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On-Ice and Off-Ice Linear Sprint Performance Across Competitive Levels in Ice Hockey Players: Insights from
Dominik Jablonka1, Aaron Uthoff2, Steven Eustace3
1Department of Physical Education & Sports Science, Setanta College, Limerick Business Complex, Keating Road, Raheen Industrial Estate, V94 Y3Y1 Limerick, Ireland.
Sports (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Off-ice running sprints show higher velocity than on-ice skating sprints in ice hockey players. Performance differences vary by competitive level, suggesting tailored training and assessment are crucial.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement
Background:
- Linear speed is critical for ice hockey performance.
- No studies have compared on-ice and off-ice sprint velocity profiles across competitive levels.
- Understanding these differences informs training and talent identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare continuous velocity profiles and discrete sprint variables during on-ice and off-ice maximal 20 m sprints.
- To analyze these differences across three competitive levels of male ice hockey players.
- To investigate the practical meaningfulness of observed performance variations.
Main Methods:
- Sixty male ice hockey players (A-Team, U20A, U20B) performed 20 m sprints on-ice (skating) and off-ice (running) using a motorized resistance device.
- Continuous velocity curves and discrete sprint variables were analyzed using Bayesian statistics.
- Posterior estimates evaluated differences between conditions and competitive groups.
Main Results:
- Off-ice velocity profiles were consistently higher than on-ice profiles, especially in the initial sprint phase.
- Discrete sprint variables demonstrated stronger, practically meaningful differences between on-ice and off-ice conditions.
- A competitive hierarchy was observed, with adult players showing higher velocities than younger, lower-level adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist between on-ice and off-ice sprint performance in ice hockey players.
- Continuous velocity profiling offers insights into development, while discrete metrics suit team monitoring.
- Training and assessment strategies should account for on-ice/off-ice disparities and competitive level hierarchies.
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