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One of the most interesting parts of Canadian network TSN\u2019s coverage of the World Junior Championships (one of their biggest events annually) over the past few years has been their use of a \u201cghost camera.\u201d That involves a camera operator dressed all in white with a white-covered camera skating out onto the ice before and after the game and at stoppages to get some up-close shots, with the white clothing helping them blend in and not distract players too much.<\/p>\n
TSN first did this as an experiment at the Ivan Hlinka-Wayne Gretzky Hlinka-Gretzky Cup U18 tournament<\/a> in 2018. They\u2019ve expanded it since for several international hockey events, including the World Juniors since 2019. Other networks have used on-ice cameras as well, but not as frequently. Here\u2019s a look at how this works that camera operator Nathan Eidse (who\u2019s handling this role in Halifax this year, with Devin Comeault doing that in the other host city of Moncton) posted to his Instagram page back in 2019<\/a>:<\/p>\n Here\u2019s another look at it, also featuring Eidse, from a 2020 TSN video<\/a>:<\/p>\n It\u2019s like he\u2019s in hockey camo ?? pic.twitter.com\/5UIcY4jc9K<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Kevin McGran of The Toronto Star\u00a0<\/em>has a great piece on this, speaking to Eidse, TSN vice president in charge of live event production Paul Graham, Team Canada captain Shane Wright, and more. And Eidse credits one specific influence for helping them pull this off<\/a>; NHL star turned TNT analyst<\/a> Gretzky<\/a>.<\/p>\n That first time, Eidse wore white but the camera was black. Gretzky was there and talked to him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe were chatting about it and he said how much he loved the camera \u2014 he thought it was great \u2014 but the camera needed to be covered in white,\u201d says Eidse.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe camera didn\u2019t have a cover at that time, because the idea was fairly fresh. In fact, I went out to Winners and bought white pants and a white shirt an hour before our first game. Selection was limited, so it didn\u2019t look pretty. But Gretzky was the one that said we need to cover the camera in white.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Eidse initially made that move with a pillowcase, but he now has a custom white cover. So that\u2019s yet another assist for Gretzky. And the results here have been impressive, and have even led to some fan salutes:<\/p>\n ? Even the on-ice camera guy is becoming a fan favourite at this tournament ?? #SWEFIN<\/a> #WorldJuniors<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rbXhOdZPDt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 2, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press also wrote on this<\/a>, and got some good quotes from Eidse and from various players:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not lost on me that I have the best seat in the house,\u201d Eidse said between two recent games. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty neat to be in the middle of everything.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u2026\u201dKnock on wood, never been hit with a puck,\u201d he said. \u201cI try and patrol the red line as much as possible. Then I pick my moments and get in there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u2026\u201dWeird the first time,\u201d Austrian forward Vinzenz Rohrer said. \u201cHats off to this guy. He always sneaks through everybody.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPretty camouflaged,\u201d Swedish netminder Carl Lindbom added. \u201cThe end product is amazing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And Graham told McGran he\u2019s thrilled with how this has worked out for the network<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always looking to do things differently,\u201d says Paul Graham, TSN\u2019s vice-president in charge of live-event production. \u201cI saw it over in Switzerland seven or eight years ago, but it wasn\u2019t very good in terms of the guy who was skating and how they incorporated it. It was cool, but I\u2019m thinking, \u2018OK, we can do something better.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u2026It has also evolved: from just on-ice shots, to the beginning of a period, to what it is now: almost every stoppage in play.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere was a great shot of (Canadian forward) Connor Bedard,\u201d says Graham. \u201cHe was on the ice, right in front of Connor, a shot that you will never see (elsewhere) \u2026 in your face, as Connor Bedard sat on the bench.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So the on-ice camera approach looks to be a continued feature of TSN\u2019s international hockey coverage for some time. And Gretzky\u2019s suggestion was useful in making that happen.<\/p>\n[The Toronto Star<\/a>, The Canadian Press<\/a>; image from TSN on Twitter<\/a>]\n \n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n
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