Why Am I Joining le Phoenix de Sherbrooke

It is finally out there.

I am officially joining le Phoenix de Sherbrooke for the upcoming season as a Hockey Operation Analyst. EliteProspects better get my page ready!

I am genuinely excited by the opportunity to lead the team’s shift toward advanced analytics. Over the last few years, data-driven research has revolutionized the sports world. The most famous example is Moneyball, which romanticized the story of Billy Beane and Paul DePodesta with the 2002 Oakland Athletics.

I hope I can be our team’s Peter Brand.

Today, analytics are deeply integrated into hockey. NHL teams are hiring highly qualified experts directly from universities and even from your favorite hockey blogs. History shows that sports organizations can gain a significant competitive edge by investing in research and development. Phoenix fans should be incredibly excited that their team is embracing this future by bringing me on board.

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Who Am I?

For the Phoenix fans who don’t know me yet, here is a bit about my background. My name is Max, and no, I am not a former hockey player. My history with the game is a bit unique.

I fell in love with hockey when I was ten years old, not on the ice, but by pouring over stats in Hockey Fantasy Guides. That eventually turned into an addiction to “GM Mode” in the NHL video game series. A few years later, here I am, hired by a QMJHL team.

Of course, it didn’t happen exactly like that. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and to meet people who helped shape the start of my career. While some might recognize me as a “semi-famous” Twitter personality, I also bring professional data science experience to the table. I’ve completed internships and consulting work for agents and professional teams, working on complex projects like:

• Expected Goal (xG) Models

• Hockey Data Pipelines & Scrapers

• NHL Prospect Analysis Website

• RAPM Models

• Churn Propensity Model

• More

People describe me as a passionate person with a massive hunger for success and self-improvement. To me, no challenge is too big.

I have a lot of respect for the Sherbrooke organization. I did my homework before signing; the staff is tight-knit and they have built winning cultures in the past. As a young professional, I believe this is the perfect environment for me to learn and grow.

I’m not here to criticize players or staff—I’m here to support hockey operations. I am just one ingredient in the masterpiece we want to build. I want to win, and I promise to do my absolute best to help our GM turn his “Masterplan” into a reality.

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This blog won’t sunset. The team has encouraged me to keep blogging about the NHL. Therefore, I am not leaving.