Gaming peripherals company HyperX and the National Hockey League (NHL) have announced a one-year esports-focused strategic partnership.
The agreement will see HyperX become the official gaming headset supplier of the 2021 NHL Gaming World Championship.
RELATED: NHL enters into partnership with DreamHack Sports Games
The NHL Gaming World Championship is an esports event featuring players from Europe and North America. The event’s 2021 season sees participants battle it out on EA Sports’ NHL 21, between April and July, to claim part of its $100,000 (£ 71,105) prize pool.
As a result of the partnership, NHL Gaming World Championship on-air talent and players will use HyperX gaming headsets for the event’s live broadcasts.
Vice President of marketing for HyperX, Daniel Kelley, commented: “As the lines continue to blur between esports and traditional sports, as seen with the NHL Gaming World Championship, we’re seeing a rise in powerful forms of entertainment that unite gamers and sports fans alike.”
The NHL started hosting esports events in 2018. Moreover, in February this year, the Ice-hockey competition partnered with DreamHack Sports Games to help build on its esports initiatives, which includes the NHL Gaming World Championship.
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Chris Golier, Vice President of Business Development and Innovation for NHL, added: “As we have paused live special events temporarily due to COVID-19, having the best equipment for our competitors in a remote broadcast environment is paramount.
“HyperX is the category leader in headsets and we are thrilled to partner with them to provide Cloud headsets to our talent and competitors for a superior audio experience this NHL GWC season.”
Esports Insider says: The partnership will undoubtedly help the NHL increases its esports presence however, it’s still trailing behind the other sports-centric esports leagues in the US, such as the NBA and NFL’s initiatives. The success of this partnership, alongside its continued collaboration with DreamHack Sports Games, might see the NHL strike more esports partnerships with brands in the future.