NHL Enhances Officiating with Hawk-Eye Technology
In a recent announcement, the NHL revealed plans to enhance its use of Hawk-Eye measurement and tracking technology through a partnership with Sony. This comes as the league seeks innovative solutions to improve officiating accuracy during games.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had previously stated during the spring general managers meeting that the implementation of tracking technology would only occur once they achieve certainty in its effectiveness: “When we’re certain that it works, we will test it and retest it,” he asserted, emphasizing the league’s commitment to investing in technological advancements for the sport.
Features of the New Technology
As the Stanley Cup Final approaches, the expansion of Hawk-Eye technology aims to apply the same principles used in tennis for determining ball validity to hockey. With this innovation, officials in the NHL’s situation room will be better equipped to make precise evaluations on close plays.
“We’re closer — we keep getting closer,” remarked David Lehanski, the NHL’s executive vice president of business development and innovation. He elaborated that the forthcoming solution would draw from various technological inputs, encompassing active tracking within pucks and players’ gear, as well as optical cameras and potentially additional tech.
Long-term Vision and Impact
For over a decade, the NHL has utilized Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology to enhance the efficiency of replay reviews and coach challenges across all arenas. This system not only quickens officiating calls but also supports player health and safety monitoring, and most recently, has been adapted to track the movements of players with impressive detail, using cameras that capture 29 points on a player’s skeleton plus additional points on their sticks.
Rufus Hack, CEO of Hawk-Eye Innovations, highlighted the technology’s capability to provide a high-fidelity, real-time view of player movements, underlining the NHL’s clear vision for future implementations while acknowledging that the initiative is still in its early stages.
Enhancing Fan Experience
Beyond on-ice applications, the NHL envisions leveraging this technology to enrich viewers’ experiences at home, making it feel more like an in-person attendance at games. Theresa Alesso, president of Sony Imaging Products and Solutions in the Americas, noted the importance of improving camera quality to deliver dynamic angles and visuals directly to living rooms, ultimately aiming to replicate the in-arena atmosphere for fans at home.
