Hockey is a sport consisting of 3 periods that each last 20 minutes in duration. Elite level hockey players require the following attributes: Speed, strength, power and endurance (1-3). During a typical game of hockey, players will compete in shifts that range in length anywhere from 30-85 seconds that involve intermittent, high intensity, explosive movements to propel themselves across the ice, which are then followed by 2-5 minutes of recovery (1-3). These relatively short, yet intense shifts require the use of our anaerobic metabolic system to provide the necessary energy for our muscles, however elite hockey players must also be aerobically fit as well, as this aids in the recovery between shifts to help replenish energy stores, to avoid fatigue, and the maintenance of performance throughout the game (1-3)!
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Performing any sport at optimal levels requires not only a great deal of training and expertise, but proper sport nutrition is essential to peak performance. Not only does food provide the energy needed to perform the various movements/skills/techniques involved with elite hockey players, but it also provides our body with the necessary building blocks for growth/development/maintenance (4). Based on the physical and physiological demands of the sport of hockey (high intensity, short duration shifts, power, strength, endurance are important) this website will investigate the various areas of nutrition that are essential to peak performance for an elite hockey player, and provide some meal guidance as to how these nutritional requirements can be attained.
** The links below can guide you to the various nutrients essential to hockey performance; The headers at the top of each pages can be used to do the same thing.
** The links below can guide you to the various nutrients essential to hockey performance; The headers at the top of each pages can be used to do the same thing.