In this episode of The Science of Hockey, we dive into the development of a game-relevant sprint test tailored specifically for women’s varsity hockey. Learn how repeated sprint performance, positional differences, and skating velocity provide new insights into athletic conditioning and talent evaluation. Keywords: sprint test, ice hockey performance, female athletes, skating speed, hockey science.
What does it take to measure peak sprint performance in women’s ice hockey? This episode explores a specialized on-ice sprint test developed to mimic real game demands. Discover how researchers designed and validated this protocol and what it reveals about position-specific speed and endurance. Keywords: repeated sprint test, hockey fitness, women's hockey, performance metrics.
Main source: Development and Reliability of a 7×15m Repeated On-Ice Sprint Test for Female Ice Hockey Players
KEIR WILSON, JOEL JACKSON, GARY SNYDMILLER, GORDON BELL
Int J Exerc Sci. 2021; 14(6): 666–676. Published online 2021 Aug 1.
PMCID: PMC8439675

This episode offers a clinical roadmap for returning to hockey after ACL reconstruction. We break down an on-ice progression model tailored to hockey's unique demands, covering biomechanical stress, neuromuscular load, and psychological readiness.
Coming back from an ACL injury in hockey requires more than just rehab—it takes a structured on-ice progression. In this episode, we explore how to safely transition players from off-ice recovery to game-ready conditioning using evidence-based stages.
Main source: Clinical Commentary: On-Ice Return-to-Hockey Progression After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Jacob J. Capin, William Behrns, Karen Thatcher, Amelia Arundale, Angela Hutchinson Smith, Lynn Snyder-Mackler
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 May 1.Published in final edited form as: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 May; 47(5): 324–333. Published online 2017 Mar 29. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.7245
PMCID: PMC5480966

Hip and groin injuries are among the most common in competitive ice hockey. In this episode of The Science of Hockey, we unpack a recent study that reveals how just one ice hockey session can significantly reduce hip range of motion, adductor strength, and increase injury risk. Learn what this means for performance, recovery, and injury prevention.
What happens to your hips after just one game of ice hockey? This episode dives into the acute effects on strength, flexibility, and biomechanics—and why regular assessments might be more valuable than preseason screenings. Injury risk, performance, and prevention all come into play.
Main source: Acute Effects of Ice Hockey on Hip Range of Motion, Strength, and Pelvic Tilt in Competitive Male Players
William H. Suits, Margaret M. O’Neil, Kieran J. Fogarty
Sports Health. 2024 Jul-Aug; 16(4): 616–621. Published online 2023 Aug 11. doi: 10.1177/19417381231190649
PMCID: PMC11195869

This episode explores how vitamin D levels relate to performance, immunity, and recovery in young elite hockey players. Discover how deficiency impacts peak power and upper-body strength, and why monitoring vitamin D is crucial for athlete health.
Dive into the relationship between vitamin D status and athletic performance in youth hockey. We break down how low vitamin D levels correlate with decreased muscle power and immunity—shedding light on a vital, yet often overlooked, piece of the performance puzzle.
Main source: Vitamin D status and its relation to exercise performance and iron status in young ice hockey players
Joanna Orysiak, Joanna Mazur-Rozycka, John Fitzgerald, Michal Starczewski, Jadwiga Malczewska-Lenczowska, Krzysztof Busko
PLoS One. 2018; 13(4): e0195284. Published online 2018 Apr 9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195284
PMCID: PMC5891016

This episode explores how injury-related retirement affects the long-term quality of life for ice hockey players. From chronic pain and physical limitations to emotional struggles and social adaptation, we unpack the challenges players face after leaving the ice for good.
What happens when an injury ends a hockey career? We dive into the lives of retired players, examining how physical pain, psychological distress, and disrupted identity shape their well-being post-retirement.
Main source: Quality of life of ice hockey players after retirement due to concussions
Anna Gard, Niklas Lehto, Åsa Engström, Pashtun Shahim, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Niklas Marklund, Yelverton Tegner
Concussion. 2020 Sep; 5(3): CNC78. Published online 2020 Aug 4. doi: 10.2217/cnc-2020-0007
PMCID: PMC7506471

This episode dives into the mechanical factors that drive sprinting and change of direction (COD) in ice hockey. Learn how force-velocity profiles, power output, and technique contribute to performance—and how training can fine-tune them.
What makes a player fast and agile on the ice? We explore the mechanics behind sprinting and COD performance, revealing the role of horizontal force, reactive strength, and technical execution in elite hockey.
Main source: Mechanical Determinants of Sprinting and Change of Direction in Elite Female Field Hockey Players
Alejandro Bustamante-Garrido, Mikel Izquierdo, Bianca Miarka, Ariel Cuartero-Navarrete, Jorge Pérez-Contreras, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz, Hugo Cerda-Kohler
Sensors (Basel) 2023 Sep; 23(18): 7663. Published online 2023 Sep 5. doi: 10.3390/s23187663
PMCID: PMC10537788

Hip injuries are a serious concern in elite ice hockey. In this episode of 'The Science of Hockey,' The Analyst dives into research on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) and explores how professional and subelite players fare after arthroscopic hip surgery. From RTS and RTP rates to position-specific trends, we cover it all.
What are the odds a pro hockey player returns after hip surgery? We explore new data on return to sport and performance after treating femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in elite athletes, breaking down what it means for the future of hockey rehabilitation.
Main source: Return to Sport for Professional and Subelite Ice Hockey Players After Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome
Ida Lindman, Martin Löfskog, Axel Öhlin, Josefin Abrahamsson, Eric Hamrin Senorski, Jon Karlsson, Olufemi R. Ayeni, Mikael Sansone
Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 May; 10(5): 23259671221089984. Published online 2022 May 9. doi: 10.1177/23259671221089984
PMCID: PMC9092588

This episode investigates whether concussion education programs actually improve knowledge and behavior among hockey players. Learn how well players understand symptoms, risks, and reporting—and what more needs to be done to protect athletes.
Explore the link between education and concussion awareness in ice hockey. This episode reveals how informed players really are about head injuries, and whether formal education helps prevent underreporting and risky play.
Main source: Association between concussion education and concussion knowledge, beliefs and behaviours among youth ice hockey parents and coaches: a cross-sectional study
Amanda M. Black, Keith Owen Yeates, Shelina Babul, Alberto Nettel-Aguirre, Carolyn A. Emery
BMJ Open. 2020; 10(8): e038166. Published online 2020 Aug 23. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038166
PMCID: PMC7445332

This episode explores the effectiveness of mouthguards and visors in preventing injuries among youth ice hockey players. Learn which protective equipment reduces risk—and which may offer limited benefit—based on data from thousands of players.
Are mouthguards and visors making a difference in youth hockey safety? We dive into the science behind protective gear, analyzing injury trends, types of trauma, and what the evidence says about real-world impact.
Main source: Protective equipment in youth ice hockey: are mouthguards and helmet age relevant to concussion risk?
Ash T Kolstad, Paul H Eliason, Jean-Michel Galarneau, Amanda Marie Black, Brent E Hagel, Carolyn A Emery
Br J Sports Med. 2023 May; 57(10): 571–577. Published online 2023 Mar 14. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105585Correction in: Br J Sports Med. 2024 May 2; 58(10): e6.
PMCID: PMC10176392

This episode explores substance use and availability among ex-professional ice hockey players. Learn how pain, mental health, and team culture influence the use of prescription and recreational drugs—and what it reveals about the lasting toll of the sport.
Dive into a study examining how retired pro hockey players manage pain and health post-career. Discover the patterns of drug use, both prescribed and illicit, and the factors that shape athletes' decisions long after they leave the ice.
Main source: Substance availability and use in ex-professional ice hockey enforcers
Michael Gaetz
Sci Rep. 2022; 12: 22204. Published online 2022 Dec 23. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26806-7
PMCID: PMC9789070