When it comes to hockey management, understanding statistics and reading data are becoming just as important in the National Hockey League as traditional scouting methods.

Proof of this came last week when John Chayka, the 26-year-old co-founder of a St. Catharines-based hockey analytics company, was named the general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes. He joins the likes of Brock alumnus Kyle Dubas (BSM ‘07), a 30-year-old analytics specialist who is now the assistant general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brock University’s highly-respected Sport Management program includes courses focusing on sport analytics such as Quantitative Analysis for Sport Management, taught by Assistant Professor Kevin Mongeon, one of the foremost authorities in North America on the subject.

Mongeon said Tuesday that having an analytics pro hired as an NHL general manager helps students realize their career dreams are attainable.

“You end up with students being able to see the context of what they’re doing in class,” he said. “Analytics is very practical by nature, but they’re able to see a direct relationship and they can build those same models that (NHL executives) are using.”

Mongeon teaches the third-year Quantitative Analysis course and also runs a company that provides consulting services to professional sports teams relating to the development of their sport analytics programs and the evaluation of players.

He said hockey is about five years behind where basketball is for the use of analytics.

“I think you’re going to see a continual progression, like any industry. You’ll see that general trend continue in hockey. It’s another piece of information (executives) can use to make decisions.”