The 97th edition of the Spengler Cup Davos marks the official launch of the Ice Hockey Innovation Platform – a three-year initiative that transforms the legendary tournament into an annual testing ground where technology and data innovation meet real ice hockey competition. The platform invites existing and new partners to join forces with leading academic institutions and media in co-creating solutions that genuinely advance the sport.

Technology in ice hockey has reached a critical juncture. While innovations promise to transform coaching, performance, and fan experience, their true impact often remains untested in real match environments. The Spengler Cup Ice Hockey Innovation Platform changes that by creating a unique space where technology – including artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and new data applications – is validated under competitive conditions at one of the world's most prestigious tournaments.

"Our goal is to close the gap between objective measurable game data and expert understanding of the game, and make it available to support all stakeholders of modern ice hockey," explains Martin Zöllner, IT Manager HC Davos. "This is an essential step to develop tools that genuinely impact performance, coaching, and fan experience."

The timing is strategic. While the Spengler Cup's on-site experience is sold out year after year, future growth depends on innovation in digital media and new experiences. The tournament's controlled environment, international visibility, and tradition of excellence make it the ideal proving ground for next-generation hockey technology.

A collaborative innovation mindset
The platform is built on a fundamental principle: true innovation for ice hockey can only emerge when partners combine their data and expertise in an open, collaborative framework. Whether tracking providers, media producers, technology companies, or research institutions – each brings essential pieces to the puzzle. Only by working together can the hockey community move beyond isolated experiments toward solutions that genuinely serve the sport.

This collaborative approach welcomes both existing Spengler Cup partners and new organizations interested in shaping hockey's future. The platform offers a rare opportunity to test ideas in a high-profile, real-world setting while contributing to a shared knowledge base that benefits the entire sport.

A three-year roadmap
The platform follows a clear structure. The 2025 edition serves as the foundation year, collecting comprehensive hockey data from matches: tracking systems, video feeds, audio from coaches and referees, social media activity, and – crucially – expert commentary such as by Andres Ambühl. This dataset bridges the gap between what sensors measure and what hockey experts see.

In 2026, a student team from Swiss universities is planned to work through ByDo, a proven academic innovation framework, to develop prototypes and test real applications. These could range from enhanced scouting tools to new broadcast experiences and fan engagement formats. First results will be validated during the 2026 tournament, showcasing the prototypes to audiences and gathering feedback from the hockey community.

By 2027, validated concepts will be shown to wider audiences through media partnerships, demonstrating tangible results of focused innovation.
Built for partnership

HC Davos provides the tournament stage and hockey expertise, while the Swiss leader in sports data innovation scoreTec contributes project management and sports technology experience. ByDo connects Swiss academic talent with real-world challenges. Partners contribute data infrastructure, processing capabilities, and domain expertise – each playing a vital role in the ecosystem.

"The Spengler Cup has always been about bringing the best of hockey together in Davos," notes Marc Gianola, CEO of HC Davos. "Now we're extending that tradition to include the best minds in sports technology and data science.”

The Ice Hockey Innovation Platform launches officially during the 2025 tournament with initial data collection and an open call for partners ready to co-create hockey's future. For organizations passionate about advancing the sport through technology and data innovation, this represents a unique opportunity to be part of something bigger.

Photo: Keystone