Apple and the National Hockey League forged a partnership that puts Apple Watch at the center of game officiating, according to reports Friday. The collaboration introduced a custom-built NHL Watch Comms app designed specifically to assist on-ice officials during games, and it will see its first outdoor use Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to make sure that the officials had really good awareness and were able to keep their eyes on play,\u201d explains Andres de Corral, vice president of digital services at Presidio, the technology firm that developed the app. \u201cSo by enabling haptic responses, we were able to provide non-visual cues to the officials.\u201d<\/p>\n
NHL Watch Comms App: Enhancing official awareness via Apple Watch<\/h2>\n
This is not Apple\u2019s first foray into professional sports, of course. NHL and other leagues have used iPads<\/a> for a few years. And in 2023, the World Surf League adopted the Apple Watch as its \u201cofficial wearable<\/a>,\u201d using it to deliver real-time scoring, wave priority and heat times to competitors in the water during competitions. Now the new NHL Watch Comms app on Apple Watch<\/a> synchronizes with the league\u2019s Oasis system \u2014 a cloud-based platform that manages player tracking, game telemetry and other critical data, according to the NHL and reports in The Verge<\/em><\/a> and elsewhere.<\/p>\n The integration allows referees to receive real-time information directly on their wrists, helping them maintain focus on the fast-paced action without needing to locate video boards around the arena.<\/p>\n Key features of the app include:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited the deep collaboration with the NHL continues with Apple Watch,\u201d said Scott Brodrick of Apple worldwide product marketing. \u201cApple Watch is the perfect device for NHL Officials, providing a connected, durable and powerful experience right on their wrist. With the bright screen and haptic notifications, the officials can get critical, real-time information at crucial moments, helping keep their focus on the action.\u201d<\/p>\n The technology addresses a challenge NHL officials face. Dave Lehanski, NHL\u2019s executive vice president of business development and innovation, noted officials must simultaneously track the puck, avoid interfering with players, monitor zones and keep track of penalty situations \u2014 all while trying to locate the game clock on arena video boards.<\/p>\n \u201cAs they\u2019re doing all those things, it sounds crazy to say, but they\u2019re also trying to find the game clock on the video board,\u201d Lehanski explained. Given the blinding speed of hockey games, officials can\u2019t be constantly craning their necks to see the clock.<\/p>\n Officials can choose between rugged Apple Watch Ultra or slimmer Series models based on their preferences and equipment requirements. Some officials wear thicker wrist guards, making the thinner profile of the Series models more practical. Regardless of model choice, the watches are league-issued and dedicated exclusively to in-game use, ensuring a uniform experience across all officials.<\/p>\n While the technology has been tested and refined in indoor arenas, it makes its debut in an outdoor setting at the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series<\/a>. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n Outdoor games lack the central scoreboard typically suspended above center ice in indoor arenas, making it even more difficult for officials to track game timing and situations. So the Watch Comms app proves particularly valuable by delivering critical information directly to officials\u2019 wrists.<\/p>\n And the adoption rate speaks to the technology\u2019s effectiveness. More than 90 percent of NHL officials now wear Apple Watch during games, an impressive figure for a relatively new implementation.<\/p>\n This partnership builds upon an established relationship between Apple and the NHL. Since 2017, the league has used iPads<\/a> to provide real-time video footage to coaches and players on the bench, enabling in-game adjustments.<\/p>\n \u201cIn all these technology relationships we have, we can credibly make the claim that we\u2019re working with the world\u2019s best partner in that space,\u201d said Lehanski. \u201cAnd we feel exactly that way about this solution that we built with Apple and Presidio.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Addressing a real on-ice challenge<\/h3>\n
![\"NHL](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/NHL-app-on-Apple-Watch-Ultra.jpeg\" "\\"NHL")
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Photo: NHL<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDebut in outdoor setting<\/h3>\n
A history of collaboration<\/h3>\n