TL;DR
- Helios shines for guided drills, video highlights, and benchmarking when paired with the HELIOS Core sensor.1
- HPT measures what actually happens in games and practices with 40+ live metrics, AI insights, and coach dashboards.
- The smartest players use both: train with Helios, measure with HPT, and let AI explain the trend.
What Helios Offers
Helios is marketed as a training companion built around its Core performance sensor:
- Sensor-first metrics: Mount the HELIOS Core on existing shoulder pads to track skating speed, agility, explosiveness, balance, and more during drills.1
- Instant highlights & benchmarks: The app generates instant video highlights, progress over time, and leaderboards by birth year to motivate athletes.1
- Gamified development: Players earn points for every session and compete on platform-wide leaderboards; coaches can review team-wide results in real time or post-session.1
It is ideal for structured practices, skill camps, or at-home off-ice sessions. What it does not handle is the full workload data from live games.
How HPT Complements That Training
HPT is built to record every shift, heart beat, and burst once you lace up:
- Session automation: Players start a session on their phone or watch, and the controller handles shift detection, delayed starts, and uploads (
lib/presentation/session/controller/session_controller.dart). - Wearable sync:
WatchMessagingServicekeeps Apple Watch status in lockstep with the phone app so data lands instantly in the cloud (lib/watch_messaging_service.dart). - Deep metrics: The session UI renders cardiovascular load, core performance, explosiveness, and goal progress in one place (
lib/presentation/session/widget/graphs/...). - Recovery tracking: The home screen bakes in HRV and resting heart-rate trends to signal when to push or rest (
lib/presentation/home_page/home_page_screen.dart). - AI insights: Ask AI converts raw metrics into conversational feedback and historical comparisons (
lib/presentation/ask_ai/ask_ai_screen.dart). - Team engagement: Community feeds, leaderboards, and trophy cases keep teammates accountable between skates (
lib/presentation/community/...).
Helios tells you what to practice. HPT tells you if that practice is working.
Feature Comparison
| Category | Helios | HPT |
|---|---|---|
| Core Purpose | Sensor-powered drills, off-ice workouts, video highlights1 | On-ice performance tracking and analytics |
| Hardware | HELIOS Core sensor required for metrics1 | Smartphone + optional Apple Watch/Wear OS |
| Metrics | Skating speed, agility, explosiveness, balance, leaderboards1 | Speed, distance, workload, HRV, VO2 max, fatigue |
| Guidance | Video lessons, instant highlights, scheduled programmes1 | AI-generated insights from actual sessions |
| Team Tools | Platform leaderboards, coach dashboards for Core-equipped teams1 | Team rosters, coach dashboards, recovery checks |
| Pricing | Sensor purchase + subscription bundles per athlete1 | Free Starter, $4.99/mo Plus, $7.99/mo Pro |
Using Both in Your Season Plan
- Run Helios drills during off-ice days to sharpen mechanics and benchmark skill gains.
- Log every skate in HPT so you capture live workload, shift data, and recovery markers.
- Compare AI insights to Helios programme focus. If HPT flags poor recovery or low burst numbers, adjust the training block.
- Share HPT dashboards with coaches so they can assign Helios drills that address measurable gaps.
That feedback loop keeps training honest and ensures drills translate into real performance gains.
Recommendation
Helios alone will not tell you if your game pace or stamina is improving. HPT alone will not teach you edge work or stickhandling technique. Use Helios for structured practice plans and HPT to verify results on the ice. Together, they become a complete development system.
References
[1] "HELIOS App," App Store (US), https://apps.apple.com/us/app/helios-app/id1517234886 (accessed Sep 19, 2025).