Introduction To GameStrat: Live to Bench Replay and Coding

This post is brought to you in partnership with GameStrat. Click here to check out their website.

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Fellow video coaches, at the beginning of every hockey season, we update our NHL/AHL video coach chart which you can view by clicking here. If you aren’t an NHL team and are looking for a software that allows you to live tag games and have replay on the bench, what is available for you? The only other option with these two features is GameStrat who also work with Football, Basketball & Lacrosse teams. Click here to check out their website.

Company Overview

GameStrat was founded in 2015 by Tunch Akkaya and Elijah Wu. Tunch, while playing football at the University of Ottawa, saw a need where his very own head coach wanted the ability to have in game video replay to be able to make better in-game adjustments. GameStrat is a company that provides video analysis software, originally starting out in the football space providing sideline replay and over the past few years they’ve begun building momentum in hockey. GameStrat provides a software platform for live to bench replay and coding, becoming quite popular amongst junior hockey teams.

Live to Bench Replay and Coding

GameStrat gives you the ability to code games live, organize your workflows and can satisfy all your post game needs. Along with their live to bench functionality, all coded events are integrated onto the iPad on the bench allowing for a seamless experience as a coach. You’re also able to create your own code list, quickly share video with an external hard drive and speak to their customer service agents if issues arise.

Live to Bench Replay

GameStrat’s live to bench functionality is pretty unique in the market place where it is extremely easy to use, functions completely offline through the networking equipment that GameStrat provides and can be run at home or taken on the road. Some teams even use GameStrat’s live to bench replay on its own without the live coding due to its simplicity and operation. Once you start a recording session, nobody actually needs to operate the software unless you wanted to live code anything. With this hands off functionality, many teams incorporate GameStrat’s live to bench system with other systems like Catapult Thunder, as well as having GameStrat be a part of their practice to be able to coach in real-time. 

Set up

GameStrat has a seamless integration between the computer tagging the game events and the iPad receiving the time stamps on the bench. Outside of the big two companies found in the NHL, GameStrat is the only other company that allows you to initiate Live to Bench Replay and Coding and have live replay on the bench within the same software.

*Photo from GameStrat website

GameStrat will send you the following to get started so that you don’ t have to buy any extra pieces or worry about 3rd party integrations.

• Press box router

• Mount kit

• All networking equipment required (ethernet cables, router, WiFi access point etc…

• Video capture device

• HDMI cables, adapters & converters

*You will still need to provide the equipment for a game feed, a laptop to code the game & an ipad.

All of this comes in its own carrying case that you will receive upon order.

*Photo from GameStrat

Here is a diagram illustrating the GameStrat setup. We can see how all the components interact with each other to operate the Live to Bench Replay and Coding functions.

*Photo from GameStrat

Requirements

GameStrat is compatible with Windows and Mac computers. Here are the requirements which are also listed on their website:

Who is using GameStrat?

OHL Teams

• Ottawa 67's - OHL

• Hamilton Bulldogs - OHL

• London Knights - OHL

• Saginaw Spirit - OHL

• North Bay Battalion - OHL

• Peterborough Petes - OHL

• Erie Otters - OHL

• Mississauga Steelheads - OHL

• Windsor Spitfires - OHL

• Sarnia Sting - OHL

• Flint Firebirds - OHL

• Guelph Storm - OHL

WHL Teams

• Moose Jaw Warriors - WHL

• Saskatoon Blades - WHL

Canadian University

• University of Ottawa - OUA

• Carleton University - OUA

• University of Waterloo - OUA

• Ontario Tech - OUA

Canadian Jr. A Teams

• Brooks Bandits - AJHL

• Blackfalds Bulldogs - AJHL

• Langley Rivermen - BCHL

• Okotoks Oilers - AJHL

• Niverville Nighthawks - MJHL

• Carleton Place Canadians - CCHL

• Cranbrook Bucks - BCHL

• Sherwood Park Crusaders - AJHL

• Portage Terriers - MJHL

• Fort McMurray Oil Barons - AJHL

• Blind River Beavers - NOJHL

• Whitecourt Wolverines - AJHL

Hockey Canada uses GameStrat as well for iPads on the bench along with Catapult Thunder to code their games.

Pro Hockey Video coaches has received a demo and is very impressed by the software capabilities. We have also gotten some great feedback from GameStrat’s clients and highly recommend you inquire about their free demo here.