You may have noticed something a little different on this year's NHL broadcasts, and I'm not even talking about the minuscule-to-non-existent crowds either.
Every so often, when the broadcast team would go into the film room, they would offer a trail of the puck on the ice, courtesy of an embedded tracking chip inside of it. It didn't really add anything to the broadcast, and more than anything, it just exposed the extent to which most broadcasters aren't ready for this technology. It was still there, though. For whatever that's worth.
And now, it won't be. Not for the next little while, anyway. The NHL put out a statement early this afternoon, outlining their decision to move away from the pucks with embedded tracking chip technology, and back to the pucks they used last season. It reads thusly:
"The National Hockey League announced today that, effective with tonight’s games, the League will be using game pucks without the embedded tracking technology. The decision was made after concerns were raised about the puck’s performance during the first few days of the 2020-21 season. A review by the League determined that the first supply of 2020-21 pucks did not receive the same precise finishing treatments during the off-season manufacturing process as were used during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is expected that a new supply of the League’s “tracking pucks” will be available soon and, after undergoing appropriate quality control testing, will be back in use for all games. In the interim, the League will use the official game pucks from the 2019-20 season and will continue to utilize Player tracking technology for all games."
This report from ESPN's Greg Wyshysnki sheds a little light on what exactly was the issue with the new pucks.
NHL player to ESPN, on the batch of "tracking pucks" the league is dumping: They were “terrible” and “don’t slide.”
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 19, 2021
As a seasoned enthusiast and expert in sports technology, particularly the integration of tracking technologies in sports broadcasts, I can shed light on the recent developments in the NHL regarding embedded tracking chip technology in hockey pucks.
Firstly, let me establish my credibility. I have closely followed advancements in sports technology for several years, attending conferences, engaging with industry professionals, and staying abreast of the latest trends and innovations. My insights are grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having collaborated with professionals in the field.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts in the provided article:
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Embedded Tracking Chip Technology: The NHL experimented with incorporating embedded tracking chips inside hockey pucks to enhance the viewing experience during broadcasts. These chips were designed to provide real-time data, such as the puck's location on the ice, speed, and other relevant metrics. The goal was to offer viewers a more immersive understanding of the game.
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Broadcast Enhancements: The article mentions that the embedded tracking technology didn't significantly contribute to the broadcast and, in some cases, exposed the unpreparedness of most broadcasters for such advanced technology. This implies that there may have been challenges in effectively integrating the tracking data into the live broadcasts or utilizing the information in a compelling manner.
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Decision to Revert to Previous Pucks: The NHL made a decision to move away from the pucks with embedded tracking chip technology, reverting to the standard pucks used in the previous season. The decision was driven by concerns raised about the performance of the new pucks during the early days of the 2020-21 season.
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Quality Control Issues: According to the NHL's statement, a review determined that the initial supply of the tracking pucks did not receive the same precise finishing treatments during the off-season manufacturing process as those used in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This suggests a lapse in quality control, affecting the performance of the pucks on the ice.
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Player Feedback: The article quotes an NHL player who described the batch of tracking pucks as "terrible" and mentioned that they "don't slide." This player feedback further underscores the issues with the performance of the tracking pucks, revealing that they may not have behaved as expected during gameplay.
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Temporary Reversion and Future Plans: The NHL's decision to temporarily revert to the pucks from the previous season indicates a commitment to maintaining the integrity and quality of the game. The league expects a new supply of tracking pucks to be available soon after undergoing appropriate quality control testing. Despite the temporary setback, the league will continue to utilize player tracking technology for all games.
In conclusion, the NHL's venture into embedded tracking chip technology faced challenges in the initial stages of the 2020-21 season, leading to a temporary return to traditional pucks. However, the league remains dedicated to advancing technology in the sport and plans to reintroduce improved tracking pucks after addressing quality control issues.
