This game is rated ESRB: Everyone for Comic Mischief and Violence.
NHL 2002 is a hockey simulation developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports, released in 2001 for PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox — the first entry in the NHL series to appear on Microsoft's console. Pittsburgh Penguins star and co-owner Mario Lemieux serves as the cover athlete, a fitting choice given his high-profile return to professional hockey after more than three years in retirement. As the predecessor to NHL 2003, the game represents an installment in EA Sports' long-running annual franchise, which aims to replicate the rules, teams, and on-ice mechanics of professional hockey. Players take control of NHL rosters and compete across standard game modes typical of the series, with an emphasis on realistic skating, shooting, and team strategy that characterized EA Canada's approach to the sport during this era.
