Friday, September 8, 2017

Vancouver Rangers Midget Practice

After Action Report

9/8/2017

ACTION: Vancouver Rangers Practice
LOCATION: Mt View Ice Arena, Vancouver, WA
TIME: 7:30pm


Hardware

Canon Vixia HF M41 (camcorder), Seesi HDV-UH60 HDMI to USB3.0, InnerTeck Tripod (70in), Toshiba SATELLITE P55W-B5318, Huawei Nexus 6P (hotspot), Anker PowerCore+ 20100mAh External Battery, AC Portable Charger RAVPower 27000mAh 100W(Max.)

Software

OBS Studio 19.0.2 (64bit, Windows), Chrome Version 58.0.3029.110 (64bit)


Broadcast Details

Basic Ingestion - 500-2000Kbps (480p), Enable 60fps NOT checked.
Primary Server URL - rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2
Network - TMobile hotspot
Data Usage - 219MB

Made sure to setup the USB Video Capture Device (camcorder) to 1280x720p resolution. Then set Output stream to 852x480. This matched the Youtube page's Ingest setting. Had some difficulty with sound until I realized that OBS was set to stream the laptops default mics, in addition to the camcorders mics. The laptop mics were peaking terribly. Once I muted the onboard mics, the sound became clear over YouTube.

Setup the broadcast as an event. Learned that you can stop the stream in OBS, change a setting, then start the stream in OBS all while the event is live. The video stalls out on YouTube of course, but when the stream starts again in OBS it picks up again. I had previously thought that if you did that it would kill the Event. This is good. It means I'll be able to set up each game as an 'event' Should make it easier to distribute the links. I can get them in advance and send them out over Teamsnap.

The new tripod is working, but it is stiff when panning up and down. Side to side is smooth. Strange thing; I can't find a way to lock the head so it doesn't pan horizontally. Still a work in progress. The new AC charger worked well. I used it to power the camcorder. I plan on using it to power the computer during games. I used the Anker PowerCore to power the phone. Both worked great. 

Sunday, May 28, 2017

New Hardware, New Process

Warning! This post doesn't involve Hockey or Hockey things. This post is all about game broadcasting. In this case, live streaming on the PDX Hockey Dad YouTube channel. I always try to use a systematic approach to improving the quality, efficiency, and entertainment value of the game broadcasts that I put out. I'm going to formalize that going forward by writing post game reports. I'm going to include Hardware, Software, Settings, problems, etc. So, without further ado, the first After Action Report.

After Action Report
5/28/2017

ACTION: BOLO West Linn 7/8 vs Hillsboro 7/8
LOCATION: Lakeridge HS Turf 2
TIME: 9:15 am

Hardware: Canon Vixia HF M41 (camcorder), Seesi HDV-UH60 HDMI to USB3.0, Quantaray QSX9500 tripod, Toshiba SATELLITE P55W-B5318, Huawei Nexus 6P(hotspot), Anker PowerCore+ 20100mAh External Battery, Folding Barstool (computer table)
Software: OBS Studio 19.0.2 (64bit, Windows), Chrome Version 58.0.3029.110 (64-bit)

Broadcast Details:
Basic Ingestion - 500-2000Kbps(480p), Enable 60fps NOT checked.
Primary Server URL - rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2
Network - TMobile hotspot
Data Used - ~700mb


The video appears choppy. It could be because when you are streaming as a 'Live Event' you need to choose the quality of your stream. 1280x720 (which is what was set in OBS) resolution (720p) requires a bitrate of 1500-4000. The resolution should have been set to 854x480 in OBS Settings/Video/Output(Scaled) Resolution. That might solve the problem. NOTE Apparently this is only necessary for 'Live Event' streaming. From the YouTube Help page "If you're using Stream now, you do not need to set a bitrate. Stream now will automatically detect your encoder settings."

At halftime of the game, I clicked the Stop Streaming button in the Live Control Room page of the broadcast. This stopped the stream AND stopped the event. I wasn't expecting that. I looked for a way to re-open the event and couldn't see anything right off. Since this was a 'proof of concept' outing and not anything I was interested in preserving, I ended up packing up and going home.

I arranged for YouTube to share on Twitter when the event started, but I am not entirely thrilled with how that turned out. A Tweet was sent, but it was pretty generic. It did have the link and the video description that I entered into YouTube.

I had the score bug up but didn't feel confident enough in using it to give it a whirl. my screen real estate is eaten up by OBS and the YouTube window.

Further preparation will be necessary for the score bug to be used. Still do-able, but need to go through some dry runs.


UPDATE
After some playing around, I determined that what was happening with the 'stutter' was that I had the resolution of the input device set at default. The default was 1920x1080. That is what is coming out of the camcorder, but my capture device was having a hard time keeping up with that. I changed that to 1280x720 and the picture is now much smoother. So the steps in OBS... Add Video Capture Device, Select USB3.0 Capture Video, Change Resolution/FPS Type to Custom, Change Resolution to 1280x720. 

You need to adjust the video in OBS studio to match the new input setting. Go into Settings, Video, and change the Base Canvas resolution to 1280x720.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Portland Jr Winterhawks U16 vs Everett Jr Silvertips U16AAA

Image Credit Anders Nystroem, @AndersNystroem on Twitter


The Portland Jr. Winterhawks U16 team hosts the Everett Jr. Silvertips U16AAA team this Sunday at Sherwood Ice Arena. I thought it might be fun to dust off the old blog and give people a primer on the two teams they will see this weekend.

The Everett Jr Silvertips have tapped former NHL player, and Seattle Thunderbirds coach Turner Stevenson to coach their U16 team this year. The Jr. Silvertips have 12 players that attended WHL camps this summer.


After some tune up games in Canada to start the season, the Jr Silvertips began league play in the North American Prospects Hockey League on September 22nd in Blaine, MN. The Silvertips went 3-2 in the showcase with wins over the Esmark Stars, Washington Little Capitals, and Meijer AAA. Colburn and Stevenson led the team in goals with 4 each. Butt and Campbell led the team in Assists with 6 each. Dubicki led the team with 7 PIM's.

'01 Goalie Devin Chapman (35) was in net for four games, going 2-2 with a 3.51GAA and a .873 SV%. Goalie Jakob Fry (1) was in net for the Silvertips 6-1 win over the Little Capitals. He allowed 1 goal on 13 shots. Jakob was on the SnoKing Jr. Thunderbirds Bantam team when they went to USA Hockey's Tier II National Championship in 2015.

The Portland Jr Winterhawks are 7-5 on the season. A rough 0-2 start against the Couer d'Alene Hockey Academy U16 Varsity team, led to a 3-2 showing in San Jose, CA. The San Jose trip included two wins against the West Coast Renegades U16 National team, and a win over the Las Vegas Jr Storm U16AAA's. Portland spent last weekend in Richmond, BC at the Seafair 2016 Ice Breaker tournament. They went 4-1 in the tournament, losing in the championship game to the Vancouver Thunderbirds.

Portland is led by team Captain Greg Ross (15), and Alternates Owen Ward (10), Henry Andres (4), Walker Reiersgaard (16), and Austin Pick (8). Austin Pick returns to Portland after playing the last year in Canada for Pursuit of Excellence. Clayton Littlefield (11) played for the Everett Jr Silvertips last year and made the jump to Portland this year. Goalie Ben Greenlee (20) comes to Portland from Temecula, CA.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

08-12-2015 Episode 007 of The Portland Hockey Dad Podcast

Episode 7 of The Portland Hockey Dad Podcast

Checking for Charity: Beef and Beer Charity Auction Tickets Remember to put "Jr Hawks" or "Midget" after the Name of Ticket Purchaser to make sure part of your ticket proceeds go directly to supporting the PJW U16AAA team

PJW Travel Team tryouts have been held, rosters have been posted on the website
Coaches:
Squirt Minor (2006) - Paul Doherty
Squirt Major (2005) - Paul Doherty
Peewee Minor (2004) - Neil Wilkinson
Peewee Major (2003) - Jason McBain
Bantam A (2001/2002) - Dean Rurak
Bantam AA (2001/2002) - Bruce Pritchard
U16AAA (1999/2000) - Scott Brown

Portland Winterhawks Assistant Coach Kyle Gustafson is holding a Jr Prep camp this week at Winterhawks Skate Center in Beaverton, OR.

3 Former Portland Jr Winterhawks will be attending the Portland Winterhawks main camp:


  • Caleb Dahme (99), 6’3, 205lb D-man. Caleb grew up playing in Portland. He played last year with the West Coast Renegades U16 team. He is currently on the Portland Jr Winterhawks U16AAA roster.
  • Sammy Willman (00), Sammy was one of the team captains for the U14AA PJW team that won the USA Hockey Tier II 1A National Championship. He had 102 goals in 54 games last year, Including an end to end OT game winner in the Natl Championship game. He was credited with 31 assists, but because of deficient stat enterers that number is incomplete. He had 17 Short Handed Goals, and a Shot Percentage of 32%. He took 948 faceoffs last year and won 56% of them. Sammy was selected to participate at the USA Hockey U15 National Development camp put on in Buffalo NY in July.
  • Riley Morgan (00), Riley played for the Portland Jr Hawks from Mites through Peewee’s. He left Portland for the Arizona Bobcats to play his Bantam hockey. He made it out of USA Hockey’s  Rocky Mountain Region to compete at the USA Hockey U15 National Development camp where he led all goaltenders with a .926 Save Percentage. He allowed 4 goals in 5 appearances, including 3 shut out showings.
The newly created Vancouver Rangers are getting ready to host their first ever main camp. Follow them on... Facebook, and Twitter


Checking for Charity: Beef and Beer Charity Auction Tickets Remember to put "Jr Hawks" or "Midget" after the Name of Ticket Purchaser to make sure part of your ticket proceeds go directly to supporting the PJW U16AAA team

Yes Checking for Charity is here twice. No it wasn't an accident, and thanks for reading all the way to the bottom of the show notes!


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Episode 007

Thursday, July 23, 2015

07-23-2015 Episode 006 of The Portland Hockey Dad Podcast

Episode 6 of the Portland Hockey Dad Podcast
Recorded July 23rd, 2015 at SnoKing Ice Arena in Kingsgate Washington.

Follow Quinn's Ultimate Goaltending Camp on Facebook. New pictures are being posted daily.

USA Hockey Youth Tier II 14U 1A National Championships
USA Hockey Tier 2 Championships were held in Salt Lake City UT.

Ridge Meadows Hometown Heroes Spring Tournament
Peewee AA team played in the Peewee Tier 2 bracket. The highest Peewe bracket in the tournament.

John White Memorial Hockey Tournament
The PJW Squirt Minor team travelled to Victoria BC to play in and win the 2015 John White Memorial tournament.

Whistler All-Star Hockey Invitational
The Pacific Northwest Hawks, a new Spring team of predominantly PJW players was put together to compete in the Whistler All-Star Invitational this Summer.
2006: 0-4 with a -39 goal differential
2005: 0-4 with a -44 goal differential
2003: 0-4 with a -29 goal differential
*2004: 0-3 with a -27 goal differential
2002: 0-4 with a -34 goal differential
2000: 0-4 with a -36 goal differential
Avg of -34.8 goal diff
*Couldn't find the results from their 4th game

Coming up
Progressive Goaltending Camp at WSC Aug 3-7.
Put on by Adam Gardner
Adam played for the University of Denver from 2010-2012. He has experience coaching with PJW and he spent this last season working with KHL Sisak over in Croatia

Junior Prep Camp at WSC Aug 10-13
Put on by Kyle Gustafson

San Jose USHL showcase
The U16 team will be travelling to San Jose over Labor Day weekend to compete in the USHL showcase.

Intro Music - Life is a Highway, Tom Cochrane
Outro Music - Can't Stop Us, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

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Episode 006

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

03-03-2015 Episode 004 of The Portland Hockey Dad Podcast

This week on the PDX Hockey Dad podcast...
14U Tier II Nationals are coming up. Keep up with them on Twitter @14UNationalsTII

Check out My Hockey Rankings. Great spot to see how good those teams you don't know are.

Contact the show
Email PDXHockeyDad@gmail.com
Twitter @PDXHockeydad
YouTube ChannelThe Portland Hockey Dad

Episode 004