Defining Metrics: Proving your hockey player's performance
When you hear the word “metrics,” one might think of spreadsheets and complex data formulas—but in hockey, they’re far more than numbers. They’re proven insights into how a player moves, competes, and develops over time. By breaking down these key metrics, we can understand what they mean for players and coaches and, more importantly, how to use them to enhance player development.
Stride Speed: Discover your Highest Gear
What is it: The skating speed in units of Miles Per Hour [MPH] or Kilometers Per Hour [KPH].
Stride Speed is one of the most straightforward metrics to grasp. It’s the average and max speed players reach during a session. It’s similar to tracking the speed of a car throughout a race—there will be highs and lows, but the max speed shows a player’s top gear.
Agility: Maintaining Pace
What is it: The stride rate, or foot speed, in Strides Per Minute (SPM).
Agility measures how quickly a player’s feet move in Strides Per Minute. But it's not just about moving your feet quickly all the time; it's about being an efficient, fluid skater. This will help you adapt to game situations and the pace of play.
Explosiveness: Your Initial Burst
What is it: The acceleration force created during the first three strides, measured in g-force [g].
Explosiveness is the force a skater creates in trying to get up to speed in their first few strides. It’s the initial burst, like a sprinter exploding off the blocks. It's not just about reaching top-end speed; it's about jumping on loose pucks, closing gaps, and accelerating to scoring chances throughout the game.
Balance: The Essential for Strong Skating
What is it: A ratio of left and right strides.
Balance tracks the distribution of left and right strides (aka the symmetry of your skating). It's keeping your weight evenly distributed within your skating to maximize the power generated.
Hustle Score: Visible Effort
What is it: An intensity rating of this specific session compared to your individual baseline rated as Low (LOW), Average (AVG), High (HIGH).
The Hustle Score measures intensity by comparing a player’s performance to their baseline. This score provides a gut check for players, showing and proving how hard they’re pushing during a session compared with previous sessions.
Active Time (TOI)
What is it: The total time of gross skating activity in units of minutes.
Active Time measures how much time a player spends actively moving. It captures when a player is in full stride, gliding, or coasting. This is a total time on ice metric and helps coaches and players understand their ice time.
Stride Time
What is it: The total time spent in a stride interval, measured in units of minutes [min].
Stride Time is the total time the player spends in an active stride. It’s a way to understand how long someone continuously moves during a practice, game, or specific training session. It’s not just about how long players are on the ice; it’s about what they’re doing while they’re there.
Energy Ratio
What is it: The percentage of time a player spends in a full stride interval (Stride Time/Active Time) while on the ice.
The Energy Ratio tracks the percentage of time a player spends in full skating motion while on the ice, giving real-time and post-game insights. It helps players and coaches better understand effort, manage ice time, and improve performance by showing how fatigue and shift length affect skating output.
Using Metrics to Drive Development
By clarifying these metrics, we can see they’re more than numbers. They're critical insights shaping player development, improving training, and building game strategy. It’s about turning raw data into actionable feedback that helps players and coaches take their game to the next level.