Development of a hockey-specific, skate-treadmill VO2 max protocol

The purpose of this study was to investigate a protocol for the determination of (V) over dot O-2 max utilizing a motor- driven skate treadmill (ST). On separate days, 6 male hockey players completed a ST and a cycle ergometer (BK) (V) over dot O-2 max protocol. The results showed no significant difference between the ST and BK protocols for relative (60.4 +/- 5.09 vs. 59.0 +/- 8.31 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1)) and absolute (V) over dot O-2 max values (4.51 +/- 0.50 vs. 4.39 +/- 0.59 L . min(-1)), respectively. Significantly higher HR max was recorded during the ST protocol (202.3 +/- 4.27 vs. 200.7 +/- 4.55 b . min(-1)) (p < 0.05). Peak V-E and V-T were nonsignificant between the two conditions. However; peak f was higher for the ST protocol (63.0 +/- 7.56 vs. 60.2 +/- 7.76 breath . min(-1)) (p < 0.05). Although the physiological response to both protocols was similar; the ST protocol replicates a hockey stride, which may provide more applicable information for the development of training programs.