Google's DeepMind Defeats the Toronto Maple Leafs

Three members of the DeepMind team during the opening skate.

TORONTO, ON - DeepMind defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 5-0 in exhibition play last night. It was the first time an AI has won a hockey game against a professional team. Demis Hassabis describes this as "Phenomenal."

"We've had a lot of difficulties trying to teach DeepMind to play team sports. Up to this point it was mainly basic video games and board games. But this goes to show just how versatile DeepMind is," Hassabis continued. "Especially when DeepMind lacks important details, such as opposable thumbs or knees that bend, or even having legs at all."

DeepMind is designed to learn in a way similar to humans. By practicing and observing games, the AI learns the rules, and soon develops combinations of how to respond to situations as they arise within the rules. By observing it's environment, it learns and adapts. So how did DeepMind learn Hockey?

"We started with some video games," Hassabis went on. "We had DeepMind play thousands of games on NHL '95 to get a feel for the basics. Then we had him run hundreds of thousands of reviews of recent games to understand most of the standard plays and changes to the rules since the Super Nintendo era. After a slight neural pruning process, we set him up against Toronto, just to test it out, and the results were better than we had hoped."

Their next goal is to test DeepMind against better teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, who hold the record for most Stanley Cup Wins, as well as against more recent and relevant Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

DeepMind staff hope to have enough data from the World Cup of Hockey to prepare for a best of 8 series against Team Canada late next year, with a possible upcoming series against Russia.

Read More

Montreal Canadiens Sign Justin Trudeau

Justin Trudeau celebrates after his signing.

MONTREAL QC - Justin Trudeau has signed a historic deal with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2016-17 season, GM Marc Bergevin confirmed at a media scrum Friday.

"We need an enforcer who's fit, and can score goals, and while he sometimes misses the mark, he still delivers strong," Bergevin stated. "And he plays some old-school style of hockey. We haven't seen elbows like that since the days of Gordie Howe."

Trudeau for his part, is taking it easy. He's been seen practicing along the Rideau Canal outside parliament, working on his footwork and improving his stickhandling. He even challenged several members of the NDP caucus to a game. NDP Team Captain Mulcair has declined the challenge, stating that "He's just too physical for a game of pick-up hockey. We're still not recovered from the last time we played. Brosseau is still day-to-day."

This is new territory for the former boxer, who often cites aggressive players as an influence. Recently, he's turned to fellow former boxer and hockey player Rocky Thompson for advice. Rocky has made it clear that Trudeau is going to be put on the ice to fight. Trudeau on the other hand, has been very clear: "Yes, I'm signed as a fighter. But this isn't the 90's anymore. This is a new NHL, and I'm going to have to earn my keep here. My stickhandling is improving, as I'm working on my wrist-shot. It doesn't matter how many times I hit someone on the ice if I can't put the puck in the net."

Read More

Edmonton Oilers trade Rexall Place.

EDMONTON, AB - Oilers Entertainment Group and Katz Group held a press conference after this evening's game to announce the trade of the Rexall Place.

"We just felt it wasn't enough of an on-ice contributor anymore," said OEG Cheif Executive Bob Nicholson. "An offer was made and we had to take it."

A file photo of Rexall Place doing what it does best on the ice.
image source: mastermaq

After the game, many former Edmonton Oilers players came around to say goodbye. It's believed the arena was one of the largest contributors to the team's many Stanley Cup victories during the 80's, and had a much longer career in the sport than most athletes. "Rexall Place was beginning to get old. You could tell. It loved the sport dearly, and we will miss its presence, but we felt it was time for for it to retire," Nicholson continued.

In exchange, the Oilers have received 40 copies of the NHL rulebook, enough for the players and most of the coaching staff leading into the next training camp. It's expected many of the players and staff will be thoroughly reviewing the rules of the game. It was especially shocking to Coach Todd McLellan to learn that the objective of hockey was to win. "Now I feel disappointed. All those draft picks we got... we didn't earn them. We may have to send Conner [McDavid] to a more deserving team like Boston or Pittsburgh.

"Rexall was great in the locker room. It was good times. We were always comfortable." Said leaseholder and team owner Daryl Katz. Co-captain Andrew Ference concurred. "I love the place, you know? But I understand why we're doing this. Everyone has to say goodbye someday, and now is the time for the Oilers and Rexall place to part ways. But we had some great times, and wish it all the best."

The Oilers will start playing in Roger's place next season.

Read More