Amazon Web Services Inc. announced today it has signed a deal with the National Hockey League to become the official cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning infrastructure provider of the largest ice hockey league in North America.

Under the deal, AWS will enable the NHL to automate video processing and content delivery in the cloud and leverage its Puck and Player Tracking System to capture more details of gameplay for its fans, teams and media partners.

In partnership with AWS, the NHL will also build an enterprise video platform to aggregate video, data and related applications into one central repository that will enable easier search and retrieval of archival video footage. That will give broadcasters instant access to NHL content for syndication and licensing, facilitating the creation and delivery of new in-game analyses, predictions and video highlights to enhance mobile, online and broadcast experiences.

Under the partnership, the NHL will work directly with the Amazon Machine Learning Solutions Lab to apply AWS’ portfolio of machine learning services to game video and official NHL data for the delivery of real-time stats. The partnership will also include the development of shared advanced game analytics and metrics to take fans “deeper into the game.”

Using AWS Elemental Media Services, the NHL also plans to develop and manage a cloud-based HD and 4K video content delivery system that will provide a complete view of the game to NHL officials, coaches, players and fans. AWS will encode, process, store and transmit game footage from a series of new camera angles to provide continuous video feeds that capture plays and events outside the field of view of traditional broadcast cameras.

Amazon Kinesis and machine learning services such as Amazon SageMaker will also be leveraged by the NHL to audit its feeds to broadcast partners in real-time.

The deal between the AFL and NHL is reminiscent of a similar deal Amazon has with the National Football League.

“AWS is working with the world’s most renowned sports leagues to better understand their data and innovate upon it using our deep portfolio of machine learning services,” Andy Jassy, chief executive officer of AWS and soon to be CEO of Amazon.com Inc., said in a statement. “With this agreement, AWS will provide our industry-leading cloud technology to the NHL, becoming a foundational partner in delivering NHL performance analytics and collaborating to enhance the way people experience hockey by providing more engaging content and greater insights to fans.”

Among those fans is Jassy, who is on the ownership group of the Kraken, Seattle’s new NHL franchise.

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