PRESIDIO DELIVERS APPLE WATCH APPLICATION TO ENHANCE THE GAME OF HOCKEY AND IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ON-ICE NHL OFFICIALS AND PLAYERS
Though use of the NHL Watch Comms App was not mandated by the League, 92.5% and growing of on-ice NHL Officials have adopted it. This speaks to the practical value they get from real-time notifications on the device.
THE CHALLENGE
NHL games are some of the fastest professional sports games on the planet, and thus one of the most difficult to officiate. On-ice NHL Officials must keep their eyes on the nonstop action and keep themselves out of harm’s way, while always being aware of the game and penalty clock
By taking even a momentary glance at the arena scoreboard, an on-ice NHL Official risks missing a big call or being put into a precarious position. Each of the League’s 32 arenas have game clocks in slightly different positions. The 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series™ played in an outdoor setting at Ohio Stadium, made the clock even more difficult to track. On-ice NHL Officials can’t have their eyes in two places at once.
THE SOLUTION
Presidio, an Official Technology Innovation Partner of the NHL, took on the challenge to create a safer, more effective experience for on-ice NHL Officials and players. The solution was to send critical messages directly to on-ice NHL Officials’ wrists via a custom-developed Apple Watch App. Apple Watch was an obvious choice, as it’s uniquely suited to the needs of the NHL Officials, providing a clear, bright screen, strong haptic cues, cellular connection as well as a durable and comfortable form
First, Presidio sought to understand which notifications were most important to on-ice NHL Officials. Through initial testing, close observance, and one-on-one interviews, Presidio learned that only a few notifications were must-haves for on-ice NHL Officials: those that impact their own safety and that of the players
On-ice NHL Officials need to know precisely when a power play or a period is coming to an end without losing focus on the game, such as a player exiting the penalty box could collide with an unaware official. If their eyes are on the scoreboard game clock, they aren’t watching the frantic finish to a period.
The NHL Watch Comms app was built to use the Apple Watch’s haptic engine – offering a specific tapping pattern to alert on-ice NHL Officials when a period or power play is coming to an end. The app is synchronized to the official NHL arena game clock. These real-time in-game situational notifications replace the need to glance at a game clock for even a split second.
THE Results / Benefits
Though use of the NHL Watch Comms App was not mandated by the League, 92.5% and growing of on-ice NHL Officials have adopted it. This speaks to the practical value they get from real-time notifications on the device. On-ice NHL Officials can keep their eyes, and their attention focused on the on-ice action at all times, helping them avoid collisions, missed calls, or close plays at the breakneck speed of NHL games.
“We are thrilled with the 92.5% adoption rate of officials wearing the watches,” said NHL VP, Innovation Sean Williams. “This is another significant milestone in our ongoing partnership with Presidio, and together we’ve innovated to enhance the game for players, officials and fans.”
“Several iterations of the NHL Watch comms app were guided closely by feedback from NHL officials. Presidio learnt quickly and delivered a best-in-class product that provides critical information to our on-ice officials.”
- NHL VP, IT Carol Dann
Services / Technology Used
- Apple Watch
- Presidio Digital AppDev Services
About Presidio
Presidio is a Global Digital Services And Solutions Provider accelerating business transformation by modernizing and securing our clients’ information technology
For more information on how we connect IT of today to IT of tomorrow, visit presidio.com
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