Elite Hockey Science
The EHS System
The Elite Hockey Science system is a standardized developmental program, refined to its current state after approximately 35 years of research. The following provides some insight into how it came to fruition.
1980-1990
In the early 1980s, I founded a hockey developmental program called Theory Plus which ran out of the North Delta Recreation Center with the emphasis on teaching the tactical side of the game. The objective was to create a developmental program for both on and off ice that would help players from 7-15 understand the game using a combination of pattern recognition and skill enhanced drills. This program was also used to train elite bantam AAA and B players resulting in many tournament, divisional and league championship wins.
1990-2000
Realizing that while systems and tactics were essential training elements for minor hockey players, I realized after moving up to Midget AAA that while my teams were winning, many of the players were not making the jump to the junior ranks. I realized that skill development was a concern and that while I was teaching more and more fundamentals every practice, I wanted to make sure that I was focusing on the correct skating, stickhandling and shooting skills.
I began researching skating fundamentals in 1993, designing a twin beam infra timing system that would measure skating speed accurately to 100s of a second. Twenty one skating tests were chosen that included striding, crossovers, tight turns, stop/starts and agility both with and without a puck. Pivots were also included in this battery of tests. Both forwards and backwards skating fundamentals were tested in these skill fundamentals as well as comparisons between left and right sides. Over 17,000 skating test were performed between 1993 and 1996 which included German, Swiss, Japanese, Korean, US and Canadian professional , junior and amateur players ranging in age from 7-30. Ten teams in the BCHL also participated in this timing study. All data was analyzed resulting in a clear objective outcome that there were indeed skating skills and puck control skills that top point producing players possessed.
A developmental program was designed from this data that resulted in North Delta Bantam AAA team winning the National Championship in 1999, the first time that a team from BC had done so in 17 years. Off this team of 17 players 15 went on to junior and professional hockey careers. This program was then brought into Junior A and B hockey in 2001-4 with the Burnaby Bulldogs going to the Junior A playoffs as an expansion team and the Richmond Sockeyes winning back to back Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions, Bronze and Silver medals at the Western Canadian Championships with one of the youngest teams in Junior hockey history rostering 6 15 year olds in 2003 and 2004.
2000-2010
Retiring from my research in 1997 after my father was diagnosed with cancer; I began researching in earnest again in 2003 analyzing game statistics using a statistician. The objective was to understand how player’s decisions impacted game/tactical related data. Over 15 different statistics were chosen ranging from time on ice, line combinations, offensive play type and location, turnovers, shot location, etc.
In 2005 I co-founded a sport research company called Next Testing with Mike Valley (current goalie coach with the Dallas Stars). The objective of this company was to expand testing to include not only skating speed, but physiological, biometric and cognitive attributes as well. Working closely with Ohio State University and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), a complex series of balance, speed, agility, strength and power tests were created along with the software to analyze it. NHL teams such as Anaheim (that year they won the Stanley Cup) and the Montreal Canadiens were analyzed. We were also present testing the NHL Combine in Toronto as well as testing the NHL pre draft camp in Edmonton with notable players such as Steven Stamkos, Cody Hodgson, Jared Staal, Jordan Eberle, and Drew Doughty. Again, data was thoroughly analyzed with additional modifications made to developmental programs resulting in the North Delta Devils Junior B team winning their first League Championship and the Junior B Aldergrove Kodiaks winning divisional, league playoff championships and a bronze medal at the provincials as a second year franchise.
During this time, over 5,000 videos were taken of skating, shooting and stickhandling fundamentals with the objective to correlate mechanical principles with time and offensive production.
2005-Current
In 2005 I also founded a company called Pro-Cor Fitness Inc. This company was founded with the objective to build equipment that would help to train sport/skill specific movements and mechanical principles. During this time, correlative studies were done on shooting mechanics resulting in the formation of the EHS (Elitehockeyshooting and Elitehockeyscience).
During this time over 8,000 NHL goals were analyzed cross referencing over 50 data points so that a fully comprehensive program could be designed to not only enhance the professional player’s skill set but to integrate this program into the amateur youth model as well.
To date I have worked with many professional NHL players that include:
Ryan Kesler , Joe Pavelski, Jacob Truba, Cam Fowler, Tyler Kennedy, Riley Nash, Adam Burish, Tom Gilbert, Ryan Johansen, Kyle Okposo, Bryce Salvador, Jason Garrison, Mike Santorelli, Riley Nash, Shawn Matthias, Travis Zajac, Karl Alzner.
The realization after all these many years is that only perfect practice makes perfect and that there are indeed elite skills that the great players possess that not only include on ice skills but off ice as well. We call it attitude or professionalism.
T
This is the Elite Hockey Science System.
It is based on the following formula:
PTL – Passion to
Learn
DTI – Desire to
Improve
WTC – Will to
Compete
Why the EHS Program: The name Elite Hockey Science was chosen specifically to draw attention to the fact that this program is founded on science. Over 30 years of combined research was utilized to complete both my BSc and MSc degrees.
WHAT EHS can do for
you:
1. Standardization: ESH is a standardized program that provides long term skill trajectory development. Drill training is designed to move a player through from basic, intermediate, advanced to elite skills quickly and efficiently. Standardizing development also allows both parents and players to identify a clear developmental path due to associated terminology and skill progressions.
2. Complete integration of skill and tactics. The EHS program allows a player to maximize skill development while mastering game concepts. As my studies have identified, all tactics and game play are founded on specific skill fundamentals. Through this integration, players can quickly integrate their skills sets into game specific situations much faster.
3. Learning and Adaptation: The EHS program also helps to identify learning deficiencies. This in turn allows players to realize their true potential through the understanding of how to acquire athletic skill properly through the proper training and integration of cognitive skills such as vision, memory and their kinesthetic sense.
4. Monitoring and reporting of player skills: This allows parents to clearly see how their child is progressing relative to their peers. Reporting not only helps to make players accountable but provides additional motivation to practice and hone their skills away from the rink and training center. Assessments will be done relative to comprehension, mechanics and speed of execution. Our goal is to not only build better players, but as students mature and move on in life, better teachers who can contribute back into the community or even the EHS program.
5. Life skills: We call our program a fully holistic program that allow players to grow as athletes, brothers, team mates, students and responsible young people in the community. We call our process; “learning to be professional.” Players will be expected to act and train accordingly. Attitude and conduct goes a long way in life and it is something that we take particular pride in helping young people become more responsible, accountable and respectful.
6. Open communication: The staff of EHS is available to discuss training methodologies and philosophies. It is important to have a clear understanding of the training so as to maximize results. As the saying goes: “One can give a man a fish and feed him for a day, one can teach a man how to fish and feed him for a lifetime.”
7. Our guarantee: We understand that parents move from developmental program to developmental program and the reasons for doing so are varied ranging from costs, time, location and quality of training. One of the most important considerations for a parent is development; “is my child improving”. Our guarantee is that once you experience the EHS program and are not satisfied with your child’s results, we offer a refund on the training block that he/she is involved in.
EHS Expectations:
1. Program Requirements: At this stage of the EHS system launch, as a pre-requisite applicants are required to have basic skating skills which would include: Basic forward and backward striding, turning and crossing over.
2. Education: Athletics is a life journey and education is a critical part of that journey. We monitor, with parents consent, our students’ academic journey and provide guidance where applicable in helping them to understand that good grades are critical to their higher goals for competing in the world of hockey.
3. Extracurricular Training: There will be homework. EHS will provide minor props and tools to help each player maximize their potential and learning. How much they practice will be reflected in their test results.
4. Conduct: Disrespect to teammates, coaches and other associated personnel will not be tolerated. It is important that strong social and team skills are developed parallel to their physical skills. Such actions will be discussed with parents so that a solution for respectful correction can be implemented that will help each player grow accordingly.
5. Communication: If a player cannot make a sessions, staff would appreciate such communication since drills run are designed relative to the number of players on the ice and adjustments may have to be made so as to maintain quality of the program.
6. Practice: Please be on time. Arriving late creates anxiety which will translate into your child’s ability to learn.
7. Support and Guidance: Be supportive to all stages of learning and positively reinforce the coaches direction.
8. Personal Assessment: Each player will be expected to do a simple but direct personal evaluation on skills and game play that will help to identify their own personal concerns. This helps players to create an environment that helps to identify their goal objectives and then understand how to implement a corrective plan that benefits them and the team.
9. Payment: Payment in full is required prior to commencement of sessions which may include post dated checks. Players will not be allowed on the ice without prior payment due to insurance reasons.
Starting September 23, 2014 the journey will begin at Planet Ice Delta
with three groups organized by skill and ability. Times will be 6:30-7:30 am
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Group 1. 2006-7-8 Tuesday
Group 2. 2004-5-6 Wednesday
Group 3. 2003-4 Thursday
Included in training program will be a 30 minute off ice shooting and stickhandling skills session which also be held at Planet Ice Delta inside the EHS shooting room. These times will run every 30 minutes starting a 4 pm Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays and finishing at 7 pm .
Spaces are limited. If you have any questions please contact either myself at:
or Terry Morrison
Additional
Information:
There will be a spring/summer program commencing April 2015. Applications for spots will be accepted once a $100 deposit is received to hold a position. Spring and summer programs will be run as team training with groups assigned by birth year so as to compete in local tournaments. The objective of tournament play is for assessment purposes where specific statistics will be taken so as to better fine tune each player’s specific skills and tactical weaknesses.