Who Reaches the NHL? A 20-Year Retrospective Analysis of Junior and Adult Ice Hockey Success in Relation to Biological Maturation in Male Swedish Players.
Erik NiklassonOliver LindholmMarlene RietzJohn LindDavid JohnsonTommy R LundbergPublished in: Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) (2024)
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.