How fast do nhl skaters skate

Ice hockey is a high-speed sport. Players use powerful strides and razor-sharp skate blades to reach impressive speeds on the ice. The game is only getting faster too, as players are developing into stronger athletes with fitness regimens and diet plans.

But just how fast can hockey players actually skate? What is the fastest speed that a player has been recorded skating? These speedsters can also complete a lap around the ice in around 13 or 14 seconds. Only the fastest skaters reach these speeds, however. They averaged out to between 4 and 5 seconds, which was consistent across the eras.

I realized what limits the reliability of this data comes from various hockey related factors. Obviously, some teams may want to slow the pace of the game for a particular moment, therefore impacting the data.

To address the first point, it is unfortunate that there is no data which tracks top speed of skaters in the NHL, though starting next season, data like this will be tracked but it is not known if this information will be public. We only have the eye test at this point, but from my rudimentary calculations, the difference in speed was startling between Connor McDavid and Guy Lafleur.

Though, minute differences like this can make the difference between a defenseman catching a skater or not. After calculating a percentage, McDavid comes in at 1. Second, and lastly, hockey like most sports has experienced a rapid, and evolving, change to the way it is played.

Though, as many pointed out, rule changes have been a primary driver of the upping intensity of hockey. Getting rid of rules like the two line pass, changes in refereeing, and stricter calls on penalties like holding and slashing have caused the game to take on an additional focus on skill. The NHL fastest skater competition is one of the best at the all-star game. There are no tricks or gimmicks. Each player in the competition skates a full lap around the ice and the winner is the player with the lowest time.

The NHL does not release average speed or top speed results, but if you watch the competition you will get an approximate number for the top speed. Even though the NHL has not started to release the top speed numbers of players during the game, another association has. As you can see the data that the IIHF is releasing corresponds with what are thinking that the tops speeds will be peaking in the 25 mph or 40 kmh range.

As you probably notice the fastest skater competition has been won by Connor McDavid in 3 of the past 4 years. And, the past year he finished second in the race to Mathew Barzal. Barzal is blazing fast himself but he was surprised that he beat McDavid. You could tell that it was a big honour for him to be able to beat McDavid in this competition.

At this point the best answer to the question of who the fastest skater is probably comes from the players themselves. The NHLPA did a poll in where they asked all the players in the league who they thought was the fastest player was. That is amazing. Seeing the numbers we have looked at during the All-Star skills competition and IIHF world championships makes that number other-worldly.

Bobby Hull was named the Golden Jet for his blonde hair racing through the wind as he skated down the ice. People who watched him play said that he would simply cruise past other players. I guess it makes sense why they named a hockey team after him — the Winnipeg Jets.