The skater tracking model evaluates game sheets chronologically, assigning algorithmic weights across multiple production domains:

• Even Strength Goals: Weighted for baseline value impact.
• Power Play Goals: Adjusted for standard special teams value.
• Short Handed Goals: Premium weight applied for high-leverage scoring.
• Assists: Accounted for uniformly across line scoring sequences.
• Shot Generation: Evaluated to measure individual offensive creation.
• Blocked Shots: Accounted for by volume, factoring in a defensive suppression workload adjustment for defensemen.
• Penalty Minutes: Applies a progressive deduction to account for disciplinary leverage shifts.

Note: The final sum is reduced by a calibrated positional replacement level per game played, then scaled to determine total Wins contributed. Defensemen receive a structural normalization adjustment to mathematically balance their output against forwards on the league-wide leaderboard.

Goalie impact is calculated by normalizing time-on-ice to 60-minute Game Equivalencies. Actual Save Percentage is evaluated relative to a historical replacement-level baseline to calculate deviation points from league average efficiency.

A dynamic shot-volume multiplier is then applied to assess true workload relative to typical historical shot averages. To adjust for full 60-minute workloads, goalie baselines are strictly normalized against skater values, preventing high-volume variance from over-inflating seasonal peaks.

• +3.00 and up (All-American / Hobey Baker contender): The national elite. Only one or two ECAC players reach it in a typical season. ECAC Hobey Baker finalists have a median around +3.1, and most of Union's All-American seasons fall between +2.8 and +4.0.
• +2.25 to +2.99 (All-ECAC First or Second Team): Top-line forwards and top-pair defensemen who drive results. First Team skaters have a median around +2.65 and Second Team around +2.25. Roughly the top 3–4% of everyday players.
• +1.60 to +2.24 (All-ECAC Third Team / All-Rookie): Strong top-six forwards and top-four defensemen. Third Team skaters have a median around +1.75 and All-Rookie picks around +1.6. Roughly the next 10% of everyday players.
• +0.75 to +1.59 (Every-night regular): Where the typical everyday ECAC player sits: the median for players with 20 or more games is +0.75 and the average is about +0.9. Middle-six minutes, secondary scoring and a solid positive impact. About a third of everyday players.
• 0.00 to +0.74 (Depth and role players): Positive but limited value: fourth-liners, third-pair defensemen, underclassmen finding their way and players moving in and out of the lineup. Roughly half of everyday players land here.
• Below 0 (Below replacement): Rare, under 1% of everyday players: a season whose results fell short of what a replacement-level call-up would provide. Most often a goalie's rough year.

PACE is a season total, so these ranges are for a full season; partial seasons land lower. Goalie seasons swing more widely: ECAC First Team goalies have a median around +3.1, while a typical starter sits near +0.8.

© 2026 Union Hockey Blog. PACE ratings and methodology are original work of Union Hockey Blog. You're welcome to quote individual figures with credit and a link; bulk copying, republishing or commercial use needs permission (see the Terms of Use).