NHL: The New Player and Puck Tracking System

So, I have a question for all the hockey fans out there. The question is, whether you’re a hockey fanatic or newbie, do you find it difficult to follow the players while you watch the games on TV? It’s hard to follow what players are on the ice and how long their shifts have been. I find this very hard when I am not watching my favorite team the Tampa Bay Lightning. It also nice to see how long a certain player has been on the ice and say how hard a player shot is. The commissioner of the NHL Gary Bettman has come up with a solution to make it easier for all hockey fans. They will enable a player and puck tracking system. It was featured in the 2019 NHL All-Star game in San Jose, California. It was also at the 2020 game in St Louis.

The NHL has been working on this system since 2013. The Fraunhofer Institute, Jogmo World Corp, and Germany are all helping. It was first brought up during the World Cup in soccer or football. When FIFA didn’t allow soccer players to wear chips, the CEO of Jogmo turned its attention to the NHL. The problem that they are having is with the puck. Now as we all know, or if you didn’t know, the pucks are frozen. It is hard for any technology to be frozen and give accurate stats. Also, because the puck can be shot at 100mph or more, the technology can not take that kind of abuse. The first wave will be chips sowed in the players’ jerseys. The chips then interact with a computer. The computer then displays those stats on TV that are provided by SportsMedia.

During the 2020 All-Star game, it was cool to see the first part of the tracking system in action. Now, the All-Star game is a three on three exhibition. It would be much easier to track players. By the end of the 2020 season, it will be used league-wide. So, if your team makes it to the Stanley Cup Finals it could be widely used. This, in my eyes, will make it easier to follow players. At the end of games, we always wonder how long our favorite players have been on the ice and how many shots they took. For me, if you can’t see a jersey number on TV or while you’re in the stands this will help immensely. With the puck, when players are blocking your view while watching the game, this will help. Now, this not just for NHL hockey.

During the same 2020 All-Star game, there was also be an all-female three on three tournament. This, of course, is to bring attention to finally having a women’s hockey league in the US. The NHL wants to help start that league. It will also help with betting in hockey games with the final score and prop bets. See, in the end, I think we all know that sports gambling will be legalized in all 50 states. Now, as the system gets more technologically integrated, it will shift to cameras instead of chips. This will help all the younger hockey fans as technology is taking over a big part of our lives. This could start in the NHL and may be used in the other leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. I think it is great for sports and can’t wait to see it used league-wide and in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

What are your thoughts on this Player and Puck Tracking Technology? Leave a comment below.