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Ice hockey skate starts: a comparison of high and low calibre skaters

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Abstract

The forward skating start is a fundamental skill for ice hockey players, yet extremely challenging given the low traction of the ice surface. The technique for maximum skating acceleration of the body is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate kinematic ice hockey skating start movement technique in relation to a skater’s skill level. A 10-camera motion capture system placed on the ice surface recorded “hybrid-V” skate start movement patterns of high and low calibre male ice hockey players (n = 7, 8, respectively). Participants’ lower body kinematics and estimated body centre of mass (CoM) movement during the first four steps were calculated. Both skate groups had similar lower body strength profiles, yet high calibre skaters achieved greater velocity; skating technique differences most likely explained the performance differences between the groups. Unlike over ground sprint start technique, skating starts showed greater concurrent hip abduction, external rotation and extension, presumably for ideal blade-to-ice push-off orientation for propulsion. Initial analysis revealed similar hip, knee and ankle joint gross movement patterns across skaters, however, further scrutiny of the data revealed that high calibre skaters achieved greater vertical CoM acceleration during each step that in turn allowed greater horizontal traction, forward propulsion, lower double-support times and, accordingly, faster starts with higher stride rates.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) under [Grant Number CRDPJ 453725-13]; as well as Bauer Hockey Corp. The authors would like to thank Adrien Gerbé and Spencer Paveck for their help during the data collection process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Philippe J. Renaud, Philippe C. Dixon, Jaymee R. Shell, René A. Turcotte & David J. Pearsall

  2. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Constance Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre and the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Shawn M. K. Robbins

  3. Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Philippe C. Dixon

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  1. Philippe J. Renaud
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  2. Shawn M. K. Robbins
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  5. René A. Turcotte
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  6. David J. Pearsall
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Correspondence to Philippe J. Renaud.

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Renaud, P.J., Robbins, S.M.K., Dixon, P.C. et al. Ice hockey skate starts: a comparison of high and low calibre skaters. Sports Eng 20, 255–266 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-017-0227-0

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