Gender Differences In Anaerobic And Aerobic Responses To A Full Season Of Ice Hockey

It has been well-established that success in elite ice hockey requires high levels of both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. To date, research is somewhat sparse as well as contradictory in its findings when examining the impact of a season of ice hockey on both anaerobic and aerobic fitness. Additionally, on the whole, women are underrepresented in athlete research and there is a lack of data comparing male and female athletes in any sport, especially those who compete at the elite level. Furthermore, there is very little evidence examining differences between genders regarding anaerobic and aerobic adaptations to a full season of ice hockey competition. PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the differences in aerobic and anaerobic capacity between male and female collegiate hockey players and the impact of a full season of competition on those differences. METHODS: Prior to the start of the season 57 NCAA Division 1 hockey players (28 men, 28 women) completed a VO2 max test and a Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). Included participants then completed the same tests after the ending of the season (15 men; Age = 22.1 ± 1.28 yrs; Ht = 1.85 ± 0.87 m; Wt = 88.55 ± 9.12 kg/14 women; Age = 20.16 ± 1.28 yrs; Ht = 1.67 ± 0.06; Wt = 66.02 ± 6.98 kg). RESULTS: Relative mean power (RMP; W/kg), relative peak power (RPP; W/kg), and fatigue index (FI;%) were used as WAnT performance variables. Preseason VO2 max (Men = 55.16 ± 4.18 ml/kg/min; Women = 45.40 ± 5.08 ml/kg/min) was not significantly different from postseason VO2 (Men = 52.65 ± 4.25 ml/kg/min; Women = 46.47 ± 5.88 ml/kg/min) in either gender. Men did have a significantly higher VO2 max at both time points (p < 0.05). Additionally, there were no significant differences in RPP (Men Pre/Post = 15.27 ± 5.26/12.98 ± 3.78 W/kg; Women Pre/Post = 12.97 ± 10.25/16.40 ± 11.27 W/kg), RMP (Men Pre/Post = 8.76 ± 0.95/8.21 ± 0.83; Women Pre/Post = 6.75 ± 1.09/7.10 ± 0.91) or FI (Men Pre/Post = 66.16 ± 22.72/68.06 ± 22.93 %; Women Pre/Post = 56.63 ± 26.58/60.73 ± 6.57 %) between pre and post season for either gender. Men demonstrated a significantly higher RMP than women (p < 0.05), but no differences were observed between genders regarding RPP (0.791) or FI (p = 0.250). CONCLUSION: A season of ice hockey is not an appropriate stimulus to increase VO2 or Wingate variables in men or women.