A Brief History of API
Like many companies, Athletic Performance Insight (API) was founded to fill a need: the lack of technology designed specifically to help amateur hockey teams use video and analytics that was easy-to-use, versatile, and affordable.
A variety of apps and systems were evaluated during the 2017-18 season, but none seemed to meet all three criteria. Basic apps and systems were generally easy to use and priced right but couldn’t integrate video or provide detailed stats. More powerful systems had video functionality and deeper analytics but were expensive and typically had either a steep learning curve or struggled with turnaround and accuracy when teams hired companies to tag their games off video. With no existing system that seemed to check all the boxes, API decided to take a shot at developing a system that was user friendly, flexible, and offered at a reasonable cost.
A beta version was developed and tested over the 2018-19 season but concerns over stability and scalability led to a complete rebuild over Summer 2019 and a controlled release of the new version for the 2019-20 season. Based on customer feedback, updates and new features have been added regularly ever since, always focused on the goal of becoming the premier video and analytics system for amateur hockey. The 2023-24 season will be our fifth and we’re excited to spend another season serving our existing partners while continuing to add new teams to the API family.
Founder
Erik Cagnina is President and founder of Athletic Performance Insight and also continues to work as an institutional fixed income Portfolio Manager with more than 25 years of experience in investment management.
A self-described sports fanatic while growing up with a strong interest in stats, it was a decade-long deep-dive into endurance sports that led to Erik getting his USA Triathlon coaching certification and his first exposure to tracking, organizing, and interpreting data to improve athletic performance.
Eventually his time and energy transitioned to youth sports where he served in a variety of roles including head coach, assistant coach, team manager, statistician, and parent/superfan. As described in A Brief History of API, his frustration with the resources available for youth hockey over this period of time led to his current focus, the growth and success of API.
Interns and Staff:
Gigi Huber
Grade/School: Junior @ Miami University
Major: Emerging Technology and Business Design/ Minor in Digital Marketing
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
API Role: Marketing Strategy, Website Design, Social Media Content
Gigi interned with API for her Spring 2023 semester and continued to build on that work over the summer. She graduated from Culver Academies Class of 2021 and has been going to hockey games with her family since she was little, and figured skated for 8 years.
Cade Campbell
Grade/School: Junior @ Ohio State University
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio
API Role: Video and analytics, operations, marketing
Cade is leading the student team providing video and analytic support for OSU’s ACHA D2 hockey team for a second season. Cade has been involved in several aspects of API including tagging for API clients, improving operational efficiency, and marketing. He has also interned with the Columbus Clippers, is president of OSU’s Sports Analytics Association, and played baseball through high school.
Chris Henderson
Grade/School: Freshman @ University of Tampa
Major: Finance
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
API Role: Video and analytics, marketing
Chris is joining API as a video and analytics intern to tag games for API clients and work on business development. Chris played goalie and occasionally skated out for his high school hockey team.
Jimmy Schwinne
Grade/School: Junior @ Ohio University
Major: Sports Management
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio
API Role: Video and analytics
Jimmy is leading the student team providing video and analytic support for OU’s ACHA D1 hockey team for a second season. Jimmy played hockey through high school and is currently active as both a USA Hockey certified referee and coach for his local high school team.
Manny Seyboldt
Grade/School: Junior @ Ohio University
Major: Sports Management
Hometown: Lewis Center, Ohio
API Role: Video and analytics
Manny is joining the student team providing video and analytic support for OU’s ACHA D1 hockey team after tagging last season for a range of API clients including youth travel, high school and ACHA college teams. Manny played hockey through high school and was also a certified referee for a period of time
Marek Taskar
Grade/School: Senior @ Troy University
Major: Sports Management
Hometown: Mojmirovce, Slovakia
API Role: Video and analytics, operations, financial analysis
Marek is working as an intern with API for the Fall 2023 semester in a variety of roles including tagging for API clients, making recommendations to improve operational efficiency, and financial analysis. Marek is an NCAA D1 athlete competing in javelin for Troy’s track and field team.