The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different rest intervals (2 min and 3 min), between two consecutive sets of repeated sprint skating ability (RSSA) tests, on the repeated sprint ability of ice hockey Forwards and Defensemen. Two protocols of RSSA tests, RSSA-2 and RSSA-3, were completed by 16 ice hockey Forwards and 8 Defensemen. Defensemen were heavier (p < 0.05) than Forwards, although their % body fat did not differ significantly. In RSSA-2, athletes performed six sets of 3×80 m sprint skating with 2 min passive recovery between two consecutive sets. In RSSA-3, the rest interval between the sets was 3 min. Average speed, average heart rate (HRaver), blood lactate concentration ([BLa]), and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured in both RSSA-2 and RSSA-3 tests. Both Forwards and Defensemen skated faster in RSSA-3 than in the corresponding set of RSSA-2. Forwards were faster than Defensemen in both the tests, however, the difference was significant (p < 0.05) only in RSSA-2. In Forwards and Defensemen, HRaver increased gradually from set 1 through set 6 in RSSA-2 and RSSA-3. In most of the sets, RPE was higher in RSSA-2 than in RSSA-3, and Defensemen perceived higher exertion than Forwards. No difference in [BLa] was noted between Forwards and Defensemen, although players of both positions showed higher [BLa] in RSSA-3 than in RSSA-2. This study concludes that (1) Forwards skate faster than Defensemen, (2) average heart rate and [BLa] do not vary between Forwards and Defensemen, and (3) a higher perceived exertion is observed in Defensemen than Forwards during repeated sprint skating tests.

Department of Kinanthropology and Humanities Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Physical Education and Sport Science Faculty of Pedagogy University of West Bohemia Pilsen Czech Republic

Faculty of Medical Sciences University of West Indies Cave Hill Campus Barbados

Faculty of Science and Technology University of Silesia in Katowice Chorzów Poland

Institute of Sport Sciences Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education Katowice Poland

Zagłębie Sosnowiec Hockey Club Sosnowiec Poland

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