At TCS Live 2025 in Ann Arbor, Pierre Allard shared how a data-driven approach can transform the way we design practices. After a decade of professional hockey, Allard earned his Master’s degree in sports science and brought that knowledge into coaching. Now an Assistant Coach with Genève-Servette HC, he uses a blend of science and experience to help players train smarter, stay healthier, and perform at their peak.

While working with the Montreal Canadiens, Allard collected a full season’s worth of data on player workload. He tracked physical effort and on-ice load, hoping to understand exactly what demands players face over time. The findings reshaped how his teams train. By building practices around full-intensity drills, players adapted to the physical pace of games and experienced fewer injuries as a result.

“If we want players to perform at game intensity, we have to train at game intensity.”