When it comes to sports, especially hockey, there are a few universally accepted facts. The first is that the puck will always travel faster than the player it is being passed to because, well, skaters are faster than hockey pucks! The second fact is that every team shoots towards the center of the ice, not the corner because generally, the center is the most dangerous spot on the ice! Finally, a game consists of two periods, none-or-less goals, and a winner-take-all element for scoring extra points.
Now, for some reason, people have started debating how fast a hockey puck travels the ice. Well, we have the ultimate slapper to settle this debate once and for all! Introducing the new, state-of-the-art NHL regulation (NHL-R) puck!
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The Newest, Brightest Color
First off, pay attention to the bright yellow paintjob on this bad boy! When you get a chance, compare this puck to the older, plainer models and you’ll see the difference. If you’re like most people, you’ll probably think that this new variation of the hockey puck is just a stylistic choice for the Toronto Maple Leafs and not for actual on-ice performance merits. However, you’d be wrong!
The real reason that the NHL decided to swap out their yellow pucks for these new, vibrant shades is that the new model travels slightly faster than its predecessor. For the longest time, scientists believed that humans could only see yellow, green, or purple hues better than the standard red, white, and blue. Thanks to modern technology, they were wrong! Using modern equipment and a cutting-edge color-analyzing program, the NHL has determined that these new pucks travel an average of 4.18 meters per second (13.2 ft/sec) on outdoor rinks and 2.85 m/s (9.0 ft/sec) on indoor rinks. That’s a full three meters per second (9.8 ft/sec) faster than an average hockey puck!
A Throwing Tool With A Handle
This newfangled tool will allow even the laziest among us to score some quick points in the hockey arena. All you need to do is chuck it, and it will travel the desired distance, at which point the handle reverts to be a conventional hockey stick. That’s right, this thing can actually hit two targets at once!
This unique feature makes it perfect for use at the charity stripe, where teams generally have a few inches of clearance between the ice and the goal. It also makes it handy for shooting at the nets from above the ice, where you might miss otherwise.
A Closer Look At The Numbers
It might be tempting to assume that the increased speed of these new pucks is simply a side effect of them being brighter and more vibrant. However, the numbers don’t lie. According to the NHL, these pucks radiate approximately 84% more energy when compared to their predecessors. They also begin to lose this newfound energy at a slightly faster rate. Thanks to all this newfound energy, these pucks can hit the target faster than ever before!
Everything You Need In One Place
While the newfangled throwing tool with a handle might be the most exciting development to hit the hockey world in years, it’s certainly not the only one! The NHL has also made other on-ice gear more functional with this new breed of puck. For example, they’ve equipped their goalie pads with a special piece of technology designed to keep the puck in play. This feature makes it easier for the goalie to stop the puck and keep the game moving forward. In addition, the new, unified dress code for the NHL players has forced them to wear all black every game, which makes it easier for the referees to spot them on the ice (even in bright sunlight!). Finally, having all players wear masks these days has made it harder for the opposition to read the ice and determine where the puck is going.
As you can see, the NHL has come a long way since the days of boring old hockey pucks. This new variation of the game will surely be fun to watch and even more exciting to play with as the seasons go by!