Differences in external workload demand between session types and positions in collegiate men's ice hockey

Abstract

Background: Despite the importance of using a thorough understanding of competition demands to optimize preparatory strategies, there is a paucity of longitudinal workload data in ice hockey. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in workload characteristics between training and matches, and assess differences between forwards and defensemen. Methods: All players from a NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Team wore Catapult S5 units for all on-ice activities for two consecutive seasons. Seven workload variables (Player Load, Skating Load, Explosive Efforts, High Skate Load, Player Load·min-1, Skating Load·min-1, and Average Stride Force·lb-1) were used to quantify training and match workload characteristics. Results: Compared to training, matches resulted in significantly higher Player Load (p<0.001), Total Skating Load (p<0.001), Explosive Efforts (p<0.001), High Force Strides (p<0.001), and Average Stride Force·lb-1 (p=0.001), but training resulted in higher Player Load·min-1 (p<0.001) and Skating Load·min-1 (p<0.001). Compared to defensemen, forwards accumulated higher values in all seven workload measures, across all session types (p