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Gamers await the launch of their favorite sports video game every year, and in my homeland of Canada the game of choice is none other than the NHL franchise. Headed up by Electronic Arts, NHL 14 is the upcoming iteration in the hockey franchise and it's scheduled to hit later this September. As with the previous NHL title, EA Sports held an annual poll to determine which player would fill the role as cover star, and the results have come in.

Future Hall of Fame goalie, and current New Jersey Devils net minder, Martin Brodeur will be placed on the cover of this year's game, much to the delight of NHL fans. The tendy has had a historic career — winning the Stanley Cup three times — so this is just another notch in Brodeur's already impressive belt.

With over 22 million votes, this year's "EA Sports NHL Cover Vote" initiative has been a rousing success for a company that's been voted the 'Worst Company in America'.

Brodeur was humbled by the fans' decision to make him cover athlete in NHL 14, and he thanked his kids for pushing him to enter his name into the hat for this contest.

“The support I’ve received throughout the cover vote campaign has been incredible. My kids pushed me to participate in the campaign, and they are really excited to see their dad on the cover of the game they play all the time. I want to thank all the NHL fans who campaigned and voted for me.”

There's little debate that Martin Brodeur doesn't deserve his spot on the cover of NHL 14, and it's surprising it took this long just to have the all-star appear on the series' cover. Devils fans have a lot to look forward to this year, and our preview of NHL 14 during E3 left many Canadians on Game Rant's staff excited for the game's imminent arrival.

NHL 14 will be crosschecking retailers on September 10th for Xbox 360 and PS3.

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