Last year's NHL game from EA Canada finally found its stride in providing the perfect formula for any hockey game. NHL 08 gave us a redefined hockey experience with the power of the skill stick. You could take control of Alexander Ovechkin from the Washington Capitals or Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and be that offensive powerhouse you always wanted to be. Unfortunately, that was where the skill stopped. The defensive side of the game lacked a lot in comparison to the improvements made to the offense. Still, NHL 08 became one of the best sports games we’ve had in the past few years and provided the fun and excitement you feel when you’re at a real hockey game.

NHL 09 makes what NHL 08 gave us look like a test run. The skill stick is yet again the center of attention and the defensive side of the game gets a nice makeover. No longer are you limited to just poke checks, you are now given a lot more to work with. You can lift the opposing players stick just as those snipers are setting up for that one timer. The poke-check is still there of course lest you wish to use it. Both the offensive and defensive sides of the game have gotten an update. If you have enough skill , you can easily pull off a one-handed deke for a pass or a slide around that goalie for a nice goal.

"If you have enough skill , you can easily pull off a one-handed deke for a pass or a slide around that goalie for a nice goal."

Beyond that, EA Canada didn’t forget about all the little junkets that you might have forgotten about in the previous year. For instance, Create-A-Play got a nice little update and won’t be too hard for noobs to handle as there is an introduction video to the feature to get you started. There are even new breakouts and assignments for every player on the ice.

One new addition that has me particularly interested is the “Be a Pro” mode. Be A Pro mode will give players a chance to make it to the big club by going through the ranks of starting in the minors and working your way up. You’ll pick your team and get to create your own player from scratch and play from any position you feel comfortable with, from a stay-at-home defenseman or work to become the greatest goalie of all time. To make things even more interesting, your performance will be graded along the way so you can check on how you’re doing and what your management thinks of you. This will certainly make for a fun time for hardcore hockey fans like me and even casual fans just getting into the sport and learning the ropes.

"Both the offensive and defensive sides of the game have gotten an update."

There have also been plenty of updates as EA Canada makes their rounds. More then 100 animations make their trip through goalies, offensive and defensive players. One of the desperately needed changes from NHL 08 was the almost non-existent checking system. To just wrap the skill around to perform one hip-check and even one flat hit against the boards made things a little boring. Thankfully, that’ll be getting a little make over as well, and you’ll see a much more fluid more violent side of the checking of the NHL. Fisticuffs even got a complete revamp and no longer are you just twisting the skill stick round and round until you tire out against the computer or your human opponent.

Finally, custom-soundtracks will be available for arenas during games to make everything that much more realistic. For me, I’ll be able to rock out to AC/DC’s Hells Bells with the New Jersey Devils at The Rock, better known as The Prudential Center.

With improvements to both the offensive and defensive side, new modes and the ability to play your own music, EA has really made plenty of improvements. If EA Canada’s last showing in NHL 08 was any indication, we should be in for a great ride for this upcoming release.