Bioenergetics of ice hockey: considerations for fatigue.

This paper addresses the potential role of fatigue as a factor contributing to the deterioration of high level performance in ice hockey. Particularly, attention is given to the general description of different types of fatigue and the mechanisms underlying each type. Data have been presented illustrating the nature and extent of different types of fatigue in ice hockey practices and games. A bioenergetic description of ice hockey is presented and implications drawn as to the role of metabolism in causing specific fatigue patterns observed in ice hockey. The paper concludes with an overview of the inter-relationship between the characteristics of the performer, the environment and the game itself.