Variation In Body Composition Over A Season In University Male And Female Ice Hockey Players

Body mass (BM), body fat percentage (BF%) and fat free mass (FFM) are all important anthropometric measures in supporting on-ice performance in hockey players. University male and female ice-hockey players require substantial musculoskeletal performance to support on-ice competition. However, there remains a paucity of inquiry into the alterations of anthropometry over a season. PURPOSE: To examine variations in BM, BF% and FFM in female and male university ice-hockey players over a season. METHODS: A total of 19 female varsity athletes with an age (mean ± SD) of 20.3 ± 1.7 y and a total of 12 male ice-hockey players with an age of 22.8 ± 0.94 y from the same university volunteered to be participants over a six-month period. During the stud period, both teams performed two resistance training sessions per week, four on-ice training sessions and two games per week. Participants underwent a pre-season, mid-season, and post-season body composition assessment using a BOD POD to derive BM, BF% and FFM. Each analysis was standardized for a given time of day, where participants reported to a laboratory setting first thing in the morning on an empty stomach after emptying their bowels. Comparisons between indices of anthropometry were conducted using a one-way ANOVA. Post-hoc comparisons using a Bonferroni correction procedure were utilized. This study was approved by the research ethics review board of the University of Windsor. RESULTS: No significant changes in BM (kg) were observed over the course of the season in both males (pre 87.5 ± 8.4 ‘vs’ mid 85.8 ± 7.5 ‘vs’ post 87.2 ± 7.0, p = 0.84) and females (pre 65.2 ± 8.9 ‘vs’ mid 65.1 ± 8.6 ‘vs’ post 65.2 ± 8.7, p = 0.99). Changes in BF (%) were insignificant in both males (pre 13.9 ± 7.1 ‘vs’ mid 11.7 ± 6.4 ‘vs’ post 12.8 ± 5.4, p = 0.71) and females (pre 23.8 ± 6.3 ‘vs’ mid 23.2 ± 6.3 ‘vs’ post 22.9 ± 5.4). Alterations in FFM (kg) were insignificant in both males (pre 75.2 ± 8.3 ‘vs’ mid 75.7 ± 7.9 ‘vs’ post 76.1 ± 8.2, p = 0.97) and females (pre 49.3 ± 4.1 ‘vs’ mid 49.6 ± 4.2 ‘vs’ post 49.9 ± 4.6, p = 0.89). CONCLUSION: Alterations in body composition remained insignificant over the course of a season. Practitioners are encouraged to monitor the magnitude of exercise stress from both on-ice and off-ice to better understanding its influence on altering body composition over a season.