Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.

NHL 16 a huge hit among the Raiders

Sep 17, 2015 | 6:35 AM

More than a few Prince Albert Raiders players have already dug into their stipends and purchased perhaps the most popular video game among major junior hockey players: EA Sports’ NHL 16. 

Raiders 20-year-old Craig Leverton was one of the more eager ones on the team, buying it when it was released in stores on Tuesday.

“It’s pretty cool. Me and [fellow Raiders over ager] Jordan Tkatch, we play a lot together, “said Leverton. “We picked up the game yesterday and we’ve been playing each other a couple times.

“So far, we’ve split the series. It’s always fun. We started a franchise mode, too. It’s something we do in our free time quite a bit.”

Since NHL 11, all 60 CHL teams have been represented along with their rosters. Players have used their ratings as bragging rights amongst each other. But since Leverton and Tkatch are both rated 72 this year, they’ll have to call it a draw.

“It would’ve been nice to have been one rating higher than him, so I’d hold that over him,” smirked Leverton, shortly after he received a nudge from Tkatch who was heading to the team bus.

Leverton and Tkatch are far from the only Raiders that play. During long road swings, the Raiders have been known to start up an NHL tournament as both a team building exercise and to pass the time.

“Last year on long bus trips when we went to B.C. and stuff, we brought in a little T.V. and an Xbox and we had a little tournament in the back,” said Leverton. “It’s something that we all do to pass our free time.

“It’s a little competition to see who can be the best NHL player every year.”

Since the WHL season hasn’t started yet and most teams are still trying to figure out who’s going to be on their teams, last year’s rosters are available in the game. That means Raider fans can still see and use hometown hero Sawyer Lange in a Raiders uniform, as well as the other graduating Raiders Jayden Hart and Colton Heffley.

The Raiders will put down their controllers and finish off their preseason on Friday against the Regina Pats at the Art Hauser Centre. The Raiders’ regular season kicks off Sept. 25-26 with a two-game set against the Saskatoon Blades. Both teams will meet at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on Sept. 25, before the Raiders’ home opener on Sept. 26 at the Art Hauser Centre.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea