Martin Brodeur has won a lot of hardware and awards during his 19-year career. Add EA Sports NHL cover athlete to that list.
Friday, after nearly four weeks of waiting, EA announced that the Devils netminder had beaten Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and will grace the cover of the franchise’s video game. It’s the first time since 1997 that a goalie will be on the cover, when John Vanbiesbrouck of the Panthers was chosen, and Brodeur is only the second Devil to appear on the cover. Scott Stevens made it in 1996.
“I’m really excited to get voted on to the NHL ’14 cover. I think it’s a great honor,” Brodeur told the Devils’ website. “It was a little bit surprising. I didn’t know what to expect with the voting and the competition like that.”
“I don’t play video games, but I might try because I got to try the NHL ’14 a little bit in advance. It’s an awesome game and the reason why is there’s a anniversary ’94 mode that is really more of what I used to play when I was younger.”
Sunday could be an extra special day for Brodeur, who will be at the Prudential Center in Newark for the 2013 NHL draft meeting with the media discussing his cover vote win, also hoping his son Anthony – a goalie, just like his dad – will be drafted. The 18-year old just finished his senior year at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep in Minnesota and is eligible to be drafted for the first time. He signed with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL where he will play junior hockey next year, regardless of whether or not he is drafted.
The elder Brodeur was selected 20th overall by the Devils in 1990, and that has worked out quite well for them. Brodeur owns numerous NHL records including most career wins (669), shutouts (121) and minutes played (71,786), has also won the Calder Trophy as the League’s top rookie in 1994, four Vezina Trophies as the best goalie and has three Stanley Cup rings.
So where does being voted as the EA cover athlete rank among his accomplishments?
“It’s not hockey, but I think when you get on the cover you feel appreciated by the fans because they are they ones that are voting and that means a lot to me,” Brodeur said.
