All Activity
- Past hour
-
Why are we paying prize money to teams that finish 5th–8th? What is the actual reasoning behind this? Those teams did not win. They did not reach the podium. They did not achieve anything noteworthy. They showed up, failed to compete for the top, and still get rewarded. Why is mediocrity being incentivized in a competitive league? If payouts for 5th–8th were removed entirely, the prize money for 1st–3rd would increase "MaSsIvElY". Suddenly, winning would matter. And in the higher divisions (Elite and Pro), this would lead to genuine competition for the top spots. There may already be some of that, but assuming this system, it would play out exactly as explained here. And then for sure also, podium finishes (1.-3.) would mean something in lower divisions. And as stated in this post: if the license costs, for example, €49, and I win €51, then honestly this feels rather trivial and borderline ridiculous. Two euros of “profit” is hardly a meaningful reward for competing in a so-called competitive league. Right now the prize pool is being fragmented into small, meaningless payouts just so everyone can leave with something. That weakens competition. That removes prestige. That undermines the entire purpose of having an any division in the first place. A serious competitive system should be topheavy by design. You perform at the highest level, or you do not get paid. That is how pressure is created. That is how excellence is rewarded. When a team can finish 6th and still earn money, there is no real incentive to push harder. No real risk. No real reward for being better than everyone else. Stop spreading the prize pool thin Stop rewarding failure Reward the winners properly Make the top 3 actually worth fighting for Otherwise, this is not a serious competitive league 🤔- 1 reply
-
- 2
-
-
- Today
-
Hey everyone, In this post, I’ll break down the current imbalances in the ECL system. Before I get into specifics, credit where it’s due: Sportsgamer and Kenu have done a ton great of great work for ECL, and I´ve always been grateful for it. But right now, the system feels unsustainable, and if nothing changes, I don’t think it will last much longer. Last weekend, Sportsgamer published the current prize pools. My conclusion is simple: this isn’t acceptable relative to what we pay for the licences. Especially for Elite. The prize pools we had in Elite last season before the reduction were just about acceptable. Again, for the money we spend. This leads to the main flaw in the current system: the total amount players pay is too high compared to the total prize pools. A big reason is that the lower divisions have prize pools that are too large relative to Elite. And before someone says, “we don’t want to pay Elite players prizes”. Yeah, I get that. But the mistake happened back when the licence fees were introduced through every division. To a working system back then where players wanted to play as high as possible. Elite and Pro at that time were the toughest they have been. I believe introducing the licence fees like that worked for a while before people saw that the lower you play the easier it is to get prize money. Or not to lose money, however you want to see it. I will now explain what I mean and I’ll use the super early bird prizes to be as fair as possible to Sportsgamer here. Examples if per team 6 players pay the team licence and everyone pays 15e for their own licence per season: 3rd best team in Europe You pay 98.33€ per season. You get back 97.69€. So you are losing money while being one of the best teams in Europe. 19th best team in Europe (Pro 3rd) You pay 65€ per season. You get back 65.69€. 51st best team in Europe (Lite 3rd) You pay 48.33€ per season. You get back 51.88€. 91st best team in Europe (Core 3rd) You pay 31.67€ per season. You get back 36.16€ If you’re the 91st team you get more back than the 3rd best team… And due to this imbalance, teams want to play lower than their level is. The lower you play, the less risky it is to lose money. And even make some money if you win the league you´re in. We have seen the extreme in teams with mostly elite players(from 1-2 seasons prior) go play lite due to this... Sportsgamer can force them to “play” qualifiers, but they can´t force them to actually play. We saw this from one team as they were skating to the boards or even just being AFK for like half of the game... There’s a lot of comparisons you could do to show the imbalances. I´ll throw one more in. You get to the playoffs in Elite and lose in a tight game seven series to a team that goes on to be the champion. Congrats, you played a great season, and your team was one of the best in EU. You still lost 59.25€ in total this season. And must pay the 98.33€ again for the upcoming season to maybe play as good. You have a team of players that don´t have or want to put extra money into ECL. So you go play in Lite due to it being less risky to lose your money. Even though you could compete in pro if everything clicks. Your team wins lite. You get 40.60€ to celebrate for being the 49th best team in EU. So even though your team was 44 spots lower that the 5th best team in the same league that season. Each player in your team made 100€ more than them. This isn´t how a competitive league works, as you should always want to play as high as possible, and be motivated to do so. How to fix it then? I have one suggestion, which would be at least better than how things are now. Casual and Competitive leagues. Casual league Only player licence (same as now) First team get back 150€(licence amount for 1 season per player x6) Competitive league Elite 16 Teams Pro 16 Teams Lite Rest divided into groups of teams so that everyone gets 30 games. For example 200€ licence per team + player licence. with 64 teams the prize pool would be 9536€ after taxes. With most of it going to the top division, as it should be in a competitive division. Divided for example(this is just a example, dont get too tied to it): Lite 1st 350€ Pro 2nd 350€ Pro 1st 550€ Elite 4.-8. 350€ Elite 3.-4. 550€ Elite 2nd 750€ Elite 1st 5000€ Elite would every season have open qualifiers for 1 spot, so everyone would have a fair chance to play in their own level. I will not spell the whole system here but this gives a good picture of it. If Sportsgamer is open to it, I’m happy to walk through the full concept in more detail and help refine it.
- 1 reply
-
- 6
-
-
-
-
EU Clubs looking for players - PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S
sonny replied to Robsom's topic in EASHL Teams
Refuse too lose LITE Looking for a starter Rd/Ld Psn or discord @Sonnysprofil if u intrested
-
Free any position any div -
Kunkku85 changed their profile photo - Yesterday
-
noob2vs4pro joined the community -
Free G for the rest of the season. Pirtsa- -
ytmelle changed their profile photo -
ROBE Esports IN: @Konsuuqq Thanks @aomyo6195 and good luck in military! -
Free RD/G Any div okey Msg me here or DC/PSN : Kahvinpapu -
EU Clubs looking for players - PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S
Edgard_gcn replied to Robsom's topic in EASHL Teams
VESUVIUS ESPORTS ECL ÉLITE, looking for starter LD or C. we need a day that’s relatively easy to keep available to run training sessions as well as warm-ups, so we can Hope to finish the season properly 💪! elite/pro experience only! - Last week
-
Compete for the European Championship in 1v1 The European Championship League (ECL) is the highest level of structured NHL competition in Europe — and ECL 1v1 is where individual skill is put to the ultimate test. No teammates. No excuses. Just you, your opponent, and a season-long battle for the European Championship title in 1v1. Two ways to compete in ECL 1v1 - Go for glory, or chill! For the Winter season, ECL 1v1 is split into two clearly defined competitions, so players can choose the experience that fits them best. 1) ECL ’26: Winter – 1v1 Championship 🏆 This is the official European Championship League 1v1 competition. • Structured group stage • Playoffs for the top performers • Prize pool on the line • Clear commitment expectations This is the path for players who want to compete at the highest 1v1 level and play for results that carry real weight. Key Dates • Sign-up deadline: January 17, 23:59 CET • Group Stage: January 20 – February 9 • Playoffs: Starting February 13 (end date TBA) Winter Season Prize Pool The ECL ’26: Winter Prize Pool is calculated as a fixed percentage of the net season revenue. For more information on how the prize pool is formed, please refer to this article. 🥇 1st place: 436.59 € 🥈 2nd place: 210.21 € 🥉 Semifinalists: 80.85 € each These figures reflect the prize pool status at the time of writing. Any late license purchases will continue to contribute to the total prize pool, with final amounts confirmed after the season concludes. Think you’ve got what it takes? Then sign up, suit up, and we'll see you on the ice! 2) ECL ’26: Winter – 1v1 Chill 🥳 Not everyone is looking for high-stakes competition — and that’s fine. ECL 1v1 Chill offers: • A more relaxed competitive environment • Structured matches without pressure • No prize pool • No championship implications This is ideal for players who: • Want structured 1v1 games • Prefer lower intensity • Or are still developing their competitive level ⚠️ To protect the integrity of the Chill environment, League Administration may review sign-ups and deny entry to players deemed too skilled for the Chill competition. Commitment & competitive integrity ECL 1v1 — especially the Championship competition — relies heavily on player commitment. Every player’s participation directly affects the standings and competitive balance. ⚠️ By signing up, players confirm their intent to complete the season. Exceptional circumstances can always be discussed with League Administration, but leaving mid-season without a valid reason carries clear competitive consequences. Commitment rules for ECL 1v1 To protect the competitive integrity of ECL 1v1 — especially the Championship competition — the following rules apply: Mid-season withdrawals Players who withdraw or are removed mid-season will remain visible in the standings All matches of a withdrawing player will be recorded as 5-0 losses Players who have finished more than 80% of their matches keep their played results. This ensures complete standings and prevents competitive distortion caused by incomplete schedules. Eligibility for future ECL 1v1 seasons First mid-season withdrawal Player becomes ineligible to register for the following ECL 1v1 season Repeated withdrawals Longer exclusion periods may apply Eligibility reviewed on a case-by-case basis Exceptional circumstances can always be discussed with League Administration. Accepted Licenses for the ECL '26: 1v1 Winter Season: The following licenses are accepted for ECL ’26: Winter – 1v1 (Championship and Chill): ECL ’26: Full Year Player License ECL ’26: Winter Player License ECL ’25: Spring – Player License ECL ’25: Full Year Player License Whether you’re chasing a European title or looking for structured, stress-free 1v1 games, ECL ’26: Winter has a place for you. Signups are now open — choose your path and we’ll see you on the ice. -
Hi SportsGamers, As promised, we’re now ready to share the ECL ’26: Winter prize pool numbers, including how the total prize pool was calculated and how it is distributed across divisions. While a small number of late license purchases may still slightly increase the final figures, we are now very close to the final totals, and the numbers below accurately reflect the current state of the season. How the ECL ’26: Winter Prize Pool Was Calculated The ECL prize pool model for the NHL 26 cycle is based on a simple and transparent principle: 35% of NET license sales are returned directly to the players as prize money. Here’s how the Winter ’26 prize pool was formed: ➕ Total ECL ’26 license sales (incl. VAT): €62,420.00 ➖ VAT (25.5%): –€12682.95 ➖ Payment processing fees (PayPal): –€1986.30 ➖ Reserved for ECL ’26: Spring (50% of Full Year Player licenses): –€9251.00 🟰 Winter ’26 NET sales: €38,499.76 ➡️ 35% of NET sales allocated to prize pools: €13,474.91 This amount is fully dedicated to Winter ’26 prize pools across all ECL divisions. Prize Pool Allocation by Division The total prize pool is distributed between divisions based on participation, competitive level, and season structure. ECL ’26: Winter – Total Prize Pools Elite: €5,861.59 Pro: €3,031.86 Lite: €2,223.36 Core: €1,549.62 1v1: €808.49 Total: €13,474.91 Division Prize Distributions Each division’s prize pool is paid out to multiple placements to ensure that strong playoff performances are rewarded throughout the divisions. ECL Elite – €5,861.59 #1: €2,579.10 #2: €1,172.32 #3–4: €586.16 each #5–8: €234.46 each ECL Pro – €3,031.86 #1: €818.60 #2: €576.05 #3–4: €394.14 each #5–8: €212.23 each ECL Lite – €2,223.36 #1: €533.61 #2: €422.44 #3: €311.27 #4: €244.57 #5–8: €177.87 each ECL Core – €1,549.62 #1: €402.90 #2: €278.93 #3–4: €216.95 each #5–8: €108.47 each ECL 1v1 – €808.49 #1: €436.59 #2: €210.21 #3–4: €80.85 each Final Notes These numbers reflect the current prize pool status at the time of writing. Rounding note: Prize allocations are calculated using percentage-based splits and rounded to the nearest cent at the placement level. As a result, minor €0.01 rounding differences may occur between intermediate totals and displayed sums, without affecting the total prize pool. Any late license purchases will still contribute to the overall prize pool, with final confirmation provided once the season concludes. As always, our goal is to keep the ECL transparent, fair, and community-driven, with a clear connection between participation and rewards. Thank you to everyone competing in ECL ’26: Winter — and best of luck in the remainder of the season. -
ECL Videos
zMikkeez replied to MovaaN's topic in European Championship League - PS5 & Xbox Series X|S(6v6)
-
Free lw for ongoing ecl contact here or dc - Artusjo -
Danker92 changed their profile photo -
HoneyWasp IN - @Malcom330 from SSK Adebts Welcome to the nest!!! -
Any update on when the 2023 financial statement will be publicly available? we are approaching 2026... https://www.asiakastieto.fi/yritykset/fi/sports-gamer-oy/31928995/taloustiedot
-
Free ld for ECL Pro -
Brainrovsky changed their profile photo -
Free D / W for Neo. Play with right hand stick, but can play either side. From Finland, but speak good enough english and willing to play with players from anywhere from europe. -
Free G if need till transfer deadline this season lite/pro https://sportsgamer.gg/players/14945 -
temp-4452554 joined the community -
jaaxi joined the community -
Tiki x Pwolle In: @Nampa77 @Jugi9 Out: @Jemmuuu Thanks Jemmu and warm welcome Nampa and Jugi! 💪🏻🔥
-
Danieloman30 joined the community -
Free F Core -
bnkoXD changed their profile photo -
Más goteo joined the community -
UP!!!! -
sundisx changed their profile photo -
AIK_Terror_1891 joined the community -
Danil Chelyuk changed their profile photo -
Troisy joined the community -
Free C/LW/RW Any Div
-
r4mme changed their profile photo -
notmoonkid changed their profile photo -
Hi SportsGamers, There have been some questions regarding the Regular Season dates, the Transfer Deadline, and the Holiday Break, so we want to clarify all of these topics in one place. Regular Season End - January 15th The regular season is set to end on January 15th, 2026, in all divisions. We understand that this may feel a little extra relaxed for the Core and Lite divisions, where the most active teams will potentially have finished their games already by Christmas, but we communicated the deadline early on, and we therefore do not want to change it, as some teams seem to have made their plans based on it. Be sure to reschedule any games necessary with your opponents in good time and enjoy the holidays! Transfer Deadline - January 4th, restrictions apply The transfer deadline is January 4th, 2026; however, please note that no team can make transfers in either direction once they have completed their regular season. All transfers, however, are subject to scrutiny by the League Administration. Therefore, transfers can be declined retroactively if deemed to have been illegal, potentially resulting in games played being nullified. Holiday Break The Holiday Break is planned for December 19th to January 3rd. Teams are allowed to play during this time if they mutually agree to do so; however, no team can be forced to play during this time period. ECL Lite & Core Playoff system To avoid any confusion, we want to mention that the Lite and Core playoff system for this season will be as follows: A total of 24 teams will go to the playoffs in each division. The top 2 of each group go directly to the 2nd round of the Playoffs. Teams placing 3–6 will be seeded into the first round, meaning #9 vs #24, #10 vs #23, and so on. As always, thank you for your cooperation and for helping keep the season running smoothly. We wish everyone a great end to the regular season and a relaxing holiday break. -
Free forward for ECL Neo or Core. Looking for a backup position. I can play almost every night if needed and can buy full license if necessary. DM sportsgamer or psn: Yt_sweti86 -
EU Clubs looking for players - PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S
OG_Veehil-_- replied to Robsom's topic in EASHL Teams
Musta Korvatunturi (Neo) We are looking for a backup left defenseman, preferably a Finn but it doesn't matter if you are not message me here or dc: veehil
