Cale Makar Stars on EA Sports NHL 24 Cover
Young Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar is the cover athlete for EA Sports NHL 24.
EA Sports has revealed their cover athlete for NHL 24, and its defenceman Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old has been chosen as the face of the game, thanks to his incredible performance early in his career. As a Canadian Junior hockey gold medalist, Stanley Cup champion and positive ambassador to the game, he’s a great fit. There aren’t very many things he can’t do on the ice, contributing to multiple aspects of the game. He’s been making waves the hockey world that have helped him earn the coveted spot.
"He’s been making waves the hockey world that have helped him earn the coveted spot."
I caught up with Chris Haluke, Senior Producer on the EA NHL Series at EA Vancouver about Makar on the cover and he had this to say, “He’s a great fit, when we think about the physicality we are trying to achieve with a lot of the gameplay features this year, he’s ticks a lot of those boxes, so we love the fact he is the cover athlete for NHL 24.”
"...when we think about the physicality we are trying to achieve with a lot of the gameplay features this year, he’s ticks a lot of those boxes, so we love the fact he is the cover athlete for NHL 24."
Makar is in exclusive company
Makar is the first defenceman to be on the cover of an NHL video game since P.K. Subban with NHL 19. He’s in some exclusive company at the D-man position, with only a handful of other players able to boast this honour. In terms of the bigger picture, Makar is the third Avalanche player to grace the cover of an NHL video game, after Peter Forsberg (NHL 98) and Joe Sakic (NHL 2004).
"Makar is the first defenceman to be on the cover of an NHL video game since P.K. Subban with NHL 19."
He joins an elite group of players who have been chosen as the face of the chel franchise, such as Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid and Alexander Ovechkin.
Cale Makar offers championship pedigree
Makar is one of the best two-way players in the league, excelling at both ends of the ice. He can score, pass, skate, check, and have an impact at both ends of the ice. Cale has been a key factor in the Avalanche’s success, helping the team earn the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021. Makar won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022 and was a critical piece to the team’s success. Cale also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player that year in the playoffs.
Mike Inglehart, Creative Director, of the EA NHL Series is a fan of Makar’s dynamic play, “He’s also someone if, even if you aren’t an Avalanche fan, you can’t help but appreciate what he brings to the ice.”
"He’s also someone if, even if you aren’t an Avalanche fan, you can’t help but appreciate what he brings to the ice."
History in the making
Makar is no stranger to making history, he’s broken and matched many records in the modern NHL era. He made his NHL debut on April 15th, 2019, for the Avs in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored his first career NHL goal with his first shot in the league, this feat entered him into the history books.
"He scored his first career NHL goal with his first shot in the league, this feat entered him into the history books."
Cale became the first defenceman to ever score a goal while making an NHL debut in the postseason. He’s gone on to break team and league scoring records for the defensive position.
Notable career milestones
Makar’s talent and versatility were on full display against the San Jose Sharks, where he recorded a goal and three assists, while also posting a plus-5 rating. He became the first defenseman since the legendary Bobby Orr in 1971 to achieve such a feat in a single game.
Makar went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2020, becoming the sixth defensemen and second Avalanche player to do so. Cale followed that up with a Norris Trophy win in 2022, beating out Victor Hedman and Adam Fox for the honor of being the league’s best defenseman.
"Makar went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2020, becoming the sixth defensemen and second Avalanche player to do so."
Cale is not only a skilled player, but also a clutch one, he’s scored several game-winning goals. One of the most dramatic was an overtime goal against the Arizona Coyotes in 2021, where he skated through the entire opposing team before beating the goalie with a backhand shot.
A positive force on and off the ice
Off the ice, Makar is equally impressive when it comes to supporting his greater community. A native of Calgary, Alberta, he is a humble and hard-working player who is a role model for young hockey fans. Nicknamed "Cale Force" and "The Makar-velous One," he's a fan favorite who never forgets to give back to the community, often supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, donating to charities, and participating in pro-am tournaments to raise money for children’s charities.
A new face for the EA NHL franchise
Cale Makar is not only the new face of the EA NHL franchise for this season, but one of the league’s brightest stars. He has already accomplished so much in his young career, and he has many more years ahead of him to continue to make an indelible mark on the game. Makar's journey is a testament to his incredible talent and dedication. As the new face of the NHL gaming franchise and one of the brightest stars in the league, he's already achieved so much. And knowing Makar, he's just getting started! Keep it locked to dappertux.com for more news on NHL 24 this week.
About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a veteran of the video game and tech industry who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. Along with being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on twitter, Instagram and join in on the fun!
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