desocialization does not always mean a definite departure from sports but it can instead mean the beginning of a new career. Most of the coaches are former players. They continue in the same sport but in a new role. The coach is responsible for all the activities with the team and bear the responsibility for the team's results. The pressure to succeed make the teams try to find an effective way to play: ice hockey today is more tactically governed and defensive. There seems to be a Swedish model for the routines associated with a match. The whole course of events is very formalized and this study shows an almost ritualistic behavior of coaches. Players and coaches believe that the coach should be authoritarian in the match situation. The whole culture of ice hockey seems to expect it. It is believed that one must be of a certain kind to be accepted by the culture of ice hockey: the Ice Hockey Association, clubs, players, mass media, and spectators. In any case it is simpler not to deviate. / digitalisering@umu

Commercialization of sport has been growing since 80s and club owners tend to pay more and more attention not just to cups and titles but to commercial success as well. Nevertheless, fans are still the key source of revenues. Besides direct spending while attending games popular clubs and crowded stadiums grab attention of generous advertisers. That is why the problem of sports attendance becomes more and more important though ice hockey attendance is still not the most popular topic among sports marketing researchers. The majority of them cover Canada and the United States while European leagues suffer from the lack of studies as much bigger attention is paid to sport number one – soccer. In the same time, Sweden is one of the few countries in the world where ice hockey might be as popular as soccer. Swedish ice hockey league is one of the strongest in the world but still many clubs fail to sell out their arenas at every game. So the main purpose of this research is to identify factors that influence attendance of ice hockey games in Sweden and reveal their impact on attendance. The analysis is conducted using quantitative methods, where econometrical and statistical approaches are primary tools. In order to test factors influencing attendance a multiple regression model was set up. The dataset was compiled using secondary data and consisted of 1317 regular season ice hockey matches played during 4 seasons (from 2008/2009 to 2011/2012) of the top Swedish ice hockey league called Elitserien. The main sources for compiling the dataset were game reports provided by Swedish Ice Hockey Association and Elitserien. The present study has shown that several factors have strongly positive effect on attendance. Scheduling (games on Friday, Saturday and during Christmas holidays) and rivalry are the most important factors that bring crowds to arenas. Moreover, it can be concluded that higher prices do not affect attendance negatively and clubs can slightly increase ticket prices to improve match day revenues. Finally, on-ice violence attracts Swedish fans while opposite trend exists in North America.

Adaptation in professional sport is the professional athlete’s capacity to act and react effectively to destabilizing stress episodes so that an internal sense of emotional and psychological balance is restored (Schinke, Tenenbaum, Lidor & Battochio, 2010). Professional ice-hockey players must overcome numerous stressors throughout their careers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Though sport researchers have conducted preliminary studies about the stress and adaptation processes of NHL players, small participant numbers and the use of a structured interview guide limited to rookie and veteran career stages limit the conclusions. Based on these limitations, the purpose of the present dissertation was to provide a comprehensive depiction of the stress episodes and processes that lead to adaptation and maladaptation in the NHL. Twenty-three current and former NHL players were recruited for individual interviews, which were then analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) inductive thematic analysis. As a result, stress episodes and the subsequent strategies attempted to reach adaptation or maladaptation could be housed either within a career stage or across an NHL player’s career. Career stages were (a) entry into the NHL, (b) remaining in the NHL, and (c) becoming an All-Star. Across-career stress involved (a) high profile team, (b) injury, and (c) relocation. Subsequently, the participants identified pathways designed to alleviate or manage the stressors situated within each stress episode. Through retrospection, the participants decided whether their pathways taken during various stress episodes were adaptive. Recommendations were then proposed by these athletes for aspiring NHL players or maladaptive. Implications for sport researchers and practitioners (e.g., coaches, mental performance consultants) are also provided within the conclusion.

The present study examined the hemodynamic response to recreational hockey (n= 22) in middle-aged men (53±6 yrs). Study participants were equipped with ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring equipment prior to a weekly hockey games. Participants were monitored throughout the duration of their hockey game for “On-Ice” responses and during seated bench time (“Bench”), and for a brief period afterwards. On-Ice HR’s and blood pressures were significantly higher than values obtained during maximal cycle exercise (HR 174±8.9 vs. 163±11.0 bpm) (SBP 17%; DBP 15%) (p<0.05), Blood pressures decreased throughout the duration of the game while HR increased significantly. The On-Ice endocardial viability ratio (EVR), an index of myocardial oxygen supply and demand, did not change from early (1.56±0.05) to late (1.44± 0.06) in the game. In conclusion, recreational hockey is an extremely vigorous form of interval exercise that produces cardiovascular responses exceeding intensities commonly recommended for continuous training.

No description available.

Shell geometry is one of the many variables that can influence the way energy is absorbed by the helmet during impact. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge in how shell geometry affects the performance of the shell relative to liner structural characteristics and impact conditions. Samples, representing a section of a hockey helmet, consisted of a shell with one of nine geometric formations (width and angle), and a liner (Dertex or EPP). Each sample was impacted three times at three different levels of energy using a monorail drop test. Significant differences were observed for all main effects and two-way interactions for both liner types. Overall the 90 degree angle and 16mm width performed the best. It was found that geometry influences the elastic properties of the shell in a very specific way. It was also found that geometry can improve energy absorption by 4-35% depending on the combination of other variables involved.

The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the Power Master isokinetic ergometer in measuring skating power for 34 hockey players (14 professional, 11 recreational, and 9 female university players). Comparisons between two on-ice tests and four laboratory tests of skating speed and power, and prediction of sprint skating speed were also examined for 19 hockey players (10 recreational and 9 female university players). The Power Master displayed internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion related validity. Significant correlations occurred between the on-ice tests and the laboratory test (r =.55 to r =.95), and the Power Master was a significant variable in predicting sprint skating speed. It was concluded that the Power Master is a reliable and valid machine for the measurement of skating power in hockey players.

The present study examined the hemodynamic response to recreational hockey (n= 22) in middle-aged men (53±6 yrs). Study participants were equipped with ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitoring equipment prior to a weekly hockey games. Participants were monitored throughout the duration of their hockey game for “On-Ice” responses and during seated bench time (“Bench”), and for a brief period afterwards. On-Ice HR’s and blood pressures were significantly higher than values obtained during maximal cycle exercise (HR 174±8.9 vs. 163±11.0 bpm) (SBP 17%; DBP 15%) (p<0.05), Blood pressures decreased throughout the duration of the game while HR increased significantly. The On-Ice endocardial viability ratio (EVR), an index of myocardial oxygen supply and demand, did not change from early (1.56±0.05) to late (1.44± 0.06) in the game. In conclusion, recreational hockey is an extremely vigorous form of interval exercise that produces cardiovascular responses exceeding intensities commonly recommended for continuous training.