It appears that the Canadian Hockey League might be getting some company within the EA Sports NHL franchise. Just a few days ago, Paul Kelly, Executive Director of College Hockey, did an interview with Canadian radio show The Pipeline Show in which Mr. Kelly said that NCAA Hockey has been in discussions with EA Sports for a couple of weeks to be included in the NHL franchise.

 

"We've actually been in discussions with EA for a couple of weeks, and while we don't have a formal announcement to make at this moment, we are certainly in discussions with EA Sports and they are very interested in having a college component to their game. We, the colleges, are very interested in having that happen and we are just currently in the process of figuring out what dimensions that ought to take. The answer to your question though is 'YES" just as there is going to be a CHL component to the video game, there will be a college hockey component as well."

 

      Paul Kelly, Executive Director of College Hockey

 

 

 

So does that mean that the NCAA is all summed up to be in NHL 11? Kelly responded to that very question with the following, “I'm hopeful. I don't know much about the development of video games…if we come to a finality here in the next couple of weeks and whether that would give them enough time to roll it out in time for September…I would hope so but I don't know the answer to that. As soon as they are able to do it, we'll be doing it."

 

Having the NCAA in the NHL franchise whether this year or next would be a big step for the ever improving franchise, with players such as New Jersey’s Zach Parise (North Dakota), Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis (Vermont), Montreal’s Mike Cammalleri (Michigan), San Jose’s Dany Heatley (Wisconsin), Chicago’s Jonathan Toews (North Dakota) all coming from the NCAA it is a big time organization in the development of players into the NHL.

 

The very thought of having the option, to start not only in the CHL but the NCAA in Be A Pro has to be driving NHL fans crazy. Along, with the possibilities that lie ahead for the two organizations in the Be A GM mode.

 

Whether the NCAA makes it in this year or not, it certainly is continuing to shape up to be a big year for EA Sports NHL franchise.