Shooting left or right in the National Hockey League: Likely influence of batting in baseball and different success levels

Abstract This study addresses the question of the lateral preference of the National Hockey League players. The shooting preference, left or right, was analysed as a function of the origin of four groups of players that are from the USA, Canada, Europe, or Russia. The analysis reveals that the players from the USA are more likely to shoot right than players from other countries. This finding, which applies to both forward and defense players, is attributed to the potential higher participation to baseball during youth of American players. Compared to defense players from other groups, defense players from the USA have a higher number of shots per game and a higher goal-to-assist ratio, a finding argued to depend on the playing style coming with the placement of hands on the stick. The study also shows that for wingers shooting left, those playing on the right wing have more goals or points per game than those playing on the left wing; and that European forward players have a better differential (+/-) than American and Canadian forward players. The study reveals the cultural influence on the preference in a bimanual asymmetric task and the impact of this preference on ice hockey performances.