Energy Structure of Repeated On-Ice Efforts and Its Dependence on the Aerobic Capacity of a Hockey Player

No significant relationships were observed between maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and the RHIE performance parameters, energy system contributions or lactate responses, except for a moderate relationship between absolute VO_2max and absolute aerobic work. In contrast, parameters determined at the anaerobic threshold showed more consistent relationships with absolute metabolic work. These findings indicate that repeated high-intensity on-ice performance in ice hockey is largely independent of VO_2max and is more closely related to individual energetic profiles and metabolic tolerance.