John Gaudiosi is a national journalist who has been covering the video game business for more than a decade. In addition to blogging for WRAL.com, he also writes for Wired Magazine, The Washington Post, The Hollywood Reporter/Reuters, Playboy Magazine, Xbox.com and Yahoo! Games.NHL Videogame Cover Athletes Named
In what's likely to be the last hockey videogame update until the fall, EA Sports and 2K Sports have announced their respective cover athletes for "NHL 07" and "NHL 2K7." Unfortunately, neither player is a member of the Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.EA Sports selected Washington Capitals rookie sensation Alexander Ovechkin, who is thrilling to watch and has been a major force in the way the Caps battled the Canes in many of the close regular season match-ups this past season, was selected first overall in the 2004 NHL Draft here in Raleigh. The 20 year old forward finished third overall in the NHL in points (106) and goals (52) and lead the league in shots (425).
2K Sports chose Art Ross Trophy recipient (for leading the NHL in points) Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks. The first pick in the 1997 NHL Draft has made three All-Star appearances and was a leader on the Boston Bruins until his trade this past season to San Jose. As a Shark, Thornton helped turn the team into a Western Conference force. Thornton has been nominated for both the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award.
Caniacs have a good chance at seeing one of their Stanley Cup Champions on the box of a videogame in the near future. One of the 2008 iterations of the NHL videogames could feature Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cam Ward or NHL Playoff Points Leader Eric Staal, as long as these two stars have strong follow-up seasons. Both are big videogame fans, which is always a plus when it comes to marketing a hockey videogame, and both now have worldwide recognition thanks to the Stanley Cup win.
The Canes are no longer a team hidden in Raleigh. They've made their statement to the world this year. And when it comes to selling videogames, that's a huge step in the right direction. After winning the Stanley Cup, a pair of Tampa Bay Lightning players, Vincent Lacavalier and Martin St. Louis, appeared on dueling game boxes during the lock-out. And Tampa wasn't on the hockey map until that Cup win, so there is precedent and hope that at least one Canes star will grace a hockey videogame box.
posted by John Gaudiosi at 1:22 PM
6 Comments:
WHAT? what kind of inconsiderate moron would not choose to put a canes player on the cover after they just proved that they were the best in 2006. who cares about alexander ovechkin. if he played for carolina it would be a better choice. cam ward or brind'amour should be on that cover.
Dont be such a homer! Ovechkin won the Calder Trophy. Sure the canes won the cup - but Ovechin seems to have more national appeal!
*pfft* So much for his career, EA just jinxed him.
I agree it should have been a NC player. I think it is an insult and its syas that them winning is less
Guys...isn't that what the Canes have been up against since they left Hartford? No one (ESPN, the local TV sports, newspapers, etc.) gave them an ounce of respect during the entire season. It was only when they were in the semi-finals that they became a bigger story on the news and even then, it wasn't until they were in the finals that they became the top sports story! Unfortunately, I think for the "national" scene, it will probably be a bit longer before the canes get the respect they deserve. My 2 cents...
Maybe after they repeat as Stanley Cup champs in 2007?
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