GoPro Helmet Cam used to determine Radim Vrbata’s goal

GoPro Helmet Cam caught the angle of Radim Vrbata’s stick just right

They say that technology is ruining society, but I think it’s probably helping out in the hockey community.

During the Vancouver Canucks’ season opener against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, a goal scored by Vancouver newcomer Radim Vrbata was called into question.

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The issue with the goal, which the referee originally ruled as a no-goal, was the height of Vrbata’s stick in relation to the top crossbar of the goaltender’s net. Had the shaft of Vrbata’s stick been higher than the top crossbar, the goal could not have counted.

The angles of the cameras mounted around the rink made it difficult to see exactly how high the stick’s shaft was- so the refs were able to look at the feed from the helmet cam one of them was wearing. The position of the helmet, which places the camera at a much more eye-level position in comparison to the game play, helped in determining that the stick was, in fact, below the post- and the goal would count.

Refs aren’t the biggest fan of wearing the helmet cams- they’re big, and bulky, and mildly obtrusive. They could revolutionize the way games are called, though.

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