Trent, what can we say… you are a genius! We know you will bring home the gold for sure.
You have designed the ultimate ice hockey play book and now we know how to use it. We couldn’t be more excited to share with you what we’ve learnt and help you bring home the gold.
Table of Contents
The Tnt Hockey Studio Analyst
So who are the Tnt Hockey Studio analysts and how do they fit into the scheme of things?
We are five experienced and talented ice hockey analysts that have all fallen under the spell of Trent’s genius. We’ve worked together to create a resource that will prove invaluable in your quest to become the best hockey player you can be. We’ve split the content into three units to make it as easy as possible for you to learn.
This is the first in a series of articles that will delve into the contents of the play book, providing you with the information and understanding you need to succeed.
What Is The Tnt Playbook?
You can read more about the Tnt Playbook in this article, which will give you the overview of what it contains. If you’re curious, you can read the original post by Trent here. To save you the effort of searching for it, we’ll also include a link at the bottom of this article.
What Will You Learn From This Article?
To begin with, you will learn the identity of the five main hockey analytics used by the Tnt Hockey Studio. You’ll then learn about each one’s role in the work stream of the company and the various insights they provide. Finally, you’ll learn about the unique perspective that each one brings to the table, which will undoubtedly make you a better hockey player.
With that, let’s get to it.
The Role Of Each Hockey Analytics
Broadly speaking, there are five distinct types of analysts that the Tnt Hockey Studio uses:
1. HockeyStats – This is the quintessential hockey analytics used by every analytical company. It is usually presented in the form of team-level statistics, such as scoring chances, goal differentials and shooting percentages. The data is presented in easy-to-understand charts and graphs for easy perusal by the coaching staff and owner.
2. Defense Analytics – Defense analytics is all the rage right now, especially with the NHL adopting a more defensive approach. It analyzes the effectiveness of a team’s defense, identifying their good qualities and highlighting their areas of improvement. It is crucial to a team’s success, especially on the power play, where the entire point is to shut down the opposing team’s top players.
3. Performance In Big Games Analytics – This type of analysis looks into a team’s ability to perform under the pressure of a critical game. It can examine the players’ performance in crucial games throughout their hockey seasons to see how they perform under the big lights and against the best of opponents. This is where the magic of video comes in handy, as it allows for the analysis of a team’s entire season, including practices and games that matter, and crucially, those that don’t.
4. Player Efficiency Analytics – This type of analysis will examine a player’s overall effectiveness across all skating positions. It takes into consideration a player’s age, experience, health and also their competition to provide an accurate appraisal of their value to a team. This is a pivotal analysis in the rebuilding process, as it will inform the coaching staff of a player’s strengths and weaknesses and help them determine his best position on the ice.
5. Contract Analytics – This type of analysis deals with the monetary aspects of a player’s contract, looking at the contracts of current and former NHL players to provide an in-depth analysis of what contract type is most favorable for the team.
As mentioned in the Tnt Playbook, all of the above roles are essential in the analytics process, but it’s important to note that some roles are more important to the success of a team than others. For instance, while HockeyStats will be of great value in providing the team with an overview of the game, the Defense Analytics will be invaluable in informing the coaching staff of the team’s weaknesses and suggesting possible areas of improvement.
The Five Main Types Of Hockey Analytics
Keeping with the theme of this article, let’s take a quick look at the five types of hockey analytics in detail:
- HockeyStats – This is the fundamental type of hockey analysis. It usually presents team-level statistics, such as scoring chances, goal differentials and shooting percentages. The data is usually presented in easy-to-understand charts and graphs for easy perusal by the coaching staff and owner. These stats can be great for identifying a team’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Defense Analytics – This type of analysis examines a team’s defense, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. It can examine a team’s performance in shutting down opponents and creating chances for themselves. The data can also be used to assess a team’s performance in relation to their competition.
- Performance In Big Games Analytics – This type of analysis looks into a team’s ability to perform under the pressure of a critical game. It can examine a team’s performance in crucial games throughout their hockey season to see how they perform under the big lights and against the best of opponents. This is where the magic of video comes in handy, as it allows for the analysis of a team’s entire season, including practices and games that matter, and crucially, those that don’t.
- Player Efficiency Analytics – This type of analysis will examine a player’s overall effectiveness across all skating positions. It takes into consideration a player’s age, experience, health and also their competition to provide an accurate appraisal of their value to a team. This is a pivotal analysis in the rebuilding process, as it will inform the coaching staff of a player’s strengths and weaknesses and help them determine his best position on the ice.
- Contract Analytics – This type of analysis deals with the monetary aspects of a player’s contract, looking at the contracts of current and former NHL players to provide an in-depth analysis of what contract type is most favorable for the team.
The Special Perspective Of Each Hockey Analytics
To bring it all back to the beginning, here is a short profile of each of the five main analysts that make up the Tnt Hockey Studio:
- Andy was previously the Director of Analytics at the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, using his extensive knowledge and experience in the field to educate and inform team decision-makers. While at the Canucks, he helped the team to significantly reduce their penalty minutes, improving their on-ice performance and overall success. He also introduced advanced statistics into his work, providing the team with an in-depth understanding of how their players performed throughout the season.
- Dave is a hockey operations and analytics consultant whose clients include the NHL’s New York Islanders. He has spent the last 15 years working within the industry, while also playing an active role in the community, working with children and the elderly to improve their quality of life. He has also worked as a TV hockey analyst for ESPN and NBC and as a radio analyst for the New York Islanders.
- Craig is the founder of the Tnt Hockey Studio and the Director of Analytics for Sault Ste. Marie, a community-based hockey team. He has worked in the area of analytics and hockey operations for more than a decade, providing professional hockey teams with accurate analysis of game and player performance. He has also worked with many other sports, including football and baseball, applying his expertise in the field.
- Sean is a hockey operations and analytics consultant who previously worked for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Calgary Flames, while also playing a pivotal role in the community, founding the Sean Rayne Youth Hockey League, the Craig Hockey Helping Hand program and working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has used his unique expertise to work with teams across North America, identifying key areas of improvement and helping to build a more effective hockey culture. He also provides analytical support to amateur hockey players and teams across North America.
- Trent is the brains behind the Tnt Hockey Studio. He is an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Montana, where he specializes in applied physiology and sports science. He is the author of more than 20 hockey-related books and has over 150 publications in the fields of biochemistry and nutritional science. He has helped numerous amateur and professional hockey players to reach their full potential on the ice by using scientific research, advanced analysis and unique insight.