This glossary explains every term you'll see on a Signal Stax card. Numbers in parentheses within definitions are illustrative examples — they help explain what a score means in context, not universal benchmarks.
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Scores & Tiers
3 terms
PDS
Player Dev Score · 0–100
A single number from 0 to 100 that summarises how ready a player is for the next level right now. It combines all five skill scores, weighted for what actually predicts success at the junior level.
30 sec
"It's the overall readiness score. 68 out of 100 means good shape for Junior A."
A letter grade for overall readiness.
Tier A = elite, major junior or top NCAA path.
Tier B = strong junior candidate, post-secondary pathway is realistic.
Tier C = needs development.
Tier D = not yet ready for junior hockey.
30 sec
"Tier B means the data says this is a real Junior A candidate. Not elite, but legitimately on track."
Percentile
e.g. 72nd percentile
Where a player ranks compared to all players at the same age and level. 72nd percentile means scoring better than 72% of comparable players. It is not a grade — a player can be 50th percentile and still be an excellent fit for junior hockey depending on the metric.
30 sec
"72nd percentile means better than 72 out of every 100 players that age at that specific thing."
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Production Stats
4 terms
Total points (goals + assists) divided by games played. The single most widely used measure of offensive output at the junior-eligible level.
1.00 pts/GP is the informal scout benchmark for next-level readiness.
30 sec
"Did they get at least one point every game? 1.00 means yes — that's the number scouts look for."
G / A / PTS
Goals · Assists · Total Points
Goals = pucks put in the net. Assists = passes that directly led to a goal. Points = goals + assists total. A balanced G/A split is generally considered a positive sign — it suggests the player contributes both as a scorer and a playmaker.
30 sec
"Goals are goals. Assists are set-up passes. Points are the total. An even split means they do both."
Total games played in the season. More games = more reliable data. Under 15 games, per-game stats become less reliable. A sample of 20+ GP is solid for drawing conclusions from a season.
30 sec
"How many games they played. More games means the stats are more reliable."
Total minutes spent in the penalty box during the season. Some PIM is expected (especially for physical players or those on checking lines). Very high PIM can indicate discipline issues. Very low PIM on a physical player can indicate they are playing smart.
30 sec
"Time spent in the penalty box. Some is fine. A lot is a flag."
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Skill Ratings — the bar chart
8 terms
Is the player improving year over year? This is calculated by comparing points-per-game rate across each season, adjusted for league difficulty. It is the single strongest long-term predictor of success — more predictive than current point totals.
30 sec
"Are they getting better every year? Green means yes, faster than most players their age."
Production and involvement when the team has a one-man advantage (the other team has a player in the penalty box). Power play production signals hockey sense, precision passing, and the ability to perform under elevated pressure with fewer available passes.
30 sec
"How good are they when the team has the advantage? Green means they contribute well in those situations."
A modelled estimate of hockey sense and play-reading ability, derived from shot generation rate, assist-to-goal ratio, and production consistency. It is not directly tracked at most minor levels — the model infers it from statistical patterns.
30 sec
"Do they read the game well and create chances? Modelled from shot and production data."
How current height and weight compare to the average AJHL forward, and how the player projects physically as they fill out over the next 2–3 years. Size relative to the average at the target league level is the key signal here.
30 sec
"Are they big enough for the next level? Green means already at or above average size for junior."
A combined measure of shot rate (how often they shoot) and shot quality (how dangerous those shots are). Above-average shot rate at this level is a meaningful signal of offensive intent and net-front presence.
30 sec
"Do they shoot enough, and are the shots good? Yellow is above average — shoots well and often."
Compete
Yellow · Role-Based
Board battles, net-front presence, and physical engagement. The
Role-Based flag appears when coaching deployment context matters — for example, a player on a checking line where physical play is part of their job description. The flag means physical context is factored into the score, not that compete is a deficit.
30 sec
"How physical and hard-working are they along the boards? Role-Based means their deployment context matters."
Speed, edge work, and agility. This is AI-modelled from available data — most minor leagues do not track skating metrics directly. It is derived from positional context, shift patterns, and production tendencies. Treat it as an estimate, not a measured value.
30 sec
"How fast and agile are they? This number is estimated, not directly measured."
Engagement and awareness when the team does not have the puck and is defending their own end. Junior coaches care about this because forwards who do not defend get fewer minutes, which limits development.
30 sec
"Do they work hard when the team is defending? Red means this is the main thing to work on before junior tryouts."
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Pathway & Projection Terms
5 terms
The percentage of players with a similar statistical profile who successfully played at that level. 82% AJHL match means 82 out of 100 players with that profile earned an AJHL roster spot. It is a probability, not a promise.
30 sec
"Out of 100 players who looked like them statistically, 82 made a junior team. Good odds."
AJHL
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The top-tier Junior A hockey league in Alberta and one of the premier junior leagues in Canada. Playing in the AJHL is the standard development path for Alberta players pursuing USports (university) or NCAA hockey at the post-secondary level.
30 sec
"The main junior hockey league in Alberta. This is the next level after Midget/U18."
USports / CIS
Canadian university hockey
University-level hockey in Canada, played through USports (formerly CIS). Top Canadian university programs recruit from the AJHL and comparable leagues. Typically requires 1–2 strong junior seasons to enter the recruiting conversation.
30 sec
"University hockey in Canada. Think U of A, U of C, UBC. Realistic after a good junior career."
NCAA D3 / ACHA
American college hockey
Division 3 and club-level college hockey in the United States. Less competitive than NCAA D1 but still a meaningful post-secondary hockey pathway, often with strong academic programs attached. Requires a strong junior resume and good grades.
30 sec
"College hockey in the US — not the top division, but real college hockey at schools with good academics."
WHL
Western Hockey League · Major Junior
The top major junior league in Western Canada. WHL players are drafted as young as 15. It is a more intensive development environment than the AJHL, with more travel and higher competition. A WHL match percentage reflects the historical rate of similar profiles earning a WHL roster spot.
30 sec
"The big league before the pros — think Kelowna Rockets or Edmonton Oil Kings. High bar."