The sample used in this study was comprised of 124 semi-professional (e.g., major junior) hockey players who were profiled by Self Management Group (SMG) during the 1991-1992 hockey season and drafted into the NHL. Their performance was tracked over a period of 15 years. Their results on SMG’s SportsPro™ consistently and accurately predicted performance.

MAIN PERFORMANCE FINDINGS

Draft Position:

• Players selected in the first round of the draft scored higher on all of the relevant SportsPro™ scales when compared with later picks
• First round picks significantly outperformed later picks (e.g., goals, assists)


• First round picks that did not play more than 82 games after the draft (e.g., talent trap) were less performance oriented, less coachable, less detail oriented, and were more conflict oriented on the SportsPro™
• Demonstrates the importance of understanding an athlete’s personality, as their talent will only take them so far

NHL Trades (Retention):

• Players that were traded fewer times ( < 3 ), were more coachable, more team oriented, and more performance oriented on the SportsPro™
• SportsPro™ predicts retention in the NHL (e.g., get and keep top players)
• Players with lower conflict scores received fewer penalties and more points

NHL Performance:

• Players that scored within the ideal ranges on the SportsPro™
significantly outperformed those players who did not. For example:
• Ideal EP Range: 256% more goals, 206% more assists
• Ideal IP Range: 275% more goals, 242% more assists
• Players who scored within four or more of the ideal ranges, scored 275% more goals, 225% more assists, and subsequently tabulated 237% more points