(Scott Levy/MSG Photos)
Over the years, only a small group of brave men have had the chance to strap on the pads and blockers and stare down 100 mph slap shots through colorfully decorated hockey masks on the ice at Madison Square Garden. But that’s all changed now, thanks to virtual reality.
Startup STRIVR (sports training in virtual reality) has made it possible for any fan to experience life as New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist on home ice. The virtual reality company has partnered with Madison Square Garden to create the world’s first virtual reality goaltender simulator.
The experience is located on the main concourse, where guests can put on an HTC Vive head-mounted display and use hand controllers to simulate the goalie stick and blocker pad. They stand in front of a real goal in an area adorned with a simulated ice goalie crease and a fan-filled stadium backdrop with a big-screen TV showing their in-game perspective. But the real magic happens once the two-minute, 360-degree video experience fires up.
The New York Rangers VR goalie simulator, which blends real video with computer-generated effects, is narrated by Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen. The user puts on the goaltender equipment in the Rangers locker room before heading to the empty arena for practice. It’s here, in goal, that the user will attempt to stop five shots from real Rangers players like Kevin Hayes, Jesper Fast, and Oscar Lindberg. The experience is randomly generated so no five shots will be the same. Afterward, an email sends the fan a photo and his or her stats.
MSG Network analyst Steve Valiquette, a former goaltender, recently tried the experience and said it felt like he was back in the crease at MSG MSG 1.00% —he said he could smell the ice. MSG Network analyst Anson Carter said the shots felt like real NHL shots.
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