NHL's Innovation Lab: Faster, Smoother Hockey

0:00It's April 6th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is NHL News today, AI-powered updates on your squad. The NHL just dropped its new innovation lab powered by Verizon, right in Newark, New Jersey, inside the Prudential Center. It's a partnership with the New Jersey Devils, built as a fake arena setup to test tech that makes hockey faster, smoother, and more fun for players, refs, and fans. Think year-round experiments on ice without messing up real games. They've got private 5G networks from Verizon for super-secure video feeds to coaches, iPads, and real-time alerts on refs Apple Watches. Sony Hawkeye cameras cover the practice rank at the Devils hockey house, boosting AI, stats, and live production. Even Dasher board clocks with different displays are getting dialed in to see what works best without slowing the puck. League execs are hyped, saying this spot lets them validate gear in real conditions before rolling it out league-wide. No more rushing tests during the season or waiting on player union approvals.

1:01They invite everyone to skate and check it themselves. Now they can crank up testing on officiating tools, fan apps, and on-ice performance, all in a controlled spot. It's speeding up how they push boundaries from better coverage to smarter game-ops. With this lab locked in, the NHL's gearing up to drop innovations that hit every corner of the game, keeping Hawkeye ahead of the curve.