The Swedish government-owned gaming company, Svenska Spel, has declared a collaboration with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the Swedish Esports Federation (SESF) to be a supporter of the 2020 Swedish Electronic Ice Hockey Championship.
The digital version of ice hockey, played on EA Sports’ NHL 20, is quite popular in North America and Scandinavia, and 2020 marks the second year of the Swedish Electronic Ice Hockey Championship. It is organized by the European esports tournament platform NHLGamer, the most significant organizer of electronic ice hockey competitions in the area.
The championship will include one-on-one individual matches and six-on-six team matches from August to October, lasting for five weeks and showcasing the most skilled players in Swedish electronic ice hockey. At least half of each team’s members, as well as all team leaders, must be Swedish nationals to participate.
The championship finals will take place on October 2nd and 3rd and will be streamed on the Amazon-owned streaming service Twitch.
Its fantastic to be the primary sponsor of the Swedish Electronic Ice Hockey Championship, alongside our backing for the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the Swedish Esports Association,” remarked Jimmy Sandberg, sponsorship project manager at the Swedish gaming firm. “We’re committed to merging traditional sports and esports.”
Christian Plass, commercial director of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association, stated, “We aim to connect with new audiences who are enthusiastic about ice hockey and, with the support of the Swedish gaming company, cultivate interest in esports. Engaging a wider audience in ice hockey is a key element of our strategy.”
“In these trying times, it’s wonderful to provide more individuals with the opportunity to experience ice hockey virtually. This presents a fantastic avenue for fans to remain connected to the sport while we anticipate the return of major tournaments.”
The Swedish Ice Hockey Association made the tough decision to terminate the remaining portion of the 2019-20 season in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following the request of the Swedish league SHL and its affiliated organizations.
The association’s board of directors unanimously decided to cancel all remaining matches at all levels, encompassing the second and third tier championships, as well as the SDHL, one of the world’s premier women’s ice hockey leagues.
Ice hockey associations across the globe, including in England, the United States, and Canada, have all suspended their campaigns.
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