NHL players typically skate around 10–25 km/h (6–15 mph) during regular play, with top pros briefly hitting about 35–41 km/h (22–25.5 mph) in all‑out bursts.

Quick Scoop

  • Average in‑game speed for many hockey players is roughly 10–25 km/h as they accelerate, stop, and change direction constantly.
  • Most pro players, when really pushing, can get into the 30–40 km/h range on clean, straight rushes.
  • Only the very fastest skaters in the world (think top NHL stars) are clocked around 40 km/h, similar to a car cruising through a neighborhood.
  • Tracking data from recent NHL seasons shows peak sprint speeds in the mid‑20 mph range (around 39–40 km/h), confirming how explosive today’s skaters are.

Different Levels: Rec vs Pro

  • Recreational players usually stay well below pro speeds and might be closer to the low end of that 10–25 km/h band most of the time.
  • Professional players combine technique, strength, and equipment to push much higher speeds, especially on breakaways or rushes through the neutral zone.

Game Context: Bursts, Not Constant Sprinting

Hockey is all about short, explosive bursts rather than holding max speed for long stretches.

Players accelerate hard, glide, battle in corners, then explode again, so their top recorded speed is just a brief peak, not their constant pace.

A Fun Comparison

When a top NHL skater hits around 25 mph on the ice, that is not far off the peak sprint speed of an Olympic‑level runner, but the skater does it while wearing gear, turning, and handling a stick.

TL;DR: Most hockey players cruise around 10–25 km/h in play, strong pros can burst into the 30–40 km/h range, and the rare elite skater tops out just over 40 km/h.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.