Hockey Scoreboard Simulator
This program helps you learn how to run a common hockey scoreboard without having to find someone to teach you and travel to the rink to practice. I have been to youth games where there was a last minute panic looking for someone who knows how to run the clock, so the more people who learn, the better. It is available for both MS Windows and Android. Please note that it was designed to emulate an actual scoreboard. The scoreboards are not intuitive to use, so neither is this. It is not hard, however, and I have included a brief cheat sheet showing how to perform common operations on the scoreboard. Only the commonly used functions are simulated. If you want to see other features, let me know by email. I do have upgrades planned, so watch here for new versions. You can check your current version in the About box, which is launched by pressing the logo on the scoreboard screen.
MS Windows version (current version 2.0, Oct 2017): (currently requires Java 8 - conversion to Java 10+ is pending)
This requires the Java 1.7 or later run-time (the JRE). Most computers have this installed already, but if you do not, you can get it at www.java.com.
It will launch separate windows for both the control panel and the scoreboard.
A cheat sheet for operating the control panel is installed as a PDF file (look in the installation folder).
This can also be used as an actual scoreboard by dragging the scoreboard window onto a large second monitor and maximizing it (or enlarging it to the desired size).
If that monitor is not visible to the control screen operator, simply press the Clone Scoreboard button and drag the cloned screen next to the control panel.
Android version:
I've had to put off an effort to update this for equivalence to the Windows version, so you'll have to contact me if you'd like to see a functional, but not complete, preview.
======================================================
Other Files included with the MS Windows version ...
======================================================
CheatSheet.pdf: handy single-page cheatsheet for clock operators of the scoreboard model this program emulates.
Penalty_Terminations.ppt: USA Hockey presentation explaining how penalties are terminated.
PenaltyOnDelay.pdf: answers an interesting question that once came up for me.
======================================================
Want to encourage further development with a donation?
======================================================
If this software saved you some trips to the rink for gas money, how about sharing some of your gas savings?
If your organization is using this as an actual scoreboard in your rink, how about sharing a bit of the cost savings?
To donate, press the logo on the scoreboard to get to the About box, which contains a donation button, or use this:
======================================================
FAQ
======================================================
Q: The Junior Chiefs are cool and everything, but I'd like to substitute a logo for my organization. Can I do that?
A: Yep, just replace the logo.png file with what you want. The size isn't critical, as the software will resize it with the scoreboard window.
Q: I'd like to customize the labels on the Home and Visitor scores. Can I do that?
A: Yes, just edit the corresponding entries in the preferences.txt file.
Q: I'd like to customize the colors of the 7 segment displays on the scoreboard. Can I do that?
A: Yes, the preferences.txt file contains lines where you can specify individual colors (in R,G,B) for the time display, the score displays, the period number, and the penalty displays.
Q: Can I make the scoreboard display the current system time?
A: Yes, press the Clock Modes button, and answer the confirmation question with Yes or No. Note that regardless of whether the scoreboard is displaying game time or time of day, the control panel continues to display game time. Note also that you are allowed to change the scoreboard display to time of day when the game clock is running. You probably don't want to do that though. This isn't on the cheat sheet because it is done a bit differently than our actual unit.
Q: Are there any other choices for the scoreboard display?
A: At present there are two. One has a light background, the other a dark background. See the corresponding entry in preferences.txt
Q: Why are some buttons beeping at me?
A: Either because they are inappropriate in the current state, or represent a feature that is not simulated.
Q: The simulator forces me to turn on the system before I do anything else. I get that that is a simulation feature, but can I turn that off in order to make it easier to use as an actual scoreboard?
A: Yes, you can change this by entering "false" on that first line of the preferences.txt file. You can then skip the irritating questions that it asks at startup by NOT turning the system on.
Q: If the console knows I entered an incorrect code, why do I have to enter one at all?
A: The real machine that this emulates doesn't know your model code until you enter it. I don't simulate what happens if you enter the code wrong (I'm not even sure - probably some bizarre behavior due to a different button layout or something). So in this case the simulator just watches to make sure you do it correctly for this example model (I used a fictitious model number in case the real manufacturer would have a problem with my using the real one, but it is in the same format as the real machine). If this is irritating, you can bypass the startup sequence altogether (see the previous question).
Q: Why can't I answer YES to those first two startup questions?
A: In the real world you can. But our organization does not use shot clocks or penalty time outs, and I'm not aware of anyone who does. Maybe penalty time outs are used during run-clock games, but I don't know. If you need either feature, just let me know. In the meantime, I just ask you to answer NO to those like our operators normally would. If this is irritating, you can bypass the startup sequence altogether (see the previous question).
Q: Are you going to add Penalty insertions?
A: Maybe. I did not bother in the first release because I have not seen a situation where it is necessary, nor could I find another scorekeeper at my association, other than myself, who had actually figured out how to do it. Perhaps in some strange case where the added penalty should have been 2nd instead of 3rd, but that can be dealt with without the insertion feature as well (although you would have to clear one and enter 2 in that case). So let me know if you want this feature.
Q: How can I request features or report a bug?
A: Press the logo on the scoreboard. You will find my website address on the dialog that pops up. On the home page of my website you'll find my email address.
Q: I run something other than Windows. Do you have any plans to port this?
A: This was written in Java, so it should run on either Mac or Linux as well, as long as they are running Oracle's version of Java (and not OpenJDK). The easiest way to run this on one of those systems is probably to first install it on a Windows system, and then copy the installation directory to your other system. That way you'll have all the auxiliary files as well as the executable jar file. If you have trouble with this, email me and I'll walk you through it.
Q: I like it and I use it. Can I contribute to the cause?
A: Sure. Press the logo for that as well, or the donate button you'll find on the website.
======================================================
A few final comments ...
======================================================
Go Junior Chiefs!
Go Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy!
Go Wenatchee Wilderness!