Hockey Countdown Lights

This is a set of five lights stationed behind the net near the top of the glass that would countdown the last 5 seconds of a period or the last 5 seconds of a penalty. This is similar to a shot clock in Basketball, but only used in the two instances described. These would be situated behind both nets, and act in the exact same fashion.

I am in no way saying hockey players are completely aloof to how much time is left in the period or a penalty, but there are times this would be helpful. Currently players would sometimes rely on the crowd urging them to shoot at the end of the period (or game), or the goalies would slap their sticks on the ice to alert the team the penalty is almost over.

In hockey the time clocks are not situated for viewing by players active on the ice. Whereas in American Football they will have clocks at field level for the game clock and the play clock (number of seconds left before snapping the ball), and Basketball has that shot clock of course. Often times between whistles you’ll see hockey players arching their heads up at the center ice scoreboard to see how much time is left.

But this would not just be for the players, but for the fans too. Something I previously mentioned in this blog is that there used to be a tradition of having the fans countdown the final 10 seconds of the game (when the home team is winning). But that tradition has become practically extinct, as the final minute of each period the clock switches to seconds and tenths of a second, making it difficult for the fans to cheer in sync. These lights would help restore that countdown. Their vertical placement and countdown behavior mimicking the New Year’s Eve clock in Times Square is fully intentional.

These lights would be behind the glass or built into the stanchion, protecting them from pucks and minimizing any obstruction to the fans. Their placement behind the net near the top of the glass is a TV-friendly location.

Note: that green light that appears in the animation up there is to mark the end of the period. It would not appear when a penalty expires.

For more hockey ideas, check out this tag. And I am well aware I should just do a “Dave’s Hockey Ideas” blog.