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ECL ‘26: Winter - Elite Team License 

In order to play in ECL Elite, the qualified teams need to purchase an ECL Elite team license. Each player of the team also needs to have a valid ECL ‘26 Player License or ECL '26 Winter Player License (see license description for backup exception).

License fees will be allocated to fund prize pools and developing operations, such as our broadcasts, live productions and promoting the league.

The following terms and conditions apply to the ECL ‘26: Winter - Elite Team License: 

PURCHASE

• The Early Bird ECL Elite license costs 550€ (VAT 25,5% included) per team and will be collected and submitted by the team captain (unless otherwise agreed with SportsGamer staff) 
• The last day for purchase at Early Bird Pricing is 24.11.2025
• If an ECL Elite team chooses not to purchase the ECL Elite team license, they will be ineligible to compete in ECL Elite and may be demoted to ECL Pro or a lower division. SportsGamer reserves the right to deny entry into any lower division if it is determined that the team’s skill level exceeds that of the division they are attempting to enter.
• The captain who collects and pays the team license must be 18 years or older 
• Teams can pay via bank transfer, credit card (service fees apply) or PayPal (service fees apply)

PRIZE POOL

Please refer to the above picture for the ECL '26: Elite Prize Pool split. For further information, see this article.

• In order to prevent abuse, teams that are eligible to win ECL '26 prizing need to specify individual player shares towards SportsGamer. If there are transfers during the season, the share information should be updated immediately by contacting support. By default, SportsGamer suggests an even share throughout the roster. Please list all players and their shares. If any winnings will be paid through an organization representing the team, just mention the organization. 
• Winnings will be paid within 90 days of the end of the ECL '26: Winter - Elite season. Any prize money must be collected within 365 days of the ECL '26: Winter - Elite season’s first prize payments being paid. Failure to provide the requested information within this time period will result in the forfeit of the prize.
• By participating in the league, players accept the terms of payment of prize money
• Please note that players failing to adhere to broadcast and interview protocol may see deductions in winnings. The details will be communicated in the finalized version of the ECL '26: Winter Official Rules

REFUNDS

• In the case of a team folding, being disqualified or for any other reason not finishing the ECL Elite season, there will be no refunds.  
• In the unlikely event that an ECL season cannot be completed due to SportsGamer’s inability to fulfill its operational responsibilities, players and teams may request a refund for that specific season’s license fees. Refunds do not apply to previous seasons or unrelated business activities.

ECL ‘26: Winter - Pro Team License 

In order to play in ECL Pro, the qualified teams need to purchase an ECL Pro team license. Each player of the team also needs to have a valid ECL ‘26 Player License or ECL '26 Winter Player License (see license description for backup exception).

License fees will be allocated to fund prize pools and developing operations, such as our broadcasts, live productions and promoting the league.

The following terms and conditions apply to the ECL ‘26: Winter - Pro Team License: 

PURCHASE

• The Early Bird ECL Pro license costs 330€ (VAT 25,5% included) per team and will be collected and submitted by the team captain (unless otherwise agreed with SportsGamer staff) 
• The last day for purchase at Early Bird pricing is 24.11.2025
• If an ECL Pro team chooses not to purchase the ECL Pro team license, they will be ineligible to compete in ECL Pro and may be demoted to ECL Lite or a lower division. SportsGamer reserves the right to deny entry into any lower division if it is determined that the team’s skill level exceeds that of the division they are attempting to enter.
• The captain who collects and pays the team license must be 18 years or older 
• Teams can pay via bank transfer, credit card (service fees apply) or PayPal (service fees apply)

PRIZE POOL

Please refer to the above picture for the ECL '26: Winter - Pro Prize pool split. For further information, see this article.

• In order to prevent abuse, teams that are eligible to win ECL '26 prizing need to specify individual player shares towards SportsGamer. If there are transfers during the season, the share information should be updated immediately by contacting support. By default, SportsGamer suggests an even share throughout the roster. Please list all players and their shares. If any winnings will be paid through an organization representing the team, just mention the organization. 
• Winnings will be paid within 90 days of the end of the ECL '26: Winter - Pro season. Any prize money must be collected within 365 days of the ECL '26: Winter - Pro season’s first prize payments being paid. Failure to provide the requested information within this time period will result in the forfeit of the prize.
• By participating in the league, players accept the terms of payment of prize money

REFUNDS

• In the case of a team folding, being disqualified or for any other reason not finishing the ECL Pro season, there will be no refunds.  
• In the unlikely event that an ECL season cannot be completed due to SportsGamer’s inability to fulfill its operational responsibilities, players and teams may request a refund for that specific season’s license fees. Refunds do not apply to previous seasons or unrelated business activities.

ECL ‘26: Winter - Lite Team License 

In order to play in ECL Lite, the qualified teams need to purchase an ECL Lite team license. Each player of the team also needs to have a valid ECL ‘26 Player License or ECL '26 Winter Player License (see license description for backup exception).

License fees will be allocated to fund prize pools and developing operations, such as our broadcasts, live productions and promoting the league.

The following terms and conditions apply to the ECL ‘26: Winter - Lite Team License: 

PURCHASE

• The Early Bird ECL Lite license costs 220€ (VAT 25,5%) per team and will be collected and submitted by the team captain (unless otherwise agreed with the SportsGamer staff) 
• The last day for purchase at the Early Bird price is 24.11.2025
• If an ECL Lite team chooses not to purchase the ECL Lite team license, they will be ineligible to compete in ECL Lite and may be demoted to ECL Core or a lower division. SportsGamer reserves the right to deny entry into any lower division if it is determined that the team’s skill level exceeds that of the division they are attempting to enter.
• The captain who collects and pays the team license must be 18 years or older 
• Teams can pay via bank transfer, credit card (service fees apply) or PayPal (service fees apply)

PRIZE POOL

Please refer to the above picture for the ECL '26: Winter - Lite Prize pool split. For further information, see this article.

• In order to prevent abuse, teams that are eligible to win ECL '26 prizing need to specify individual player shares towards SportsGamer. If there are transfers during the season, the share information should be updated immediately by contacting support. By default, SportsGamer suggests an even share throughout the roster. Please list all players and their shares. If any winnings will be paid through an organization representing the team, just mention the organization. 
• Winnings will be paid within 90 days of the end of the ECL '26: Winter - Lite season. Any prize money must be collected within 365 days of the ECL '26: Winter - Lite season’s first prize payments being paid. Failure to provide the requested information within this time period will result in the forfeit of the prize.
• By participating in the league, players accept the terms of payment of prize money

REFUNDS

In the case of a team folding, being disqualified or for any other reason not finishing the ECL Lite season, there will be no refunds.  

In the unlikely event that an ECL season cannot be completed due to SportsGamer’s inability to fulfill its operational responsibilities, players and teams may request a refund for that specific season’s license fees. Refunds do not apply to previous seasons or unrelated business activities.

ECL ‘26: Winter - Core Team License 

In order to play in ECL Core, the qualified teams need to purchase an ECL Core team license. Each player of the team also needs to have a valid ECL ‘26 Player License or ECL '26 Winter Player License (see license description for backup exception).

License fees will be allocated to fund prize pools and developing operations, such as our broadcasts, live productions and promoting the league.

The following terms and conditions apply to the ECL ‘26: Winter - Core Team License: 

PURCHASE

• The Early Bird ECL Core license costs 110€ (VAT 25,5% included) per team and will be collected and submitted by the team captain (unless otherwise agreed with SportsGamer staff) 
• The last day for purchase at Early Bird Pricing is 24.11.2025
• If an ECL Core team chooses not to purchase the ECL Core team license, they will be ineligible to compete in ECL Core and may be demoted to ECL Neo. SportsGamer reserves the right to deny entry into any lower division if it is determined that the team’s skill level exceeds that of the division they are attempting to enter.
• The captain who collects and pays the team license must be 18 years or older 
• Teams can pay via bank transfer, credit card (service fees apply) or PayPal (service fees apply)

PRIZE POOL

Please refer to the above picture for the ECL '26: Winter - Core Prize pool split. For further information, see this article.

• In order to prevent abuse, teams that are eligible to win ECL '26 prizing need to specify individual player shares towards SportsGamer. If there are transfers during the season, the share information should be updated immediately by contacting support. By default, SportsGamer suggests an even share throughout the roster. Please list all players and their shares. If any winnings will be paid through an organization representing the team, just mention the organization. 
• Winnings will be paid within 90 days of the end of the ECL '26: Winter - Core season. Any prize money must be collected within 365 days of the ECL '26: Winter - Core season’s first prize payments being paid. Failure to provide the requested information within this time period will result in the forfeit of the prize.
• By participating in the league, players accept the terms of payment of prize money

REFUNDS

• In the case of a team folding, being disqualified or for any other reason not finishing the ECL Core season, there will be no refunds.  
• In the unlikely event that an ECL season cannot be completed due to SportsGamer’s inability to fulfill its operational responsibilities, players and teams may request a refund for that specific season’s license fees. Refunds do not apply to previous seasons or unrelated business activities.

ECL ‘26 Player License 

Note: If you're looking for the ECL '26: Winter Neo Player License, you can find it by clicking this link.

The ECL ‘26 Player License allows for participation in the ECL 6v6 and 1v1 leagues for the full ECL ‘26 year including both the ECL ‘26: Winter and Spring seasons. This license will grant you access to compete in the most prestigious and biggest competitive NHL esports league in Europe. An ECL league spans over the course of two to three months and guarantees a minimum of roughly 20 games of competition on the 6v6 side*, whereas the 1v1 league adds - at the very least - the opportunity to participate in 14 games in the Winter part of the ECL '26: 1v1 Season.

*Based on the minimum amount of games played in a starting role in the ECL '22 Spring: Core regular season.

ECL Neo will continue being available at no team license fee for teams wishing to get a taste of competitive virtual hockey, whereas all other divisions are subject to a team license fee. The license is exponentially higher at higher levels of competition, given the increased spotlight and additional content around the divisions in question.

Each ECL team can name up to 3 backup players (outside of the primary 6) on their roster that can help the team and play up to 10 official ECL games in total across the Winter and Spring seasons without needing to own a Player License. These backup players will have to "purchase" the free ECL '26: Backup Player License

The ECL ‘26 Player License can be purchased during the season if a backup wants to play more games than expected.

ECL Neo players can purchase a lower-priced ECL Neo Player License, however

• To uphold the integrity of ECL Neo as the beginner level, we reserve the right to deny teams to participate in cases where they are clearly above the amateur level, as it could significantly impact the experience of what ECL Neo is intended for.
• The ECL ‘26 Player License can be purchased by an ECL Neo player if they want to participate in ECL 1v1, benefit from the additional advantages that come with the license, or simply as a form of supporting the league.

License fees will be allocated to fund prize pools and developing operations, such as our broadcasts, live productions and promoting the league.

The following terms and conditions apply to the ECL ‘26 Player License: 

PURCHASE

• The Early Bird ECL ‘26 Player License costs 35 € (VAT 25,5% included) per player. For teams wishing to pay all of their player’s licenses at once instead of purchasing individually, you can do so - just make sure you fill out all of the PSN IDs/Gamertags
• Early Bird pricing is available until 24.11.2025
• The license must be paid before starting your first ECL ‘26 game.
• Teams can pay via bank transfer, credit card (service fees apply) or PayPal (service fees apply)

ECL 1v1 PRIZE POOL

Please refer to the above picture for the ECL '26: 1v1 Prize Pool split. For further information, see this article.

PAYMENTS OF ECL 1v1 PRIZE POOL

• Winnings of the Winter part of the ECL 1v1 Season will be paid within 90 days of the end of the ECL '26: Winter season.
• Any prize money must be collected within 365 days of the specific season’s first payments being paid. Failure to provide the requested information within this time period will result in the forfeit of the prize.
• By participating in the league, players accept the terms of payment of prize money
• For information about the payments regarding ECL 6v6 divisions, please see the license information of the relevant division license.

REFUNDS

In the case of a team folding, being disqualified or for any other reason not finishing the ECL 1v1 or 6v6 season, there will be no refunds.  

In the unlikely event that an ECL season cannot be completed due to SportsGamer’s inability to fulfill its operational responsibilities, players and teams may request a refund for that specific season’s license fees. Refunds do not apply to previous seasons or unrelated business activities.