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10292009Im's avatar
10292009Im
Rising Newcomer
1 day ago

Feature Request: Full NCAA Hockey Integration for NHL 26

Introduction

Hello EA Sports Team and Community,

 

With the recent changes regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the growing popularity of college hockey, I am formally requesting the introduction of a fully licensed NCAA Hockey suite in NHL 26. We have seen the massive success of EA Sports College Football 25, and the hockey community is ready for that same depth.

 

The Proposal

We aren't just looking for generic "collegiate" jerseys. We are asking for a dedicated NCAA experience that bridges the gap between Junior hockey and the NHL draft.

 

Key Features Requested:

 

"Road to the Frozen Four" Mode:

 

A "Be a Pro" style career path where you start in Junior or High School, get recruited by major NCAA programs (e.g., Boston College, Michigan, Denver, North Dakota), and play for a National Championship before turning pro.

 

Include the real tournament structure and the "Frozen Four" atmosphere.

 

Franchise Mode Integration:

 

Fix the current scouting gap. Instead of just seeing a text name for a prospect in the USA, let us scout actual NCAA stats and performance.

 

Allow drafted players to stay in college for development (just like in real life) without signing immediately, risking them becoming free agents after 4 years (the "Jimmy Vesey" rule).

 

Atmosphere & Presentation:

 

NCAA hockey has arguably the best crowd atmosphere in the sport. Please include student sections, fight songs (like "The Victors" or "O Ma Baba"), and smaller, louder arenas.

 

Why Now?

Legal hurdles regarding player likenesses have largely been removed due to NIL deals. If EA can do it for College Football, the framework exists for Hockey. This would be the single biggest content update to the franchise in a decade and would bring back many lapsed fans.

 

Thank you for considering this request!

2 Replies

  • EA_Aljo's avatar
    EA_Aljo
    Icon for Community Manager rankCommunity Manager
    9 hours ago

    Hi there. Thanks for the feedback. At this time, we don't have the NCAA licensing. We'll have to wait and see if we get that in the future.

  • fredo911's avatar
    fredo911
    Rising Traveler
    22 hours ago

    Agreed, as a lapsed fan I think people would love this and it would actually make the be a pro/franchise experience a fun one. Sadly my thought is there is no way they have the budget (or drive) to make that happen. NIL has been around 4.5 years and this game has incorporated absolutely nothing from college. They wouldn't even have to create a game from scratch like CF25 did. Maybe by NHL32 (if it makes it that long) it will be included.

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