Physiological and physical profiles and on-ice performance approach to predict talent in male youth ice hockey players during draft to hockey team

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between physiological and physical profiles relative to age, together with on-ice performance in order to assess their impact on the positive result of a recruitment process into an ice hockey team.

OBJECTIVE: A total of 60 boys took part in the selection camps. After these camps, 22 successful players were selected to be in the ice-hockey team and create GH2 group. GH1 was a group of hockey players who had dropped out during the selection camp (38 participants). The control group consisted of 50 participants from secondary schools.

METHODS: Data were analysed using the Student t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tuckey's post-hoc test. Logistic regression was used to establish the relationship between success at selection camps and predictor variables.

RESULTS: Of the 22 candidates selected to the team, 17 participants had their birth dates fall within the first six months of the selection year and positively skewed (p> 0.05). Of the 22 males selected to the team, the body height of 15 subjects was above 50th percentile and of 2 participants, above 90th percentile. Body mass of 11 participants was above 50th percentile, and of 11 subjects, above 90th percentile. Ice hockey players selected to the team were taller (p< 0.05) than players in GH1 and controls. Controls showed higher % body fat than groups GH1 and GH2. Controls had a lower level of relative VO2max (ml·kg $^{ - 1}$ ·min-1) (p< 0.05) than ice hockey players in both groups. Furthermore, controls showed a lower level of relative peak power (W·kg $^{ - 1}$ ) than hockey players in GH1. Mean relative peak power (W·kg $^{ - 1}$ ) in GH1 was lower (p< 0.05) than that of males in GH2 who were selected for the team. The model indicates that height and relative peak power may be predictors of a successful selection for the team.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that having a birthday early in the selection year, concomitant size advantages and a high level of anaerobic power increases ice hockey players' chance of being selected for an elite ice hockey team. Therefore, in the future, one should emphasize the talented yet less physically developed persons so as not to overlook them at further stages of adolescence.