NHL team the Pittsburgh Penguins made an extra special start to the season with Robe’s ‘Cyclone’ LED wash light/fan fixtures.

As part of a pre-show event staged at the team’s Consol Energy Center home venue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, the Cyclones were placed in the runway tunnel used by the players as they came onto the ice for the traditional players entrance for the 2014-15 season opener.

Each skater emerged from the corridor through a fog screen with a special ‘Pittsburgh Penguins’ animation projected onto it together with each player’s jersey number. As they approached the fogscreen, a Cyclone was used on the ground to back light the player, which was then tilted down to flare dramatically into the camera lens as they walked out.

Another Cyclone was positioned next to the door used by the players to enter their bench area, and this fixture played into the last camera shot as they hit the ice. The game was broadcast on Root Sports and the NHL network.

The opening match show was lit by Kevin Hogan from Process of Illumination, and the Cyclones were supplied by Mainlight and Karate Pinky Visual Design, a company run by lighting designer Scott Warner, who originated the Cyclone concept.

Hogan also uses 12 Robe ‘Pointes’ in his house rig at the venue, which were also prominent during the season-opening show.

The Penguins defeated the visiting Anaheim Ducks 6-4 in the season-opening game.