Tyler Seguin Tests EA Sports NHL 11 with Jonathan Toews
Top prospect Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers took some time out of his busy pre-draft schedule on Monday to join EA Sports in Toronto as part of a 20-year retrospective event to help promote NHL 11 that will feature the Canadian Hockey League this September.
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“I grew up playing his game and my teammates and I were thrilled to hear that CHL players will be featured in the game,” said Seguin. “This is definitely a cool new way for fans to interact with us.”
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The event revealed that Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Canadian Olympic Gold medalist Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks will be the game’s cover athlete one year following teammate and CHL graduate Patrick Kane.
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Following media interviews and a video presentation of NHL 11 highlights, Seguin and Toews demonstrated the game in a non-traditional head-to-head matchup featuring the Plymouth Whalers against the Chicago Blackhawks.
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“We looked a little bit timid out there,” Seguin said after his Whalers trailed 2-0 early on against Toews and the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks. “Hackett was facing a lot of shots in there for a while but we bounced back.”
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The response from EA Sports fans about the CHL integration has been overwhelming so far and marks another milestone for the EA Sports franchise now in its 20th year.
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“NHL 11 brings a new level of authenticity that has never been seen before,” said EA Sports NHL Executive Producer Brent Nielson at the announcement. “Gameplay innovations like broken sticks, a revamped faceoff system, and the addition of the Canadian Hockey League makes NHL 11 set to be the most complete hockey videogame ever created.”
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The next time Seguin plays the game he will likely be sporting an NHL jersey, but understands the excitement that NHL 11 will bring to teams across the CHL.
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“Our team already plays the game and always has tournaments. I just hope guys pass the puck and try not to score too much with themselves.”
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“It’s definitely weird seeing yourself in the game, my nose is a little bit off but my shot is still pretty good.”
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With the creation of NHL 11, this marks the 20th anniversary of the EA Sports NHL franchise. In the last three years, the NHL franchise has won 22 Sports Game of the Year Awards and is the best selling sports game in Canada since 2003 with over 10 million units sold in North America.
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EA Sports also recently announced the development of their first ever NHL hockey title for the Wii console titled NHL Slapshot which features Wayne Gretzky on the cover and will also include the CHL available in September.
