If you run a tournament, charity game, alumni game, or showcase, there are three kinds of companies that can put it on a screen: automated rink cameras, league streaming platforms, and hired production crews. Here is who does what, what each is good for, and how to choose. We are one of the crews, and we have tried to be fair to everyone else.
Type 1
Fixed cameras installed in the rink that record every game automatically. No crew, no commentary, one wide angle. Families pay a subscription to watch. If your event is at a rink that has one, it is probably already recording.
What it is: The most widespread automated camera network in youth and amateur hockey, installed in rinks across the US and Canada, with live and on demand viewing by subscription.
Best for: Parents and relatives who want to watch any game from anywhere. Not a broadcast, and not promotion.
What it is: The streaming network for arenas owned or partnered with Black Bear Sports Group, using automated panoramic cameras that follow play.
Best for: Events held inside a Black Bear arena. Coverage is tied to the building.
Type 2
Platforms that host streams for leagues and organizers. Some bring a crew to marquee events, most give you the pipe and leave production to you.
What it is: A subscription streaming service that holds rights to leagues and showcases, including ACHA college hockey and the SPHL, and produces or hosts those broadcasts.
Best for: Leagues and sanctioned events with a rights deal. Not available for a one off tournament unless you are already on the platform.
What it is: The streaming and highlight platform from NBC Sports Next, used by many youth organizations and tournament operators to stream and clip games.
Best for: Organizations already running registration on SportsEngine that want streaming inside the same system.
What it is: A free streaming tool that turns a GoPro or Mevo into a live stream with a scorebug and automatic player clips.
Best for: Teams or small events that want to stream themselves on a budget and do not need commentary or a crew.
Type 3
People who show up with cameras and make your event look like a broadcast. This is the only category that includes commentary, graphics, short form content, and promotion. It is also the only category that travels to you.
What it is: Slapstick Hockey is a traveling hockey media brand that creates short form content, covers and livestreams events, and promotes hockey tournaments, charity games, alumni games, and showcases across the United States. Based in Alabama, booked nationwide. Multi camera broadcasts with real play by play, short form content edited on site and posted the same day, and event promotion to 86K+ hockey fans.
Best for: Organizers who want an audience, not just a recording: tournaments, charity games, alumni games, and showcases that need coverage and promotion in one crew.
What it is: A Birmingham, Alabama sports broadcast and videography group that produces live games and events for venues and teams in the Southeast.
Best for: Alabama and Southeast events that want a regional broadcast crew.
What it is: A hockey specific video company that travels nationally for high end tournament game footage and recruiting highlight reels.
Best for: Players and programs that want recruiting film and polished game footage.
What it is: A camera crew network supplying videographers and live streaming across Alabama, Tennessee, and the wider Southeast.
Best for: Organizers who need to staff a crew for a one off event and will handle the rest themselves.
How To Choose
A rink camera gives families a recording. A crew with commentary and short form content gives the event an audience, which is what sponsors and next year's teams care about.
Same day posting is what moves registrations and sponsor value. Ask when the first clip goes live.
Get it in writing. You should be able to use everything on your own channels.
Crews that travel should build it in. If it is a separate line, ask for the total before you sign.
Hype content before, live clips during, recap after. If a provider only turns the camera on at puck drop, you are buying a recording.
FAQ
Three kinds of providers: automated rink camera networks like LiveBarn and Black Bear TV, league streaming platforms like FloHockey and SportsEngine Play, and hired production crews like Slapstick Hockey that bring cameras, commentary, and content to your event.
A rink camera records every game from one fixed angle with no commentary. A production crew brings multiple cameras, play by play, graphics, and short form content, and promotes the event. Rink cameras are for parents who missed a game. Crews are for events that want an audience.
Automated rink cameras are usually a subscription parents pay. Hired crews quote per event based on days, games, and deliverables. Slapstick quotes within 24 hours and builds travel into the number.
Yes. Slapstick Hockey offers event promotion: pre event hype content, live social clips, sponsor reads, and a post event recap, in addition to coverage and livestreams.
Descriptions of other providers are based on their public websites as of October 2026. If we have something wrong, email info@underhillmedia.com and we will fix it.
Tell us about your event — we quote within 24 hours, no obligation.
Book Slapstick → or email info@underhillmedia.com