The relationship between age and fitness profiles in elite male ice hockey players

Background: The present study investigated relationships between age, body composition and performance in elite male ice hockey players.Methods: 199 players performed off-ice tests (countermovement jump height (CMJ) and body composition) and on-ice tests (5-10-5 Pro Agility test, 30-m sprint test and the maximal Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Ice Hockey test (Yo-Yo IR1-IHMAX) for assessment of aerobic capacity.Results: No overall correlations between age and performance were present except small-moderate positive associations between age and body-and muscle mass (r=0.24-0.30, ≤0.05). The youngest age group (YOU; 18-21 years) were 4-9% lighter than all other age groups and possessed 7% less mus…