Cool Puck Facts.
- NASA has used Hockey Pucks weighing 2 tons to train their astronauts. Due to no gravity in space, the threat of free-floating equipment and people drifting off is very real. To combat this problem, the Johnson Space Center prepared astronauts for the environment by using what they officially described as “two-ton hockey pucks” hovering over the floor to train astronauts. These “pucks” are pushed around by aspiring astronauts.
- During the manufacturing of a puck, the moulding process adds a diamond cross-hatch texture around the edge of the puck for more friction between the stick and puck for better control and puck handling.
- The "Fire Puck" was developed in the 1990's to allow viewers on the television to track the puck. The puck went through many testing but never took flight as the puck bounced, it was difficult for the goalie to stop the puck, and it really did not enhance the viewers perspective.
- Following was the "Smart Puck" by Fox in 1996. A red or blue streak would trail the puck so viewers to keep up with the puck. It was shelved after Fox lost the tv rights 3 years later with the NHL.
Sources: 1. Wikipedia, 2. theFactfile
