title: Relationship between ice hockey-specific complex test and maximal strength, aerobic capacity and postural regulation in professional players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to examine the validity of an ice hockey-specific complex test (IHCT) and nonspecific off-ice tests for sports performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen professional athletes (27.4±6.0 years) underwent the IHCT, maximal strength squat tests, an endurance cycling test (PWC 170) and posturography during in the first week of the pre-seasonal training. The IHCT included parameters of load (e.g., 10-m and 30-m sprint, transition and weave agility without and with puck, slap and wrist shots before and after the test). The players were closely accompanied during the season of competition (seven months) in order to collect match performance data. Based on these data, we calculated a match performance score (MPS) for each player.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stability indicator (r2=0.39), weave agility with puck (r2=0.39), maximal relative squat (r2=0.37) and frequency band F7-8 (r2=0.35) proved to be the most valid tests. However, with the MPS as dependent variable, 21 of 44 parameters tested (48%) explained 10% or more of variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings suggest that postural stability, cerebellar control mechanisms and concentric maximum leg strength are the most important predictors of MPS. Regarding IHCT, actions with the puck under fatigue conditions and the ability to recover quickly are highly relevant for ice hockey players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwesig
authors.affiliation: Unit of Research (UR17JS01) &quot;Sport Performance, Health and Society&quot;, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar Saîd, University of &quot;La Manouba&quot;, Tunis, Tunisia - hermassi_fr@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Souhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edelmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thorhauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.affiliation: Division for Shoulder Surgery and Sports Medicine, Helios Clinic Warburg, Warburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fieseler
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Stefan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Delank
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Roy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.affiliation: Unit of Research (UR17JS01) &quot;Sport Performance, Health and Society&quot;, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar Saîd, University of &quot;La Manouba&quot;, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed-Souhaiel
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006688:Hockey / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult