Female Players Join the NHL 13 Roster

For the first time ever in a professional league simulation sports video game, NHL 13 will feature female athletes on the roster. Former Team USA superstar Angela Ruggiero will join former Team Canada great Hayley Wickenheiser, both four-time Olympic Ice Hockey medalists, as playable legends in NHL 13. 

“The EA SPORTS NHL franchise took a big step last year by including female characters to create a more inclusive experience for female hockey fans,” said Hayley Wickenheiser. “I’m excited to be a part of NHL 13 and hope that the addition of women’s hockey legends will encourage greater participation in hockey from young women everywhere.”

This continues the commitment the development team made with NHL 12 to create greater representation for women’s hockey in the game. Female players were first added through the Be a Pro mode after a request from a 14-year-old female fan was emailed to the EA SPORTS development team. She had felt that female players were underrepresented in the game and wanted to see a more inclusive experience in the game. The NHL team was very excited to continue that effort with the latest installment and provide women the opportunity to see themselves in the game.

In addition to these female players, NHL Hall of Famers Doug Gilmour, Jari Kurri, and NHL legend Dominik Hasek will also be added to the roster of legends to take the ice. NHL 13 will be available on September 11 in North America.