RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST RESULTS AND HOCKEY PLAYING POTENTIAL IN ELITE-LEVEL ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS JAIME F. BURR,RONI K. JAMNIK,JOSEPH BAKER,ALISON MACPHERSON,NORMAN GLEDHILL, AND E. J. MCGUIRE Human Performance Laboratory, York University, Toronto, Canada ABSTRACT Burr, JF, Jamnik, RK, Baker, J, Macpherson, A, Gledhill, N, and McGuire, EJ. Relationship of physical fitness test results and hockey playing potential in elite-level ice hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 22(5): 1535–1543, 2008—The primary pur- pose of this study was to determine the fitness variables with the highest capability for predicting hockey playing potential at the elite level as determined by entry draft selection order. We also examined the differences associated with the predictive abilities of the test components among playing positions. The secondary purpose of this study was to update the physiolog- ical profile of contemporary hockey players including positional differences. Fitness test results conducted by our laboratory at the National Hockey League Entry Draft combine were compared with draft selection order on a total of 853 players. Regression models revealed peak anaerobic power output to be important for higher draft round selection in all positions; however, the degree of importance of this measurement varied with playing position. The body index, which is a composite score of height, lean mass, and muscular development, was similarly important in all models, with differing influence by position. Removal of the goalies’ data increased predictive capacity, suggesting that talent identification using physical fitness testing of this sort may be more appropriate for skating players. Standing long jump was identified as a significant predictor variable for forwards and defense and could be a useful surrogate for assessing overall hockey potential. Significant differences exist between the physiological profiles of current players based on playing position. There are also positional differences in the relative importance of anthropo- metric and fitness measures of off-ice hockey tests in relation to draft order. Physical fitness measures and anthropometric data are valuable in helping predict hockey playing potential. Emphasis on anthropometry should be used when comparing elite-level forwards, whereas peak anaerobic power and fatigue rate are more useful for differentiating between defense. KEY WORDS fitness, ice hockey, positional differences, strength, power INTRODUCTION I ce hockey is a physically demanding contact sport involving repeated bouts of high-energy output, with shifts lasting from 30 to 80 seconds (11,15,17). Given the anaerobic nature of the sprint-based shifts (69% anaerobic glycolysis) and the aerobic recovery (31% aerobic metabolism) between shifts and periods, as well as the physicality of the game, success at the elite level requires players to develop well-rounded fitness including anaerobic sprint ability, a strong aerobic endurance base, and high levels of muscular strength, power, and endurance (7,10,15,19). Despite the overwhelming number of participants in amateur hockey, only the fastest, strongest, and most skilled players will ever achieve the goal of being drafted to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). Although there are infinite combinations of ‘‘real-world’’ factors that interact to make one player more skilled than another, there are specific, quantifiable characteristics that can be used to determine a player’s physiological capacity. At the elite hockey level, there have been long-standing debates among scouts, coaches, strength/conditioning spe- cialists and physiologists as to the relative utility of off-ice tests for talent identification. On the basis of personal experience and point of view, the diverse professions often place different emphasis on test components, with the belief that one test result may be better suited to revealing hockey potential than another. Some believe that certain test results, either by themselves or in combination with others, are sufficient to distinguish overall hockey potential between players. As a result, fitness tests sometimes include duplicate measures of the same physiological components using different protocols to satisfy all points of view. An example of one such test is the vertical jump, which is used to calculate leg power and has repeatedly been shown to be related to skating abilities Address correspondence to Dr. Norman Gledhill, ngledhil@yorku.ca. 22(5)/1535–1543 Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Ó 2008 National Strength and Conditioning Association VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 5 | SEPTEMBER 2008 | 1535