Hockey Analytics FAQ

Understanding Hockey Analytics Careers

What is Hockey Analytics?

Hockey analytics is the use of statistical analysis to understand and evaluate hockey, including player performance, team strategy, and game outcomes. It covers metrics for player effectiveness, possession, scoring chances, and defensive performance, and it helps hockey teams at all levels make informed decisions about player acquisitions, lineups, in game strategy, and team management.

What kind of jobs can the Hockey Analytics course prepare me for?

The course prepares you for professional hockey roles such as NHL director of player personnel, NHL scout, NHL management, NHL front office, NHL game operations, NHL sports marketing, NHL account manager, and NHL media and community relations. It can also help you advance your career within the NHL.

I’m a hockey coach. How will this course help me?

This course gives you an understanding of scouting hockey players from an NHL point of view, along with the terminology used by scouts, directors of player personnel, and general managers. It should enhance your ability to recruit quality hockey athletes for your program at every level, and it shows you how analytics is used to evaluate talent.

Do I need to have played hockey to work in hockey analytics?

No. Passion, hard work, and the right training and contacts matter most, and teams increasingly look for well informed people who can use data. The Hockey Analytics course helps build both what you know and who you know.

How else can I break into the professional hockey world?

If you are not in a situation to start your career over and want to learn more about the business of hockey and gain contacts, check out the Athlete Management Course and consider representing NHL players.

About the SMWW Hockey Analytics Course

Who teaches the Hockey Analytics course?

The course is taught by Mike Oke, General Manager and VP of Operations of the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, and Clair Cornish, an NHL scout and hockey analytics expert. Oke has been the Petes’ GM since 2013 and has helped hundreds of SMWW graduates find jobs in professional and collegiate hockey.

Will the Hockey Analytics course help me get a job in hockey?

It will help you get a job in hockey, and hundreds of SMWW graduates are now working in the sport. The key word is help. For all eight weeks you will be in live classes with Mike Oke, Clair Cornish, guest hockey analytics scouts, Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, and classmates who want careers in professional hockey, and you will learn techniques and strategies that NHL teams are currently using. It will not directly get you the NHL job, but the insider language you learn and the contacts you build might be the clincher in beating out your competition.

What topics does the Hockey Analytics course cover?

The course covers the role of analytics in hockey and how NHL teams introduce analytics, an overview of advanced and common hockey statistics used in data driven reports, arbitration and forecasting, game preparation, and implementation for players. It also looks at how teams build an analytics department and the hockey analytics software options available.

Do I have to pay extra to train on the software?

No. Any software used in the course is included in the course fee, along with your course books. Access to this cutting edge material will be valuable throughout your career, and adding the experience to your resume is a real advantage.

Is the software used in this course compatible with PC and Mac?

The SMWW eArena course platform and the Zoom live chats work on both Macs and PCs. Some specialized software may be PC only, so if you are on a Mac, we recommend borrowing a friend or family member’s computer or using a local library for that assignment.

What is the difference between the Sports Sales & Marketing course and the Hockey Analytics course?

The Sports Sales & Marketing course teaches you what you need to get an entry level job in any professional sports organization and requires a course project with a major or minor league team. It covers everything from ticket sales to sponsorship sales and creating contacts in the sports field, and students generally want a job as soon as possible in leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NCAA, NASCAR, or NHL. The Hockey Analytics course is pure hockey, teaching you to analyze the game, evaluate hockey talent, and spot NHL players before the pros do. Still unsure? Call our offices at 1 877 SMWW NOW.

Do I need any special equipment or books for the course?

The books for the course are sent directly to your home from the SMWW office, and some are so specific that they are out of print or not sold in any bookstore. You will need a computer with internet access.

Can I still take this course without technical expertise?

Yes. We have many students who felt the same way. SMWW has a technical support team that knows computers, and you will be surprised at how easy it is. As long as you have a computer and internet access, we can help you with the rest.

Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799. Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105.