Games in the tournament include NHL 22, Madden NFL 22, FIFA 22, NBA 2K22, and Rocket League, marking the first time titles other than NHL will be showcased in a Canadiens esports event. Both PlayStation and Xbox platforms will be supported. Brackets and online play will be powered by Rival.
First-place winners for each game on each platform will win a pair of Club-level tickets to a 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens Saturday night home game, a signed player practice jersey, a $150 gift certificate to the team's official store, Tricolore Sports, and two EA gaming titles of their choice. Additional prizes will be awarded to all second- and third-place finishers, and 10 more prizes will be awarded via a random draw among all participants. Tournament play will begin February 6, with finals varying by game from February 12 (Madden) through February 27 (NHL). Semifinals and finals will stream for broader audiences to follow on the team's official Twitch channel,
twitch.tv/canadiensmtl
.
"In a year where many of our fans are once again faced with various restrictions pertaining to COVID-19 and we've been forced to adapt our own approach to live events, we're pleased to bring together a large virtual community to compete in what promises to be the most expansive esports initiative we've held to date," said France Margaret Belanger, President, Sports and Entertainment, Groupe CH. "With a broader slate of titles featured in our tournament, we look forward to creating new connections with fans who might enjoy hockey but who also enjoy other sports when playing online. And thanks to the generosity of our partners Scotiabank and Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar, anyone who participates stands to benefit from our biggest esports prize pool yet."
"As an engagement and gaming platform, Rival is thrilled to work with the Canadiens to offer fans a way to connect with the club off the ice," said Rival CEO Matt Virtue. "This partnership marks Rival's first with a Canadian-based hockey club, and we look forward to working together to build its gaming community and provide additional levers to integrate with its corporate sponsors in the ever-growing esports space."
For complete details on or to register for the Montreal Canadiens 2022 Winter eGames tournament, head to
canadiens.com/esports
.
