To analyze how NHL forwards skate during a game, it is best to watch one player for his entire shift.

We did this to analyze the game-performance skating characteristics of NHL forwards. Game tapes of the New York Islanders were watched. The Islanders had a camera high in the stands so that we could see the players for most of their shift. Defensemen were not analyzed.

Game-performance skating characteristics                     

We analyzed 12 NHL forwards for 12 periods from the Islanders and three other teams. We viewed the second period because we considered it neutral.

There were 27 skating characteristics analyzed: 15 timed and 12 frequency characteristics. We analyzed the skating characteristics in quarter-second increments by stopping and starting the tape. The results improved the understanding of game-performance skating.

This research was done in 1992, and some skating characteristics have likely changed as the game has evolved and rules have changed. The results still give us a good understanding of how we can use NHL skating when designing skating drills.

How do NHL forwards skate during a game?  

• NHL forwards spent 39% of their shift time gliding on two skates, however it was never sustained rather, the average time spent in a skating characteristic was 1.87 seconds.
• High intensity skating and backward skating were similar: 4.6% and 4.9% of the shift, respectively.
• NHL forwards spent 9.8% of the shift struggling for puck or position. This percentage most likely is different now with rule changes.
• NHL forwards had slightly more left gliding and cross-over turns than right turns.

Timed skating characteristics, adapted with permission from Bracko, et al., (1998) Sports Medicine, Training, and Rehabilitation. Abbreviation guide: 2FG = two-foot gliding, C = cruise strides, MIS = medium intensity skating, SPP = struggle for puck or position, LIS = low intensity skating, Bkwd = nackward skating, HIS = high intensity skating, 2FS = two-foot stationary, 2FGP = two-foot glide with puck. Six characteristics are missing due to limited space.

Frequency skating characteristics, adapted with permission from Bracko, et al., (1998) Sports Medicine, Training, and Rehabilitation. Abbreviation guide: LXT = left cross-over turns, LGT = left gliding turns, RXT = right cross-over turns, RGT = right gliding turns, S&S = stop and start, F>B = forward to backward pivots, B

Game performance skating – 30-seconds from puck drop

1. Struggle for Puck/Position                                                        2.0 seconds
2. 2 Foot Glide                             (Left Turn – Right Turn)         2.0 seconds
3. Cruise Stride                            (Left X-over Turn)                   1.0 second
4. 2 Foot Glide                             (Left Turn)                                 2.5 seconds
5. Cruise Stride                           (Left X-over Turn)                    1.0 second
6. 2 Foot Glide                             (Left Turn)                                 2.5 seconds
7. Cruise Strides                          (Right X-over Turn)                1.0 second
8. 2 Foot Glide                             (Left Turn – Right Turn)        2.0 seconds
9. Struggle for Puck/Position                                                       2.0 seconds
10. Medium Intensity Skating    (Left X-over Turn)                  2.5 seconds
11. 2 Foot Glide                             (Right Turn)                              1.5 seconds
12. Medium Intensity Skating    (Right X-over Turn)                1.0 second
13. 2 Foot Glide                             (Left Turn – Right Turn)         1.5 seconds
14. Cruise Strides                                                                               1.5 seconds
15. Low Intensity Skating           (Left X-over Turn)                   3.5 seconds
16. 2 Foot Glide                             (Left Turn)                                2.5 seconds

Practical application of skating characteristics

Gliding on one skate: We did a pilot study to identify the most commonly occurring skating characteristics to analyze. No players glided on one skate for more than .50 seconds, therefore we did not analyze it. The pilot study made us realize we do not need to practice extended gliding on one skate since it never happens in a game.

Two-foot gliding: It is important for players to learn proper body position when gliding on two skates while going straight, turning, ready for body contact, having the stick blade close to, but not always on the ice, one and two hands on the stick, with and without a puck, gliding and swivelling the head to watch the puck, and leaning with the body and stick to block passing lanes. Every skating characteristic comes from, and goes back into, a two-foot glide.

Stride and glide: During a game players skate following a pattern of: stride-glide-turn, etc, with and without the puck. For a game-performance skating drill, we can have players stride-glide-turn using cruise strides (one or two strides to maintain speed or position on the ice), low, medium, and high intensity, with and without the puck. They can move around cones on full ice, or in the defensive or offensive zones.

High intensity skating: Even though high intensity skating (HIS) was 4.6-seconds of a shift, it may be the most important skating of a shift. To practice HIS, the players follow a skating pattern as such: accelerate from a stationary position – two-foot glide – left and right turns – accelerate from a two-foot glide – two-foot glide – right and left turns, etc, with and without the puck and one hand or two hands on the stick. We can have the players skate around cones on the ice.

Practice the way we play: It is important to have players practice the way they play. We can use studies like this to understand how players skate and design drills, or we can watch games or highlights and develop game-performance drills.