The relationship between aggression and performance outcome in ice hockey

This investigation determined if aggression is a means of obtaining success in amateur ice hockey. Two analyses were undertaken. The first examined the relationship between illegitimate tactics (as measured by penalty minutes accumulated) and team success, while the second compared the penalty minutes accumulated by successful individuals (i.e. all stars) with the penalty minutes accumulated by non-all stars. The sample was comprised of the 87 teams and their 1,667 players who participated in the Ontario University Athletic Association from 1971-72 to 1976-77. The relationship between team aggression and team success was analyzed with a Pearson Product Moment Correlation. A t test was used to compare the mean accumulated penalty minutes of all stars with those of non-all stars. The results failed to support the premise that aggression is a means to success for teams or for individuals.