Million-dollar video replay scoreboards are not intended for games of hockey tiddlywinks.
And they certainly aren't built to endure the deliberate battering of a puck shot up into the rafters.
But lo and behold, when a work crew this past summer lowered the four-screen scoreclock installed at CN Centre in 2007 to replace it with a new one built with the latest in technology - a joint venture paid for by the City of Prince George and the Prince George Cougars - several pucks were found behind the panels of the structure.
It was obvious to CN Centre general manager Glen Mikkelsen those pucks did not get there by accident and he vows it won't happen again.
"When we weren't up there, there were minor hockey kids and other multi-users we have trying to throw pucks into our clock, and that doesn't help," said Mikkelsen. "To alleviate actions like that and the people who desire to try to do that, we are lifting the clock up into the rafters when it's not in use."
There's room now to pull the scoreboard structure up close to the roof using cables because city staff took down the four-faceted panels which used to sit atop the replay screens. Two of those rectangular units, which display the score, time of the game, penalty times and shots, are now installed at either end of the rink and are used during Cougar games, along with the centrally-mounted scoreboard. But for minor hockey and rec hockey games, only the two smaller scoreclocks will be used.
The city contributed $546,000 of the estimated $850,000 cost for the new computer-controlled LED-lit scoreboard and video replay system, which is brighter and offers much better screen resolution. The Cougars covered a large percentage of the rest of the cost, with team advertisers also contributing.
"The old clock had serious problems and these days, a 10-year-old video system is old," said Andy Beesley, the Cougars vice-president of business. "Our ownership has stepped up in a big way to not just replace old technology with good enough, we wanted the best.
"Fans are paying good money to come to games and they want to come and see a show and the Cougars' ownership has said from Day 1 we don't just want to be another hockey team. We want to be the best we can be in all aspects and the video production is a huge part of the show."
The video system it replaced had just three camera angles. The new scoreboard is now tied to eight cameras, one of which the Cougars bought. That handheld camera is portable and wireless, allowing unlimited close-up access to fans in the stands as well as remote locations in and around the rink.
The Cougars also paid for the electronic ring underneath the video replay panels, which allows the team to flash messages during the games such as the winning 50-50 draw number, game promotions or birthday celebrations and to highlight team sponsors, replacing the need for audio announcements which used to interrupt the games during stoppages in play.
"The Cougars ownership stepped up in a huge way to contribute financially to this - even though it's a city-run and city-owned facility we wanted to do our share to add to it," said Beesley. "It's state-of-art equipment and because it's brand-new and has been put in with a short timeframe, we're probably using it at about 25 per cent capacity. Fans can expect over the course of the season our video crew will get better at running it and fans will continually see improvements and new cool things the video clock can do."
The original project in 2007 to provide video replays for hockey fans at Cougars games cost the city about $1.2 million. The new scoreboard was cheaper because it is tied to the existing video production control booth, switching equipment, wiring and cable hoist systems already in place at the rink.
The new scoreboard is not the only technological innovation unveiled this season at CN Centre.
Following the lead of the NHL, WHL governors decided at their annual general meeting last spring to install Hawk-Eye video replay cameras above each goal and have video goal judges in each of the 22-member rinks to rule on disputed goals. A special booth was built for the video goal judge in the media box at CN Centre where the out-of-town broadcasters used to call the games. Visiting broadcasters now operate in a new booth built next to where Cougars broadcasters Dan O'Connor and Hartley Miller sit at the games.
The Cougars paid the extra cost for software to integrate the feed from the video goal judge cameras with the new scoreboard so fans will get to see what the goal judge is watching when any goal is reviewed.
"Our fans will see it in slow motion in high definition - it's pretty neat when you see a controversial goal that's been disallowed or allowed, the crowd gets right into it," said Beesley.
Mikkelsen estimates CN Centre is used for hockey about 200 days per year. The new scoreboard will also be used for graduation ceremonies for the College of New Caledonia and Prince George secondary school, was well as for rodeos, motorsports events, trade shows and the Jehovah Witnesses Watchtower convention.
"We have one of the nicest ones in the WHL now," said Mikkelsen. "We're so pleased for how supportive the Cougars have been in making this project happen, they've really been a great partner working through the right technology to make this a success. It is continuing to add to the quality of experience people are having at Cougars games.
"It's going to take our crew a while to figure out everything they can do with it as they work through some games and get more experience but ultimately I think it's going to make a more exciting, visual impact."
