The NHL and San Jose Sharks hosted an Innovation Competition at SAP Center, where six Bay Area college student teams pitched ideas to enhance the fan experience and make hockey more inclusive. The Game Changer Award went to 'Hockey Without Barriers,' a project using AI narration and haptics for fans with disabilities.
The Innovator Award went to 'Puck Pulse,' a haptic device for visually impaired fans. The event, co-sponsored by the Sharks Foundation, NHL, NHLPA, and SAP, marked the first time the competition was held on the West Coast.