A petition is asking to put Gordie Howe on the NHL 17 cover
By Nick Tylwalk
Fans would like the new school EA Sports hockey game to feature an old school legend we recently lost.
Generally speaking, EA Sports has a vote to decide who graces the cover of its next NHL game. That’s true this year too, as Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues and Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks were the finalists for NHL 17. Voting is over, and the winner is supposed to be revealed on June 22.
That’s only a week away, but fans are hoping to get a last minute write-in candidate some consideration. The Score reports that an online petition to get Gordie Howe on the cover has topped 5,000 signatures.
The petition is over at Change.org. It was started by one Brandon Dalton, who has this to say on the petition’s official page:
"We want to get as many people as we can to make Mr. Hockey (Gordie Howe) the NHL 17 Cover. Gordie Howe was one of the best players to step his skates on the ice. One of the best Red Wings in History. Mr. Howe passed away not to long ago and we would like to get as many people as we can to get Gordie Howe on the Cover of NHL 17. Lets make it happen. This one is for Gordie. #MrHockeyforNHL1"
Howe, a hockey legend for his skill, toughness and logevity, passed away on June 10 at the age of 88. This does seem like a fitting tribute, especially given the timing of his death, but it’s unknown whether EA would pivot this quickly. Maybe there’s a middle road where Howe and a current player could appear together, as has happened on previous EA Sports games.
It would make for a cool “passing of the torch” theme. We’ll find out on June 22 unless EA comments prior to that.
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