ECHL & Everblades Join EA SPORTS NHL® 17 Roster

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced that the Premier ‘AA” League in North America and its 27 Teams for the 2016-17 Season will be available for play in the latest release in the upcoming EA SPORTS™ NHL® 17 videogame.

The inclusion of the ECHL will feature the League’s 27 Clubs authentic home, road, and third jerseys, bringing ECHL fans the chance to play their way in the most exciting EA SPORTS NHL® game to date.  The game will also feature ECHL players and rosters in conjunction with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, allowing fans to play as some of their favorite young stars, following them throughout their career in the game as they progress to their American Hockey League and National Hockey League affiliates.

“We are very excited to be working with EA SPORTS and include the ECHL Teams in theNHL franchise,” said Ryan Crelin, Senior Vice President of Business Operations of the ECHL.  “The NHL 17 product is an amazing gaming experience, and we are pleased to be able to allow our fans to engage with their favorite ECHL Club or Player within the game, interacting with our League beyond the in-arena experience.”

“Bringing the ECHL to NHL 17 is a great opportunity to give our fans more ways to connect with their favorite ECHL teams and players,” said Sean Ramjagsingh, Lead Producer of the EA SPORTS NHL® franchise. “This is something our players have wanted for a long time so it’s very exciting to deliver it and make the game even bigger this year.”

To learn more about NHL 17 visit the official EA SPORTS NHL® feature page. Fans can also sign up to become an EA SPORTS NHL® 17 Insider and receive early access to news, trailers, behind-the-scenes videos, exclusive content and more.

About EA SPORTS NHL® 17On the ice, behind the bench, and in the front office - NHL 17 lets you shape your legacy in the most exciting EA SPORTS NHL® game to date. Live out your ultimate hockey fantasy with the all-new modes, new and deeper experiences in fan-favorite modes, and the best on-ice gameplay to date.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 28th season in 2015-16. There have been 599 players who have started their career in the ECHL who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 30 who have made their NHL debuts during the 2015-16 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 30 NHL teams in 2015-16, marking the 18th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.

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2016-17 Everblades Season Opener! The Everblades are already preparing for the 2016-17 season, which begins at home on October 14 & 15 against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits!

To view the team’s complete schedule for the 2016-17 regular season CLICK HERE

2016-17 Season Ticket Plans Now Available:  Full  and flexible partial season ticket plans are  currently available for the 2016-17 season. We offer several tickets packages designed to help fit your budget and schedule. For more information, call 239-948-7825, or stop by the team’s main office located at Germain Arena from Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliateof the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes###