Walking into the IIHF situation room is like walking into a library. The atmosphere is serene; people speak in hushed tones. The only real noise in the room comes from the loudspeakers that let everyone hear what the referees are saying on the ice.
The chatter on the ice is constant as the referees communicate with each other and the players.
“In the situation room, we review carefully the field of play, the goals and the possible coaches’ challenges, as well as looking out for player safety – we work with the IIHF medical, officiating and result management teams to ensure it all works well. Our team is the central hub through everything,” says Mike Hicks, subject matter expert and Head of the IIHF situation room.
The four coaches’ challenges referred to by Hicks include challenges for offside, missed stoppages in the attacking zone, goalie interference, and puck-over-the-glass penalties.
The IIHF Situation Room was built in partnership between the IIHF Technology Department, Sport Department, and their tech partners.
“We have a traveling situation room because, unlike the NHL, we don’t play games in 32 fixed arenas but go to IIHF World Championships in different countries.”
36 different camera angles at Olympic Winter Games
In Milan, the situation room had 36 different camera angles available, but according to Hicks, at a World Championship tournament they usually have 24–25 angles.
More important than the number of camera angles is the number of years of hockey experience by individuals in the room. Hicks himself is a former longtime IIHF referee. In Milan, the room was full of experience, including one operator who was another former IIHF ref who had worked in several World Championships and the Olympics.
“We have two operators working as a pair to make sure the zone entries are good for potential challenges. We were usually prepared for challenges before they come up,” Hicks says.
While the teams celebrate on the ice, smacking high fives at the bench, the situation room springs into action.
“When a goal is scored, there’s a 45-second countdown, a goal process, which all the teams are made aware of in advance of the tournament. During those 45 seconds, they can challenge the goal,” Hicks says.
“Ultimately, the final decision is with the referees on the ice. We just support them with the best video angles we can find to help them make the correct judgment on the play.”
Cooperation also with the medical team
During the game, the operators also save clips that may come up for player safety review afterward, even if no penalty is called on the ice.
“We work with the medical team on potential concussions or hits. If an injury happens and a doctor wants to see the play again, we can cut that video and send it to them. We had direct communication with the doctors at the tournament,” he says.
“We had the NHL concussion spotters as well, who had direct access to our doctors in the venue, who in turn had communication with the team benches.”
But even if there’s no injury, a hit can rise to the level of disciplinary action. That’s why the situation room tracks big hits and looks for trends.
In Milan, Hicks also had George Parros, the NHL’s head of player safety, in the room to observe the play.
“The two of us were leading on player safety reviews in the tournament, if George and I flagged a play, we’d have a look at that hit again,” Hicks says.
After their initial review, the incident would be sent to a four-member panel whose members will stay confidential, Hicks said.
“We’re trying to stay ahead of the game and the coaches, and sometimes we have to raise an incident to supplemental discipline. The game’s fast, and you can't expect everyone to see everything. That is why we are here.”
Next chapters: Slovakia and Switzerland
The traveling situation room has been on the road for months. First there were the IIHF World Junior Championships in Minnesota, then the U18 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Nova Scotia, then the Olympic Games in Milan.
“And we’re still going strong,” Hicks says with a smile. “Next there will be the Under-18 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Slovakia and then the World Men’s in Switzerland. But whether it’s U18 Division III or the Olympics, we’re still there to support medical, officiating and, well, just to support the game in general.”
The chatter on the ice is constant as the referees communicate with each other and the players.
“In the situation room, we review carefully the field of play, the goals and the possible coaches’ challenges, as well as looking out for player safety – we work with the IIHF medical, officiating and result management teams to ensure it all works well. Our team is the central hub through everything,” says Mike Hicks, subject matter expert and Head of the IIHF situation room.
The four coaches’ challenges referred to by Hicks include challenges for offside, missed stoppages in the attacking zone, goalie interference, and puck-over-the-glass penalties.
The IIHF Situation Room was built in partnership between the IIHF Technology Department, Sport Department, and their tech partners.
“We have a traveling situation room because, unlike the NHL, we don’t play games in 32 fixed arenas but go to IIHF World Championships in different countries.”
36 different camera angles at Olympic Winter Games
In Milan, the situation room had 36 different camera angles available, but according to Hicks, at a World Championship tournament they usually have 24–25 angles.
More important than the number of camera angles is the number of years of hockey experience by individuals in the room. Hicks himself is a former longtime IIHF referee. In Milan, the room was full of experience, including one operator who was another former IIHF ref who had worked in several World Championships and the Olympics.
“We have two operators working as a pair to make sure the zone entries are good for potential challenges. We were usually prepared for challenges before they come up,” Hicks says.
While the teams celebrate on the ice, smacking high fives at the bench, the situation room springs into action.
“When a goal is scored, there’s a 45-second countdown, a goal process, which all the teams are made aware of in advance of the tournament. During those 45 seconds, they can challenge the goal,” Hicks says.
“Ultimately, the final decision is with the referees on the ice. We just support them with the best video angles we can find to help them make the correct judgment on the play.”
Cooperation also with the medical team
During the game, the operators also save clips that may come up for player safety review afterward, even if no penalty is called on the ice.
“We work with the medical team on potential concussions or hits. If an injury happens and a doctor wants to see the play again, we can cut that video and send it to them. We had direct communication with the doctors at the tournament,” he says.
“We had the NHL concussion spotters as well, who had direct access to our doctors in the venue, who in turn had communication with the team benches.”
But even if there’s no injury, a hit can rise to the level of disciplinary action. That’s why the situation room tracks big hits and looks for trends.
In Milan, Hicks also had George Parros, the NHL’s head of player safety, in the room to observe the play.
“The two of us were leading on player safety reviews in the tournament, if George and I flagged a play, we’d have a look at that hit again,” Hicks says.
After their initial review, the incident would be sent to a four-member panel whose members will stay confidential, Hicks said.
“We’re trying to stay ahead of the game and the coaches, and sometimes we have to raise an incident to supplemental discipline. The game’s fast, and you can't expect everyone to see everything. That is why we are here.”
Next chapters: Slovakia and Switzerland
The traveling situation room has been on the road for months. First there were the IIHF World Junior Championships in Minnesota, then the U18 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Nova Scotia, then the Olympic Games in Milan.
“And we’re still going strong,” Hicks says with a smile. “Next there will be the Under-18 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Slovakia and then the World Men’s in Switzerland. But whether it’s U18 Division III or the Olympics, we’re still there to support medical, officiating and, well, just to support the game in general.”