Ice hockey is a demanding sport characterized by short, explosive bursts of effort followed by periods of relative rest on the bench. This intermittent style of play requires a blend of both aerobic and anaerobic fitness, leading to a substantial energy cost. The act of skating, which involves continuous balance and powerful leg movements, ensures a high rate of calorie consumption.
Baseline Calorie Expenditure Rates
Ice hockey is classified as vigorous physical activity, with standard metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values ranging from 8.0 for general play to 10.0 for competitive play. A MET represents the ratio of a person’s working metabolic rate to their resting metabolic rate, with a higher number indicating greater energy use. These MET values allow for the calculation of an estimated hourly calorie burn based on an individual’s body weight.
For a player weighing 150 pounds, general play (8.0 METs) results in an estimated expenditure of about 573 calories per hour. Competitive play (10.0 METs) increases this burn to around 716 calories in an hour. A 200-pound player engaged in general hockey play (8.0 METs) will burn approximately 761 calories per hour, rising to roughly 953 calories during highly competitive games (10.0 METs).
Variables That Influence Burn Rate
Body mass is a primary determinant of calorie burn because a larger mass requires more energy to accelerate, slow down, and move across the ice surface. Game intensity and duration also dictate the total energy used during play. A casual recreational scrimmage with long shifts will have a lower overall MET value than a tightly contested game with short, intense bursts of play. Even when resting on the bench, a player’s metabolic rate remains elevated due to the preceding high-effort shift and the need to regulate body temperature while wearing heavy equipment.
A player’s position on the ice creates distinct patterns of energy expenditure. Forwards and defensemen, who are constantly skating and engaging in physical battles, generally have the highest rates of calorie burn. Goaltenders, in contrast, spend more time in stationary, highly focused positions, resulting in a lower overall hourly calorie burn compared to their teammates. However, the explosive, anaerobic movements required of a goalie still contribute to a substantial energy use.
Hockey’s Intensity Compared to Other Activities
The 8.0 to 10.0 MET range for ice hockey places its energy demand on par with activities like running at a 6-mile-per-hour pace, which is also rated at a 10.0 MET level. This comparison highlights the physical rigor of the sport, as skating with speed and equipment requires a similar level of effort to sustained running. Playing a sport like competitive basketball has a comparable intensity, typically falling around an 8.0 MET value. However, the movements in hockey are often more explosive and require greater muscular power to overcome the resistance of the ice and equipment. Soccer, which involves near-constant running over a large field, is also rated at a high 10.0 MET value, matching the most competitive levels of ice hockey.