Objectives

This study investigated the relationship between biological maturation and success in adolescence and adulthood in male Swedish ice hockey players.

Methods

Anthropometric records of players in certified ice hockey high schools between 1998 and 2017 were retrieved (n = 4787). The database was complemented with records of Swedish junior national teams (U16, U18, U20) and National Hockey League (NHL) appearances. Biological maturation was recorded as a percentage of adult height (%AH), and selection probabilities were estimated using a generalised linear mixed effects model. Biological age was determined by comparing players with age-matched growth reference values. Categories of %AH, standard deviation z-scores and biological age offset describing early, on-time and late maturation were created.

Results

A total of 217 players had played on the U16 national team (junior success), and 96 reached the NHL (adult success). The difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] in baseline %AH between players with junior versus adult success was − 0.75 (− 0.39, − 1.11). Looking at age-offset categories in junior success, 30% of players were early maturing and 19% of players were late maturing, showing a bias towards early maturation (p < 0.01). In contrast, more late-maturing players (40%) achieved adult success than early-maturing players (25%), and NHL players had significantly later maturation [%AH: − 0.48 (− 0.80, − 0.16)] than non-NHL players.

Conclusion

This unique 20-year analysis shows that junior success in male ice hockey is positively related to early maturation, while adult success is inversely related to advanced maturation. Ice hockey organisations should implement maturation assessments to optimise the development of both late- and early-matured players.

中文翻译：

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谁进入 NHL？对青少年和成人冰球成功与瑞典男性运动员生物成熟度关系的 20 年回顾性分析

目标

这项研究调查了瑞典男性冰球运动员的生物成熟与青春期和成年期成功之间的关系。

方法

检索了 1998 年至 2017 年间经过认证的冰球高中运动员的人体测量记录（n  = 4787）。该数据库还补充了瑞典青少年国家队（U16、U18、U20）和国家冰球联盟（NHL）出场记录。生物成熟度记录为成人身高的百分比 (%AH)，并使用广义线性混合效应模型估计选择概率。生物年龄是通过将球员与年龄匹配的生长参考值进行比较来确定的。创建了描述早熟、准时成熟和晚熟的%AH、标准差z分数和生物年龄偏移的类别。

结果

共有 217 名球员参加过 U16 国家队（青少年组），96 名球员进入 NHL（成年组）。青少年与成年成功球员之间基线 %AH 的差异 [95% 置信区间 (CI)] 为 − 0.75 (− 0.39, − 1.11)。从青少年成功的年龄偏移类别来看，30% 的球员早熟，19% 的球员晚熟，表现出早熟的倾向 ( p  < 0.01)。相比之下，更多晚熟球员 (40%) 比早熟球员 (25%) 取得了成年成功，并且 NHL 球员的成熟时间明显晚于非 NHL 球员 [%AH: − 0.48 (− 0.80, − 0.16)]玩家。

结论

这项独特的 20 年分析表明，男子冰球青少年的成功与早熟呈正相关，而成年的成功则与提前成熟呈负相关。冰球组织应该实施成熟度评估，以优化晚熟和早熟球员的发展。