Hockey is one of the fastest sports in the world. Wearable tech innovations are used to collect data for further analytics. But, hockey still hasn´t caught on to the technology boom that is changing the way teams track their players’ progress (like in football). However, this is changing as new wearable devices are being released every day. In the 2015 All Star game, the NHL (National Hockey League) placed tracking devices on the players’ jerseys and in the puck. Putting tech on ice allows coaches and players to focus on the game-play performance. The WT | Team is also seeing hockey stick add-ons that measure the power and speed of slap shots, or the amplitude and execution speed of each swing. With all of these advancements it won’t be long until we see comprehensive tracking technology enter the NHL. Let´s have a look forward to tech that uses sensors on player’s hockey sticks to determine the pressure, strain and motion of a player’s shot; and sensors on skates that can tell how fast a player moves their feet and how fast they move overall.
FWD PowerShot 2 Hockey Stick Sensor
FWD PowerShot 2 Hockey Stick Sensor is the future of shooting training – on and off the ice. This second-gen sensor is lighter, more compact and accurate than the original. It also process data at a faster speed. The PowerShot 2 is inserted into the end of any hockey stick. The metrics include power, speed, amplitude and the type of swing created from any kind of shot. When used in conjunction with the app, the sensor can wirelessly communicate up to 5,000 shots. The FWD Sportscard app displays meaningful info like stick speed, flex gain, duration, angle, weight transfer and rotation speed. With all of this vital information shown on the app, players can visually see where and how they can improve. If you want real time data feedback, you just have to keep your mobile device within 10m (about 32 feet) of where you’re shooting. The other option is to sync the sensor to the phone after the game or a shooting workout.
Catapult OptimEye S5 Athlete Monitoring System
Catapult Sports, global leader in athlete analytics from Australia, has teamed up with the NHL to begin tracking player movement and data. From now on, coaches have the possibility to determine exactly how intensely players use their bodies. Wearables are allowing athletes to train smarter, but not necessarily harder. During the early stages of data tracking, injury reduction still remains the key focus. Even so, various types of data can help coaches and players improve their game. Teams like the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres are using Catapults products. Therefore, OptimEye S5 is the premier GPS athlete tracking device, engineered for use in elite team sport. Streamlined and incredibly robust, the S5 has a powerful GPS engine with excellent performance in stadiums or other challenging environments. The cutting appearance encases a fifth-generation microprocessor with enhanced real-time capabilities – including wireless reporting and a powerful internal computer for advanced processing. Worn under an athlete’s uniform, OptimEye is the world’s most used GPS device. The device’s objective is to accurately monitor and compute every possible physical parameter of the athlete. Check out how it could be used in Hockey.
Shockbox Helmet Sensor
Headquartered in Washington, i1 Biometrics is a wearable technology company focused on the Sports and Military markets. I1 specializes on developing protection and performance products and systems. One of their leading products is called Shockbox, a helmet sensor. It is attached to the top of a hockey helmet and provides an immediate wireless transmission to the phone of a hit count, and when a player has experienced a head impact that could result in a concussion. Within such devices hockey becomes more competitive, athletic trainers and coaches must seek more innovative ways of protecting players from injury. Falls, bumps and hits are all part of competitive sport. When the Shockbox helmet sensor is attached to a player’s hockey helmet, it allows real-time assessment of head impact levels. Shockbox helmet sensors are the resource you need to be proactive about concussions. They also connect easily to most helmets and are compatible with Apple, Android, and Blackberry products.
Wearable technology can help coaches to analyze training sessions or games in order to improve their players´ performance. However, understanding how stress is placed on the groin and how a player was banged up in front of the net can help the sport grow. Using that data can also help determine if production on one leg differs from another, which can lead to further injuries or show a player struggles while returning from. The future of hockey and sports in general is changing rapidly. Keep your body and mind aware of what is happening in your training with wearables.
