Nutrition and ice hockey performance.

Muscle glycogen is a major fuel for ice hockey. About 60% of the muscle glycogen in quadriceps muscle is utilized during a single game. When hockey games are played on successive days, studies reveal that muscle glycogen utilized during the second game is less than that of the first game. The diet of seven professional hockey players was studied for one week during the playing season to determine whether food selection could pose a problem for hockey performance. The data reveal that most players have a high protein intake, but that vegetables and fruit intakes were low. The problem of fuel supply for young hockey players is examined during tournament situations where up to three or more games may be played in a single day.