Ben Csiernik
@bcsiernik.bsky.social
Sport scientist and PhD student @ Ontario Tech University. Trying to better understand how goals get scored and how to stop them. Goalie coach.
https://sites.google.com/view/bencsiernik/home
https://sites.google.com/view/bencsiernik/home
Canadian women’s university hockey model through 23 games and 1700 unblocked shot attempts.
Slow start for the offence, partly due to some bad luck, partly due to some great goaltending through the first two weeks.
Slow start for the offence, partly due to some bad luck, partly due to some great goaltending through the first two weeks.
October 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Canadian women’s university hockey model through 23 games and 1700 unblocked shot attempts.
Slow start for the offence, partly due to some bad luck, partly due to some great goaltending through the first two weeks.
Slow start for the offence, partly due to some bad luck, partly due to some great goaltending through the first two weeks.
Through my first five games tracked of my women’s college hockey model we have seen 24 goals on 23.55 expected goals so at this point I think I’m done collecting data because this is probably the peak.
October 6, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Through my first five games tracked of my women’s college hockey model we have seen 24 goals on 23.55 expected goals so at this point I think I’m done collecting data because this is probably the peak.
I gave an entire conference talk on why this is, inherently, a less than optimal approach to any powerplay, let alone a powerplay featuring William Nylander and Austin Matthews.
Rielly's making more of an effort to shoot now that he got his spot back on the top unit
September 24, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I gave an entire conference talk on why this is, inherently, a less than optimal approach to any powerplay, let alone a powerplay featuring William Nylander and Austin Matthews.
Given that the new school year is starting, I'm thrilled to share that I was selected as part of the final class of SHRC Vanier Scholars! This scholarship supports our work on trying to better understand what the best development pathway is for young hockey players.
September 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Given that the new school year is starting, I'm thrilled to share that I was selected as part of the final class of SHRC Vanier Scholars! This scholarship supports our work on trying to better understand what the best development pathway is for young hockey players.
Nik Ehlers is worth a lot more than this but teams don’t like the way he looks when he backchecks and I’m sure there’s also something about “grit”.
Nik Ehlers (6x8.5m with Carolina) is a tremendous generator and finisher of offence, especially at 5v5, average defensively, strongly impacts his team's penalty differential. An extremely team-friendly deal.
July 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Nik Ehlers is worth a lot more than this but teams don’t like the way he looks when he backchecks and I’m sure there’s also something about “grit”.
A little bit of science published on Canada Day.
July 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A little bit of science published on Canada Day.
Big summer Saturday over here where we’re drawing hockey practice drills for academic articles on team practice learning design.
Are 2 on 1s peer reviewed? Makes you think.
Are 2 on 1s peer reviewed? Makes you think.
June 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Big summer Saturday over here where we’re drawing hockey practice drills for academic articles on team practice learning design.
Are 2 on 1s peer reviewed? Makes you think.
Are 2 on 1s peer reviewed? Makes you think.
Reposted by Ben Csiernik
Even if Mitch Marner goes to free agency as seems likely, the biggest prize will be Nik Ehlers:
June 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Even if Mitch Marner goes to free agency as seems likely, the biggest prize will be Nik Ehlers:
I do all my work in R but have started with some Python things and oh boy does the tidyverse do an unbelievable amount of things simpler/easier/better than numpy and pandas.
June 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I do all my work in R but have started with some Python things and oh boy does the tidyverse do an unbelievable amount of things simpler/easier/better than numpy and pandas.
Any person with an expected goals model knows the feeling of having the game almost perfectly match the result.
A win for the numbers
A win for the numbers
NJ/NY Gotham FC: 1 (0.99 xG)
vs
Kansas City Current: 2 (2.02 xG)
#NJYvKC | #GothamFC | #KCBABY | #NWSL | 🤖⚽
vs
Kansas City Current: 2 (2.02 xG)
#NJYvKC | #GothamFC | #KCBABY | #NWSL | 🤖⚽
June 7, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Any person with an expected goals model knows the feeling of having the game almost perfectly match the result.
A win for the numbers
A win for the numbers
Had a ton of fun this past weekend sharing some of our research on goaltending, practice design, and team offensive tactics.
Bonus fun getting to speak about some of what I consider seminal work by @allthreezones.bsky.social and @hockeyviz.com
Bonus fun getting to speak about some of what I consider seminal work by @allthreezones.bsky.social and @hockeyviz.com
June 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Had a ton of fun this past weekend sharing some of our research on goaltending, practice design, and team offensive tactics.
Bonus fun getting to speak about some of what I consider seminal work by @allthreezones.bsky.social and @hockeyviz.com
Bonus fun getting to speak about some of what I consider seminal work by @allthreezones.bsky.social and @hockeyviz.com
I coach multiple children under 10 years old who are better skaters than I was when I played Collegiate hockey in the early/mid 2010s
This is super cool! But all I really want is for kids to love hockey and goaltending, and I am nervous every single day that they aren’t on that path.
This is super cool! But all I really want is for kids to love hockey and goaltending, and I am nervous every single day that they aren’t on that path.
I coach 5-6 year-olds in soccer and 7-8 year-olds in basketball in suburban Phoenix, and let me tell you, the games don't look like they did 30 years ago. The skill level is so extraordinarily high that kids who haven't started playing by 6 are almost too far behind to catch up.
May 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I coach multiple children under 10 years old who are better skaters than I was when I played Collegiate hockey in the early/mid 2010s
This is super cool! But all I really want is for kids to love hockey and goaltending, and I am nervous every single day that they aren’t on that path.
This is super cool! But all I really want is for kids to love hockey and goaltending, and I am nervous every single day that they aren’t on that path.
This is a perfect example of how to not play a 2 on 1 that supports a goalie.
By sliding over to the pass option, leafs gives Jones a direct line to the net. Causes Woll to get stuck in an awkward waiting cycle where it’s a mini breakaway with maybe still a pass. D needs to stay short post.
By sliding over to the pass option, leafs gives Jones a direct line to the net. Causes Woll to get stuck in an awkward waiting cycle where it’s a mini breakaway with maybe still a pass. D needs to stay short post.
May 19, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This is a perfect example of how to not play a 2 on 1 that supports a goalie.
By sliding over to the pass option, leafs gives Jones a direct line to the net. Causes Woll to get stuck in an awkward waiting cycle where it’s a mini breakaway with maybe still a pass. D needs to stay short post.
By sliding over to the pass option, leafs gives Jones a direct line to the net. Causes Woll to get stuck in an awkward waiting cycle where it’s a mini breakaway with maybe still a pass. D needs to stay short post.
As if there was ever a doubt. Dusty in here.
GOAL: Mark Scheifele. There it is. 1-0 Jets.
May 18, 2025 at 1:25 AM
As if there was ever a doubt. Dusty in here.
Hockey is so fascinating because it’s hard to look at Phillips’ career and say anything other than “yeah the puck doesn’t go in much”.
The USA is winning the race in letting their younger players rise
The USA is winning the race in letting their younger players rise
May 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Hockey is so fascinating because it’s hard to look at Phillips’ career and say anything other than “yeah the puck doesn’t go in much”.
The USA is winning the race in letting their younger players rise
The USA is winning the race in letting their younger players rise
Bishop's University is your 2025 #USport Women's Hockey National Champions! First tournament appearance, first title.
A very even game that saw momentum swings throughout. Score effects a big differentiator in the final expected goals as Waterloo made a late push down 1-0 in the third.
A very even game that saw momentum swings throughout. Score effects a big differentiator in the final expected goals as Waterloo made a late push down 1-0 in the third.
March 24, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Bishop's University is your 2025 #USport Women's Hockey National Champions! First tournament appearance, first title.
A very even game that saw momentum swings throughout. Score effects a big differentiator in the final expected goals as Waterloo made a late push down 1-0 in the third.
A very even game that saw momentum swings throughout. Score effects a big differentiator in the final expected goals as Waterloo made a late push down 1-0 in the third.
The University of Toronto is the 2025 #USport Women's National Hockey Championship bronze medalists, winning 3-1 over Concordia.
Toronto held the quality advantage throughout, and held off a late surge from Concordia looking to tie it up.
Game information and statistics in the thread below.
Toronto held the quality advantage throughout, and held off a late surge from Concordia looking to tie it up.
Game information and statistics in the thread below.
March 23, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The University of Toronto is the 2025 #USport Women's National Hockey Championship bronze medalists, winning 3-1 over Concordia.
Toronto held the quality advantage throughout, and held off a late surge from Concordia looking to tie it up.
Game information and statistics in the thread below.
Toronto held the quality advantage throughout, and held off a late surge from Concordia looking to tie it up.
Game information and statistics in the thread below.
Catching up on some of the consolation bracket games at the #USport 2025 Women's National Championships. Alberta took yesterday's first game 3-0 over AUS champs St. FX.
St. FX outshot and out Fenwick'd Alberta, but total quality was always in favour of the Pandas.
St. FX outshot and out Fenwick'd Alberta, but total quality was always in favour of the Pandas.
March 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Catching up on some of the consolation bracket games at the #USport 2025 Women's National Championships. Alberta took yesterday's first game 3-0 over AUS champs St. FX.
St. FX outshot and out Fenwick'd Alberta, but total quality was always in favour of the Pandas.
St. FX outshot and out Fenwick'd Alberta, but total quality was always in favour of the Pandas.
Bishop's secures their first opportunity at winning a #USport National Championship in the first year they make the tournament by beating last year's runner ups in the University of Toronto. An incredibly fun game filled with unbelievable goaltending.
March 23, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Bishop's secures their first opportunity at winning a #USport National Championship in the first year they make the tournament by beating last year's runner ups in the University of Toronto. An incredibly fun game filled with unbelievable goaltending.
In between Ohio State and Wisconsin winning last night, the University of Toronto beat UNB in the final #USport Women's Hockey National Championship quarter final game. A bit of a one sided game saw the Varsity Blues come out on top.
Most likely outcome happened with the game ending at 2-0.
Most likely outcome happened with the game ending at 2-0.
March 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
In between Ohio State and Wisconsin winning last night, the University of Toronto beat UNB in the final #USport Women's Hockey National Championship quarter final game. A bit of a one sided game saw the Varsity Blues come out on top.
Most likely outcome happened with the game ending at 2-0.
Most likely outcome happened with the game ending at 2-0.
Bishop's University takes down UBC in Overtime in Game 3 of the #USport Women's Hockey National Championships.
Both teams had periods where they were the better team.
4 points for Gabi Santerre including the OT game winner.
Both teams had periods where they were the better team.
4 points for Gabi Santerre including the OT game winner.
March 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Bishop's University takes down UBC in Overtime in Game 3 of the #USport Women's Hockey National Championships.
Both teams had periods where they were the better team.
4 points for Gabi Santerre including the OT game winner.
Both teams had periods where they were the better team.
4 points for Gabi Santerre including the OT game winner.
The only shot attempt in the last 6 minutes of the third game at the #USport Women’s National Hockey championship between UBC and Bishops resulted in a Bishops tying goal to send the game into OT.
Gabi Santerre involved in each Bishops goal with 1 goal and 2 assists today.
Gabi Santerre involved in each Bishops goal with 1 goal and 2 assists today.
March 21, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The only shot attempt in the last 6 minutes of the third game at the #USport Women’s National Hockey championship between UBC and Bishops resulted in a Bishops tying goal to send the game into OT.
Gabi Santerre involved in each Bishops goal with 1 goal and 2 assists today.
Gabi Santerre involved in each Bishops goal with 1 goal and 2 assists today.