Physical Performance and Head Impact Exposure in Boys' Youth Ice Hockey

Swenson, AG, Smith, CD, Cavallero, NJ, Romero, GA, Pritchard, N, Bullock, GS, Miles, CM, Mihalik, JP, Urban, JE, and Stitzel, JD. Physical performance and head impact exposure in boys' youth ice hockey. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-Evidence suggests that physical performance influences head acceleration event (HAE) exposure in collision sports, especially in youth populations undergoing physical and neuromuscular development. Concern surrounding negative effects of HAE exposure highlights a need to better understand individual-level factors that may increase propensity for HAEs. Therefore, this study evaluated relationships between physical performance and HAE exposure in youth ice hockey. Athletes from one 14U (n = 10) and one 16U (n = 7) ice hockey teams completed on-ice and off-ice assessments at a preseason hockey performance combine event and wore custom instrumented mouthpieces measuring HAE frequency and magnitude across their respective seasons. Outcomes were per-player cumulative HAE magnitudes, HAE rates, and percentage of HAEs with direct head contact. Linear regressions adjusted for age division, body mass index (BMI), and position evaluated relationships between physical performance and HAE exposure. Athletes experienced 1,027 total HAEs. Multiple physical performance measures for both on- and off-ice tasks were significantly associated with HAE exposure metrics, though the strength and direction of these relationships varied by task. Relationships were additionally modified by age division, BMI, and position. Skating speed tasks yielded the strongest associations for on-ice tasks, with faster Reed skate times associated with reductions in cumulative game HAE magnitudes. For off-ice tasks, vertical jump height was associated with lower cumulative game HAE magnitudes and reduced rates of direct head contact across all sessions. Findings may be of interest to coaches and athletic trainers for injury risk management and ultimately present early opportunities for the development of physical performance-based strategies to reduce HAE exposure.