Kingston Frontenacs take the ice – virtually – in NHL 25 – Toronto

Kingston Frontenacs players Cal Uens and Cedrick Guindon are fresh off the ice from practice and have found a new way to blow off steam – by testing out the newly released EA Sports NHL25 Video game in which none other than your own team plays.

For many fans, the annual release of the NHL video game is highly anticipated. But for the players it has a special meaning. It's not every day you get to see yourself as a playable character in one of the world's top hockey video games.

“I have to score points here,” said Guindon, looking forward to his virtual counterpart’s performance.

Teammate Vann Williamson remembered the first time he saw himself in the game.

“I remember playing with our team and using my guy,” Williamson said. “It was pretty…it was pretty cool, pretty surreal.”

Quinton Burns shared a similar sentiment: “My first year here was pretty cool. Mates sent me pictures of me in the game.”

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Of course, one of the first things players do is check their virtual ratings. For reference, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid – arguably the best player in the NHL – has an overall rating of 97. How did the Frontenacs do?

“Maybe a 65?” Burns guessed.

“I mean, realistically, probably about five,” Guindon joked before seeing his rating. “But I know how the game works, so I would probably say, uh, 57. Oh, I'm 67. Oh my God. Yeah, well, I’ll take that any day.”

“Hope and at least 60… 61? Oh, I guess so,” Mason Vaccari said when he saw his score.

“Fifty-six, maybe. No, you're right, 56. Yes, yes, yes. What a number,” Uens added.

Ethan Miedema was equally curious: “Have I hit the 60 mark? Hopefully 60, 60, 63. Yes. Pretty.”

As far as realism goes, Uens said the game has come a long way.

“Much more realistic,” he said. “I remember playing when I was very young. Like, if you touch a guy, you throw him through the boards, and now you can actually deflect a check.”

After an intense round of virtual ice hockey, Guindon was the clear winner, scoring a 7-2 win over Uens.

“Yes, I scored. I scored myself,” said Guindon, grinning.

Uens added with a hint of sarcasm: “That was fun…”

It's safe to say the Frontenacs caved NHL25 their stamp of approval – although some may have enjoyed it more than others.

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