Anaerobic Performance in Elite Czech Junior Ice Hockey Players: A Longitudinal Comparison over a Period 2001 to 2017

Background: Longitudinal studies in professional ice hockey players revealed substantial changes in anthropometric and physiological variable changes comparing recent data with those found in elite players in the 1980`s and 1990`s. For example, body height, body mass and aerobic and anaerobic performance indices show a gradual increase over the last decades in professional ice hockey players (Montgomery, 2006, Quinney et al., 2008).

Aims: The aim of the present study was to compare anthropometric and anaerobic performance data in elite Czech junior ice hockey players over the period between 2001 and 2017 to reveal the possible tendencies in elite junior players, members of the top ice hockey league of juniors.

Method: Altogether 6132 junior ice hockey players aged 18 years participated in the study (at about 400 junior players every year). The testing took place always in the pre-season period and included anthropometry and a 30-s anaerobic Wingate test 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 peak power [W, W.kg^-1], total work or anaerobic capacity [kJ, J.kg^-1], and fatigue index (FI). The development trend of the indices over the period 2001-2017 was calculated using a linear regression.

Results: The mean body mass and fat-free mass of the elite junior ice hockey players increased over the 17-year period from 77.71 to 80.18 kg (i.e. + 3.2 %, R²= 0.73) and 70.16 to 71.88 kg (i.e. + 2.5 %, R²= 0.32), respectively. Body height and body fat, however, did not change and corresponded to 180.7 cm and 9.8 % respectively. Absolute values of peak power and anaerobic capacity increased from 1117.4 to 1146.8 W (i.e. + 2.6 %, R²= 0.36) and 26.17 to 27.16 kJ (i.e. + 1.7 %, R²= 0.30), respectively. The relative values of peak power, however, did not change (14.3 W.kg^-1, R²= 0.02) and relative values of anaerobic capacity slightly decreased from 344.0 to 339.4 J.kg^-1 (i.e. - 1.3 %, R²= 0.46). Mean values of fatigue index increased from 39.97 to 40.97 % (i.e. + 2.5 %, R²= 0.36).

Discussion and Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that body height, body fat and indices of anaerobic performance relative to kg of body mass in elite Czech junior ice hockey players did not substantially change over a 17-year period. On the other hand, body mass, fat-free mass and absolute values of peak power and anaerobic capacity increased during the period between 2001 and 2017, similarly to the findings in adult professional ice hockey players.