The technology behind player and puck tracking
The technology behind player and puck tracking
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/06/09/tracking-players-and-puck-nhl
Publish Date: 2026-06-09 13:11:00
Source Domain: spectrumlocalnews.com
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes are back on the ice tonight in Las Vegas for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Regardless of where you are watching the game, technology is helping enhance the fan experience.
What You Need To Know
- The Carolina Hurricanes are hoping to tie up the Stanley Cup Final tonight in Vegas
- SportsMedia Technology has been enhancing the way fans view games for years
- Chips are placed in pucks and players’ jerseys to provide real-time tracking and collect data like the speed of the player and puck
- SMT’s SPRITES application will use this technology to project the players’ and puck’s location in real time in Vegas, in Lenovo Center
Whether you are a lifelong Carolina Hurricanes fan who has dreamt of another Stanley Cup Final since 2006 or a new fan jumping on the bandwagon, your viewing experience has been enhanced by SportsMedia Technology (SMT).
SMT, headquartered in Durham, creates data-driven graphics for sporting events such as clock-and-score bugs, tickers, player and object tracking and more for many sports leagues, including the NHL, NASCAR, NCAA basketball, PGA majors and more.
Chips used to track the players being added to the jerseys. (Courtesy: NHL)
Since SMT’s CEO, Gerard Hall, developed the first wireless data delivery system and real-time scoring for the PGA Tour in 1988, according to SMT’s website, the world of sport analytics has evolved.
“Real time data is becoming more and more important,” Hall said.
For more than 20 years, SMT, has been a partner with the National Hockey League to provide crucial data for games. Through the years, SMT and the NHL have revolutionized the game-viewing experience for fans, but it has come with learning experiences.
Back in the 90s, SMT worked with Fox to develop a better way for fans to see the puck on TV, as Hall said that was the number one reason why fans were flipping the channel.
“We decided the best way to do it would be we need to be able to track the…
