Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman and Colorado Avalanche forward J.T. Compher are teaming up to run the NHLPA Open featuring Fortnite, a charity tournament set to feature 60-plus NHLPA members facing off in the video game, the players' association announced Friday.
The tournament will take place May 18, and it will be streamed over three hours on ESPN's esports Twitch channel. Contestants will compete in trios, with the winners claiming a $200,000 prize to be donated to the charities of their choice.
"Players across the league are passionate Fortnite players. While we cannot compete on the ice right now, it is important to the guys that we give back in a meaningful way," Compher said. "We are excited to showcase our competitive skills online to an ever-growing audience, and I can’t wait to watch our event unfold."
"When J.T. approached me about creating the NHLPA Open featuring Fortnite, I was on board right away because I knew teammates and friends around the league who would be thrilled to be a part of this," Hyman added.
Compher will participate with Avalanche teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Nieto, while Hyman will serve as the color commentator for the event. Other notable players on board include Sebastian Aho, Thomas Chabot, Johnny Gaudreau, William Karlsson, Clayton Keller, Travis Konecny, Mitch Marner, Bryan Rust, and Alex Tuch.
Fortnite, the free-to-play battle royale-style game, generated an estimated $1.8 billion in revenue last year.
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