Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2005):

Strength and endurance differences between elite and junior elite ice hockey players. The importance of allometric scaling.

Full Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in strength and endurance between elite and elite junior ice hockey players. Participants included 18 elite players and 21 junior elite male players (24.2 +/- 4.7 vs. 17.6 +/- 0.9 years of age, 84.2 +/- 8.1 vs. 72.3 +/- 6.0 kg body mass (p < 0.01), 179.9 +/- 6.1 vs. 179.0 +/- 7.0 cm). Absolute maximal oxygen uptake was significantly higher in elite than junior players (4.8 vs. 4.2 L x min(-1), p < 0.01), but relative expressions, including allometric scaling, eliminated the difference. Elite players lifted significantly more weight than juniors in 1 repetition maximum squats (200.0 +/- 28.9 vs. 140.3 +/- 19.5 kg, p < 0.01) and in bench press (100.8 +/- 12.8 vs. 75.3 +/- 12.8 kg, p < 0.01). Elite players also ran significantly faster in the 10 m sprint (1.80 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.88 +/- 0.08 s, p < 0.01), and had greater jumping height (27.2 +/- 3.2 vs. 20.5 +/- 3.0 cm, p < 0.01) and peak force (2336.4 +/- 219.9 vs. 2011.9 +/- 180.1 N, p < 0.01) when holding 50 extra kg. No differences were found for the 40 m sprint or for the rate of force development in jumping. This study revealed that the main differences between elite and junior ice hockey players at a high performance level seem to be in strength and body mass. The results therefore identify important factors for juniors to improve in the transition phase from junior to elite level.

Author information

Author/s: Hoff, J (J); Kemi, O J (OJ); Helgerud, J (J);

Affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Trondheim, Norway. Jan.Hoff(-atsign-)medisin.ntnu.no

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: International journal of sports medicine (Int J Sports Med), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Sep; vol 26 (issue 7) : pp 537-41

Dates: Created 2005/09/30; Completed 2005/12/12; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16195986, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Age Factors Body Weight Cross-Sectional Studies Heart Rate - physiology Hockey - physiology; statistics & numerical data Humans

Male Muscle, Skeletal - physiology Oxygen Consumption - physiology Physical Endurance - physiology Reference Values Task Performance and Analysis Weight Lifting - physiology Weights and Measures

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