Hockey Analytics: A Game-Changing Perspective

by Stephen Shea, Christopher Baker, Craig Custance (Foreword)

A fraction of a second can be the difference between a one-timer finding the back of the net and a blocked shot that starts transition the other way. In the fast and fluid game of hockey, time and space drive success. But hockey analytics hasn’t appreciated these two most important factors. It hasn’t respected the complexity of the game…until now. Backed by the findings of an original study never before released to the public, Hockey Analytics demonstrates that—whether it is a failed pinch in the offensive zone, a missed rotation in the defensive zone or other blunder—the vast majority of goals are scored when the defense’s positioning is compromised. The authors identify the actions that give players the time and space to read, react and execute. Their findings will shock even the most experienced hockey minds and call into question strategies regularly employed by the game’s best coaches. It is simple, actionable and nothing like you’ve seen before. Whether you’re a fan, player or coach, Hockey Analytics will change how you experience hockey.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Nonfiction

186 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2017

Reviews

[Mårten Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guld

[Carl Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a game-changing book. I work as a coach working with adult beginners, the principles it expands on are directly applicable. I've changed how we approach game strategy as adult beginners and as such, the teams I coach get very hard to beat, very quickly!
Simple!
If you coach the game, this is a Must Read.
If you watch it, it's a source of frustration - you'll find yourself watching games with a "WTF are they doing?!" perspective a lot. Watch the replays, see the mistakes! ARGH!

[Alex Niblack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting take on what needs to be done to improve usage of analytics in hockey written by the people most directly involved in it. I loved the diagrams as it helped explain and visualize difficult concepts and examples.

[Angus Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely enjoyed this! I probably would have liked it even more if I had more of a foundation in hockey analytics but it was interesting anyway