from Deborah M. Todd of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Seven years after the Pittsburgh Penguins helped to transform a Carnegie Mellon University research project into a viable tech business, the professional hockey team is hoping for another score with local startups.

The Pens and the Pittsburgh Technology Council teamed up in June to issue a call to Pittsburgh’s techies to submit ideas for software, hardware, data analysis techniques or other products that can give them a technological edge over National Hockey League competitors.

The call, which ends today, requested brief videos or essays explaining the ideas and how they can benefit the Penguins. While the team is open to suggestions, according to senior director of technology Erik Watts, it has its heart set on ideas that relate to fan amenities and immersion, keepsakes, games, increased interaction, social media engagement, big data analysis, automation and other areas.

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