View of action on ice as players see it should be a goal

Speaking of innovative ideas, here’s one: helmet cameras.

You want people to get excited about watching hockey, this is a way to do it.

My dad and I were in Buffalo three years ago for the world junior hockey championships and the art gallery had a show on hockey that included an eight-minute video shot by helmet cam.

For the film, the Buffalo Sabres’ goalie Ryan Miller and forward Jason Pominville had high-definition cameras strapped to their helmets.

You get an unparalleled sense, dizzying and thrilling and almost disorienting, of how fast and close the game is.

At one point Pominville’s helmet is knocked off and spins on the ice – the camera delivers a 360-degree view, and as it comes to rest we witness Pominville scoring a goal.

Naturally, I thought we’d be seeing tons of helmet cams in short order on NHL broadcasts.

Nope. As with outdoor games, the NHL is not a quick mover.

Helmet cams have been used only sporadically and, when they are, it tends to be in the minor leagues.

On December 20, for example, a referee in the American Hockey League wore a GoPro helmet cam during a game pitting the Rockford IceHogs (all the good names were taken) against the Charlotte Checkers.

It’s not as quite as seismic as the Buffalo footage – a ref isn’t as tightly into the game as a player – but it does give you a different view of the fighting, and would be a great addition to hockey on television.

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