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  Greg WyshynskiNov 5, 2025, 08:00 AM ET

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  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

Joey Daccord felt like a statue.

The Seattle Kraken goalie watched his teammates suffocate the Carolina Hurricanes for 40 minutes in a game last season, outshooting them 14-2 in the second period after giving up only five shots on goal in the first. “I was like, ‘I feel like I’ve been standing still for 2½ hours already. I need to see some pucks,'” he recalled. Daccord wasn’t seeing many shots in reality. So he opted for virtual reality instead.

Before the third period, Daccord strapped on a Meta Quest headset and fired up NHL Sense Arena, a VR hockey program that he has used for several years to keep his mind and skills sharp away from the ice.

The Kraken locker room was now a 360-degree virtual rink, chosen from options that included a baseball stadium and the outdoor rink from the NHL’s Lake Tahoe game. His hands were transformed into a blocker and a catch glove, as he stood in front of a 3D goal cage. He faced dozens of pucks fired from virtual shooters at different angles, getting locked back into focus. When Daccord saw real rubber again in the third period, he stopped 11 of 12 Carolina shots to preserve a win for Seattle.

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Daccord is part of a growing number of hockey players using VR for cognitive training. Devin Cooley (Calgary Flames), Devon Levi (Buffalo Sabres) and Eric Comrie (Winnipeg Jets) are among the goalies who have used the technology. So has PWHL star forward Taylor Heise of the Minnesota Frost. USA Hockey and at least 17 NCAA Division I programs have all used the NHL Sense Arena training tools.

“I think it’s been instrumental in my career and a factor for why I’m able to play the way that I do at the NHL level. It’s integral in my training and my preparation,” Daccord said.

The Carolina game wasn’t the first time Daccord turned to VR during a game. He recalled a road game against the Arizona Coyotes a few seasons ago in which he wasn’t happy with how his glove hand was reacting during the first period.

“I went in the back, threw on the headset and programmed it to shoot a hundred pucks at my glove. After I caught a hundred pucks, I went out and my glove was fine the rest of the game,” he said. “As more guys use it, it just becomes more normal. And getting the backing of the NHLPA shows that it’s here to stay.”

On Wednesday, Sense Arena became the first and only licensed NHL and NHLPA virtual and mixed-reality hockey platform, announcing a partnership with the NHLPA that will bring the names and likenesses of NHL players into virtual and mixed reality for the first time. The company has had a partnership with the NHL for more than two years, bringing team names and branding into its virtual drills. Sense Arena also partnered with several NHL teams, including the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights.

“This partnership with Sense Arena is an exciting opportunity to bring fans closer to the incredible talent of NHL players,” NHLPA chief commercial officer Steve Scebelo said. “This is truly a dynamic new platform that will showcase the talents of the players and bring fans closer to the action in a way they have never experienced before.”

A number of NHL goaltenders have used VR programs as part of their training, and now the tech is available on a wider scale featuring real NHL players. Courtesy of Sense Arena

Users can now receive passes or face shots from Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and dozens of other NHL stars.

“When I first tested the beta version, you are two inches from the face of Leon Draisaitl or Nathan MacKinnon. Now you look into their eyes, you look at their uniforms, all of the textures,” Sense Arena founder and CEO Bob Tetiva told ESPN recently. “So it’s such a real experience, man. I was blown away.”

Users can also attempt to sneak pucks past elite goalies such Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Daccord. Heck, even the goalies themselves can become the shooters in VR.

“I’m not using the goal-scoring part of it, despite what other people may think,” said Daccord, who has made multiple attempts at scoring an empty-net goal in the NHL, including on Monday against Chicago.

“I’m using it for the goalie stuff.”

DACCORD HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF to off-ice cognitive training since around the age of 16. He did a block of vision training, and that sent him down the path for “training the eyes and training the mind” that continues as a pro athlete.

He remembers telling his father how he wished there was a way for him to “sit there and just read [shot] releases all day.” A few months later, around the COVID-19 shutdown, Daccord’s father showed him a VR headset and the Sense Arena program.

“I remember at first thinking it’s just kind of a game, that I’m never really going to use that. And now I use it before every single game I play in the NHL. It’s a huge part of my training and my game-day routine,” Daccord said.

That routine starts about an hour before warmups, as Daccord does about 20 minutes on the headset. “I start with the cognitive drills, stuff that I like to do to get my brain firing a little bit,” he said.

One drill Daccord said he has relied on involves a machine shooting different-colored pucks at him. His hands are rendered with corresponding colors, and he must match puck-to-hand in a split second. After that, Daccord will move on to some technique drills in which pucks are being shot into specific spots, and then another drill that simulates shots from NHL-level scorers.

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“When I get out on the ice for warmups, I feel like I’ve already [seen] 150 shots,” he said. “I’m good to go. It’s almost like I’m not even warming up. I’m kind of in flow. I’m reading the release off the stick pretty well. I think it’s a huge advantage for me.”

Daccord has also used the VR training program as a substitute for on-ice practices. Recently, the Kraken played road games against the Philadelphia Flyers on a Monday and the Washington Capitals on a Tuesday. Daccord played against the Flyers and didn’t suit up the next night. The Kraken then flew to Winnipeg for a game Thursday.

The schedule meant that Daccord didn’t have any ice time for the two days leading up to the Jets game. So he used virtual ice instead, practicing in Sense Arena before the Capitals game, then for 25 minutes before his flight to Winnipeg and then another 45 minutes after arriving in Manitoba.

Daccord stopped all 32 shots he faced in Winnipeg for a 3-0 Kraken victory.

“I felt so good at morning skate on Thursday. Just tracking the puck, seeing the puck. I felt like I had skated the day before,” he said. “Most of the boys would tell you that they like to skate and feel the puck and see shots. When the schedule works out weird, you’re not able to get reps. Sense Arena was a great way for me to get those reps.”

THOUGH VR TRAINING benefits pros such as Daccord, it could also be a boon for younger generations of hockey players, who are more likely to test out new technology and training methods.

“They’re on screens, they’re seeing analytics, they’re seeing different ways to train that are very different than how I trained,” said Andrew Alberts, the hockey development director for Sense Arena who played nine seasons in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Hurricanes and Flyers.

Alberts says he views VR training as a way for young players to go beyond scoring a goal or completing a pass to better understand the processes behind them.

“For young kids that go through those reps of picking their head up, scanning, playing with their head up, understanding time and space, that’s all part of that hockey IQ that those young players need,” he said. “Right now I think there’s a big emphasis on stick handling and speed, which is great, but you need to have the whole package.”

Users will be able to play against NHL stars in the newest, licensed version of the Sense Arena program. Courtesy of Sense Arena

As a former defenseman, Alberts says he enjoys the drill that mimics a player going back for a puck and seeing the passing options before getting crunched by a check — without consequences.

“Going through these reps as a player and not getting killed, that’s what’s great about it,” he said.

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Sense Arena launched its hockey VR experience in 2018. Back then, it would send installers to places such as the Kings’ training facility to build physical spaces for the off-ice VR training. The platform made inroads with goaltenders first, back when Sense Arena was available via the Oculus headset. Teams such as the Devils valued the potential for players recovering from injury to use VR hockey training without putting a strain on their bodies.

The leap in quality and affordability of wearable technology enabled Sense Arena to market its off-ice training platform to the home user. It’s available exclusively on the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S.

Earlier this year, Sense Arena released DanglePro, a mixed-reality stickhandling module. Using their own stick and a training puck, users dangle through a mess of debris coming at them like water bottles and equipment.

“I think being able to control what you want to work on and develop is so key for players that are looking to keep stay at the top of their game,” Alberts said. “Goalies want certain situations where they’re tracking pucks, reading releases, rep after rep after rep. We’re trying to do the same thing with players now, introducing this new technology with the mixed reality.”

In addition to individual training modules, NHL Sense Arena ’26 has a new 3-on-3 gameplay mode that allows users to play a full 82-game NHL season, managing a roster and selecting teammates. That’s where they can unlock other NHL players — the NHLPA-backed version will start with around 15 players from each team with others added during gameplay.

“It’s up to you to put yourself into the GM’s role and then acquire new players based on your wins,” Tetiva said.

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In the future, Alberts said they’d like to have each virtual player mimic the moves of their real-life counterparts. Currently, the Sense Arena team records NHL and NCAA players and melts those movements down into 3D models. To have VR Alex Ovechkin blasting pucks from the “Ovi Spot” is something they’re working with the NHL on perfecting using advanced data, and that’s down the line for the platform.

Alberts believes the technology has a lot more to offer NHL teams. For example, his group has proposed filming their skaters so players could watch themselves in a virtual environment to “see what goalies see” on their shots. Sense Arena allows for replays from the perspective of the puck coming off the shooter’s stick, and angles that provide insight into player movements that normal video can’t replicate.

Daccord says he believes that hockey VR training will continue to grow — especially for his fellow netminders.

“I think you’re going to just continue to see more and more people use it because it’s such a good tool. How can you justify not using it on an off day before the game, seeing a couple hundred pucks?” he said.

“It’s about the access, right? I think if you want to be a real goalie, this is a resource you can use. The No. 1 thing in hockey is being able to read a release of a shot. With this, you can sit on your couch if you want and just read release after release after release. I think it’s incredible.”

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Shawn Michaels (photo credit Adam © PWTorch)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

The following report originally published 20 years ago this week here at PWTorch.com.

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW REPORT
NOVEMBER 7, 2005
FORT WAYNE, IND.
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, EDITOR

-As pyro exploded and the camera panned the crowd, Coach and Jerry Lawler introduced the show. Joey Styles was with them. They plugged Shawn Michaels & John Cena vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Masters. Coach noted that the ring was surrounded by almost the entire Raw roster.

They went to a shot of the announcers, including a diminutive Joey Styles. “On behalf of myself, Coach, and a convalescing J.R., I want to welcome Joey Styles to Raw.” Coach said he was going to step aside from play-by-play this week out of the goodness of his heart, but referred to him as a temporary replacement. That would imply that Ross is slated to return if Styles is just “filling in.” When did Ross get rehired? Or did he? Or haven’t they made up their mind yet and they’re just trying to confuse everyone? Or is it a negotiating ploy to get Styles to think he doesn’t have as much leverage as he would if Ross were not even referred to?

-Eric Bischoff entered the ring. He announced the first three participants in the Raw five-man team at Survivor Series – the tag champs Big Show & Kane and the team captain Shawn Michaels. He said he sees a lot of hunger in the eyes of everyone else. Carlito stepped up and said he would be the best choice. Shelton Benjamin asked Carlito, “Are you high? You lost at Taboo Tuesday.” He then made a case for himself as the best athlete on Raw.

Bischoff said he is feeling might generous. He said the winner of Carlito vs. Shelton would get a Survivor Series team spot. He then asked for someone else volunteer. Trevor Murdoch asked for a tag title rematch. Bischoff granted it to him. Gregory Helms, the former Hurricane, said he wanted to face Rosey. Mickie James said that everyone should give the winner of the Taboo Tuesday women’s battle royal should get a round of applause. She managed to out-shout Bischoff with her excitement; Bischoff was yelling everything he said during this segment to the point that he almost lost his voice which was hoarse to begin with. Bischoff announced the main event tag, then he said he had something to say to Edge and Lita. He said he almost forgot the were there, then asked them to step into the ring.

Bischoff had a clip played of Edge saying at Taboo Tuesday that he doesn’t care about Raw, he only cares about himself. Bischoff told Edge and Lita to cancel their dinner plans because they’re going to Smackdown to compete against Batista in a street fight. Bischoff sternly yelled at Edge, telling him to get out of his ring until he gets the job done at Survivor Series. Bischoff then led the crowd in singing “na na na, hey hey hey, good bye.”

Coach said Styles “picked a hell of a night to fill in.” They showed Michaels, looking rather bored, singing along. Am I the only one who thinks that wrestling never looks sillier than when all of the wrestlers on a roster gather in one place? It just looks like a strange costume show or circus when they’re all there at once. There’s something about everyone being there at once that makes it different than when it’s just one or two or four at a time. It’s a glimpse at what wrestling in general looks like to non-fans who aren’t conditioned to accept these outfits that we don’t even think twice about.

[Commercial Break]

1 — SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. CARLITO COOL

Coach said Carlito will be able to better concentrate on his wrestling now that he’s not hosting the Cabana. Lawler mistaken said that this would be the 27th Survivor Series. That didn’t sound right, and Coach corrected Lawler a few seconds later. He pointed out that the Survivor Series is on Nov. 27, but it’s actually the 21st. The first Survivor Series was on pay-per-view in 1987, which would make this the 19th annual. Carlito avoided a Benjamin wheel kick, then dropkicked his knees, and went for a half Boston crap. Shelton fought it. Shelton rolled through and went for a cover. Carlito reversed it and used the ropes for leverage.

WINNER: Carlito at 6:45.

STAR RATING: ** — Good TV match.

-Mickie James tried to psych up Trish Stratus for their tag match. Trish wanted to talk to her about her, shall we say, enthusiasm for her, but Mickie was too excited to stop talking and pepping her up for the match. Trish rolled her eyes.

-An ad aired for the WrestleMania Anthology DVD.

[Commercial Break]

2 — MICKIE JAMES & TRISH STRATUS vs. CANDICE MICHELE & VICTORIA

Mickie took a beating the first couple of minutes. Mickie went for a victoria roll, but Victoria collapsed under the weight to her knees and turned it into an apparent impromptu hotshot. When Victoria had Mickie pinned, Trish broke it up. Candice handed Victoria a foreign object which she was going to use against Trish. Mickie, though, stepped in the way to take a bullet like Trish. She’d make a good Secret Service Agent.

WINNER: Victoria & Mickie at 3:38.

STAR RATING: *

[Commercial Break]

-Coach, Styles, and Lawler talked about Taboo Tuesday. Styles said Coach may not remember the second half of the event, then broke into a cartoonish hysterical laughter at the memory of Coach getting beaten up. Then went to extended highlight clips from the PPV.

-Big Show told Kane backstage that even though they hadn’t asked to be tag partners, they have to work together to beat the former champs in a hardcore match. He asked what his strategy is. Kane went into a brutal gameplan. Show said, “That’s beautiful, that’s beautiful. I’m with you all the way.” He then began shaking with intensity. Pretty corny.

[Commercial Break]

3 — GREGORY HELMS vs. ROSEY

Rosey dominated the match including a brief fight at ringside. Helms won with the Shining Wizard. As Coach said he liked Helms’s new attitude, Lawler said he looked constipated.

WINNER: Helms at 2:11.

STAR RATING: 1/4* — It feels as if Rosey would be a good choice for the betting pool of who will be part of the next roster cutback. Helms’s gimmick is pretty undefined and he may be vulnerable, too. Removing a mask and looking stern is not a substitution for actual character development.

-They showed Murdoch & Cade backstage carting weapons toward the entrance. Styles said he feels very at home with hardcore.

[Commercial Break]

4 — BIG SHOW & KANE vs. LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH — World Tag Team Title match

After Show and Kane dominated early, Cade pulled down the top rope as Show bounced into the ropes, sending Show tumbling. They used a trash can lid against Kane and double-teamed him inside the ring. When Kane went for a chokeslam on both Murdoch and Cade, they kicked him low to break it up. Show entered the ring to help Kane regain control. Kane used a kendo stick to beat the heels. Show and Kane took turns bashing Murdoch with a trash can. They put the can over his head and kicked it. Cade retreated up the rampway. Show and Kane chased after him, ramming him into the entrance set wall. Kane cleared the announcers’ table of monitors (because he’s either budget conscious or in this hardcore match felt it would be a bit much to hurt them too badly). Kane then chokeslammed Cade through the bare table and scored the pin.

WINNERS: Show & Kane at 5:40.

STAR RATING: *1/4 – Basic garbage match. The way Cade & Murdoch have been destroyed, they have no credibility left as heels. WWE would draw better if they’d go back to the basics of what’s historically drawn, which building strong heels. Cade & Murdoch are the top heel tag team and they get thoughtlessly destroyed by an impromptu team of giants. There’s not much left for fans to feel toward Cade & Murdoch; they seem hapless and harmless.

[Commercial Break]

-Kurt Angle walked out to the ring to a chant of “You Suck.” He was upset with the chant and said it was disrespectful and unacceptable. He said he was leaving and would come back out. He wanted proper respect this time. He came out again and the fans chanted “You suck” again. Angle said they had one last chance and said if they were dumb enough to chant it again, they’d lose their main event.

Styles said, “Isn’t one of the three ‘I’s’ intelligence? Does he really think this will work.” Angle said the fans are hypocrites for letting their children chant that at an Olympic Gold Medalist. Angle then went into a rage about how he had several neck surgeries, his wife left him, and he missed his babies first words because he was wrestling for them, the fans. “And this is the thanks I get?” He concluded, “You and your main event can go right to hell.” Styles said he’s never seen Angle so angry.

[Commercial Break]

-Backstage, Bischoff told Angle he couldn’t quit the main event. Angle said he wanted two things from Bischoff – a special referee of his choice and the fans to stop chanting “You suck.” Bischoff said he could get him his ref, but he couldn’t control the fans. Angle said no deal. Bischoff then said he had a plan.

-Triple H came out with a bandage on his forehead and sat down to watch Ric Flair’s match in person.

[Commercial Break]

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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5 — RIC FLAIR vs. ROB CONWAY

Coach tried to talk up Conway’s chances. Nobody bought it. Flair won with the figure-four. He used the crotch-grab to help weaken Conway; it seems to be a way to establish Flair as being a dirty player and also a courtesy on Flair’s part so his opponents don’t feel so bad doing the job to a near sixty year old. After the match, Hunter walked to ringside and brawled with Flair. Flair chopped him into the crowd. They fought through the arena.

WINNER: Flair at 4:10.

STAR RATING: 3/4*

-Smackdown Rebound aired.

[Commercial Break]

-They replayed Bischoff kicked Edge and Lita out of arena, then plugged the Batista vs. Edge street fight on Smackdown this week.

-Backstage, Bischoff instructed someone on the phone to hit the censor button when he shouts “Now!” later. Lita then entered the room and asked Bischoff if he thought it was smart to send one of his top stars to Smackdown to face Batista in a street fight. Lita came on to Bischoff and flashed him. Bischoff smiled, but told her to put those things back where they belong. Bischoff said: “You can put an eye out with one of those. Get the hell out of my building. Slut!” Lawler said, “I can’t believe my eyes. I wish I had his eyes.”

6 — KURT ANGLE & CHRIS MASTERS vs. SHAWN MICHAELS & JOHN CENA

Masters came out first. As Angle walked out, they beeped every time the fans chanted “You suck.” I don’t get it, though. How did Angle not hear the fans if he was in the arena? It’s not as if the beeps drowned out the sound of the fans chanting in the arena just because the viewers on TV couldn’t hear it. But Angle smiled and seemed satisfied. Michaels then came out. Styles said he doesn’t see how Cena and Michaels can coexist when Michaels wants to be WWE Champion once again. Angle’s special hand-picked referee was the long-lost Daivari who came out to remix of his old music.

[Commercial Break]

The match was joined in progress after the break. Daivari made fast-counts against Michaels and Cena, but slow counts for Michaels and Cena. The heels isolated Michaels. Styles blew a gasket over Daivari’s favoritism toward the heels. Michaels DDT’d out of an Angle suplex at 6:00. Daivari encouraged Angle to get up as he counted toward ten. Michaels hot-tagged Cena, who showed great fire as he worked over Angle and Masters. He lifted Angle for an FU, but Masters gave Cena a low blow from behind. Daivari turned his back conveniently and scolded Michaels for nothing. Styles was late in pointing that out and may have been prompted over the headset to bring that up.

Angle and Masters isolated Cena. Michaels got a hot-tag at 9:30 and went to work on both heels with a high-energy attack. The crowd ate it up. Angle snuck a chair from ringside and slid it to Masters. It blocked Michaels from hitting the top rope elbow. Daivari let it happen. Masters then hit Michaels with the chair. Michaels took the chair and swung it at Masters. Daivari grabbed it and DQ’d Michaels. Michaels gave a superkick to Masters. Angle clotheslined Michaels over the top rope, then hit Cena across the back with a chair. The crowd chanted “You suck” to Angle’s music.

Styles mistakenly said that the fans at home couldn’t hear it, which needlessly drew attention to the fact that Angle could hear the chants before the match, too. Even worse, the chants weren’t being bleeped on TV, which was pointed out by Lawler. Styles screamed regarding the finish, “This sucks! This sucks! Styles did all right. What you’d expect from him. He’s not as good as Ross overall, but added to the show compared to Coach. Of course, Andy Rooney might be better than Coach at play-by-play. It’s just not Coach’s thing.

WINNERS: Angle & Masters via DQ at 10:20.

STAR RATING: **1/2 — Solid, above-average, formula TV main event tag match. It was what it needed to be.haels with the chair. Michaels took the chair and swung it at Masters. Daivari grabbed it and DQ’d Michaels. Michaels gave a superkick to Masters. Angle clotheslined Michaels over the top rope, then hit Cena across the back with a chair. The crowd chanted “You suck” to Angle’s music. Styles mistakenly said that the fans at home couldn’t hear it, which needlessly drew attention to the fact that Angle could hear the chants before the match, too. Even worse, the chants weren’t being bleeped on TV, which was pointed out by Lawler. Styles screamed regarding the finish, “This sucks! This sucks! Styles did all right.” What you’d expect from him. He’s not as good as Ross overall, but added to the show compared to Coach. Of course, Andy Rooney might be better than Coach at play-by-play. It’s just not Coach’s thing.

WINNERS: Angle & Masters via DQ at 10:20.

STAR RATING: **1/2 — Solid, above-average, formula TV main event tag match. It was what it needed to be.

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