J.Vossen1,2 , L.A.McLennan1 , D.P. Vossen1,2 , D.G. Burke2 , H. Stanish2

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The Effects of a Competitive Ice Hockey Season on
Measures of Physical Fitness and Body Composition.

• J.Vossen1,2 , L.A.McLennan1 , D.P. Vossen1,2 ,
  D.G. Burke2 , H. Stanish2
• 1. Simply Fit Training Systems Incorporated.
  Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
• 2. Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis
  Xavier University.

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Abstract

• Elite ice hockey players engage in high-volume
  resistance and aerobic training during the
  off-season, but are prevented from continuing a
  similar exercise regimen due to the demands of
  the competitive season. Maintenance of size,
  strength, power, and aerobic capacity is
  important throughout the regular season but tends
  to be practiced less than tasks of skill and
  strategy. The purpose of this study was to assess
  the changes in strength, power, flexibility, body
  composition, and aerobic capacity occurring as a
  result of a university competitive ice hockey
  season. Twenty male university hockey players
  (aged 22 ? 1.2) were measured for body weight,
  strength (grip and 1-RM), power (vertical jump),
  VO2 max, lean tissue mass, body fat (skinfold),
  and anthropometric girths (chest, arm, thigh) at
  the beginning and end of their competitive
  season. Results showed that there were no
  significant changes in the variables tested
  except thigh girth, which significantly increased
  (plt0.05) as the result of the on-ice activity.
  These results indicate that physical fitness and
  body composition are maintained throughout a
  university competitive hockey season.

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Background

• University hockey players follow intense training
  programs in their off season.
• Due to practice and game scheduling, this type in
  pre-season fitness training becomes very
  difficult to follow.
• The season can last up to six months.
• Does a neglect of this general fitness training
  cause the players to experience detraining?

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Purpose
To compare pre versus post season fitness and
anthropometric parameters in male university
hockey players as a result of the competitive ice
hockey season. The following were measured.

• Body Mass
• Body fat
• Thigh Girth
• Sit and Reach

• VO2Max
• 1RM Bench Press
• Grip Strength
• Vertical Jump
• Leg Power

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Subjects

• 20 healthy male varsity hockey players (age 22/-
  1.2)

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Experimental Design

• Testing was completed in a laboratory setting
  with athletes performing in groups of three.
• The tests were separated into stations with all
  three participants completing each station before
  moving on.
• Station 1 Height and Body Mass
• Station 2 Flexilibility
• Station 3 Skinfold and Girth Measurements
• Station 4 VO2 Max
• Station 5 Strength
• Station 6 Vertical Jump and Power

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Testing Stations
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Statistics

• T-Tests were performed to compare pre and post
  season results for the fitness and anthropometric
  variables.
• Significance was chosen at a level of 0.05

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Results

• A decrease, but non-significant changes in body
  composition, body mass (p0.49), body fat
  (p0.15), bench press (p0.26), grip strength
  (p0.19), vertical jump (p0.496), and leg power
  (p0.49) from pre to post season.
• An increase, but non-significant changes in
  flexibility (p0.07), and VO2Max (p0.48)
• A significant increase in thigh girth (p0)

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Discussion

• Hockey players may have come into pre-season with
  aerobic fitness levels sufficient for the
  functional demands of their sport, and these
  levels were maintained throughout the season.
• In-season training provides enough resistance to
  maintain upper body strength, vertical jump
  height, and leg power.

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• In-season training does not provide adequate
  stretching to induce a training effect to
  increase flexibility.
• Thigh girth increased while body fat percentages
  remained unchanged, leading to the conclusion
  that players experienced some muscle hypertrophy
  and the quadricep and hamstring muscle groups.

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Practical Implications

• The results of this study suggest that a
  university male hockey season has the potential
  to maintain body composition, MVO2, muscular
  strength and anaerobic power while improving
  thigh girth to body fat ratio.
• These findings may have many implications on the
  future of university male hockey players in that
  coaches may be better able to design in-season
  training programs for their teams by
  pre-determining practice training intensities.

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