The Evolution of the High Performance Model Devan McConnell

The High Performance Hockey Podcast

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Building and assessing a high performance model and staff.

• The return to play versus return to train processes from a performance standpoint.

• What external load monitoring and Athlete Management Systems provide.

Resources + Links:

The Neo-Generalist by Kenneth Mikkelsen and Richard Martin

Range by David Epstein

The Tyranny of Metrics by Jerry Muller

Risk Savvy by Gerd Gigerenzer

Gut Feelings by Gerd Gigerenzer

Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -

The High Performance Hockey Masterclass

Follow Anthony on Instagram | @anthonydonskov

Follow Anthony on Twitter | Anthony Donskov, PhD

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov

Follow HPH Podcast on Instagram | @hph_podcast

Follow HPH Podcast on Twitter | @TheHPH_Podcast

Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/

Check out Anthony’s Books

Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions

The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players

Show Notes:

Where is the future of the high performance model heading? To find out, we’re joined by Devan McConnell, the high performance director for the Arizona Coyotes. Before his time at the Coyotes, Devan wore several hats as the director of performance science and reconditioning for the New Jersey Devils, and as the head of hockey performance and sports science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. We’ll discuss his collegiate and professional careers to see how his experiences have helped him build the Coyotes high performance model & staff. As we go, we also explore his systems and measurements in place for in season and the long term, the differences between return to train and return to play, integrations for Athlete Management Systems, and the future of the high performance model in the NHL, all from a performance & sports science angle. Find out how the high performance model evolves in the high performance hockey world!

0:00:00 Introducing Devan McConnell, the high performance director for the Arizona Coyotes.

0:01:30 What are your current responsibilities with the Coyotes?

0:03:35 What elements have you added to your high performance model that you were missing before?

0:08:50 How have your past experiences given you a competitive advantage?

0:12:40 What elements are critical to your high performance model?

0:16:00 How do you assess the model?

0:20:45 What is your measurement checklist?

0:26:20 When using technology, what buckets do you use?

0:29:30 Why are baseline numbers important? How and when do you collect these measures?

0:32:40 The value of on ice testing.

0:34:50 How does on ice testing work in the organization now?

0:36:25 Return to train versus return to play.

0:41:40 What do you look for from a performance standpoint?

0:44:10 What external load metrics are important?

0:47:00 From your experience, what do you gain from external load monitoring?

0:52:05 Why do you use Athlete Management Systems?

0:55:35 How do you use the AMS?

0:58:40 How do you like to communicate data?

1:00:40 What is the future of the high performance model in the NHL?

1:03:15 Where is the pendulum swinging currently?