While we are all used to hearing about the Summer Olympics, did you know that the Winter Olympics – also known as the Winter Paralympics – take place every year too?
The Paralympics are less well-known, which is a real shame. Not many people know that the Winter Paralympics were founded in 1960. But what is known is that it is the biggest multi-sport event in the world. Each year, over 850 athletes from around the world come together to compete in a variety of sports, including ice hockey.
But how exactly does one go about setting up a hockey clock for the Paralympics?
Table of Contents
What Is A Hockey Clock?
A hockey clock, otherwise known as a time keeper, is a device that is used to monitor and time the performance of ice hockey players. Many hockey clocks are also wireless, so they can be monitored from anywhere in the arena using a smartphone app or computer online.
The need for such a device is obvious. Given that there are over 50 players on the ice at any one time, it is a challenge to keep track of who is doing what and when. This is especially hard when, as in most cases, the players are wearing different numbers on their jerseys so that they do not get identified by television viewers. It is also hard to find a referee who does not use a watch to time the play.
Hockey clocks, and the technology that they employ, have evolved a lot over the years. Indeed, it is likely that you have a hockey clock in your vicinity right now; just check out your smartphone’s clock to see what I mean! So, let’s take a quick tour of hockey clock history.
Early Beginnings
The first hockey clocks did not look like they did today. Back in the early 20th century, hockey clocks were huge and cumbersome, and they weighed a ton!
In fact, the size of a hockey clock varied. Some were big and chunky, while others were tiny and delicate. The early versions were mechanical, so they had to be wound up every day by hand. This was a great hindrance to the timing of games, especially during the winter months.
With the invention of electric motors, this task was made easier. Some of the earliest electric motors for hockey clocks were developed by General Electric and Wertheim & Moroso, and used a centrifugal governor to regulate the speed. These motors allowed for accurate regulation of speed and timing, which in turn made it much easier to time games.
The Golden Age
The golden era for hockey clocks began in the 1950s and 1960s. This was a time when electronic timers were first used, and they still bear the influence of this formative period today.
Most electronic timers were made by Wertheim & Moroso, which was a German company that got into the game clock business in the 1950s. Their products were mainly sold to the military in that era, so it is no surprise that the early electronic timers were designed to withstand the rigors of combat. These days, most electronic hockey timers are built in a very ruggedized manner, with metal casings and military-grade components. They also employ digital watch technology, which enables them to be much more accurate than their analogue counterparts.
One of the most famous electric hockey timers from this era is the Wertheim & Moroso P-66. This ruggedized device was produced in Germany from 1964 to 1967, and it is still in use today. If you ever played defense in junior hockey during the 1960s, you may have used one of these P-66’s as a timer for slapshots!
Modern-Day Standards
The need for accurate timing was exacerbated by another development during this time: the need for more precise hockey equipment. In the 1970s, many NHL teams started using synthetic ice, which has grooves in it to allow for better water drainage. These synthetic ice surfaces were much more slippery than natural ice, and they demanded more skilled play from the athletes using them. As a result, more equipment was needed to ensure better control. This in turn led to the creation of the modern-day hockey helmet (as we know it today), as well as shin guards, elbow pads, and so on. All of these items were needed to create the perfect imitation of natural ice for the players using them.
Accuracy became even more important in the later part of the 20th century, as electronic appliances invaded the ice hockey arena. Referees started using computers to keep track of the game’s score, and they also started using laptop computers to check the performance of the players. This made it easier for the officials to verify and confirm the results of the game. Accuracy also became a factor, as optical jammers were invented to beat the electronic timers used by the officials. This eventually led to the development of radar jammers, which were used to detect and disrupt the signals that the electronic timers sent to the referee’s laptop.
One important distinction to make is that there is no standardization when it comes to the size of a hockey clock. This means that no two hockey clocks are exactly the same, and each one has its quirks. This is one of the reasons that it is hard to find a clock that works well with all hockey arenas.
The Future Of Hockey Clocks
Many expect that the future of hockey clocks will take a technological turn, as new equipment is being developed using modern-day technology and materials. Some of these devices could be integrated into the playing equipment, while others could be external and connected using radio frequency identification (RFID) chips.
There are also prototypes for hockey clocks that use sensors and radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, to track the players’ performance and collect bio-metrics – or at least that is what some folks are saying!
Integration In Sports
While we are on the subject of technology and sport, let us not forget about the many technological advancements made in the area of sports in the last few years. Indeed, technology has started to influence every aspect of sports, from fitness trackers that help athletes monitor their workouts, to virtual- and augmented-reality platforms that allow fans to engage with the games they love.
More and more sports are taking advantage of these new technologies, and they are gradually becoming a part of everyday life. While we still have a long way to go before virtual reality goes mainstream, it is clear that technology will play a vital role in the coming years of sports. That is also true for Hockey.
Setting Up A Hockey Clock
As we have established, there is no standardization when it comes to the size of a hockey clock. This is why it is so hard to find one that will work with all arenas. But fear not, for there is help!
The good people at Puckett’s Grocery & Sports Market in Pennsylvania have made it their mission to provide all sports enthusiasts the equipment and technology they need to enjoy their favorite games. One of their specialized areas is their online store, where they carry all sorts of sports technology and equipment. They also have a physical store, which is where we are going to start our adventures in hockey clock-dom!
Setting up a hockey clock is a complicated process, but it is not as hard as it seems. First off, you are going to need a case. This could be a ruggedized steel case or an ABS plastic case, depending on how much you want to bang and hit and how much you want to protect the device’s inside. Next up is an electric motor – either wired or wireless. Most electronic motors these days are very reliable, so you do not have to worry about them going out of commission due to excessive play.
The last piece of equipment you are going to need is the watch itself. This will depend on how much you want to spend, but most people use digital watches these days, which do not need to be adjusted very often. If you would like to use an analogue watch, then you will have to wind it up manually each day, or have a person do it for you. The accuracy of analogue watches is not as good as digital ones, so if you are going to use one, you may as well go wired!