WHKYHAC launches tomorrow

This Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. ET, the Women’s Hockey Analytics Conference — or WHKYHAC — will be streaming live and free on Twitch. WHKYHAC is the first analytics conference dedicated exclusively to women’s hockey. It is the brainchild of Alyssa Longmuir, Carlie Markey, and The Ice Garden’s own Mike Murphy.

WHKYHAC is a one-day online conference showcasing state-of-the-art research in analytics for women’s hockey from around the globe. Anyone interested in learning more about statistical analysis in the women’s game is welcome to attend.

The conference features presentations by Meghan Chayka of Stathletes, Sean Tierney of Sportlogiq, Ben Howell, Spencer Fascetta of Pride Diehards, Carlie Markey, and Alyssa Longmuir as well as lightning presentations featuring a few names that should be very familiar to TIG readers. Holly Morrison, Gabs Fundaro, and Michelle Jay will all be presenting!

Some of the projects on the docket for Saturday include Predicting Breakout Seasons in NCAA Division 1 Women’s Hockey, The Shot Chain: Going Beyond the Traditional Expected Goals Model, and Ready, Aim, Fire: The Development of Shot Patterns in Olympic Hockey. There will be projects covering international, professional, and collegiate hockey. The conference’s website, whkyhac.com, hosts a resource page with links to data used in all of the projects for those who are inspired to dive into the numbers during or after the event.

There are also players’ and media panels scheduled for 10:45 a.m. ET and 2:45 p.m., respectively. The panels are hosted by two of the co-hosts of the Too Many Men Podcast — Shayna Goldman and Alison Lukan. Both are at the top of their field as data-driven storytellers.

• Media Panel: Gabs Fundaro, Marisa Ingemi, Erica L. Ayala, Nicole Haase, Spencer Fascetta
• Players’ Panel: Colleen Coyne, Karell Emard, Emma Woods/

The conference is broken up into three sessions and runs until 5:00 p.m. It wraps up with closing statements from Alyssa, Carlie, and Mike and a social hour. Those who are interested in attending are encouraged to register at whkyhac.com/register.