NHL Player Gaming Challenge: Schedule, entry list, how to watch 'NHL 20' competition
by Sam FicarroThe NHL has joined other professional sports in forming a video game tournament involving its athletes. Beginning April 30, the league will start the inaugural NHL Player Gaming Challenge with one or two players per team competingfor the title.
Each team, and NHL' soon-to-be team in Seattle, will play a one-time matchup against another club in a three-game "NHL 20" series as all matches will be played on PlayStation 4.
Electronic Arts (EA) and the NHL Foundation are donating a combined $100,000 in support of the CDC Foundation's COVID-19 relief efforts. The event is a part of the NHL's #HockeyAtHome initiative designed to remind fans to stay safe, stay home and play together.
NHL Player Gaming Challenge schedule
- Date: Begins April 30 and will run for four weeks
- TV channel (U.S.): NBCSN
- TV channel (Canada): Sportsnet ONE
- Live stream (U.S.): NBCSports.com and NBC Sports app
- Live stream (Canada): Sportsnet.ca and Sportsnet NOW
NBC Sports Network and Sportsnet One will air select matches throughout the tournament with NBCSN televising both matches on April 30 starting at 5 p.m. ET.All games will be streamed on the NHL's Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as on NHL.com.
Week 1
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Time | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| April 30 | 5 p.m. | Brady Tkachuk (OTT) def. Noah Hanifin & Matthew Tkachuk (CGY) 2-0 |
| April 30 | 5 p.m. | Stephen Johns & Jamie Oleksiak (DAL) def. Zach Aston-Reese & Bryan Rust (PIT) 3-0 |
| May 2 | 3 p.m. | Filip Forsberg (NSH) def. J.T. Compher (COL) 3-0 |
Week 2
| Date | Time | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| May 7 | 5 p.m. | Jake DeBrusk & Charlie McAvoy (BOS) def. Conor Garland & Clayton Keller (ARI) 2-1 |
| May 7 | 5 p.m. | Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA) def. Evgeny Kuznetsov (WSH) 2-1 |
| May 9 | 3 p.m. | Cam Fowler (ANA) def. Evander Kane (SJ) 3-0 |
Week 3
| Date | Time | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| May 14 | 5 p.m. | Drake Caggiula & Alex DeBrincat (CHI) def. Michael Amadio & Blake Lizotte (LAK) 3-0 |
| May 14 | 5:45 p.m. | Madison Bowey (DET) def. Devan Dubnyk (MIN) 3-0 |
| May 16 | 3 p.m. | Caleb Jones & Darnell Nurse (EDM) def. Luke Willson (SEA) 3-0 |
Week 4
| Date | Time | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| May 21 | 5 p.m. | Zach Hyman (TOR) def. James van Riemsdyk (PHI) 2-1 |
| May 21 | 5 p.m. | Ryan Reaves & Alex Tuch (VGK) def. Thatcher Demko & Adam Gaudette (VAN) 2-1 |
| May 23 | 3 p.m. | Colton Parayko & Robert Thomas (STL) def. Victor Mete & Nick Suzuki (MTL) 2-1 |
Winner denoted in bold
NHL Player Gaming Challenge entry list
All 31 teams and NHL Seattle are represented with each club having one or two players participating in the tournament.
| Team | Participants |
|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | Cam Fowler |
| Arizona Coyotes | Conor Garland & Clayton Keller |
| Boston Bruins | Jake DeBrusk & Charlie McAvoy |
| Buffalo Sabres | Brandon Montour |
| Calgary Flames | Noah Hanifin & Matthew Tkachuk |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Warren Foegele |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Drake Caggiula & Alex DeBrincat |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Elvis Merzlikins & Zach Werenski |
| Colorado Avalanche | J.T. Compher |
| Dallas Stars | Stephen Johns & Jamie Oleksiak |
| Detroit Red Wings | Madison Bowey & Anthony Mantha |
| Edmonton Oilers | Caleb Jones & Darnell Nurse |
| Florida Panthers | Jonathan Huberdeau |
| Los Angeles Kings | Michael Amadio & Blake Lizotte |
| Minnesota Wild | Devan Dubnyk & Jordan Greenway |
| Montreal Canadiens | Victor Mete & Nick Suzuki |
| Nashville Predators | Filip Forsberg |
| New Jersey Devils | Mackenzie Blackwood |
| New York Islanders | Matt Martin |
| New York Rangers | Chris Kreider |
| NHL Seattle | Luke Willson (NFL's Seattle Seahawks) |
| Ottawa Senators | Brady Tkachuk |
| Philadelphia Flyers | James van Riemsdyk |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Zach Aston-Reese & Bryan Rust |
| San Jose Sharks | Evander Kane & Marcus Sorensen |
| St. Louis Blues | Colton Parayko & Robert Thomas |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Tyler Johnson |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Zach Hyman |
| Vancouver Canucks | Thatcher Demko & Adam Gaudette |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Ryan Reaves & Alex Tuch |
| Washington Capitals | Evgeny Kuznetsov |
| Winnipeg Jets | Anthony Bitetto & Kyle Connor |