NHL and Sofascore announce multiyear statistics partnership
The sports-tech company will use NHL EDGE tracking data to build new shot maps, expected goals models and live metrics for its users.
The NHL and Sofascore announced a multiyear global partnership on Monday, Oct. 5, to develop new statistics using the league’s NHL EDGE puck and player tracking data.
Sofascore's product and engineering teams will work directly with the league, with support from Sportradar, the NHL's official data partner. The goal is new ways of visualizing the game, from real-time event tracking to advanced offensive analytics.
Sofascore users will start seeing the new toolkit this season. It includes:
- Play-by-play and live event mapping
- Shot maps with more detail on location, type and quality
- Offensive Intensity, a live metric showing which team is controlling the play
- Attack Zones, a zone-based view of offensive pressure
- Expected goals (xG) and goalie-specific xG models
The stats are built on NHL EDGE puck and player tracking data. The deal marks Sofascore's first entry into the NHL. The company says its platform reaches more than 120 million fans a year across 25 sports.
"Working directly with the NHL's own data and technology lets us do that for hockey, on a global scale," said Zlatko Hrkać, Sofascore's co-founder and CEO.
Jason Jazayeri, the NHL's group vice president of business development, said the league is "unlocking ways for fans around the world to experience the NHL through new advanced stats, powered by NHL EDGE data."
