## 4 Discussion
[12] investigated match performance relative to on-ice and off-ice test results of division one collegiate female ice hockey players (\(n\) = 20) and observed a bivariate negative correlation between repeated sprint time (0-10 m) and number of assists (r = \(-\)0.45). This is in contrast to the findings of the present study, which showed that there was an inverse relationship between match performance and sprinting times. [PERSON] et al. [26] also published data using repeated sprint times. They suggested to use multiple sprint tests as an indicator of fatigue or possibly as a decisive indicator for the transfer period. There are several other studies that also report the importance of additional tests to evaluate icehockey performance, suggesting more complex test demands with stops, accelerations, and cornering maneuvers are necessary [2; 11; 27]. Reinforced by the results of the current study, we support this approach as linear sprinting does not appear to reflect the complexity of the demands in ice hockey. [PERSON] et al. [28] presented data from the NHL and found that ice hockey players spent more than 70% of their on-ice time gliding and skating corners. Within the IHCT the players spent 85% (80/94 s) of the active test time (94 s activity and 40 s rest time between actions) gliding and skating corners (sum of transition and weave agility time). Consequently, the IHCT may mimic the demands of a match. The results of [PERSON] et al. [3] underline the importance of specific on-ice diagnostics. These authors compared VO\({}_{\text{2 max}}\) values of players using cycle ergometer tests and performance tests on-ice and observed a significant difference with higher values testing in an ice hockey specific manner (+8%) without a correlation to the ergometer test (r = \(-\)0.002). The more endurance-focused test elements at the end of our testing protocol (weave agility test with/without puck) showed no correlation to the match performance parameters or the calculated MPS. [PERSON] et al. [29] analyzed off-ice fitness tests (strength endurance, sprinting, and jumping performance) in relation to player statistics. They observed only small correlations of strength, speed, and endurance with the achieved points per match (r = 0.1-0.3). The authors concluded that there is only a small predictive value of off-ice fitness testing. In line with [PERSON] et al. [29] we support the use of team statistics for a better predictive value of the preferred on-ice tests used. In relation to a recently published reference database [15], sprinting performance parameters of the present study were around the 50 th percentile (P50). Based on the P50, the differences ranged from 0 s (10 m sprint without puck) to + 0.07 s (30 m backward sprint). Transition agility and weave agility also displayed slightly lower performances for the current study (averaged difference: 0.48 s). Mean values of stress parameters and shot accuracy were comparable to the P50 values of [PERSON] et al. [15]. The metabolic load measured by blood lactate within the IHCT ranged from 8.54 mmol/L (minimum minute 2 after test) to 20.6 mmol/L (maximum minute 6 after test; Table 2). This range and the averaged value (14.7 mmol/L) at 10 min after the test were significantly higher than the intra match values (range: 4.4-13.7 mmol/L, mean: 8.15 mmol/L) reported by [PERSON] [30]. Obviously, the IHCT exaggerates the requirements of the match. The extension of the used rest times within (5 s) and between (10 s) actions in the IHCT can be a possibility to get closer to the demands of the match, but before players from higher leagues should be tested. [PERSON] et al. [10] provided match performance data from the NHL. They reported that NHL players' spent nearly half of the match in a high-intensity skating zone with one-fourth of the game sprinting. Based on their results, they also described a highly intermittent structure with 22-30% of variance explanation for cardiovascular loading in high-intensity skating (>17 km/h).