| Ice hockey is a unique sport requiring a combination of well developed fitness capacities that can be generally referred to as 'ice hockey fitness'. To be successful at a representative level an ice hockey player must have exceptional aerobic and anaerobic fitness, in addition to excellent musculoskeletal fitness and a lean and large body composition. The primary objective of this study was to determine which laboratory measure of ice hockey fitness was the strongest predictor of VO2max of the FAST (Faught Aerobic Skating Test). Fitness data were collected on the Thunder Bay Kings Minor Hockey Association Team, which was comprised of bantam-age, representative level, ice hockey players. Regression analysis was used to determine which laboratory measure was the strongest predictor of VO2max of the FAST. Results showed that the Margaria-Kalamen power test was the strongest predictor of VO2max of the FAST (beta = -0.008, p < 0.05). It was concluded that coaches and trainers of bantam-age, representative level ice hockey teams can use the FAST and the Margaria-Kalamen power test to assess aerobic and/or anaerobic fitness in ice hockey players to determine those players with the greatest potential, and to monitor the development of 'ice hockey fitness' in response to various training programs. Further analysis helped to determine that the stature and fitness levels of participants were, generally, above average when compared to normative data for age and sex. |
