Last Updated on February 13, 2022 by
Hockey players in the NHL can reach a top skating speed of 20 miles (32 km) per hour on the ice. However, some speed skaters have been clocked at over 30 miles (48 km) per hour.
Just as we all know ice hockey is one of the high-speed sports in the world today. These hockey players reach impressive speeds on the ice with razor-sharp skate blades and powerful strides. The good thing here is that players are improving day by day with the help of fitness regimens and diet plans – this high-speed sport can only get better! But then, who’s the fastest among these players? How fast can these players skate? What is the fastest speed that has been recorded in the NHL? If you’re an ice hockey fanatic looking for resources to answer these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll be walking you through the numbers on hockey skating speeds with ample FAQs.
How Fast Do Players Skate?
When hockey players are at their fastest, they can reach a top speed of 40km/h (25.5mph). We’ve seen some of the fastest completing a lap around the ice in just 14 seconds. However, most professional hockey players are capable of reaching the 20 to 30km/h (12 to 20mph) range. Teenage and recreational players can reach up to 12 to 22km/h.
How Many Miles Do Hockey Players Skate During A Game?
An average NHL player can expect to skate up to 5 miles per game throughout a 60-minute hockey game including all of its starts and stops. Depending on the position of the player and the total time they spent in a game, the speed covered can vary relatively. The nature of the game can also be a determinant of how much the player would skate.
To get the total miles an average player would skate in a whole season, you’ll have to multiply 5 miles, which is the average distance a player skates in a game, by the NHL’s long 82-game schedule. You’ll get a total of 410 miles per season. That’s to say that an NHL player covers 5 miles per game and 410 miles per season. Keep in mind that this calculation might be higher considering the playoffs and overtime. Don’t forget that some playoffs last for months. Besides, winners of the Stanley Cup title might play as many as 28 games in addition to the regular NHL’s long 82-game schedule. One might just conclude that hockey players skate more than a thousand miles if you factor in training and practices.
The Fastest NHL Hockey Player
The fastest skaters at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game include Nathan MacKinnon, Mathew Barzal, and Connor McDavid. However, Connor McDavid, who plays for Edmonton Oilers as a forward, is always debated as NHL’s fastest skater. He achieved this feat after winning the Fastest Skater competition for three consecutive years. McDavid peaked at 40.9km/h.
2019 World Ice Hockey Championships Fastest Skating Times
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), which is another top hockey association has released the top speed numbers of players during the game even though the NHL has disappointed us by not releasing theirs. By the way, the IIHF governs the World Championships and Olympic hockey, and they released the top speeds of the players at the 2019 world Ice Hockey Championships.
The table below contains a list of the players with the top speeds during the 2019 world Ice hockey championships’ fastest skating times.
| Player | Country | Speed KM/H |
| Ronald Kenins | Latvis | 41.32 |
| Leon Draisaitl | Germany | 39.94 |
| Frederik Tiffels | Germany | 39.61 |
| Marek Hovorka | Slovakia | 39.58 |
| Patrick Kane | USA | 39.26 |
| Adrian Kempe | Sweden | 39.16 |
| Tristan Schewwey | Switzerland | 38.99 |
| Connor McDavid | Canada | 38.91 |
| Kasperi Kapanen | Finland | 38.75 |
| Miro Heiskanen | Finland | 38.63 |
FAQs
We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers. These FAQs will help you understand everything you need to know about how fast NHL hockey players skate. Let’s check it out!
What Is The Average Speed Of An NHL Skater?
The average speed of an NHL skater is approximately around 40 kilometers an hour (40.9 and 25.4 miles per hour). These hockey players can reach 20 to 25mph to 30 to 40km/h in-game action.
How Fast Does Connor McDavid Skate Mph?
Thanks to the new technology incorporated into NHL, Connor McDavid’s speed was completely analyzed by Sportsnet. After the analysis, it was said that McDavid’s skating speed crosses 40 kilometers an hour (40.9 and 25.4 miles per hour).
Who Is The Fastest NHL Skater Of All Time?
We’ve prepared a list of some of the fastest players to ever play in the NHL. The list includes;
1. Pavel Bure
2. Paul Coffey
3. Yvan Cournoyer
4. Sergei Fedorov
5. Mike Gartner
6. Bobby Hull
7. Connor McDavid
8. Scott Niedermayer
How Fast Do Youth Hockey Players Skate?
Youth players can skate up to 40km/h (25.5mph) at their fastest. Most hockey players are extremely fast, and they can complete a lap around the ice in just 13 or 14 seconds. However, only the fastest players can reach these high speeds.
How Many Miles Do Hockey Players Skate?
A typical NHL player skates up to 410 miles per season or 5 miles per game. Hockey players are really athletic, and the average player a fat level of under 10 percent, stands 6’1” tall and weighs a lean 200 pounds. Besides, NHL players accelerate to speeds up to 30 mph to stop on a dime.
How Fast Do Pro Hockey Players Shoot?
The average snapshot speed in the NHL is around 100 miles per hour. This average snapshot speed has really changed and improved when compared to the average speed of Slap Shots in the 90s.
Final Thoughts
Some speedy NHL players can reach up to 20 miles (32 km) per hour on the ice. By the way, the fastest skaters in the NHL have reached speeds in excess of over 30 miles (48 km) per hour! We’ve reached the final session of this informative article. We hope you were able to find good and reliable resources in your quest to know how fast hockey players skate. If you have any questions or comments about the article topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks!
