FoxTrax Glow Puck - Mini Doc

I take an in-depth look into the infamous "Glow Puck" of 1990's NHL.
The Foxtrax puck was a revolutionary design that changed the face of sports broadcasting forever.
Subscribe and Like for more, and please share your thoughts and feedback below.

[@bluestripetiger]

I dont understand all the hate this got. It was an attempt to make it easier to follow the game for fans. Perhaps the execution wasn't as good as it could have been, but it's still a good idea even today. I am a huge NHL fan and even I admit that there are times during the course of a game when it can be easy to lose track of where the puck is. I'd like to see them try this idea again with today's technology.

[@Shanker420]

Primarily it was seen by Canadian hockey fans as an attempt to Americanize the game, and by extension an attack on Canadian identity. There's a great article about it called "Get the Puck Outta Here!" authored by Daniel S. Mason.

[@PurpleCrownVic]

As someone who has vision issues I have always had trouble getting into the game cause I cant keep track....like tbis would be useful.

[@skiprockjr.6881]

I liked the Glow Puck. I wish they brought it back. They should give people the option and run simulcasts.

[@ronmailloux8655]

@Peter Bogdanov its was a gimic why not have glowing baseball ? or golf ball? they re hard to see too.

[@EDC98]

Same! It's obvious that sports broadcasts have gotten significantly better from where they first began. It went from reading about them in the papers, then hearing it on the radio, to seeing it black and white TVs, then in color and finally to high definition. While many of these mediums/sources are still around today, there's no question that TV is the preferred way to enjoy a sporting event (aside from actually being there) for just about anyone. But while sports have gotten broadcast and shown in higher quality every decade, it's also important to note that they've become easier to watch too. The invention of the first down line for NFL broadcasts makes it SO much easier to follow at home as opposed to in the stands. With that, comes the score, game clock, other markers and high quality audio that allows us to hear the quarter back! It all revolutionized the way that we watch NFL games on TV. For a person that just recently started watching football games, seeing these technological advancements makes learning and following the game that much easier and fun. And not only has it helped me, but I've used my new knowledge to help others understand it too. Same with hockey. But the only thing is, it's a bit harder to follow because of its insane fast pace. The camera is constantly whipping back and forth. It's honestly easier to go to a hockey game and watch it live. So the fact that the invention for hockey broadcasts to make following a little black puck on a sheet of ice that's painted white, that's filled with towering players, with crazy camera movement, was called, a failure, is beyond me. If they ever decide to bring it back (and they should) it would do 2 things: 1.) Make the game easier to watch, because the pick is constantly highlighted. 2 ) adds some flair NHL broadcasts, because the puck looks like something straight from a comic book. Worst idea ever? Maybe back in the 90s, but this is a different generation. They should bring it back, or at least, experiment. It doesn't hurt to try.

[@KrisVic91]

Aye yet all the ones who moaned about it use the puck shadow on chel to make it easier to play the video game. And what about people with vision problems? It should at least be an option like subtitles.

[@daveSoupy]

Hey man good video! Paced well and edited well.

[@BoleDaPole]

My childhood friend went to a game for his birthday and was fortunate enough to get a puck when it flew into the stands. The next day I traded him the whole 1994 set of the mighty ducks for the puck Last week I sold it to a private collector for $1700

[@jamesromanski8508]

Very interesting mini-doc on the glow puck. Lots of back story I hadn't heard before. Let me offer this regarding the expansion in the south of the 90s. I think you give way too much credit to the MD movie franchise. It was a kid friendly hockey movie and did introduce hockey to grade school kids in a setting other than the professional arena. But, what I believe was the precursor to expansion in the south and generations of new hockey fans and hockey players from the south was the success and popularity of in-line skates. When roller skates moved out from under the disco ball and onto the courts and parking lots, that's when the hockey interest grew. There was massive expansion of roller hockey in the south before we saw the expansion of ice hockey in the south. In-line skates made hockey accessible in areas that didn't have ice rinks. Then, once there were hockey players, there was a new market to serve, and it wasn't long before investors with hockey interests started re-purposing buildings, like old bowling alleys, into ice hockey rinks, and then by the late 90s there were purpose built hockey venues going up everywhere... This is all just my own opinion drawn from living through it in the 90s in North Texas. So, when the NHL tried the glow puck in 96, there was indeed a great new fandom in the south paying attention... We also kinda liked the rats in Orlando... maybe more than the glow pucks.

[@golsonmoldon9455]

Crazy tech for that time, had no idea it involved so much crap inside the puck. Fox cheese. NHL is bringing it back in some degree.

[@Halfdanr_H]

I’ve been watching hockey on tv and in the stands for years, and I like this idea. It definitely makes hockey easier to watch on tv, especially considering this was done in the pre-HD broadcasting days.

[@Kerorofan1990]

An idea ahead of its time, really. Nowadays you got the tracker lines on golf broadcasts, first down lines projected for people watching football on TV, pitch tracker lines in baseball, etc.

[@intercommerce]

I've been watching hockey for past 55 years, and like the glow puck! Should use it on golf drives too.

[@achidente]

I used to watch because of this. In today's landscape, give the option to turn it on and off. Watch views climb.

[@larryjacklin1683]

Nice doc! I remember seeing this as a child and thought that it was pretty fun.

[@targettoad691]

I'm from Tampa, born in 1997. Despite having often winning hockey in my town my entire life, I can't watch hockey. I have no clue what is going on. I'm not kidding, this old FoxTrax footage is the first time in my entire life I can actually see where the puck is going.

[@media4401]

Nice documentary

[@localscam769]

clicked this video by accident but I was high n kept watching 😂 pretty good content dude

[@davidsavage519]

Dope vid. Deserves way more views.

[@abuibu]

I've always thought it was premature to kill it off. I hope they do return it with much better technology available today. You can even have it as an optional extra utilised through any interactive feature.

[@Pensfan5919]

Said this for a few years, the NHL, especially with their ESPN partnership, should bring back an optional stats-based stream for certain games with the glow-puck.

[@JanoyCresva]

Cant do it because the fans of hockey only have 2 brain cells and they all live in the new england area so asking them to do new things would make their brain explode.

[@pavel_endrle]

Loved the idea back in 96 and still love it today. I find it non-distracting at all (as a watcher and hockey player as well), so hopefully it will make comeback someday.

[@MatthewDaSmitdog]

Gary Bettman hates this video.

[@TimFrith24]

On April 17, ESPN will opt out of the remaining 4 years of a current 7-year media rights agreement to hold the 1st half of the NHL package and sell the remainder to Fox Sports, so beginning next season, FS1 will hold rights to 75 exclusive national games on Tuesday and Thursday nights, the Heritage Classic, the NHL Awards, and the NHL Entry Draft, Fox will hold rights to the Thanksgiving Showdown, the Winter Classic, 24 late-season games on Saturday afternoons, and the Stadium Series, Fox Sports will hold rights to the All-Star Weekend with FS1 airing the All-Star Skills Competition and Fox airing the All-Star Game, Fox, FS1, and FS2 will share in coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs with TNT and TBS, holding rights to “half of the games in the first 2 rounds and 1 conference final per season, Fox will hold exclusive rights to the Stanley Cup Final annually through 2028, Fox Deportes will hold rights to all of Fox Sports’ NHL telecasts in Spanish, Tubi will hold over-the-air streaming rights to all of Fox Sports’ NHL telecasts and on-demand versions, and Fox sports will bring back of the iconic glowing FoxTrax puck for all of its NHL telecasts, so here’s what the list of the NHL on Fox/FS1 personalities will look like: Curt Menefee (Fox pregame host) Jenny Taft (FS1 pregame host; Fox alternate pregame host) Jeremy Roenick (pregame analyst) Ryan Callahan (pregame analyst) Larry Murphy (pregame analyst) Kevin Weekes (pregame analyst) Kenny Albert (lead play-by-play announcer) Alex Faust (#2 play-by-play announcer) Dave Randorf (#3 play-by-play announcer) Randy Hahn (#4 play-by-play announcer) Eddie Olczyk (lead color commentator) Joe Micheletti (#2 color commentator) Tony Granato (#3 color commentator) Neil Smith (#4 color commentator) Julie Stewart-Binks (lead ice-level reporter) Brian Boucher (#2 ice-level reporter) Billy Jaffe (#3 ice-level reporter) Tripp Tracy (#4 ice-level reporter) Greg Devorski (rules analyst)

[@walmelo1150]

crazy you made this great content and just gave up bro you should've kept going man 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️

[@BrazFencil]

I thought I’d click a new video in 30 seconds. I’m hooked! This really fascinates me. Excellent job on the mini doc! Real talent in my opinion!

[@aznpikachu215]

I thought it was a interesting experiment.

[@efilwv1635]

I think I could get into Ice Hockey if the puck was visible. Now that it’s 2020, I’m sure something truly innovative can be done.

[@jmanfro1]

I wonder if they could bring this system back for tracking the puck but do something similar to video games where you simply have a marker indicating whoever has the puck. Me personally I dont have trouble keeping track but I think it could possibly help for people who are newer to the sport.

[@sweiland75]

1:20 Unfortunately, for many Americans in particular, it's still more about that.

[@kascnef]

They should bring it back for those watching nhl in dark 4k

[@JanoyCresva]

I cant watch hockey without it. Hockey the only sport that had to allow fighting because the sport is so bland to follow and watch.

[@Alex_v_Mizu]

Yeah a lot of great things came from the technology developed for this failure.

[@jakecarroll3229]

If dragonballz characters played hockey lol

[@lolo27234]

Hill was a known collaborator of one dr eggman

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Back in those days unless you had a satellite dish, you were subjected to this idiocy.

[@willywhitmore9189]

This should be a 30 for 30.. Well done.

[@xenerith5536]

The thing I hate the most is superimposed ads on the glass

[@frankrice3213]

You misspelled "roll."

[@aikhis]

lol the Cooper-all's.. the entire OHL for one season wore cooper-all's

[@STMSGGG]

you forgot to show how crappy and fake looking it was when it went into the boards in areas you couldn't see on TV superimposed looking crap never bring this back. The NHL is starting to suck now! tons of advertisements some also superimposed on the glass during broadcast.

[@schnitzelsemmel]

with today's TV and streaming technology, networks could offer an option to turn it of for those who really hated it

[@timallen5455]

They should do it if they can make it optional during the broadcast with HD it’s easier then ever to follow the puck I watch all 82 games a year and I can see the puck very easily without a glow, however there are people who it would benefit greatly. So find a way to do it like golf but also find a way to let fans toggle it on and off so everyone wins

[@buffalojoeinchico9109]

you bout to get alot more views on this! sn just did a spoof piece on the glow puck that while hilarious, it made me seek out the real story behind it. nice work

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

I'd love to see that piece. Any idea how I could find it?

[@sk8terboi10003]

Its amazing back in the 90s that it worked. I wouldbt mind it coming back we have the technology now and we could do it in real time with out a special puck

[@carlosanaya4149]

Leave the Kings alone. 😂😭

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

At 8:15 you mention that we couldn't freeze the FoxTrax puck. This whole documentary is surprisingly accurate, but we did in fact freeze these just like traditional pucks.

[@michaelmybusiness3116]

Rick… you said, “we”. What was your role?

[@michaelmybusiness3116]

Ahhhhhh…. I see you were at SportVision. My Father was as well….

[@Rick_Cavallaro]

@@michaelmybusiness3116 I was lead engineer and project manager. Who's your father?

[@joemomma1763v]

Good video buddy

[@geoffwhitemusic]

I don't understand people who like this idea and say it makes the game easier to follow. When you see an outfielder going for a fly ball, they don't zoom out to show the ball, much less add a crazy glow to it. The football in an NFL game is not very big either, compared to the people on the field. We follow football and baseball because we can see the players and what they see and are reacting to. When a running back has the ball and obscures it from the camera, no one complains they can't follow the play. They know to follow the person with the ball. How do we know who has the ball? We read the play and the players. Just like little leaguers, we have to grow grow from following the ball/puck to following the PLAY. People who watch hockey and complain they can't follow the puck are not following the PLAY like they should.

[@01hondascott]

i just ran into a friend at the grocery store about an hour ago and he said they are or are thinking about bringing the trax puck back, i hope not

[@leesdroidaccountharbin9665]

San Jose wasn't in the South, and Dallas wasn't "granted" a team, they stole it from Minnesota.