NHL 07 Preview and Trailer Outstanding Washington Capitals Rookie signs as Cover Athlete for EA SPORTS
Washington Capitals rookie phenom Alexander Ovechkin has signed with Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) to be the cover athlete and spokesman for its EA SPORTSTM branded NHL® 07 game. Drafted first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ovechkin lived up to his potential and put forth the third most prolific rookie campaign in NHL history. Exceeding his freshman status, Ovechkin made his presence known by finishing the season third overall in the League for points (106), tied for third in goals (52), and first in shots (425).
"To me, I feel like your accomplishments have been recognized when you make the cover of a videogame," said Ovechkin. "I have been playing EA SPORTS games for years and am honored to be a part of the NHL® 07 team."
Ovechkin exploded onto the scene in the 2005-06 season, playing with a level of intensity, passion, and talent that is causing many to label him the new face of the NHL. At the age of 20, he has already won the Valery Kharlamov Trophy as the best Russian player in the NHL and is a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy for outstanding rookie. More telling of his reputation around the League is his nomination for the Lester B. Pearson Award, an honor bestowed upon the outstanding player as voted by his peers in the NHL Players' Association.
The golden age of console hockey will return when NHL 07 debuts with gameplay innovations that will allow players to feel like they are actually on the ice. Featuring an unmatched level of freedom and control, NHL 07 will represent a watershed moment in the history of the console hockey when it ships throughout Canada and the United States in Autumn 2007. Hockey purists and casual fans alike will feel like they can play like a pro when they pick up NHL 07.
The EA SPORTSTM NHL franchise is the #1 selling hockey game* and is now entering its 16th year of licensing relationships with the NHL and the NHLPA. EA and the NHL and the NHLPA announced earlier this week that they had further renewed their longstanding relationship through to 2012. NHL 07 is being developed under the EA SPORTSTM brand by talented teams located in two of Canada's frenzied hockey hotbeds: EA Montreal and EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C. The game will be available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSPTM (Playstation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, XBOX 360TM video game system from Microsoft, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and PC.
