Jeremy Laura: Robo refs, yea or nay and in what capacity?

Looking forward to the day when AI actually become the players in sporting event, the analytic dweebs will love it.

AI is the devil and should be stopped at all costs.

In all seriousness, there is so much nuance that goes into a game of hockey that I think AI would just slow things down too much.

AI is the devil and should be stopped at all costs.

In all seriousness, there is so much nuance that goes into a game of hockey that I think AI would just slow things down too much.
- Chunk

It is severely limited for hockey. A strike zone, much easier. I don’t know that it could be helpful beyond offsides, puck over glass issues. Interesting that it’s already used for box scores by some of the networks. Game summaries and anything to do with stats for writeups. I had a friend show me some chat GPT and consumer level stuff. Scary how quick it can spit out a movie script (even though the plagiarism is through the roof).

AI is the devil and should be stopped at all costs.

In all seriousness, there is so much nuance that goes into a game of hockey that I think AI would just slow things down too much.
- Chunk

Facts. It already has and they want to keep going further into it

Facts. It already has and they want to keep going further into it
- optimus-reim

The bizarre part for entertainment is the ruling that AI generated content can’t be copyright eligible. I don’t know the ramifications for sports but for books and movies that seems pretty bad. Lawsuits on content of existing works being inserted into new projects have already hit. AI just scans the internet and pulls what it wants based on parameters set by the user.

I also think the game of hockey is so nuanced that AI would not really be of much use. Just my opinion.

I also think the game of hockey is so nuanced that AI would not really be of much use. Just my opinion.
- KingsnWingsFan

I agree. I think they’re still going to make a go of it. The test run was that “Big City Green” simulcast. All the new sensors on players and in pucks allowed them to create the game in motion capture live and in real time. What will likely happen is automated shots used on offsides and puck over the glass. The puck and player have tracking that can build a virtual construction. It’s still not a great idea except for potential supplemental information on clear cut issues. The puck can translate if it contacted anything on the way out of play or exactly when the player and puck crossed the blue line. With the change to high stick goals, that may be in play as well. Likely would be tested at lower levels before even a pre season run

I agree. I think they’re still going to make a go of it. The test run was that “Big City Green” simulcast. All the new sensors on players and in pucks allowed them to create the game in motion capture live and in real time. What will likely happen is automated shots used on offsides and puck over the glass. The puck and player have tracking that can build a virtual construction. It’s still not a great idea except for potential supplemental information on clear cut issues. The puck can translate if it contacted anything on the way out of play or exactly when the player and puck crossed the blue line. With the change to high stick goals, that may be in play as well. Likely would be tested at lower levels before even a pre season run
- Jeremy Laura

I hope it never happens! This game might as well be played by robots, if we’re going down that road. I know I won’t be watching. It’s a human game. Sometimes there are mistakes made, but eventually those mistakes even out for all teams.

I hope it never happens! This game might as well be played by robots, if we’re going down that road. I know I won’t be watching. It’s a human game. Sometimes there are mistakes made, but eventually those mistakes even out for all teams.
- Hokeeguy9

They’re not even using all the tools they have now with all the replay angles available. As refs retire there seems to be less consistency and DPS feels like someone is playing pin the tail on the donkey to determine discipline. I think if the refs want to keep a push for this stuff off the table they need to make it ok for them to be interviewed and quit fining players and coaches who make any criticism at all in post game stuff. The calls can change the flow of the game. Supplementary discipline can change the team dynamic. Get things straightened out or owners will start pushing for this stuff

They’re not even using all the tools they have now with all the replay angles available. As refs retire there seems to be less consistency and DPS feels like someone is playing pin the tail on the donkey to determine discipline. I think if the refs want to keep a push for this stuff off the table they need to make it ok for them to be interviewed and quit fining players and coaches who make any criticism at all in post game stuff. The calls can change the flow of the game. Supplementary discipline can change the team dynamic. Get things straightened out or owners will start pushing for this stuff
- Jeremy Laura

Well said my friend! Agree 100%!!

If they limit it to a tool for a few specific instances like offside and puck crossing the goal line (under a goalie pad or glove) I'm not against it. Baseball on the other hand absolutely needs it for the strike zone. Those umpires probably aren't any worse then they've ever been...but with TV paining the strike zone nowadays bad calls have become waaay to visible.

Virtual goal judge to determine if an obscured puck is over the line makes a lot of sense. I have a hard time seeing what other contexts a robo ref would be useful or desirable.

I don't really want the tech making general offsides calls for teams entering the zone. To me the current offsides coach's challenge rule is already a step too far. If a human ref can't tell at speed that a skate is in the zone a quarter inch ahead of the puck and the play stays onside, in my mind the spirit of the rule has been preserved. If it's so close that a highly trained human official can't tell with absolute certainty, let them keep playing.

It is severely limited for hockey. A strike zone, much easier. I don’t know that it could be helpful beyond offsides, puck over glass issues. Interesting that it’s already used for box scores by some of the networks. Game summaries and anything to do with stats for writeups. I had a friend show me some chat GPT and consumer level stuff. Scary how quick it can spit out a movie script (even though the plagiarism is through the roof).
- Jeremy Laura

There are very easy things they can do which soccer does. VAR can tell when it's over the line and when it's offside. Everything else is up to interpretation and camera looks. Hockey has the tech to tell if the puck is past a line, they just don't want to use it because it is more expensive to set up the sensors in the venues that change from sport to sport.

I'd rather have the refs/linesmen looking for legit penalties instead of offsides. Like missing a high stick is a bigger problem to me than 1 inch offsides. So I think they could automate some things like there the puck is on the ice (crossing goal line, crossing blue line, etc).

I'm also fine with someone reviewing things after the game and levying some infraction to things that were missed. That'd probably be some points system that would be very odd but someone could make a proposal and I'd listen.

Lastly, I'd like to see some proposal for players who take penalties late in a game when things are over. It doesn't happen as much anymore but if you want to "stick it" to the team that's dominating you in a game in a series, because it's "free" then you should pay a price.

With AI refs, Leafs, Oilers and Ranger fans will no longer have someone to blame when they don't win cups, so far too many fans will have to go on prescription heart meds, so I see it as a bad thing.