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The NFL playoffs are set to begin early this year, as 16 regional tournaments will be played across Canada on December 28th, with a trip to the Pro Bowl on the line. The games won’t be played on the gridiron, but on the new Microsoft XBOX 360, a first for the Madden NFL Canadian Championship 2005.
The Madden NFL Canadian Championship 2005, sponsored by the NFL, Rogers Video, and EASPORTS, will test the football skills of hundreds of gamers on the critically acclaimed EASPORTS Madden NFL 06, and leads to the finale of the Madden NFL International Championship 2005.
The regional tournaments will be hosted at select Rogers Video store locations across the country on December 28th (see complete venue list below). For a chance to participate in the tournament, gamers must visit the designated local Rogers Video location between December 13th and December 26th and fill out a ballot. Thirty-two players will be selected at random for each regional tournament. Odds of being chosen depend on the total number of entries at each location.
"We’re excited to host the Madden NFL Canadian Championship in 16 great markets this year," said Adam Ingrao, Manager of Consumer Products for NFL Canada. "We’re out to find the best-of-the-best to represent Canada in Hawaii, and we’re certain that our gamers will make us proud at the International Championship."
This is the 2nd year that the NFL is hosting a Canadian National Championship, and this year’s tournament finals will see the 16 regional winners face off in Toronto on January 13th - 14th, 2006. The Canadian Champion will then move on to represent our country at the Madden NFL International Championship set to take place at this year’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Mike Morra, a 16-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, is the defending Canadian champion. Morra defeated six opponents in last year’s national final by a combined score of 261-25. Morra, who controlled the Pittsburgh Steelers during the competition, credited the team’s speedy linebackers and kick returner-receiver Antwaan Randle El with his success.
In early February, this year’s Canadian Champion will head to Honolulu where they will face off with other NFL International winners from the USA, China, Japan and Europe.
About NFL Canada:
NFL Canada, a division of NFL International, services the marketing, licensing, retail, media, communications and game development requirements of the NFL in Canada. Visit us on the web at www.NFLCanada.com.
About Rogers Video:
Based in Richmond, BC, Rogers Video is the largest Canadian-owned specialty video retailer. Founded in 1988, Rogers Video owns and operates more than 300 home entertainment stores throughout Canada and has more than 4,200 employees nationwide. Rogers Video offers movie and video game rentals and sales, Rogers Wireless and Rogers Cables sales and services. To learn more about Rogers Video, visit www.rogers.com/video.
About EA SPORTS:
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.