# Responsiveness and Relationships of Shooting Performance to On-Ice Physical Performance Tests
###### Abstract  
The aim of this investigation was to quantify the acute effects of the execution of the physical performance tests within the ice hockey-specific complex test (IHCT) on shooting performance. Thirty-four professional male ice hockey players with an average of 6.9 years of playing experience were recruited. The slap shot (SS) was found to accelerate the puck with a higher speed and greater precision. After the IHCT, the maximum puck speed of successful goal shots decreased considerably (\(p<0.001\), \(d>1.5\)). The puck speed percentage decrement after the IHCT did not differ between the SS (6.1, SD = 4.4, -5.5-17.9) and the wrist shot (WS, 6.0, SD = 3.5, -0.9-12.2, \(p=0.86\), \(d=0.03\)). The magnitude of puck speed reduction in the WS was inversely related to the functional heart rate reserve (\(r=-0.44\), \(p=0.02\)) and the blood lactate elimination rate (\(r=-0.43\), \(p<0.02\)). The linear and COD speed tests on-ice resulted in a higher amount of successful goal shots. These findings highlight the interaction of intense on-ice testing and goal-shooting performance.  
on-ice performance diagnostic; ice hockey; team sports; intermittent exercise +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
ice hockey players on-ice compared with off-ice tests. Moreover, the maximum aerobic capacity measured on-ice was not related to the values obtained off-ice. These results indicate that performance diagnostics in ice hockey would benefit from sport-specific parts. Data from top-level Polish [7] and Danish [5] ice hockey players revealed that a mix of performance tests executed on- and off-ice best explained proficiency of ice hockey players.  
The ice hockey-specific complex test (IHCT) is a field test battery reflecting the intermittent load characteristics of a match which was designed to test players on-ice performance [4] according to linear speed, change of direction (COD) speed, as well as puck speed and goal shot accuracy. The total duration of the IHCT was reported to last approximately 200 s [8] with on-ice maneuvers, performed with and without a puck.  
Research on goal scoring or shot accuracy, however, is less frequently conducted; wrist shots are considered more accurate, while slap shots are more powerful. Data from 192 competitive matches collected from one elite male Swedish team showed that only 13% of all shots on goal were successful [9]. [PERSON] and colleagues analyzed scoring accuracy of the wrist shot with a 3D motion capture [10], and substantial differences for top versus bottom goal targets were found for the kinematics of the hockey stick, which predicted shot accuracy.  
Findings on how shooting performance (speed, accuracy) in ice hockey is affected by a standardized preload could help coaches to optimize their training programs. Thus, we aimed at quantifying acute effects of the execution of the physical performance tests within the IHCT on shooting performance. We hypothesized that the demands of the physical performance tests will result in a reduction of puck speed and shooting accuracy, and if so, the decrement of shooting performance will relate to athletes' physical capacity.