This morning, EA announced new content coming to NHL 22. Starting today, December 9, NHL 22 will be adding teams and gear from all over the world. In January 2022, we’ll be getting even more features for international teams, including the NHL series’ first set of women’s rosters. If you’re a fan of hockey games, great news: EA is giving you more hockey for your hockey.
IIHF x #NHL22 🌎🎮
Play the World Juniors now and represent your country with International Teams 🏒 then get ready for Women's Hockey coming January 🗓
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/ne7VqMY66l pic.twitter.com/ls2V4a7X0R
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) December 9, 2021
NHL 22 Adds International Ice Hockey Federation
This afternoon, NHL 22 will add the official logos, uniforms, and rosters of teams from all around the world. EA announced a partnership with the International Ice Hockey Federation, or IIHF. Today’s update gives players access to the uniforms and logos of the IIHF Men’s and World Juniors teams for use in Ultimate Team and World of Chel. Today’s update also adds the Men’s and World Juniors teams to Play Now. These rosters will be updated as countries announce their official squads.
In January 2022, NHL 22 will feature a third set of international teams: the IIHF Women’s teams. Women have been sorely underrepresented in sports games for time immemorial. However, in the past few years of sports game cycles, developers seem to be more open to including and even featuring women’s leagues. Earlier this year, SGO contacted various spokespeople for women’s hockey leagues about whether EA Sports had reached out about potential inclusion in upcoming NHL titles. At that time, EA did not seem particularly interested in featuring women’s hockey leagues. However, the addition of the Women’s IIHF rosters suggests a passing interest in correcting this error in the future.
IIHF Game Modes and Swag
Today’s update adds the World Junior Championships tournament game mode. The Men’s and Women’s tournament game modes will be coming alongside the Women’s teams in 2022. Players who log in before the end of January 2022 will receive three free items, as well: a HUT item from Auston Matthews, Team USA; an IIHF Ultimate Team uniform pack, and an IIHF uniform bag for World of Chel.
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