Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1241493
44 // APRIL/MAY 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM Video Game Becomes First Franchise To Feature Athletes From All Major Sports Leagues By Alyssa Hertel F ew fans may remember when Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey said he could crack an NHL roster with just a few months of training back in 2018. W h i l e w e n e v e r g ot t h e c h a n c e t o see him leave his cleats in the locker room and lace up the skates, there is a new video game that gives fans a glimpse of what might have been. " U l t i m a t e R i v a l s : T h e R i n k ," a n e w sports game franchise from Bit Fry Game Studios, Inc., was released exclusively on Apple Arcade this spring. The first title in the franchise—which looks to expand with a similar basketball-themed format soon —allows players to choose from more than 50 superstar athletes to compete in exciting two-on-two hockey matches. H e r e 's t h e c a t c h : y o u r d y n a m i c d u o can consist of athletes from a variety of professional leagues. So even though Ramsey isn't one of the NFL players featured on the game, you could see traditional Midwest city rivals Chicago and Kansas City unite under a superstar pair of Patricks in Patrick Kane and Patrick Mahomes. Different combinations of players unlock unique ways to play and win against AI or other gamers in online multiplayer matches. Players can choose from a range of athletes, including NHL stars like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Seth Jones, NHL legend Wayne Gretzy and stars from other leagues such as the MLB's Mookie Betts, the NBA's Lebron James and Alex Morgan from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Wayne Gretzky has shown his greatness in a new realm with "Ultimate Rivals: The Rink" that pairs various sports stars in a unique new video game.