NHL 23 Cover athlete: Who is face of latest EA Sports game?

EA Sports announced that Trevor Zegras and Sarah Nurse will be the cover stars for NHL 23. Zegras is the first Anaheim Ducks player to be featured on the cover of the NHL video game, while Nurse is the first woman to appear on the cover of the EA Sports NHL video game series.

Nurse, who plays for the Canadian women's national hockey team, expressed her excitement and gratitude in a press release, saying,

"It is such a tremendous honor to be the first woman on the cover of the EA SPORTS NHL franchise. Hockey is really for everybody and I'm excited that NHL 23 is celebrating the diversity and inclusivity of the sport. I hope that the increased representation of women in such a prominent game will inspire young girls everywhere to know that there is a place for them in hockey."

Zegras, who had an impressive rookie season with Anaheim Ducks, also expressed his excitement, saying,

"As someone who has played EA SPORTS NHL since I was a kid, it is a dream come true to be on the cover this year with Sarah. I can't wait to play this year's version with my friends and teammates, and I am equally excited to see fans unleash my Michigan flip pass, which the team at EA SPORTS has managed to get into the game."

Zegras had a stellar rookie season, earning 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists) in 75 games and becoming a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. He also became a viral sensation after scoring two lacrosse-style goals during the season.

Nurse, on the other hand, helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, setting records for most assists (13) and points (18) at a single Olympics.

With the announcement of Zegras and Nurse as the cover stars, NHL 23 is not only celebrating the talent and skill of these two athletes but also highlighting the diversity and inclusivity of the sport. The increased representation of women in the prominent video game is a step forward in promoting gender equality in sports and inspiring young girls to pursue their dreams in hockey.

NHL 23 Introduces Mascots and Fun Threes Mode

NHL 23 aims to provide a realistic simulation of the sport of ice hockey. With licensed teams, including franchises and national sides, players have a variety of options to choose from. However, EA Sports also offers a fun element to the game by introducing mascots representing almost all the franchise teams in the game.

While the option is limited at first, players can unlock more mascots as they progress in the game. In the "Threes" mode, players can even play with the mascots, providing a different experience. While it may not be as serious as the rest of the game, it offers a unique and fun addition to NHL 23.