For the first time, fans will choose the hockey player on the cover of the latest edition of EA Sports' series of NHL games, and in the first round of fan voting for NHL 13, Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner will battle it out to represent the Hurricanes in the next round.
One representative from each team plus two wild-card selections will advance to the next round of voting; and 16 will emerge from that round in a single-elimination bracket that will take place April 24-June 4.
Voting between Staal and Skinner will take place from March 29-April 11 on the NHL's website. The winner will be unveiled at the NHL awards in Las Vegas on June 20. Staal appeared on the cover of NHL 08.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or