2020 Chel Invitational: NHL teams to host NHL 20 esports tournaments

NHL teams Anaheim Ducks, LA Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers will be hosting NHL 20 esports tournaments for the 2020 Chel Invitational. The series of events will then culminate in the DreamHack Anaheim live finals. A total of over $50,000 in prizes, grants, and scholarships will also be awarded to competitors. The hockey teams are partnering up with the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) to do this.

NHL 20 esports makes its mark

“Scoring a goal or blocking a shot is always exciting, whether it happens in the chill of a rink or in a competitive on-screen battle,” Mark Deppe, the commissioner at NASEF, said. “We’re thrilled at the increased number of fans playing NHL online. This Chel Invitational takes the next logical step to have players from different teams play in a live tournament just like in real life.”

Deppe added that the focus on youth is fantastic, as it can connect fans of all ages together. The NHL 20 esports events allow students to see how their love for hockey can lead them to careers both on and off the ice.

Roy Edmondson, the executive director of the Orange County Sports Commission, shared similar sentiments. He expressed he’s thrilled to give the Anaheim Ducks an avenue and help them expand into the esports industry. He further said, “Allowing local youth the opportunity to compete for scholarships within the evolving esports community is a source of great pride. The Invitational is a great way to connect NHL 20 and NASEF and we are excited to be on the ground floor of the competition.”

As of now, student teams can register and submit their rosters by Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. ET. After the signups, competitors will duke it out against each other in NHL 20. The brackets will be divided up by region, as well as by Xbox and PlayStation platform.

Participants can also connect with other students, the general managers, and NASEF leaders by joining the event’s Discord server. NASEF encourages students to abide by their code of conduct in order to maintain a supportive and inclusive esports environment. The rules for the tournaments can be downloaded on the official NASEF website.