Victory Through Video

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2004

By Lucas Aykroyd

For today’s hockey coach, neglecting to use video analysis effectively would be about as dumb as trying to go 12 rounds with Muhammad Ali in his prime–while blindfolded.

You just can’t overlook a tool like this when every other coach is taking advantage. Right into the 1970’s, your typical bench boss had to rely on word of mouth from his team’s scouts and other informers to figure out what strategies his opponents would employ.

But nowadays, there are no more secrets. Every breakout pattern, every power play formation, every weakness in a goaltender’s stance is captured on tape and exposed on the TV screen.

The technology has come a long way since the late Roger Neilson earned the nickname “Captain Video” for pioneering video analysis work, which began in major junior with his Peterborough Petes.

“It’s important to stay abreast of everything and give your players every opportunity to get better,” says Vancouver Giants coach Don Hay, who was named the WHL’s best coach of all time in 1999. “I think video is a really important part of the game, especially at this level where you’re doing a lot of teaching. Young players can learn so much in a short time. It’s good for one-on-one teaching with the guys, and it’s also good for team teaching.”

Bob Hammond has worked as the London Knights video technician for over 20 years, and he’s gained a special perspective from manning the main camera in the third-level press box at the John Labatt Centre. “When I first started out, OHL coaches just wanted to be able to see what was going on in terms of the overall play,” says Hammond. “Now it’s evolved into really fine detail.”

The Knights enjoy state-of-the-art facilities, with Rogers Sportsnet broadcasting every home game. Sportsnet provides the team with the regular game feed, plus the “wild feed” with footage from six different camera angles. Hammond supplements that by zooming in on certain players or aspects of the game, based on coach Dale Hunter’s requests.

CHL rules stipulate that at least three game videotapes must be recorded: one for the home team, one for the visitors, and one for the referee. Even during a game, the coaches for a club like London may view tapes between periods and isolate certain things to show their players before they head back out on the ice.

The real work begins after the final buzzer, when it’s time to plug that raw footage into a double-headed VCR and start editing together an instructional tape. At the NHL level, there are video gurus to package this stuff for the coaches. But in major junior, the burden falls upon the coaches themselves. “You may have to stay up till two in the morning or get up at six in the morning to get on that video,” admits Hay.

Still, the rewards are undeniable. “When I analyze the other teams, I’m looking at their system play, how they forecheck or break out, how they play defense, any trick types of faceoff plays that they do,” Hay says. “As far as ourselves, we look at how we’re playing as a team. Can you see us playing together? It’s a sign of a well-coached team when they’re doing what the coach wants.” And players have no excuses for not knowing what the coach wants when he’s shown them in living colour.

In many respects, video has changed the way hockey is played. “When you look at the systems nowadays, they’re so specific that you can’t fool many people,” Hay says. “You get games on TV and they’re all pre-scouted. Nowadays, scoring isn’t as high as it used to be, and that’s got to do with video, as well as coaching and defensive systems. Coaches devise game plans to stop other teams from scoring.”

The CHL wants to improve the quality of access to video. Until recently, some clubs were using outdated Beta or Super-8 equipment, but now the aim is to standardize and modernize systems across Canada.

When tapes are delivered glitch-free to visiting teams, it also reduces the likelihood of technological turf wars: rumor has it that some coaches who’ve been given wonky tapes plot to reciprocate in kind when their rivals come visiting!

Sometimes video can prove satisfying in unexpected ways. Bob Hammond says it feels good when he helps an unjustly accused player avoid suspension by filming an after-the-whistle altercation, where the tape shows the guy didn’t deliver a slewfoot or slash.

Don Hay likes highlight reel tapes with music to inspire his team: “I worked with Team Canada at the 1995 World Juniors, and I still remember Tina Turner singing ‘Simply The Best’ in the video. Whenever I hear that song on the radio, it brings back nice memories.”

Video will never replace the insights of experienced hockey coaches. But it will continue helping their teams to deliver the knockout punch.