Blue Ice in NHL?

[BlahBlah]

Interesting article of the NHL expirimenting with Blue Ice to make for better television... no doubt for American viewers. I'll never understand the difficulty in finding a black puck on a white sheet of ice.
Anyway, give 'er a read:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/hockey/nhl/03/15/bc.hkn.blueiceexperimen.ap/index.html

 

[BiggieE]

They had a story on the local Rochester sports report last night about blue ice. It looks more tinted than full on blue, and the lines look more yellow than orange. I'll be at the Rochester Americans vs Cleveland Barons game on sunday @ 505pm, @ HSBC Arena in Buffalo, so I can give an eyewitness report monday morning....GO AMERKS

 

[n_v]

This whole ting is a joke in my opinion. Beofre it was a lser puck now the colour of th eice?? Typical NHL. Looking everywhere else but at the game to fix it. If the product is fixed they will come and watch. Screw the shoot out, 4 man, blue ice and all that nonesense. Focus on the game, not the periferrals.

 

[BiggieE]

I'd love it if they allowed the 2 line pass, and actually called interference and obstruction like they are always saying they're going to. I don't really think the blue ice will have much effect on the product. This is an experiment, so I think I'll give it a chance before I condemn it. Who knows....it might work.....

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Another pic: http://www.people.iup.edu/tynm/ice.jpg

It could be worse, but I'd agree with BiggieE. The ice colour isn't the problem.

 

[brualex33]

The game is in big trouble. Why not blue ice? As for 4 man on 4 man, They need to make more skating room for the players. The ice should be bigger. Overtime is very exciting when it's 4 on 4.

 

[n_v]

The game is in trouble. What does the ice have to do with it. FIX THE GAME!!!
What I'm saying is the colour of the ice will not take away the clutching ang grabbing. The focus should be somewhere else.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

What I'm saying is the colour of the ice will not take away the clutching ang grabbing.

If they choose the right colour, it will. It's hard to clutch and grab your opponent if your eyes are bleeding....

 

[n_v]

n_v

So far, they are talking about automatic icing, 2 line passing and a couple of other things to try and pick up the pace of the game. However until the number of teams downsize there will always be clutching and grabbing.

That's a good start (which I heard of). A philosophy of offence form the coaches has to be made, and a bigger ice surface (which the owner's missed the boat on about 12-15 yrs ago). BUt shoot-outs and 4 on 4 is diffinately not the way to go.

 

[n_v]

If they choose the right colour, it will. It's hard to clutch and grab your opponent if your eyes are bleeding....

LMAO. I forgot about that Goob. How right you are.

 

[The Doctor]

Blue ice?
Orange blue lines?
Blue red lines?

What's next, green beer?

 

[The Doctor]

Hockey's cancelled and we get green beer?!? WTF is going on!?

I don't see how that's going to improve the on-ice product at all.

 

[The Doctor]

I think that's how all global issues should be resolved. Good call Sheik.



*never thought I'd say that in public*

 

[BiggieE]

I think the blue ice idea is an attept to make the game easier to follow on TV. The NHL has never had the fan appeal on TV as the other sports. I'll report my findings after I get back from the game sunday, and you guys can toss it about then....I think it might not be a bad idea. The AHL has had automatic icing and touch-up offsides all this season, and it has picked up the pace of the game. Allowing the 2 line pass should be done too, as should calling obstruction/interference more often, and more consistantly......

 

[Yes'em]

Ice

Actually its a modern twist on something they do already, since the 60's the majority of all arena's paint the ice white. This was done originally for the television quality and now with newer and modern equipment it seems only natural to improve the canvas that it is diplayed upon. This is not a common fact and if you look at it from the quality perspective it might be a good thing. The last time they painted the ice, it lasted for 45 years. In football they wear helmet facemasks to cut down glear,Hockey players liked to be seen so this maybe the only answer to improve the game without changing the rules for all the loyalists out there.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Welcome Yes'em.

 

[Yes'em]

Changes to game

Other than the ice,What changes would you make to the game?
I would love to see the Former NHL take to the ice on a International size ice surface in Toronto and maybe join the Russian Super league.

 

[BiggieE]

There were over 15,000 at the game last nite. The Blue ice everyone was worried about was hardly noticable a few minutes after the game strated. I was more a blue tint, than a real heavy blue.


Rochester Americans 2, Cleveland Barons 0.

Team shutouts 9....Goalie Ryan Miller with his 8th....

 

[wheats]

Coloring the ice sounds pretty good give the game some color and eye appeal......give it some change for a different audience that don't value hockey as the only sport......another example is Coach's corner and Espn with Barry Melrose the set for Coach's corner are boring while Espn set is alot more exciting......another direction to some good marketing...

 

[21pro]

bring back the fox-track puck... ppplllleeeeeeeezzzzzz!