Leafs Hire O’Brien To Head Sports Science

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The Toronto Maple Leafs continued to fill out their organization on Monday with the announcement of the hiring of Andy O’Brien to head their Sport Performance Department. will be O’Brien will oversee all areas of the Maple Leafs organization, pertaining to performance optimization, including Strength and Conditioning, Sport Science, Sports Nutrition, Injury Rehabilitation and Mental Performance. According to a press release, the club is also adding Dr. Craig Slaunwhite as Director, Health and Performance Integration, Jason Martin as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Josh Crouse as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Dr. Jordan Shallow as Human Performance Consultant. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy and his sports performance team to the Toronto Maple Leafs and look forward to the impact they will have on the organization,” Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager John Chayka said in the release. “Providing every resource possible to help our players perform at their best is the highest priority at every level of the organization. Our ownership group has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to investing in player care, the player experience, and the resources required to help our players succeed every day.

We will continue to invest in every opportunity to maximize the development and performance of every player. Andy’s record as an innovator and winner, coupled with his values, philosophy and vision, are wholly aligned with what we are building here in Toronto.”

O’Brien, 48, is the founder and president of O’Brien Sport, bringing over 25 years of experience to the Maple Leafs, having held multiple roles in athlete performance across different industries, The Charlottetown, P.E.I., native held the role of Director of Sports Science and Performance with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2015-21 where he developed the club’s off-ice training strategy and integrated sport science into the team’s daily operations. His experience working with NHL teams began with the Florida Panthers in 2005, where he served as the team’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for four years. 

Most recently, he has worked for Cizzle Brands Inc. as their Chief Performance Officer since 2024 and Junxion Performance as Director of Sport Science, Player Health & Performance since 2021, while also serving as High Performance Consultant for the Florida Panthers since 2021. In his role with the Panthers, O’Brien oversaw a rebuild of the club’s performance and sport science program, while assisting with the design and completion of the Panthers’ new practice facility. 

In his time with the Panthers and Penguins, O’Brien has worked with four Stanley Cup-winning teams (2016, 2017, 2024, 2025) across five appearances in the Stanley Cup Final and a Presidents’ Trophy winner (2022). 

His private training practice has supported elite athletes in various competitive fields across both professional and Olympic sport, including Maple Leafs forward John Tavares and Penguins center Sidney Crosby. In addition, his High Performance Camps, which have been held annually over the past 20 years in both Vail, Colorado and Halifax, Nova Scotia, have regularly hosted his personal clients and the most decorated players in the NHL.

“I’m incredibly honoured to join the Maple Leafs,” said O’Brien. “From my first discussions with John and the leadership group, it was clear that this organization is dedicated to industry-leading player care and supporting the individual athlete in every way possible. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with such an exceptional staff as we serve our players en route to our ultimate goal.”