Anaerobic performance capacity in Czech ice hockey players: A comparison of the results in forwards, defenders and goalkeepers age 15 to 35 years
Abstract
From the physiological assessments, anaerobic exercise testing is of a primarily importance in ice hockey players. The aim of the study was to reanalyse the data obtained in 9124 anaerobic tests (30-s Winagte tests) done in Czech elite ice hockey players during the 1999 to 2008 period to create age- and positional-related norms for peak power (PP) and anaerobic capacity (AnC) in ice hockey players.
The players (forwards: n= 5082, defensemen: n= 3264, goalkeepers: n=778) aged 15 to 35 years performed a 30-s WAnT on a cycle ergometer Monark E824 using a breaking force of 6 W.kg-1 that equals 0.106 kg.kg-1. The main results were 5-s PP [W.kg-1] and total work or anaerobic capacity AnC [J.kg-1].
The dependence of PP and/or AnC on age was calculated using a polynomial function of the third order. Peak (maximum) values were calculated using derivation of the function.
Equation for relative values of peak power in forwards was PP/kg = 0.0007x3 - 0.0668x2 + 1.9251x - 2.6599 (R2= 0.915, x= age [y]), with maximum 15.0 W.kg-1 at 22.7 years of age, and equation for relative values for anaerobic capacity was AnC/kg = 0.0143x3 - 1.2333x2 + 33.124x + 66.295 (R2= 0.866, x= age, [y]), with maximum 350 J.kg-1 at 21.3 years of age. The dependence of the variables on age in defensemen was PP/kg = 0.0011x3 - 0.096x2 + 2.5584x - 7.1553 (R2= 0.969), with maximum 14.9 W.kg-1 at 22.0 years, and AnC/kg = 0.0166x3 - 1.3741x2 + 35.795x + 45.088 (R2= 0,907, x= age, [y]), with maximum 344 J.kg-1 at 21.0 years of age.
In goalkeepers the equations were PP/kg= 0.0007x3 - 0.0642x2 + 1.8124x - 1.8468 (R2= 0.903, x= age, [y]), with maximum 14.4 W.kg-1 at 22.0 years, and AnC/kg= 0.0048x3 - 0.5158x2 + 15.255x + 190.69 (R2= 0.890, x= age, [y]), with maximum 328 J.kg 1 at 20.7 years. The normative values enable evaluation of anaerobic performance capacity with regard to age and playing position in elite ice hockey players.