title: Recoil effect of the ice hockey stick during a slap shot.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the "recoil" effect of the ice hockey stick shaft during a stationary slap shot. Nine male adult subjects (four elite and five recreational) were tested. Their performances were evaluated by simultaneously recording stick movement and internal bending from high-speed digital video (1,000 Hz) and puck acceleration from a triaxial accelerometer positioned inside the puck. In addition, an electrical circuit measured blade-puck contact time. Data were analyzed with a one-way MANOVA for several dependent variables, including final puck velocity, puck acceleration, maximum stick shaft bending (angle and distance deflection), stick shaft angular velocities, blade-puck contact time, and corresponding time events. The results indicate the following. First, blade-puck contact time was greater for the elite than for recreational players (38 +/- 9 ms and 27 +/- 5 ms); however, measures for puck acceleration were essentially the same (63.8 g +/- 9.9 and 61.8 g +/- 19.5). Two, the elite players were able to generate greater puck velocities (120 +/- 18 km/h and 80.3 +/- 11.6 km/h). Three, the recoil timing was found to be reater for elite players (59.8% of blade-puck contact).
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villaseñor
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pearsall
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006688:Hockey / Q000502:physiology*; D009038:Motion; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis