Science for Sport Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Ice Hockey”

291: Managing Workload and Performance in the NHL

Science for Sport — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This week, host Richard Graves welcomes Steven Nightingale, Sports Scientist with the New Jersey Devils (NHL), to explore the realities of managing workload, performance, and recovery in one of the world’s most demanding sporting environments.
From starting out in Peterborough to working in China, Russia, and now in the NHL, Steve shares his fascinating journey through elite sport, and how data, experience, and practical collaboration with coaches all come together to optimise athlete performance.
They dive deep into how workload is managed across an 82-game season, the impact of fixture congestion and travel, and the evolving role of data and AI in shaping the future of sports science.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Steve’s career took him from teaching in England to sports science roles across China, the KHL, and the NHL.
What workload management really means in professional ice hockey, and why it’s misunderstood.
How the Devils balance recovery, readiness, and tactical demands across a relentless schedule.
The challenges of measuring true intensity and how Steve uses Z-scores and T-scores to make data meaningful for coaches.
Why less distance covered can actually correlate with winning more games.
How travel, sleep, and recovery all factor into athlete performance across an 82-game season.
The future of data analysis, including AI’s growing role in sports science.

About Steven Nightingale
Steven Nightingale is a Sports Scientist with the New Jersey Devils in the NHL and is currently completing his Doctorate in Applied Sport and Exercise Science. Originally from Peterborough, England, Steve’s career has taken him from teaching and voluntary roles in UK hockey to international positions with Ice Hockey UK, the Chinese Olympic Committee, and teams in the KHL (Kontinental Hockey League).
His research focuses on workload monitoring, return-to-play strategies, and performance optimisation, using technologies such as Catapult to inform evidence-based decision-making. Steven regularly shares insights on LinkedIn and publishes his research on ResearchGate.

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223: Maximise Your Adaptation To Training

Science for Sport — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0100

In episode 223, Conor Heeney Head of Strength & Conditioning and Sport Performance Science at Liverpool John Moores University join us.

Specifically Conor will be looking at:

What training adaptation is
How adaptation occurs
How to optimise adaptation

About Conor

"Accredited Strength & Conditioning coach currently working as Head of Strength & Conditioning & Performance Sport Science Coordinator at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Broad experience with combat athletes and further multisport experience supporting athletes from 45+ Sports. Engage with teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate sports & exercise science programmes at LJMU and about to embark on a PhD looking at understanding the physiology and biomechanics of elite boxing punch performance."

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-heeney-7b7741b7/
Twitter / X: https://x.com/heeneyconor

https://centrostudilombardia.com/wp-content/uploads/IAAF-Generale/2015-A-new-understanding-of-stress.pdf

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201: Elite Ice Hockey Training Secrets

Science for Sport — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In episode 201 Joe Neal, Owner of 2SP Performance in Detroit. joins us.

Specifically Joe will be looking at:

The physical requirements of ice hockey
How to adjust training based on game stress
How to improve ice hockey performance in the gym

About Joe :

"Joe has been a private sector Strength and Conditioning Coach for 17 years in Detroit Michigan. In that time, he has been working with mainly hockey and baseball, ranging from youth to professional athletes"

Instagram:
@joeneal2
@2spsports

Website
www.2spsports.com

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74: Steal Strength & Speed Secrets From Elite Level Ice Skating

Science for Sport — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 01:00:00 +0100

In episode 74 Christoph Wyss, S&C Coach - Chicago Wolves, joins us.

Specifically Christoph will be looking at:

Importance of speed on the ice
What makes skating unique?
Specific training for skating
Hockey off-seasons

About Christoph

"Christoph Wyss is a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Chicago Wolves, previous to this he completed two seasons at the Anaheim Ducks, where he assisted in the development and implementation of customized strength and conditioning programs for players throughout the season.

Wyss joined the Ducks after spending almost two years in China with the National Weightlifting and Speed Skating teams in advance of the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics. Prior to his time in China, Wyss worked at P3 (Peak Performance Project) a private facility in Santa Barbara that specializes in training professional and amateur athletes.

Born in Meiringen, Switzerland and raised in Riverside, Wyss received Bachelor's (Kinesiology) and Master's (Exercise Physiology) degrees from California State University, Chico and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS). He also has certifications for USA Weightlifting (USAW) and Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR).