Coming soon to an EA Sports game near you, the Chilliwack Bruins.
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and Electronic Arts Inc. announced on Friday a four-year agreement that will see the league included in EA SPORTS™ NHL® products. The Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), will all have their teams and players represented in EA SPORTS NHL 11 when it becomes available in retail stores this September.
“The CHL is very excited to partner with an industry leader like EA SPORTS to create a brand new way for CHL fans to associate with their favorite teams and players,” said CHL president David Branch. “This opportunity also provides EA SPORTS fans around the world the ability to learn more about the next wave of NHL stars as they compete in the best development league in the world.”
Representing 51 Canadian and nine American teams with players aged 16-20 the CHL is the number one provider of talent to the NHL. 47 per cent of all players selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft came from CHL teams. The 2010 NHL Entry Draft could mark the fourth straight year where a CHL player is selected first overall, with Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers and Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires representing the top two ranked players by NHL Central Scouting.
“It’s exciting to have the CHL integrated into our game for the first time,” said Jordan Edelstein, VP of Marketing at EA SPORTS. “Their inclusion will make NHL 11 the most definitive and complete hockey experience available.”
The licensing agreement between EA SPORTS and the CHL allows the following to be included in NHL 11:
· Ability to play with all 60 teams that make up the CHL
· Names and Likenesses of players that are on the rosters of a CHL team
· Mastercard Memorial Cup
· CHL new RBK Edge Jersey design in NHL 11
· WHL, OHL and QMJHL logos and league structures
The CHL integration in NHL 11 will tie to several modes in the game, including Be A Pro, Be A GM, Tournament Mode, Season Mode and Playoff Mode.
The EA SPORTS NHL franchise has won 22 Sports Game of the Year awards over the past three years.