The online poker room PokerStars announced on Wednesday that it has signed hockey icon Mats Sundin to serve as an international celebrity ambassador, according to a press release distributed this afternoon. Sundin revealed his arrangement at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday morning. He joins tennis legend Boris Becker and baseball Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser as members of PokerStars’ celebrity contingent.
As part of his new role with PokerStars, Sundin will travel to events around the world on behalf of the online poker site. He’ll start off by heading to Barcelona, Spain next week to play in the PokerStars European Poker Tour event there. He plans to donate his winnings to charity and commented to his fans, “I have always enjoyed playing poker and partnering with PokerStars gives me the opportunity to challenge myself and explore the full potential of my game. Learning from and playing against some of the best poker players in the world won’t be easy, but I believe the fighting spirit I’ve developed as a hockey pro will really help me at the tables.”
Sundin played for the Quebec Nordiques before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is the longest serving non-North American captain in NHL history and was the first Swedish player to score 500 goals. In addition, Sundin became the first Maple Leafs player to score 400 goals. He is currently an unrestricted free agent, although it seems like poker will be occupying his career now.
PokerStars Regional Marketing Manager Michael Holmberg commented,
Sundin has gained worldwide recognition as a professional athlete, renowned for his dedication, focus, and commitment that have earned him a place at the very top of his profession. This profile is very similar to the qualities we witness among the most successful poker pros on our site and tours. He is a charismatic leader and champion, one that we are tremendously proud to have represent PokerStars as a brand ambassador.
The 37 year-old will be playing under the name “MatsSundin” on PokerStars. Becker is a six-time Grand Slam champion and was the singles winner of Wimbeldon in 1985 and 1986. Hershiser is a baseball analyst for cable network ESPN and won the prestigious Cy Young Award in 1988. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the majority of his illustrious career. Hershiser defeated Ted Forrest in the first round of NBC’s “National Heads-Up Championship” in 2008. He then beat Allen Cunningham and Freddy Deeb before finally falling to Andy Bloch.
Team PokerStars Pro includes a trio of recent World Series of Poker Main Event Champions: Joe Hachem (2005), Greg Raymer (2004), and the man who started the modern poker boom, Chris Moneymaker (2003). Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, Isabelle Mercier, Humberto Brenes, Tom McEvoy, Steven Paul-Ambrose, and Vanessa Rousso also appear on the PokerStars roster.
The online poker site hosts a weekly $1.5 million guaranteed tournament, the Sunday Million. It is the richest weekly prize pool in online poker. PokerStars is about to host the 2008 World Championship of Online Poker, which begins on Friday and concludes with a $10 million guaranteed Main Event.
