If we had to hazard a guess, we’d estimate that a very small portion of the planet knows the word “Zamboni.” For those of you who don’t hail from geographically cold climates, a Zamboni – note it is a proper name with a capital “Z” – is the tractor-like machine that floods the ice.
Still not sure what we are talking about? Take a look here: http://www.zamboni.com/
The Zamboni plays a big role in the sport of hockey and it has a catchy-sounding name, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the IT we’ve installed at Canada Hockey Place. However, just as the Zamboni keeps the ice clean and fast, our IT systems ensure a flawless transmission of the hockey games; penalty times, power plays and shoot outs included.
To ensure Canada’s favourite and oldest sport – yes, it dates back to the 1800s – is unaffected by technology, we work with our technology partners to transmit scores and stats in real-time. For the past four years, we have worked with the Olympic Games technology consortium to perfect the technology in Canada Hockey Place. We have pulled plugs and have pushed our systems to the breaking point.Hockey will also prove to be quite the test for our CIS, the Commentator Information System, since no one knows this sport better than Canadians. Information errors in our CIS, leading to broadcasted errors by commentators would cause an entire nation of people to shout at their televisions.
Canada Hockey Place is now ready, thanks to our IT systems, to protect the integrity of this nation’s beloved sport.
This year’s hockey medal games are going to draw the largest crowds. After all, the sport is taking place on home ice.
FACT:
Hockey at the 2010 Winter Games will take place the Canada Hockey Place and has seats for nearly 20,000 people.
