Taking hockey sports performance to the next level with plug-and-play analytics
“The data never lies and you become much more aware of the little changes that happen gradually. That’s where Qlik and Hat-TriQ deliver the advantages that lead to winning the game.”
Andreas Hadelöv, Sports Analyst at Malmö Redhawks.
About
Sports is a data-rich field with a significant impact on people, the economy, and an undeniable draw for investors. Through time, tracking and monitoring has become a key in sports – and now it also plays a role in SHL – the Swedish Hockey League.
One of them is Malmö [/ˈmɑlmʊ/] Redhawks, whose story tracks back to 1947. It’s a team with a reputation for innovation both on and off the ice, with a strong focus on training techniques and player welfare as well as strong performances during games.
Their commitment to innovation led them to explore new ways to stay ahead. With help from Stretch On Sense – a specialized team under the wings of Stretch Qonnect, they reimagined the process of coaching the players true to reality.
Their data journey began by identifying urgent pain points and challenges. The key issues were:
- Managing growing data volumes became increasingly challenging
- Opportunities to optimize team performance were being missed
- Key data was scattered across multiple sources and systems
Data, IoT and AI + hockey? Are you serious?
So how could these challenges be addressed?
Malmö Redhawks approached Stretch Qonnect with an open mindset, eager to explore how data and analytics could transform their game.
They were already collecting data on nutrition, stress, sleep, and physical condition through wearables like Oura rings and Catapult vests. However, the challenge was turning this data into actionable insights to improve performance.
Much of their valuable data was underutilized, scattered across systems, making it difficult to get clear insights. The solution? Stretch Qonnect developed a tool that consolidated data from various tracking devices into the Qlik platform, connecting the dots to make the unknown visible.
Adding another layer, the advanced Spiideo system tracked and recorded every player’s movement on the field, providing a complete analytical picture.
Everything in one platform
Data from multiple tracking devices is consolidated into one platform, Hat-TriQ, allowing coaches and staff to make fact-based decisions.
Andread Hadelöv is responsible for the main administration of the hockey data and analytics, elaborates:
“Using data gives you a backbone to make the right decisions (…) With Hat-TriQ in Qlik, we have an analytical tool where we can get maximum value from our data because the whole organization communicates and speaks the same language, which makes it a real game-changer for us”.
Hat-TriQ consolidates everything into one platform, ultimately eliminating data silos.
Taking the game to the next level with data-driven insights
Malmö Redhawks now use Hat-TriQ daily for performance management, combining, analyzing, and presenting data. It builds trust by providing a single point of reference for critical data, boosting performance, and offering insights into what went right or wrong by analyzing historical trends.
The platform provides Andreas with real-time, on-demand statistics via Qlik dashboards, tailored to his needs. For example, when a player performs exceptionally well, they can analyze the contributing factors. Coaches can also replay key moments, analyzing heart rate and energy levels to better understand how a goal was scored, sparking discussions.
Qlik are enabling Malmö Redhawks to deliver tactical advice for future matches and make adjustments based on both their own and their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
A key result has been a significant reduction in player injuries, as coaches can now intervene when players are in peak physical and mental condition.
Continuing the growth in Malmö Redhawks
So what is the vision for the future? Since the Hat-TriQ was established in late summer of 2021, they have continuously been forfining and adapting to using the platform, learning how to pivot their mindsets into data-driven strategizing and tactical advice on both team and player level.
Using data as a key driver in sports has disrupted traditional viewpoints. So business value is delivered, but one major challenge has also been to convince people in the organization with strong legs to have both trust and patience with the project and it’s onboarding.
The coaching staff will look to Hat-TriQ to help with decisions from game to game and day to day, but this is also a future-facing project. Our goal is to be able to ask better questions, get better answers and use those to make the next questions even better”, says, Freddie Sjögren, Head of Performance in Malmö Redhawks.
Malmö Redhawks have positioned themselves as frontrunners in Swedish hockey, being the first to deploy this advanced technology. They aim to inspire other teams, leagues, and industries to leverage IoT as a key data platform for future success.
Contact
Are you looking to take your data to the next level or gain actionable insights from your data? Data analytics is applicable to every possible business area. Partnering with us provides a scalable and customized end-to-end solution, according to your needs, in close collaboration with you.
Mail: qonnect@stretch.dk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stretch-qonnect/
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