EA Sports is planning to make its popular NHL video game series more inclusive. Women's teams will be available for players to use in the franchise for the first time. Beginning in early 2022, International Ice Hockey Federation women's national teams will be playable in the latest installment of the franchise, "NHL 22."
United States national team member Kendall Coyne Schofield called the inclusion in the game an "instrumental" moment for women's hockey. Coyne Schofield currently serves as a player-development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.
"A lot of us grew up without seeing role models on a consistent basis. We'd go to NHL games and never see anyone that looked like us," Coyne Schofield told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "I'm so excited to see what kind of effect this is going to have on the next generations, seeing women and men in the same game, knowing that they can be either one of us."
EA Sports Vice President Sean Ramjagsingh said the decision marks an "important moment" for the video game franchise.
"The introduction of women's national teams to 'NHL 22' as part of the upcoming IIHF content will be an important moment for the franchise in its continued effort to reflect the diversity of the hockey community," Ramjagsingh said.
Players will be able to choose from a total of 10 women's national teams in the tournament mode of the video game.
Along with the women's teams, EA Sports will also be adding IIHF men's teams in early 2022 when the women's teams are added.
