Toronto Sceptres goalie Carly Jackson on their love of video games

It was a big deal when Electronic Arts added the Professional Women’s Hockey League to NHL 25. Though the game launched without the newly formed women’s hockey league, EA added the league and its players to NHL 25 in November 2024, coinciding with the start of the PWHL’s second season. Though women’s teams have been playable in the franchise since NHL 22, when EA added national squads from the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship tournaments, NHL 25 is the first time many of the PWHL’s players have seen themselves in a video game. It’s a surreal moment for a lot of them, including Toronto Sceptres goalie Carly “CJ” Jackson, who said as much in an Instagram video posted in November. “NHL adding us to the game is lit and awesome and a dream come true,” Jackson said. “I’ve dreamt about this since I was a kid.”

Though Jackson hasn’t played the NHL video games in some time, they grew up playing the games — and plenty of other games, too. When they’re not between the pipes on the ice, Jackson is playing video games; the current rotation is Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Baldur’s Gate 3. Polygon spoke to Jackson in January about everything gaming — from currently played games and being in NHL 25 to thoughts on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and building a PC.

Polygon: Are you a big NHL 25 player?

Carly Jackson: I was very heavily into it in high school, so that was… dating myself, but 10 years ago. And then, I remember, I played Chel — like, I had NHL 07 for my PSP. And I remember driving to my hockey game in the back county in Nova Scotia, and I’d be playing with my friend and we’d go game for game. That’s the memories I have of playing Chel growing up. So when I found out that we were actually in the game, I think my inner child — and my adult self — was pretty excited to be in a video game. That’s a pretty, pretty cool thing to say, especially among my social circles. My brother’s a big gamer, and I play video games every day, so it’s a huge deal to me. [Being able] to actually play as myself in a game was just a really special moment in terms of having a passion for hockey and also gaming. It’s just a childhood dream that has been achieved, and it feels just as good as I thought it would.

What was the first thing you did in NHL 25 after the PWHL update?

Oh, I put myself in net — I put me in both nets. Same team against the same team, but I put myself in both nets. I was a little bit disappointed in my gaming performance, because I haven’t played Chel in a while. But I was really happy with my video game self performance. I thought I was pretty competitive, and I made some nice saves. I was frustrated but also happy with myself, because I was also shooting on myself [while] making saves for my home team as the same time.

What do you think about your stats in-game? Do you have a sense for how the developer comes up with that?

I was always curious — like, I wonder what my stat line would be, in terms of, as players, your speed, your overall score, that kind of stuff. I don’t know how they determine it. I don’t know the behind the scenes on that, but I like where I’m sitting. I think one of the coolest things is that I’ve had so many people from over the course of my life who have messaged me and been like, Hey man, I just got an Xbox or a PlayStation so I could play as you, and it’s so fun. Or, they’ve pulled me out of the card packs. People keep sending me pictures of it, and it’s so, so cool. So I’ve been reconnecting with a lot of old friends because they’re seeing me in this game. It’s so fun.

Have you played online yet? I’ve always imagined it like the meme — ‘They don’t know they’re playing with the Carly Jackson.’

I haven’t played online yet. I’ve been doing the PWHL career [mode] to win the Walter Cup with the Sceptres. And then I’ve done a couple Play Now [games] against friends. But I haven’t played online against random people yet.

Beyond NHL 25, what are you playing? Do you play on the road?

I sure do. I play every day. I’ve always used Fortnite as a social platform, because I have a lot of college friends who play it. A lot of people play that game, so it’s always in the rotation. But lately I’ve been playing Black Ops 6, mostly the Zombies [mode], and my brother got me Baldur’s Gate 3 for Christmas, and that has been my No. 1. When I have a few hours to play, I’m playing Baldur’s Gate. It’s one of his all-time favorites, so he got it for me, and now I’m obsessed with it. I’d say that’s been my main rotation.

I also just finished Squirrel With a Gun in about one day. And then I’ve been playing The Forest, and the sequel [that] just came out, Sons of the Forest — it’s a horror game. I’ve been playing that with my brother as well. That’s what I play when I’m home. And then ast year, when I made the team, the Toronto PWHL — that was what it was called at the time, it’s the Sceptres now — I bought myself a Nintendo Switch as a treat so that I could play on the road. When we’re on the road, I will play my Switch. I just finished Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and mostly this year, I’ve been playing Pokémon [Legends:] Arceus. I just finished the first ending, and now I’m playing the true or the real ending.

What do you play on when you’re home?

I got a PC setup this summer. I always wanted one. When I was a kid, I was on Xbox 360. Then I made the switch over to PlayStation. But then this summer, I got super obsessed with computer building, so I ended up getting a whole setup, it being a total personal project. I’m absolutely hooked. I love my PC. It’s like my baby.

Do you have a favorite game of all time?

My first love was probably Legend of Zelda, because it was the first great game I played. But a personal favorite through my entire gaming career… I love the Fallout series. Fallout is just so epic. All the lore, all the storytelling, and telling it in a lighthearted way where you can almost be silly, but the storytelling is actually quite dark. That or the Dragon Age series is also very good. I just finished playing Veilguard about a month ago.

I’ve been playing Veilguard too. What are your thoughts as a big Dragon Age fan?

I enjoyed it. It wasn’t everything I hoped it would be, just because it took — it was in development for so long, and I know there was some hiccups along the way and things like that, which is totally reasonable. But I missed the choice selection. I’ll probably do a couple of playthroughs, because I just love the series so much. But it didn’t feel as connected as the other games. I’d say the first and the third — Dragon Age: Origins and Inquisition — were my favorites. I’m glad I played Veilguard, but it wouldn’t be at the top of the list of all the Dragon Age games for me.

Are you the biggest gamer on your team? Do any of you play together at all?

Yeah, I would say I’m the biggest gamer on the team. But yes, we do have girls that play. Sometimes when we’re driving on the bus, we’ll hotspot somebody’s Wi-Fi, and we’ll all play Fortnite on our Switches. There are a few girls who have a Switch that we’ll rotate around. When I’m home, [Toronto Sceptres forward] Izzy Daniel and [Toronto Sceptres defenseman] Allie Munroe… we’ve been playing Call of Duty mostly, but we mix in some Fortnite too.