Electronic Arts announced the features for NHL 14 that are set to unleash the aggression, speed and skill of NHL hockey.

Deliver game-changing hits with NHL Collision Physics, built from EA Sports FIFA’s Player Impact Engine. Drop the gloves with the all-new Enforcer Engine, powered by the same technology used in the critically acclaimed Fight Night franchise. Experience a new level of speed and control with the second season of the critically-acclaimed True Performance Skating engine, and dangle defenders with all-new One-Touch Dekes. In addition, fans can Live the Lifeof an NHL player in an all-new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now featuring on and off-ice elements.

Electronic Arts, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced that fans can once again shape the face of the world’s hockey video game franchise with the launch of the 2nd annual EA Sports NHL Cover Vote Campaign.

“After last year's record setting campaign where more than 25 million votes were cast, this is another tremendous opportunity for our fans to once again show their support for their team and selected players by voting in this second installment of the EA Sports NHL Cover Vote Campaign,” Dave McCarthy, NHL Vice President Consumer Products Marketing. “We look forward to our fans’ creativity and incomparable passion in driving another record setting vote count and ultimately determining who will grace the cover of NHL 14 worldwide.”

“These 60 NHL stars are excited to be finalists in the vote campaign that will see the fans ultimately select the EA Sports NHL 14 cover athlete. Following an impressive level of fan and player engagement shown in the cover vote last year, we are looking forward to seeing how the bar will be raised this year,” said Adam Larry, NHLPA Director of Licensing.  

“Players who have graced the EA Sports NHL cover in the past have historically had banner years in the season that followed,” said Dean Richards, General Manager, EA Sports NHL. “Patrick Kane scored the Stanley Cup winning goal in 2010, Steven Stamkos notched a league-leading 60 goals in 2012 and Claude Giroux becoming the Captain of the Philadelphia Flyers this season. We’re looking forward to see which fans step up to get their player on the cover of NHL 14.”

The voting process will consist of two preliminary rounds, followed by a 16-player bracket as a field of 60 NHL players is narrowed down to one. The winning player will be revealed as the EA Sports NHL 14 Cover Athlete during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. Fans worldwide are encouraged to vote as often as possible to ensure their favorite player advances through the rounds.

This year fans can double their voting power by using these player specific hashtags on “Twitter Vote Thursdays.” Each player specific hashtag used on Twitter on Thursdays will be counted as two official votes. Fans can join the conversation about the cover vote every day by using #NHL14CoverVote on Twitter and Instagram. 

NHL 14 Cover Vote Schedule:

• Round of 60 – April 22-28: Teammate vs. teammate. One representative from each team plus two wild card selections advance. **
• 32-Player Leaderboard – April 29-May 5: Fans vote for their favorite 16 candidates; top 16 vote-getters advance.
• 16-player Bracket – May 6 - May 26: Weekly round-by-round, single-elimination playoff bracket decides finalists.
• The Finals – May 27- June 2: Winner takes the NHL 14 Cover.

NHL 14 Cover Athlete Candidates

Eastern Conference
Bruins	Tyler Seguin, Zdeno Chara	Lightning	Teddy Purcell, Victor Hedman
Canadiens	P.K. Subban, David Desharnais	Maple Leafs	Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk
Capitals	Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson	Panthers	Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell
Devils	Martin Brodeur, Adam Henrique	Penguins	Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang
Flyers	Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek	Rangers	Carl Hagelin, Ryan Callahan
Hurricanes	Eric Staal, Jordan Staal	Sabres	Ryan Miller, Tomas Vanek
Islanders	John Tavares, Michael Grabner	Senators	Craig Anderson, Milan Michalek
Jets	Evander Kane, Andrew Ladd

 

Western Conference
Avalanche	Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog	Kings	Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown
Blackhawks	Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith	Oilers	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall
Blue Jackets	Brandon Dubinsky, Sergei Bobrovsky	Predators	Brandon Yip, Mike Fisher
Blues	Alex Pietrangelo, David Perron	Red Wings	Jimmy Howard, Pavel Datsyuk
Canucks	Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows	Sharks	Joe Thornton, Logan Couture
Coyotes	Keith Yandle, Shane Doan	Stars	Kari Lehtonen, Jamie Benn
Ducks	Andrew Cogliano, Matt Beleskey	Wild	Mikko Koivu, Niklas Backstrom
Flames	Dennis Wideman, Lee Stempniak