With the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs in full swing, hockey fans are getting excited for the next round. Playoffs are always a good time for hockey fans, with the action mostly taking place during the week and on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Unfortunately, the start of the season has been marred by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and a lot of the action has been moved online. The NHL has even suspended its season for a while, meaning fewer people are getting to see their favourite teams play live.
If you’re looking for an online hockey fix, then there are plenty of options. The NHL has a website where you can get regular news reports and live games. If you want to follow a particular team, you can do so through their website, social media accounts, and apps. You can also tune into any number of local or regional sports stations to get your fix.
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The Tilly (pronounced TEE-lee) Factor
While the NHL and other professional leagues have largely suspended their seasons, amateur hockey has not. At the same time, the NCAA has placed limitations on how many players players can have in their hockey program. This has led to some strange situations, where teams are playing each other online or through touch screens on ice. These limitations are leading to some interesting trends, with more and more sports being played through a screen. You can watch the latest high school hockey championship through a screen on your phone, for example.
This has also led to a lot of innovation in the tech industry, with companies like Seeso launching online hockey leagues and O.G. Tech developing a VR headset for hockey fans. The Tilly (pronounced TEE-lee) factor has led to some unique trends in hockey, and we’re likely to see more innovation as the industry tries to adapt to these new restrictions.
The Rise Of Virtual Hockey
While the NHL has adapted well to the changing world of hockey, other leagues have struggled. The biggest problem for leagues and teams is the massive financial hit the pandemic has caused. In an attempt to return to some sense of normalcy, a lot of leagues have implemented virtual competitions. These are either completely digital (i.e. no face-to-face meetings) or use technology to simulate the experience of playing in front of a live audience (i.e. sound effects and motion-captured animations). These competitions are run through websites, Facebook groups, or apps, and follow the same general format as a real game, with teams competing against each other for points.
The Future Of Hockey
The line between professional and amateur sports has blurred, and it seems like everyone is participating in some way, shape or form. The future of hockey is undoubtedly in digital media and tech-driven innovations. Fans want to be connected to their favourite teams and players, and the web has made this possible. Social media has created a space for passionate fans to connect with their idols, and these spaces are only going to expand as the industry evolves.