So when you are asked
to be a guest blogger for Jack Blitz you know you have to bring you’re “A”
game! I decided to discuss something different from hockey sweaters but equally
important to the game of hockey and its history…The Biscuit!
Ice Hockey is all about the puck, that round saucer shaped
projectile that is made of solid vulcanized black rubber, measuring 3 inches
across by 1 inch thick, weighing in at six ounces. Hockey pucks have raised
edges or grooves which give the hockey stick something to grip when players
shoot…. obviously a smooth puck would be harder to shoot.
Some History….
Originally, ice hockey used balls until the late
1800s. By the 1870s, 'flat' pucks were being used made of wood and/or
rubber. In the beginning, the pucks were square. Rubber pucks were first made
by slicing a rubber ball in half, then trimming the disc square. The Victoria Hockey Club
of Montreal is credited with making and using the
first round pucks in the 1880’s.
Today, hockey pucks are only made in four countries: Canada,
Russia, China and the Czech Republic. The pucks are molded from mixed rubber, a
special bonding material and a type of coal dust called carbon black. About
5,000 pucks can be made in a typical week and most pucks can be silkscreened
displaying team and league logos. In the professional and elite leagues pucks
are frozen before the game to reduce bouncing during play. It’s not uncommon
for hockey pucks to reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour or more, the
current NHL record belongs to Zdeno Chára, whose slapshot was clocked 108.8
miles per hour (175.1 km/h) in the 2013 NHL All Star Game Skills
competition.
Different
Types
In addition to the standard 6 ounce black hockey puck there
have been several variations:
·
Blue 4-ounce puck used for training
younger players who are not yet able to use a standard puck.
·
Red or Orange 10-ounce heavy training
pucks, for players looking to develop the strength of their shots or improve
their stick handling skills.
·
Steel pucks weighing 2 pounds for
players looking to increase wrist strength these pucks are used only for stick
handling as they could seriously injure other players.
·
Hollow, lightweight plastic type pucks
of varying fluorescent colors are available for off-ice training and street or
roller hockey.
The Failed
Experiment
The FoxTrax "smart puck" also called the glow puck, smart
puck, laser puck, Firepuck, or super puck was developed by the Fox Television Network when it owned
the NHL broadcasting rights. This
puck had integrated electronics to track its position on screen; a blue streak
traced the path of the puck across the ice. The streak would turn red if the
puck was shot especially hard. This was an experiment in broadcasting intended
to help viewers unfamiliar with hockey to better follow the game by making the
puck more visible.
Today’s high definition broadcasts have virtually removed
the need for such a ridiculous gimmick but even without HD, the use of the
Firepuck was discontinued after the 1998 season for these reasons:
- Players hated the use of such pucks because the structural change increased the tendency for the puck to bounce on the ice and the computer chips weren’t freezer friendly. The bouncing made it difficult for the goaltenders and resulted in increased scoring.
- The television viewing contrast of the Firepuck was not noticeably enhanced when the camera view was of the entire rink, this being the most common camera shot.
- Hockey fans found it insulting; there was a strong backlash from hockey purists.
- Owners very unhappy with the cost per puck - $400!
If you liked my guest blog, leave a comment below... Thanks!
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