This episode dives into the mechanical factors that drive sprinting and change of direction (COD) in ice hockey. Learn how force-velocity profiles, power output, and technique contribute to performance—and how training can fine-tune them.
What makes a player fast and agile on the ice? We explore the mechanics behind sprinting and COD performance, revealing the role of horizontal force, reactive strength, and technical execution in elite hockey.
Main source: Mechanical Determinants of Sprinting and Change of Direction in Elite Female Field Hockey Players
Alejandro Bustamante-Garrido, Mikel Izquierdo, Bianca Miarka, Ariel Cuartero-Navarrete, Jorge Pérez-Contreras, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz, Hugo Cerda-Kohler
Sensors (Basel) 2023 Sep; 23(18): 7663. Published online 2023 Sep 5. doi: 10.3390/s23187663
PMCID: PMC10537788

Hip injuries are a serious concern in elite ice hockey. In this episode of 'The Science of Hockey,' The Analyst dives into research on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) and explores how professional and subelite players fare after arthroscopic hip surgery. From RTS and RTP rates to position-specific trends, we cover it all.
What are the odds a pro hockey player returns after hip surgery? We explore new data on return to sport and performance after treating femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in elite athletes, breaking down what it means for the future of hockey rehabilitation.
Main source: Return to Sport for Professional and Subelite Ice Hockey Players After Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome
Ida Lindman, Martin Löfskog, Axel Öhlin, Josefin Abrahamsson, Eric Hamrin Senorski, Jon Karlsson, Olufemi R. Ayeni, Mikael Sansone
Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 May; 10(5): 23259671221089984. Published online 2022 May 9. doi: 10.1177/23259671221089984
PMCID: PMC9092588

This episode investigates whether concussion education programs actually improve knowledge and behavior among hockey players. Learn how well players understand symptoms, risks, and reporting—and what more needs to be done to protect athletes.
Explore the link between education and concussion awareness in ice hockey. This episode reveals how informed players really are about head injuries, and whether formal education helps prevent underreporting and risky play.
Main source: Association between concussion education and concussion knowledge, beliefs and behaviours among youth ice hockey parents and coaches: a cross-sectional study
Amanda M. Black, Keith Owen Yeates, Shelina Babul, Alberto Nettel-Aguirre, Carolyn A. Emery
BMJ Open. 2020; 10(8): e038166. Published online 2020 Aug 23. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038166
PMCID: PMC7445332