NHL 11 scores CHL teams

With the Stanley Cup finals pitting the Chicago Blackhawks against either the Montreal Canadiens or the Philadelphia Flyers, the eyes of the hockey world are fixated on the sport's highest levels. However, EA Sports has been more concerned with the developmental side of the spectrum.

The publisher announced recently that it has secured a deal with the Canadian Hockey League that will bring the CHLs three regional leagues--along with players and their likenesses--into its next hockey title, NHL 11. The CHL consists of the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

All 60 of those leagues' teams, logos, and rinks will be playable in the new hockey simulator. The game will also feature the Mastercard Memorial Cup and the league's latest RBK Edge Jersey designs, with all the appropriate content integrated into the Be a Pro, Be a GM, Tournament, Season, and Playoff modes.

Fans of the annualized hockey game are likely already familiar with some of the league's prospects, as four out of the past five NHL athletes to adorn the series' box art began their careers in the CHL. Patrick Kane, Dion Phaneuf, Eric Staal, and Vincent Lecavalier are all products of the CHL. (NHL 07 star Alexander Ovechkin played for Dynamo Moscow in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League before the NHL.)

With the recent announcement of Electronic Arts' Online Pass pay-to-play program, those securing a pre-owned copy of NHL 11 will need to pay $10 to access online components of the game, such as multiplayer and league play. Those who purchase the title new will find the code to redeem the Online Pass for free inside the game box.

NHL 11 is currently in development at EA Canada with a target release window of September. For more on the most recent installment of the franchise, check out GameSpot's NHL 10 review.