EA Sports announced this morning that Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf will be the worldwide cover athlete for NHL 09. Already a two-time All-Star and nominee for last year’s Norris Trophy, Phaneuf has definitely made a name for himself, scoring 159 points during the course of his five year career in the league.
“It is an incredible honor to be named to the cover of NHL 09,” said Phaneuf. “I’ve been a really big fan of the franchise for as long as I can remember and am looking forward to being the face of the game this year, particularly because of the significant improvements that have been made to the defensive game and the new checking engine.”
While Phaneuf is the worldwide cover athlete, he won’t be the only one. Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin will cover the Russian version of the game, while the Ottawa Senators’ Daniel Alfredson will handle the Swedish version.
More details on the actual game were revealed as well, and can be found at the jump.
NHL 09 Features (via EA PR):
“As the successor to the critically acclaimed NHL 08, winner of seven sports game of the year awards, NHL 09 builds on the momentum of last year, with innovative controls, added depth and new features designed to help newcomers jump into the series.
The revolutionary Skill Stick System evolves to bring an unparalleled level of control to the defensive side of the puck. The all new Defensive Skill Stick gives you the ability to sweep your stick to block passing lanes and lift an opponent’s stick to prevent one-timers. Take your game online with 6 vs.6 team play, where 12 people can play together on 12 different consoles around the world. With new teams from the Russian, Czech Republic and German Elite leagues, NHL 09 connects hockey fans around the globe like never before.
Players new to the series can now shoot, pass and check with ease. NHL 09 features Be A Pro, a game mode that will put you on the ice with a dynamic new 3rd person camera that allows you to play the role of one player. With a performance tracker grading your progress in more than 50 categories, you will know exactly where you need to improve to become the next NHL superstar.”
Tags: alexander ovechkin, business, daniel alfredson, dion phaneuf, ea sports, nhl 09, ps3, Sports, xbox 360
