As someone who has, within the past couple of months, played "Ice Hockey" on the original NES (pictured), the press release we received a little while ago was startling, though not surprising:

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) revealed today that EA SPORTS™ is developing their first ever NHL® hockey title for the Wii™ Console, NHL®SLAPSHOT, and that NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky will grace the cover. NHL®SLAPSHOT introduces a revolutionary hockey stick controller that allows players to shoot, pass and body check just like the pros. In addition to having his likeness on the front of all packaging, Gretzky will be available as a playable character in the game when NHL® SLAPSHOT is available in retail stores this September. ... NHL® SLAPSHOT is currently in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC and will be available for the Wii system in September, 2010.

What say you, hockey and/or Wii aficionados. Will this kind of controller and game be worth it, or will the simulation prove clunky and not worth your while?

And, perhaps more importantly, can you make Wayne Gretzky's head bleed in this game?