SOUTH BEND, IN – In the eleventh year of competition, the NHL’s outdoor showcase has remained in alignment with the color white, even more so when the snow begins to fall. In hockey, the ice becomes the most prominent reminder of winter. For this year’s Winter Classic, scheduled for Notre Dame Stadium on New Year’s Day, purple has been added to the mix, playing a role in making sure an optimal competitive environment is maintained.
In an experiment which will begin a process of measuring and responding to changes in playing conditions, the NHL game puck for this match will be purple. When the temperature rises above 32 degrees the puck will transition from purple to clear (or white). It will be an indication to on-ice officials that the puck is no longer acceptable for on-ice use and a frozen replacement will be sought. The coated pucks will be tested at NHL tentpole events during the 2018-19 season and will be further evaluated for broader use.
“Hockey pucks are made of vulcanized rubber and glide smoother and faster when frozen,” said Dan Craig, NHL Vice President of Facilities Operations. “Freezing a puck eliminates bouncing, and game officials closely monitor the puck for temperature changes that affect performance while in play. A coating that changes color when the puck is above freezing will more accurately alert the officials that it is time for a replacement.”
Thermochromic coatings supplied by PPG meet the NHL’s requirements for withstanding game-environment impacts and low temperatures without impacting adhesion. The coating is dispersed into an ink system and screen printed directly onto an official NHL game puck.
“Working closely with our technology partners, LCR Hallcrest and QCR Solutions Corporation, we’ve been able to offer a smart and elegant solution to a problem that can significantly impact game play,” said Alicia Cafardi, PPG senior marketing communications manager, industrial coatings. “The custom dye pigment that changes color with temperature was developed specifically for this application on hockey pucks, but the solution represents an opportunity for other applications where an easy, visual reference could serve to improve the performance or use of an object.”
PPG is the Official Paint of the NHL®. The company’s paint products and coatings have a prominent presence throughout professional hockey, protecting and beautifying hockey arenas from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh and across Canada. In addition, PPG coatings help to reduce chips and wear on hockey equipment, including goal posts.
Follow the action leading up to the 2019 Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks and check-in with Pro Hockey News on all the latest involving the NHL’s top mid-season tilt.
Dennis Morrell is a long-time hockey writer, photographer, coach, player and USA Hockey referee who loves the game and those connected to it. He can be reached at dennis.morrell@prohockeynes.com.
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