Catapult Roundtable: All Things External Load with Patrick Love, Adam Douglas, Stephane Gervais, and Kevin Ricks

The High Performance Hockey Podcast

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The utility of Catapult technology within various environments and demographics.

Everything you need to know about external player load.

Anchors points and heuristics for return to play clearance.

The data behind decision making processes during a regular season.

Resources + Links:

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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:

Let’s break down all things external load! Today, we’re joined by Patrick Love, Adam Douglas, Stephane Gervais, and Kevin Ricks for a roundtable to discuss the use of Catapult technology. Our conversation will dive into the utility Catapult provides for the various environments in which they work. We’ll explore how it relates to different demographics, data tracking for key decision making, anchor points for return to play clearance, and even more. As we go, we’ll uncover how this technology works and its true significance to team sports around the globe. If you’ve ever questioned how Catapult technology performs in the realm of hockey, look no further than this episode for your answers. Drop into the roundtable for an insightful look into the technology that drives the high performance sphere to new levels!

Meet the Guests:

Patrick Love is an Applied Sports Scientist at Catapult Sports. He currently supports 20 NHL, 16 AHL, and 16 NCAA Ice Hockey teams that use Catapult's wearable technology. Prior to working at Catapult, the Plano, Texas, native was the S&C Coach OKC Barons (’14-’15), Bakersfield Condors (’15-’19), and Assistant S&C Coach with the Edmonton Oilers (‘19-‘21).

Adam Douglas is the Sports Science and Performance Director for the Montreal Canadiens. Prior to joining the Canadiens, Adam Douglas served as the Manager, Sports Performance for Hockey Canada for over 10 years, working with both the Men’s and Women’s High Performance Teams. Alongside his work with Hockey Canada, Douglas also served as an Applied Sport Scientist with the Catapult Sports. He has a PhD from York University where he investigated the applied use of wearable technology in elite female ice hockey.

Stephane Gervais is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL farm team the Laval Rocket. Originally from Windsor, ON, he played 4 years of Varsity hockey at the University of British Columbia, before embarking on his pro hockey career in Europe, playing 10 professional seasons while simultaneously serving as the Pro/U20 team’s S&C coach before retiring from playing in 2017 and moving into that role full time. Later working with the French Ice Hockey Federation as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and Team France U20 National team.

Kevin Ricks is an Associate Athletic Trainer at Notre Dame, working with the Irish Hockey team and Men’s Tennis team while assisting with football. Ricks also has worked with the Irish men’s and women’s fencing team, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s swimming and diving, women’s soccer and women’s rowing teams in his time at Notre Dame. Ricks first came to Notre Dame in 2001.

0:00:00 Join the Catapult roundtable alongside featured guests Patrick Love, Adam Douglas, Stephane Gervais, and Kevin Ricks to learn all things external load!

0:01:30 What does Catapult technology do?

0:03:20 What does the GPS technology measure and what is its significance in team sports?

0:08:05 Player load volume intensity measurements.

0:11:45 What intensity metrics do you track?

0:13:20 What asymmetry profiles do you look at?

0:14:40 What problem were you trying to solve by bringing in the technology?

0:20:25 How does information & decision making drive planning in a regular season?

0:27:55 What was the amount of data for a seven day average?

0:29:40 Train like a high performing athlete with The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual!

0:30:30 How does the American hockey league level differ?

0:34:05 What are the anchor points for return to play metrics?

0:37:20 How does volume, intensity, and asymmetry change during the return to play process?

0:40:35 What are your rules & heuristics for clearing an athlete?

0:42:20 How do you slowly progress player load?

0:48:15 What are the aha moments you had from this technology?

0:50:50 What perspective did Catapult give to coaches and athletes?

0:55:15 What did this data teach you during playoffs?

0:57:35 How can you protect your players?

1:00:05 What do you include in your reports and why?

1:08:20 What technology is coming out next?