InStat hockey: a parent's guide to your player's advanced stats
Your team handed you an InStat report and you have no idea what most of it means. You're not alone — here's the plain-language version, and how to turn it into something useful.
Quick answer: InStat (now Hudl Instat) is a video-and-data hockey platform that tracks dozens of advanced stats per game — shot quality, puck battles, zone entries and exits, passing, and time on ice. Parents usually get access through their club rather than a personal login. On its own it's a dense one-game snapshot; forward the report to Shift Excellence and it becomes a plain-language Game Report and a clearer picture of what to work on next.
What InStat is (and that it's now Hudl Instat)
InStat is a video-and-data analytics platform used across pro and elite youth hockey. It tracks far more than the box score — dozens of advanced metrics per game, tied to tagged video. It was acquired by Hudl, so you'll now see it as Hudl Instat. It's typically licensed by clubs, which is why access usually comes through your team rather than a personal login.
How parents get access
Most parents don't buy InStat directly — the program does. Ask your coach or team manager whether your club has Instat and how to get your player's report. Once you have it (often a PDF or a shared link), you can forward it to Shift Excellence and we'll read it for you.
The advanced stats, in plain language
InStat reports are dense. Here are the ones that actually matter for a developing player:
- Shot attempts & dangerous shots: how much, and how often from scoring areas — not just goals.
- Puck battles won/lost: compete level, made measurable.
- Zone entries & exits: can your player move the puck up the ice cleanly under pressure?
- Passes & pass accuracy: playmaking and decision-making.
- Time on ice & per-shift effort: usage and conditioning.
- Faceoffs: for centers, a quick read on a specific skill.
How to read a report
The trap is treating every number as equally important. It isn't. For a young defenseman, zone exits and puck battles say more than points. For a winger, dangerous shots and entries matter more than raw shot volume. Read the stats for the position and age, not in a vacuum — our hockey stats explained guide breaks down which numbers matter when.
The problem with InStat alone
InStat is a fantastic snapshot — but it's just that: a snapshot. It tells you what happened in one game. It doesn't synthesize a single rating, doesn't tell you what to work on, and doesn't show a development arc across the season. Parents end up with a stack of dense PDFs and no clear story.
How Shift Excellence makes InStat actionable
This is exactly the gap we close. Forward your player's InStat report and Shift Excellence reads it automatically, folds it into a coach-style Game Report, and uses it to sharpen the OVR rating — InStat data is what moves a rating from “established” to fully “verified.” The dense report becomes one clear picture of what to do next.
Keep reading
Browse every guide in our parent guides hub, or dig into related reads: hockey stats explained and is my player good enough?
Frequently Asked Questions
Upload your InStat report, get a free Game Report
Forward the PDF and see your player's stats turned into a plan.