The Backyard Sports crew brings their pint-sized icy escapades exclusively to the DS just in time for the 2008 NHL season. Backyard Hockey continues the series' style of combining tiny versions of real-world hockey players, random backyard kids, and created players, in a collection of easy-to-learn modes and mini-games designed specifically for younger gamers. Players can shoot and score in a single game with NHL stars like Sidney Crosby, Niklas Lidstrom, Jaromir Jagr, and Joe Thornton, or guide any of the 30 NHL teams through a full 82-game season of 3-on-3 hockey. All game modes in Backyard Hockey, including the shootout and air hockey mini-games, can be played using either the control pad or the stylus and touch screen.