Jonathan Toews gets his face on the EA Sports NHL 11 cover

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Electronic Arts Inc. announced Monday that Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will be the new face of the NHL 11 video game manufactured by EA Sports.

Last year's title featuring Hawks winger Patrick Kane. NHL 11 marks the first time that EA SPORTS has put players from the same team on the cover of the NHL franchise in successive years.

Toews' image will be on the front of all packaging when NHL 11 becomes available in North American retail stores in September.

After being selected third overall in the 2006-07 NHL entry draft by the Hawks, the 22-year-old Toews has emerged as one of the most skilled centers in the NHL after just two seasons.

Toews help lead team Canada to a gold medal in 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Toews was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy given to the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs after he played a crucial role in leading the Hawks to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1961.Toews is the youngest captain in the NHL and has registered more than 65 points in each of his first two seasons.

"I am really excited to be on the cover of NHL 11," Toews said. "It's been an amazing year for me and the team, and it's nice to end it by being a part of a game I played growing up. The NHL games have always been great, so it's an honor for me to be a part of the EA SPORTS family."