The High Performance Hockey Podcast Anthony Donskov, PhD

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Differences between North America and the KHL in terms of culture, game play, structure, performance, and schedule.
The current strength & conditioning scene in Europe compared to North America.
Advice for young strength coaches considering going abroad.
The importance of communication, consistency, and simplicity as a coach.
 
Resources + Links:
 
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:
Ever wondered what high performance hockey looks like across the pond? Today, we are joined by Brandon Bovee, the Strength & Conditioning Coach for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL. Brandon is a 12 year strength & conditioning veteran who has coached all over Russia, from Moscow to the far east in Vladivostok. We have a fascinating conversation uncovering his unique journey from North America to the Eastern bloc + his experiences and formative years abroad. We’ll break down the key differences between North American leagues and the KHL, from culture, game play, structure, performance, and more. Brandon also shares his advice for coaches considering Europe, the importance of building trust in communication, and how he simplifies the process by filtering out the noise. Tune in to broaden your view of the high performance world on a whole new level!



00:00 Introducing a 12 year KHL veteran and the Strength & Conditioning Coach for Ak Bars Kazan, Brandon Bovee!
01:35 How did you get from North America to the KHL?
08:05 Formative first years + building buy-in in a foreign country.
10:20 The North American high performance model versus the KHL high performance model.
13:50 Discover the key to training intermediate and advanced players with the Gain, Go, Grow Manual!
14:40 Breaking down KHL legacy, playing style, and schedule.
18:40 What does a typical week of a physical preparation coach look like?
20:15 Comparing the strength & conditioning scene + off season programs in the KHL.
22:05 Who have stood out as your mentors and peers while in Europe?
26:00 What advice would you give a young strength coach considering Europe?
30:00 What does the future hold for you?
32:15 How to focus on consistency and simplicity above the noise.
37:00 Asking ‘why’ to find the best path forward.
 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Textbook skating mechanics and skating efficiency.
The difference between coaching young athletes versus elite level professionals.
Biomechanics and anatomical landmarks for idealized, efficient skating.
The most common equipment and modifications.
 
Resources + Links:
Follow Luke on Instagram | @chilcottskating
 
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:
What are the most common skating habits high performance hockey players share? Joining the podcast today is Luke Chilcott, the Dallas Stars skating coach. Luke is in his 7th season working as a skating coach in the NHL, helping develop a deeper knowledge of edgework and efficiency through correct technique, and assisting players in analyzing beneficial equipment as it relates to on ice performance. Our conversation will delve into Luke’s skating philosophy he has fostered working with both younger players and professional level athletes. We’ll explore optimized skating efficiency, biomechanics and anatomical landmarks, common skating habits and modifications, and more. As we go, Luke shares his framework for setting up his skaters for success, including beneficial equipment, on ice & off ice interventions, and return to play. Tune in to discover all that goes into efficient skating from the ground up!
00:00 Let’s talk skating, biomechanics, equipment and more with Dallas Stars skating coach, Luke Chilcott!
01:30 What was your background going from competitive skater to trainer?
04:35 Role and responsibilities as the Dallas Stars skating coach.
07:35 What is your skating philosophy?
10:20 Social media bells & whistles versus in game/on ice patterns.
13:00 Defining textbook skating efficiency + anatomical landmarks to focus on.
17:40 What are common skating habits and mistakes you’ve noticed?
21:30 The pros and cons of block practice for youth athletes.
24:20 Check out the Gain, Go, Grow Manual for intermediate to advanced athletes!
25:10 What is the ideal build for skating, from a biomechanical standpoint?
29:50 How to tangibly make a difference in an athlete’s stride at the elite level.
34:10 Which on ice and off ice interventions would you implement for ankle mobility?
38:30 Equipment commonalities + modifications between pro level players.
44:35 What is the relation between hollows and return to play?
50:00 Where does video fit into your coaching philosophy?
54:05 Favorable prerequisites for warming up a pro level skater.
58:50 What’s coming up next for you?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
An in-depth exploration of the five phases of the return to sport clearance continuum.
How to become a Swiss Army knife in the professional sports world.
The current state of comprehensive athlete care + return to play.
 
Resources + Links:
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:
How can you approach the return to sport clearance like a pro? Joining us today is Dr. Pete Draovitch, Athletic Performance Specialist and Associate Athletic Trainer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His current role assists the medical staff and strength & conditioning staff to work closely with injured players in the rehabilitation programs. With his diverse background in professional sports, including golf, ice hockey, and football, Dr. Pete will teach us how to become a Swiss Army knife within the high performance sphere. We’ll also be deep diving into a 2022 article of his in order to break down the five phases of the return to sport clearance continuum, including debunking misconceptions and providing useful modalities to implement for return to play. Join us for a thorough and interesting conversation on the current state of comprehensive athlete care!
 
01:40 What was your background with the Rangers and what are your current duties in the NFL?
05:20 Becoming the Swiss Army knife of professional sports.
09:20 What first principles do you go by?
14:40 What tools + modalities do you utilize during the repair phase?
17:50 The High Performance Hockey Masterclass ad.
18:40 What goes into the rehab + recovery phase?
23:45 Why is the reconditioning phase the most misunderstood?
29:05 How to get baseline tests of the season + the most important metric for return to play.
33:20 Return to performance versus return to play.
37:45 Where is the pendulum swinging regarding comprehensive athlete care?
41:20 Expert advice for young practitioners.
42:55 How do you want to be remembered?
 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Measurement error and building conceptual models in applied settings.
How to collect, analyze, and compute better information from both a sports science and a strength & conditioning perspective.
The issue with reliability + validity in tests. 
The fundamentals of assessing and calculating errors.
 
Resources + Links:
 
Measurement in Medicine by Henrica C. W. W. de Vet
 
Probably Overthinking It by Allen B. Downey
 
Analyzing Baseball Data with R by Jim Albert and Benjamin S. Baumer
 
Calling Bullshit by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
 
Against the Gods by Peter L. Bernstein
 
The Lady Tasting Tea by David Salsburg
 
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:
Is it possible to have data that is both reliable and valid? Today, we have an informative podcast all about measurement with special guests, Dr. Patrick Ward and Dr. Scot Morrison. Dr. Patrick Ward is the Director of Research and Analysis at the Seattle Seahawks and a Statistics Professor at Lehman College, with a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science. Dr. Scot Morrison is currently working as a Senior Sports Scientist in MLB and boasts a diverse career in sports medicine.
 
Our conversation focuses on measurement, error, and conceptual models in an applied real world setting. We’ll hear their expert answers to several important questions from a sports science lens: What are the logical fallacies regarding reliability & validity in tests? How can we successfully collect & analyze better information? What are the basic fundamentals we need to know? Join us for an incredible educational talk centered around measurement in high performance sports!

 
0:00:00 Introducing Dr. Patrick Ward and Dr. Scot Morrison, here to discuss everything related to measurement!
0:03:40 Unpacking bad data, measurement errors, and skewed models.
0:08:35 What kind of validity should we be looking for in data?
0:14:45 How to measure external load on a case by case basis.
0:18:15 The issue of measurement reliability.
0:24:25 How can we successfully compute credible probability through error?
0:28:45 Assessing metric errors from a strength & conditioning perspective.
0:34:00 Steps for operationalizing and applying data models throughout a season.
0:39:25 What are the fundamentals of calculating error & noise?
0:42:10 The High Performance Hockey Masterclass ad.
0:43:30 Identifying the difference between testing errors.
0:47:05 Which measurements have you thrown out due to noise? 
0:53:00 The importance of conceptual framework in decision making.
1:00:55 What can we learn from conceptual framework?
1:03:30 How do you build models from a sports science lens?
1:08:10 Navigating the truth & lies of models in applied settings.
1:13:40 Knowing what you know now, what advice & resources would you give aspiring performance coaches?
 

In this episode I have an incredible conversation with Sunaya Sapurji about youth hockey development models around the world. Sunaya is a senior editor at The Athletic who has covered hockey for many years and written insightful pieces comparing different countries' approaches. We discussed the similarities and differences between programs in North America and Europe. Some of the main takeaways from our discussion included the challenges of cost and participation rates, as well as the importance of coaching education to ensure development frameworks are properly implemented.
 
01:15 Hockey development models in the US and Canada. 
08:45 Hockey development and retention strategies for youth growing up in the sport.
11:15 What challenges is the sport of ice hockey facing with cost across the globe?
18:30 Hockey development in Scandinavia. 
26:45 What are the differences between the club model in places like Denmark vs the free market you see in the US?
32:30 Hockey coaching, player development, and retention today. 



Resources + Links:
 
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
 
 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The importance of generalist knowledge in sports medicine. 
Periodization of treatment for optimal athlete performance.
How Dr. Jeff Cubos creates a collaborative high performance culture.
 
Resources + Links:
 
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:
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jeff Cubos. Dr. Cubos is a consulting chiropractor for the Edmonton Oilers and has over 20 years of experience working with athletes at all levels. We had a great discussion about the importance of being a generalist in sports medicine and understanding principles from different fields. Jeff also shared insights into his daily role with the Oilers, from morning meetings to game day preparations. Tune in to hear us cover the emphasis on regular assessments for asymptomatic players to ensure optimal performance and prevent potential issues down the road. 
 
01:30 Curiosity, communication, and interdisciplinary connections. 
04:15 What is your treatment philosophy and information you consider for assessments in sports medicine?
13:00 Athlete care and focusing on player driven decision making.
19:15 Periodization and communication in sports performance. 
25:30 How do you approach hockey player development and high performance culture?
35:00 Athlete monitoring and injury management in hockey. 
40:45 Are there any objective measures from the medical staff that you look at and measure?
48:00 Teaching curiosity and self-directed learning.