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In an effort to boost our editorial coverage outside the realm of division-specific ECL content, we've enlisted NHL.com/sv writer, and long-time ECL player, Hampus Duvefelt (l-Furyan-l) to provide a series of special columns for SportsGamer.GG throughout the NHL 26 cycle. This is the first edition. KEEPING A TEAM TOGETHER If there is one thing I’ve learned during all my years in the NHL community, it is that keeping a team together for any duration of time is hard work. Whether it be due to arguments, fading chemistry, personal reasons or just a need for a fresh voice in the party, teams rarely look the same at the end of a game cycle as they did at the beginning of it. In some ways, change is the one constant in the unpredictable world of NHL gaming. In fact, one could argue an “NHL Year” is not entirely unlike a dog year, where in one game cycle, it can feel like you’ve lived through multiple years’ worth of transfers, roster changes and teams disbanding. Having been a captain or assistant captain for the majority of my soon-to-be decade on this platform, I’ve seen my fair share of exists – good and bad. I’ve been caught blindsided by players leaving at the worst possible times, I’ve had to tell unsuspecting players they were being let go (for various reasons) and I’ve had heartfelt interactions with players where we both agreed it was time for a change. I’ve also had a hand in closing down teams entirely, same as I’ve been a part of starting new projects. I’ve had players “poached” from me, with them agreeing to join other teams when they were still on my roster – sometimes even mid-tournament. And, in the interest of full disclosure as to not try and portray myself as some type of saint; I’ve agreed to join teams – or made plans for new projects – while I was still part of another team. The NHL scene has historically flirted with professional organizations and guaranteed contracts but as it stands that is the exception and not the norm. So, in a business that is... not really a business, but more like a (semi-professional) hobby where a contract is signed through a virtual handshake over Discord and a transfer is never more than a well-timed DM pitch away, how do you go about keeping a team together? Here’s what I’ve learned The main thing is to create an environment where players feel comfortable, enjoy “coming to the rink” and feel like their expectations are being met. Whether those expectations are on-ice success, a high level of activity or just a positive gaming experience, it is important to tailor your approach to the players you have. Are you with a group of IRL friends with no previous EASHL experience who are just starting out together? Perhaps don’t yell at them on a daily basis to get their shit together and to up their playing level (sorry, FCM teammates of ECL 1-3)... Are you with a group of hungry, talented 18-year-olds who want to win a championship and are willing to put in the time to do so? Make sure you keep both activity levels and accountability high. And if you’re with a group of (slightly) older players, with jobs, families and other responsibilities that take up their time, make sure to listen to their feedback and try to tailor your gaming sessions to their availability. But the main thing I wanted to share, and really the reason why I decided to write this whole thing, is some advice I received a few years ago from one of the greatest leaders I ever played with. Advice that I listened to at the time, but didn’t fully understand until more recently. And I’m paraphrasing here because it has been a while. He told me to always try and create a team environment where players want to be. Where they feel like they are achieving something just by being a part of the roster. A team that others scramble to play for. A team whose reputation – at least as spread by the players on it, past and present – is undeniably great. There will always be haters on the outside, but if you can create a team environment where starters, backups and loan players alike all feel like they are having the time of their lives, you’ve set yourself up for success. But his most important lesson was this; learn to accept that players are going to want to move on – and cheer them on when they do. Even in the best team environment humanly possible, you are going to have players move on. And here’s the kicker, it doesn’t matter what their reasons for wanting to leave are. It doesn’t matter if it’s wanting more success, wanting a less ‘tryhard’ environment, wanting to play with IRL friends or just wanting a fresh start. In a world without guaranteed contracts, you can never keep a player from leaving, so don’t get frustrated or judge them for it when they do. Learn to let go Of course, it is never a bad thing to ask a departing player why they are leaving or to ask for their feedback if there is something you or the team could have done differently. Listen, and learn from it. But if they’ve decided to leave, that’s that. And that’s okay. Sure, there are both good and bad ways to exit a team, and no one is immune to having an emotional reaction to a player transfer. I certainly am not. But in the end, if you know in your heart of hearts you’ve done the absolute best you can in trying to create a team environment that people want to be a part of, then there is no point in dwelling on it. Or... you could just, you know, win title after title after title. After title. I hear that’s a neat trick too!

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.

The group stage of the ECL ’26: Winter Lite division is heading into the Christmas break, and things are getting tense. Every match feels like it could shift the entire playoff picture, and teams are throwing everything they’ve got into these battles. The usual powerhouses have looked strong, keeping their spots near the top, while a few unexpected teams have started to shake things up with surprising wins. With contenders trying to lock down their 1st round byes for the playoffs and underdogs fighting to stay in the mix, the Lite division never disappoints. In this article, we'll review a few teams that have stood out, disappointed, and flat out just not stepped up this season, so have a read and give your own opinions in the comment section below on what you, the reader, would like to see in the next article. This report is based on stats and standings from December 11th.   Group 1   1st Round Bye's  Wida Wida have been in the Lite divison for some time now and are oozing confidence this season, they haven't been able to take that final step in their game in the previous seasons, but this season could be a different story, with almost 4 goals per game average, they are leading their group and will surely try and clinch that 1st seed for the playoffs soon.  Invasion Hockey The Swedes (mostly) are trying their best to give Wida a run for their money. They are not going away anytime soon, with talented @RookieLIAMOVIC leading the team in points, with the right amount of luck and a few mishaps from Wida, they might just see themselves at the top of the standings soon.    Fallen Rangers The Czech/Slovak team has emerged as a team that could easily take this group by storm, now in 2nd place, still a few fewer games played than Wida, so it will remain to be seen who tops this group. Standout player so far for Fallen Rangers is @Sebko99 who could emerge as a contender for the top scorer this season.   Making The Playoffs  Armeijan Kuri A team many had in the category above when the season started, they now find themselves in a somewhat comfortable place, not in any risk of being out of the playoffs, and with a few well-timed wins, they could push for the 1st round bye.  Hockeyholics  This Central European side will surely make the playoffs, with seasoned veterans like @ViSiOnZ97_ and @I_Alex28_I at the wheel. We're in for an interesting end to the regular season. Now it's up to them how they want to finish the season, but keep an eye out for them to make it difficult for their opponents.   On The Outside  FatBurritos After 8 losses already this season, it's looking grim for the FatBurritos; they have an uphill climb ahead of them, and it won't be pretty if they don't start grabbing some points.  Bladerunners HC In a similar situation to FatBurritos, it's not looking good, but with a few fewer games played, there is always a bit more hope at the end of the tunnel, so time to buckle up and show the rest of the group something.   Group 2 1st Round Bye's  Conexion Whoever wins the matchup between these two teams will likely be the group winner, no doubt about it, as Conexion has gone undefeated so far; they are the slight favourite. @Flo_goes_grazy(flgr93) is 2nd at the moment in goals in the entire Lite division with 23 goals; he'll look to add to that tally as the season progresses.  Veterankraft The heavy favourites to take the entire Lite division before the season started, and have shown exactly what they're capable of so far. @STRANDMANNEN11 has been on fire and has posted a mere 4.5 points per game, and has shown no signs of slowing down. Considering the rest of their roster, maybe this team should've performed better in the Pro qualifiers?   Making The Playoffs  Renegade HC  Also unbeaten with a 4-0-0-0 record so far, they still have a lot of games ahead of them, but a hot start to the season is often a recipe for success. Now they look to build on that start with @MartindalexC as their veteran leader, former Elite standout has shown he can be a guy to rely on when the games get tough, we'll see if that's the case this season.    HC Nova Hut  The mostly Central European-based team has played almost all their games already, so it remains to be seen how their playoff chances look after the Christmas break, but right now @Xkeineri, their Finnish skater has been their most productive player, a calm 32 points (15+17) so far for the experienced winger.   On The Outside  Iserlohn Roosters eSports  With some tough matches behind them, they can now focus on the games ahead. A few wins are needed for them to climb right back in it for the playoff hunt. A veteran team, with veteran players, has its upside in tough situations; they know their own strengths and stick to that. Now is the time to execute.  Mieskissat A brutal start for the Finns, one point in ten games is not the way to start your season... They now face the impossible: a few games left and not a lot to work with; they need a miracle to make the playoffs.   Group 3 1st Round Bye's  Kokemus Puuttuu  The veterans have started undefeated, with almost full points in every matchup, and now they need to keep that flow going. @Jobeyz sure knows this, he's been around for a long time, and this season in Lite he'll get to showcase his talent.  TROJANS Another team that has played a lot of games so far, 12 games under their belt, and they have started well, 27 points and counting. Now comes the time to clutch that 1st round bye that the Lite division offers, and @softa_tofta can be that guy for the Trojans.   Making The Playoffs  HC Vadelma  HC Vadelma has been grinding away the ECL ladder for a while now, and it seems like they've found a system that fits. They made the playoffs last year after a solid season, and now want to get past the 1st round. @Awesome_Zone_ has been with the team and making changes this season, and if they can finish the season strong, no doubt in my mind this team has what it takes to advance further than last year.  Pata Hellalla  A team with a rich history has made a splash, now looking to enter the Pro division once again. They started the season well with 4 wins in 6 games, looking solid, and will surely make it difficult for the opposing teams to get points this season.   On The Outside  Refuse Too Lose We've seen downfalls before, and now Refuse Too Lose joins that club, just a few seasons ago challenging the Pro division to eventual relegation, and now facing relegation once again. Captain @sonny has a roster full of players, and nine players have played at least two games this season. If their captain can't soon find a regular lineup, it'll be Core next season.  Jurricanes The Finns looked a lot better last season in Lite, claiming a comfortable 3rd seed in their group, with one win in 8 games, it seems we won't see them in the playoffs this year. With a few more losses this regular season, Jurricanes will find themselves in the qualifiers.   Group 4 1st Round Bye's  Supernatural A more even group for the top spot than the rest, however, Supernatural seems like the favourites with goalie @eissi83 absolutely dominating in net after making a comeback between the pipes, he boasts a 94,4% save percentage and a 0.88 goals against average, which would be up there with the Lite record if he keeps it going.  vNexs Vipers  The third-tier team for the vNex organization, which has been extremely active in the ECL scene with four teams all the way to the Elite division. Now the Vipers want to establish themselves in the Lite division, and look to join the team in the Pro division next season, and @Zonkji v sure is making a name for himself with 17 goals so far, he is looking for more as the Vipers hope to finish strong this season.   Making The Playoffs KELAGOLDCARD HC With last season's leading goalscorer on the sidelines @Leevijopo01 has only played 2 games so far, and the opponents are thankful. Kela has played their toughest matchups and look now to gain full points from their last matchups and claim a playoff spot. Captain @Romurallimies has been their leader this season with the most points and most time with the puck.  VBO STARS The Swedes average a respectable 2 points per game, where in other groups that could be fine for the 1st round bye, but not group 4, with the right amount of luck, they might just see themselves there this season. In the playoffs, they need a boost, and looking to @Hampus11 their leading scorer to lead the way. On The Outside SSK Adepts  When struggling to score, a team rarely gets a lot of points, and that's the case for the Adepts as they average a 2-goal per game pace this season. To avoid relegation this season, the whole roster needs to come together for a Christmas dinner and get some chemistry going before it's too late. Dynamo HC  The mostly British team has the same issues as the Adepts, and it's putting the puck in the net. They can't seem to have a consistent lineup on gamedays, and that shows in goals for department this season, qualifiers ahead surely, and considering the talent in the Core division, Dynamo might just find themselves one division lower next season.via  

With the holidays now behind us and most of the division having officially reached the halfway point of the season, let's take a look at how each team has done, where they stand, and what their outlook could be as we head into the final stretch of the regular season. We will go in order of standings as of January 1st, as well as give the calculated odds for where each team could finish at the end of the season. Also, please remember that these are all just opinions and are all just for the sake of conversation and to provide the league with fun content. If you don’t agree with any of them, then that is fine, just be respectful! Now with that out of the way, let’s get into each of the 16 teams. Tohtorit Playoffs: 99.7% 1st: 41% Top 1–4: 82% 4–8: 18% 9–12: <1% One Quick Storyline: Key Transfers Have Tohtorit Back On Top This team is a great example of how just one or two key transfers can take a team from a middle-of-the-pack playoff team to a legitimate championship contender. Though Tohtorit isn’t unfamiliar with being in the Top 4, they took a significant step back last season, making the playoffs by just one point and being knocked out in 5 games in the Quarterfinals vs the eventual champions Last Dance. So how do they respond? By adding in two former teammates and multi-time Elite champions in @Patzlaf and @FlyerKungen. Though Tohtorit were a team that long benefitted from keeping the same six guys in the lineup over the years and making a shift from guys who you are long familiar in playing with is never easy, but they saw teams who were previously behind them in the Elite division pecking order, surpass them last season, so though the group didn’t need a complete overhaul, a fresh look was always going to do them a lot of good. As of now, it could have them in position to be at the top of the league come playoff time. GOONS Playoffs: 97% 1st: 29% Top 1–4: 68% 4–8: 29% 9–12: 3% One Quick Storyline: New-Look GOONS Gives Newfound Results I think after multiple seasons of waiting, we can officially say it now. GOONS are back, and they might be better than ever. This team underwent a significant roster revamp over the offseason after a disappointing 12th in the standings and narrowly avoiding a relegation series. The additions of @xrikardo55 and @x-_-BoBi-_-x (OsquuG), the league’s two leading point-getters as of this writing, may go down as the most important of the offseason. These two have helped to completely rejuvenate this team offensively and have given it a much different look than what many had become accustomed to from this club over the years. They are currently the division’s third-highest scoring offense at 3.83 GF/GP, while last season they were ranked 10th at 2.87 GF/GP. Their only two returning starters from last season were @tkantola and @Sakkem, with Kantola moving back to defense with Sakkem to make room for their three new forwards. The move has clearly paid off, as GOONS, who last season gave up more goals than any team in the division at 3.87, have slimmed that GA/GP down to 2.83. It remains to be seen if this team can carry it over into the playoffs, but at the very least, they should be a lock to make it there. Considering where this club's trajectory had been over the past 5-6 seasons, which included them even being relegated out of Elite for a short time before being saved by a preseason qualifier, I think they’ll be quite pleased with the progress they’ve made thus far. Umpikuja Playoffs: 92% 1st: 12% Top 1–4: 48% 4–8: 44% 9–12: 8% One Quick Storyline: Umpikuja Continues To Take Strides After Spring Momentum For those who didn’t keep up with the many name changes that happened over the offseason, Umpikuja was formerly Heimo. This group made a long-awaited return to the playoffs after a multi-season hiatus last season, and were even able to push the defending champions, Parasite, to a hard-fought six-game series in the Quarterfinals. The question for ECL 26 was going to be, how could they follow it up? Especially after losing multiple key pieces to that team in @KingOfApes_ and @Mozjayh. So far, Umpikuja has shown that they aren’t just a stable playoff contender now, but they may even be better than they were last season. They still have to play multiple other playoff contenders, including HAVU Gaming, Mythix, and vNexs, but as of now, they are currently on pace to finish 2nd in the standings and have the tiebreaker over Tohtorit for the #1 seed if they can get there. It’ll take a lot, and I personally wouldn’t be shocked to see this team finish outside of the Top 2, but Top 4 is definitely in play, and it's another step up for a team that continues to rise despite different names being in and out of the lineup over the past 9 months. HAVU Gaming Playoffs: 94% 1st: 14% Top 1–4: 55% 4–8: 39% 9–12: 6% One Quick Storyline: Preseason Favorite Flexes Muscle In Regular Season First and foremost, I just want to say how nice it is to have the HAVU Gaming brand back in the ECL. Things just didn’t feel the same without seeing the green and black this time of year. Now that we’ve got the formalities out of the way, let’s talk about the team that many believed were the favorites to win it all coming into the season. So far, HAVU have been about as good as expected. After all, most of this group is the same roster that had the most dominant season of all time in the ECL 25 Winter campaign as Parasite. @Beniittto , @NikkeDangles and @Vattuyy picked up right where they left off after just one season away as a trio, as they’re averaging a ridiculous 5.31 GF/GP, which is currently on pace to shatter the Elite Division record of 5 GF/GP that they set a year ago. Meanwhile, @Teemuyy and @txmbo999 continue to be one of, if not the best defensive pairing in all of Europe. I wish that I had more of a hard-hitting analysis for this team, but they’re just exactly what everyone thought they would be coming into this season. They’re dominant, they’re fun to watch, and there aren’t many teams who seem to have an answer for them. Though they currently sit 4th in the standings due to playing just 16 games, I’d be stunned to not see them in the Top 2 at the end of the regular season. vNexs I Playoffs: 78% 1st: 3% Top 1–4: 22% 4–8: 56% 9–12: 18% Relegation Series: 4% One Quick Storyline: Is This The Season That vNexs I Breaks Its Playoff Drought? Oddly enough, it's been a while since we’ve seen vNexs I in the playoffs; two years to be exact. A lot of things in the league have changed since that ECL 24 Winter Season. Only three of the teams from that season still go by the same name, and seven of the teams from that season are either no longer in Elite or no longer exist at all. This group has stuck around in Elite and endured a bit of a rebuild during that time, but they’re finally seeing the fruits of the labor pay off this season, and it’s resulted in one of their best campaigns in years. Though they still need to play some heavy hitters such as HAVU and GOONS, and other playoff contenders like ROBE Esports, Mythix and AFTERLIFE, vNexs has put itself in a position that they haven’t been in during the finals weeks of recent seasons. They control their own playoff destiny. Avoiding a rough start like they’d seen in past seasons was the key to this; now it’s up to them to take advantage by following it up with a strong finish. ROBE Esports Playoffs: 55% 1st: 1% Top 1–4: 10% 4–8: 45% 9–12: 35% Relegation Series: 10% One Quick Storyline: ROBE Esports Continues To Thrive In Underdog Role There are a few teams that I’ve seen the ECL community rally around the way it did with ROBE Esports last season. This team was a total underdog throughout much of its playoff run, and they ended that run by knocking out two of the Top 3 overall seeds, who were both loaded with Elite-caliber talent, and culminating that into one of the more memorable Pro titles in recent memory. We’ve seen many stories like ROBE in the past, though, a team that got hot at the right time in Pro, made it up to Elite, and didn't prove to be good enough to hang with the big dogs. Obviously, ROBE didn’t get that memo, because so far, they seem to be fitting right in with Europe’s best teams. Though their offensive output is middle of the pack, their defensive work and goaltending have been amongst the division’s best, as ROBE currently ranks 4th in GA/GP with 2.4. This ranks higher than multiple notable teams, including GOONS, Umpikuja, and Mythix. Though they only have 10 games remaining, eight of those are against teams currently out of the playoffs and six are against teams that are currently 13th or lower in the standings. If ROBE can take care of business by winning the games that they should, they could very well find themselves in position to hold on to a spot in the Top 8 and potentially avoid facing one of the top two or three teams. Mythix Playoffs: 46% 1st: <1% Top 1–4: 6% 4–8: 40% 9–12: 38% Relegation Series: 16% One Quick Storyline: Is Mythix Experiencing A Finals Hangover? This team was tantalizingly close to championship gold in the Spring season, falling in the Finals to Last Dance in a thrilling, seven-game series that would be decided by a game-winning goal in overtime. Coming that close just to fall short is one of the worst feelings you can experience, no matter what the situation may be, because you never know for certain if you’ll ever be able to get that close again. Though I do think that Mythix can do it, they’re going to have to find a better run of consistency than what they displayed during their first 14 games. They started off the season by winning their first three games, but then followed that up with a five-game losing streak where they only earned 2 points in the standings. On the positive side, though, they ended 2025 by winning each of their last six games, though none of these wins were against current playoff teams, and four of them were against teams that are ranked 13th or lower currently. Mythix only made one change to their lineup this offseason, adding @Mozjayh to their defense corps, who is a former champion and has proven to be a valuable defenseman in the past. I think that’s why it's so surprising to see them look so unconvincing this season. They haven’t been bad, but I just don’t think we’ve seen this team play to the same level that we saw from them in the Spring season. Again, this is mostly the same group that went toe-to-toe with a Last Dance team that featured some of the best ECL players of all time on its roster, yet they are currently on pace to just barely make the playoffs, as they rank 6th in P/G. Personally, I fully believe that Mythix are still amongst the title favorites despite a slower start. They’ve lost most of their games close and are too talented not to figure it out. Hopefully for them, the holiday break will give them some time to reset and readjust. If they do return to form, the rest of the division will have to look out closely. AFTERLIFE Playoffs: 42% 1st: <1% Top 1–4: 5% 4–8: 37% 9–12: 41% Relegation Series: 17% One Quick Storyline: Another Newcomer Shows They Belong in Elite Similarly to ROBE Esports, AFTERLIFE have shown what a successful promotion to the Elite Division can look like. Despite a slow start to the season, losing five of their first six games in regulation, AFTERLIFE have begun to come to life as they continue to get adjusted to the higher level of competition. Since that rough start, they’re 6-3-1 and have put themselves right in the thick of the playoff hunt with 14 games remaining. They have some critical series coming up with some of the division’s most experienced clubs, as they still have games against Tohtorit, EXEN, Mythix, and KUUSAMO.gg, with the latter two teams being one spot ahead and one spot behind them in the standings currently. They also suffered a sweep vs ROBE Esports during that early-season losing skid that resulted in zero points, something that could come back to haunt them at the end of the season, as these two could very well be battling for one of the final playoff spots. Regardless of this, AFTERLIFE should at be able to see themselves finish Top 12 barring another bad run of form, but if they can capitalize on some of those series against teams around them in the standings, then their ambitions could be even higher. Kuusamo.gg Playoffs: 34% Top 1–4: 3% 4–8: 31% 9–12: 44% Relegation Series: 22% One Quick Storyline: Is It Time To Worry About KUUSAMO.gg? Maybe the headline is me projecting my own personal concerns, but for the first time since this team burst onto the scene back in ECL 23 Spring in the Lite Division as Mustaa Kultaa, I am legitimately concerned about where this team stands. Now, before you say that I’m being over reactionary, allow me to take you all the way back to around this time of the ECL 25 Spring season. At the time, Mustaa Kultaa was sitting pretty. They were 3rd in the standings and looked primed for another potential Finals appearance. It seems like ever since that point, this team has quietly fallen off a bit. They ended the regular season losing 8 of their last 12 games, and were bounced by EXEN in the Quarterfinals in six games. Sure, it was a step back from their Winter campaign that saw them just two wins away from an Elite title, but surely they were going to be back in contention this season, especially with @xAaro89x rejoining the team after spending one season with Parasite. They even got a well-deserved sponsorship for the season as well. Unfortunately, that optimism hasn’t materialized 16 games in, and it's clear that this group is a good bit away from where they were 365 days ago. They rank around the middle of the pack in just about every team stat, and even their most reliable stars have seen down seasons individually. They’re 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, and they have multiple key series coming up vs the likes of AFTERLIFE, SSK ESPORTS Umpikuja, and HAVU. KUUSAMO desperately needs to pick up points in all of these series. If they don’t, then their path to the playoffs becomes much merkier. If they do happen to miss the Top 8, don’t be surprised if we see some significant adjustments made over the offseason. SSK Esports Playoffs: 28% Top 1–4: 2% 4–8: 26% 9–12: 46% Relegation Series: 26% One Quick Storyline: SSK Still Hanging Around Despite Poor Run of Form The shock of the Elite Division a season ago, SSK ESPORTS found themselves not only making the playoffs a season ago, but they were never in much danger of not making it at any point of the season. This was a team that many, including myself, had written off prior to the Spring campaign and had even predicted them to be relegated in the process. Instead, they consistently found themselves on the positive side of the table and gave Mythix a competitive run in their playoff series despite bowing out in five games. It was always going to be a question of whether their Spring campaign was just a magical run or something sustainable, and though this season has not been as high-flying for the Swedish contingent, I do think they have proven that they are a solidified team in this division who can compete with anyone when they’re playing to their capabilities. SSK Esports are still very much alive in the playoff race, and they have some series coming up against ROBE Esports, Polski Boys, and EXEN that could directly swing their chances. The biggest concern is that they were arguably one of the coldest teams in the division prior to the holiday break, having lost 8 of their last 9 games. This is disappointing considering that they started out the season 5-2-0 and looked well on their way to being a playoff lock, but what’s done is done, and they'll now how to earn their way into the right side of the table over the next two weeks, all while also trying to avoid falling below 12th. Polski Boys Playoffs: 25% Top 1–4: 1% 4–8: 24% 9–12: 47% Relegation Series: 28% One Quick Storyline: New Season, Same Story For Polski Boys I’ll be honest. I don’t think there is a team in this division that confuses me more than the Polski Boys. Every single season I find myself fully believing that they’re a team that are capable of making the playoffs, and they always find themselves directly in the hunt, but no matter what they do, or what moves they make, they just can’t seem to get over the hump. So far, things look no different for this team despite their roster seeing multiple key transfers added to the team. This offseason was probably the most significant that we’ve seen from this team in terms of roster moves, as they brought in former Tunnel Vision teammates and Elite division champions in @Pikkarii, @wengerii and @benuh_. All three of these players were starters and key contributors to that Tunnel Vision team, so it would’ve been fair to assume that their experience, skill and familiarity with each other would elevate this team. Yet the moves haven’t seemed to move the needle at all, and in all honesty, it's just puzzling to me. They’re the third-lowest scoring team in the division at 2.14 GF/GP, but as per usual, are a very sound team in their own end, ranking 6th in GA/GP with 2.57. This is Polski Boys’ fifth season in the Elite division, and they are still looking to make the playoffs for the first time at this level. They've again been mired by the same issues that have kept them out in the past: Inconsistency and a lack of scoring punch. They still have a chance to make it in, as they’ve only played in 14 games, but they’ve only got 9 out of a possible 27 points against playoff teams so far, and their current form won’t cut it. I’d really love to see them turn things around, but it currently is trending to be another season in No Man’s Land for this club. Vizio Playoffs: 14% Top 1–4: <1% 4–8: 13% 9–12: 38% Relegation Series: 41% Auto-relegation: 7% One Quick Storyline: Vizio Hoping To Solidify Elite Status In Debut Season After finishing as runner-ups in the Pro Division in the Springand winning their way into Elite through the Qualifier prior to this season, Vizio is in position to maintain their spot for the Spring if they can finish the rest of the season strong. Though I’m sure that they would love to be in the position that their fellow newcomers are in ROBE Esports and AFTERLIFE, not every team walks the same path, and for Vizio, they haven’t been able to adjust to the Elite level as quickly. Their 22 games played are the second-most of any team in the division, which is why their playoff chances are so slim according to the math. They’ve unfortunately been hampered by lengthy losing streaks, including a nine-game and seven-game losing streak this season, while also not being able to string together any win streaks to counteract that, as they’ve only won three games so far this season. Luckily for Vizio, they only have one more series against a current playoff team, and that’s AFTERLIFE who are currently the last team in the field. They also have gotten some phenomenal play from their goaltender @SakkeTheEngineer, who leads the division in saves made with 346, while managing a respectable 78.1SV%. If they can steal a few wins from the likes of Tiki x Pwoile, EXEN, and Polski Boys, then they may be able to avoid a relegation series, but they will need to figure out their winning ways quickly to do so. Tiki x Pwoile Playoffs: 9% Top 1–4: 0% 4–8: 9% 9–12: 32% Relegation Series: 48% Auto-relegation: 11% One Quick Storyline: Things Are Not All Well In Tiki Land Similarly to HAVU, it’s really nice to see the TIKI TALK branding back in the Elite Division. The club has played 1,009 games in the ECL during its time, which is amongst the most in ECL history across all divisions. This club was actually one on the rise a year ago, as they finished 10th in Elite but had a Top 5 scoring offense. Unfortunately, some roster and leadership changes saw them go away for the Spring campaign, ultimately becoming Vapor who finished 16th and were relegated down to the Pro Division. Tiki x Pwoile ended up taking over the Vapor team and earned their way back into the Elite division via the Qualifier. Unfortunately, like many of the teams around them in this part of the standings, Tiki x Pwoile have struggled to find any winning form. They don’t suffer long losing streaks, with their longest of the season being just four games, but they also don’t string together wins either, as they’ve had just one win streak that lasted two games. Additionally, this team has the second-lowest GF/GP (2.06) while also having the third-highest GA/GP (4.44). This isn’t a recipe for success, and it’s directly led to this team simply fighting to stay out of relegation, barring a miraculous comeback. EXEN Playoffs: 6% Top 1–4: 0% 4–8: 6% 9–12: 27% Relegation Series: 52% Auto-relegation: 15% One Quick Storyline: Own-End Struggles Doom What Could’ve Been For EXEN It’s crazy to think that just seven months ago, EXEN was playing in the Elite semifinals against the eventual champions. Now, they currently find themselves 14th in the division, barely alive in the playoff hunt, and in serious danger of being out of the Elite division altogether. This to me, without question, is both the biggest surprise and biggest disappointment of the season. Though I didn’t feel like this team had as high a floor as some of the EXEN teams of past years, they undoubtedly felt like a team that would finish Top 10 at worst. Two of their players, @Puantso and @Lxndstrom, just won the Elite division championship last season with Last Dance. They also saw two long-time linemates make their return to the team in @tbnantti and @indi969, who bring plenty of chemistry and experience into the lineup. Taking a look at the stats, they are actually a pretty respectable team offensively, as they rank in the top half of the division GF/GP and powerplay percentage. The problem is that they have been one of the worst teams in Elite in every defensive category. EXEN is dead-last in the Elite Division in GA/GP (4.67) and penalty kill percentage (54.5%). There’s technically still time for them to turn it around, as they have more games remaining than any other team in the league and all but two of their games have been against playoff teams, but this team has been simply dreadful at anything that isn’t offense. I promise that I don’t mean to be rude in saying that, but there isn’t another way to describe it other than what it is. I think they’ll find themselves in the 9–12 range despite what the numbers say, but the hole is likely too deep for them to have a realistic shot at the playoffs at this point. Vesuvius Esports Playoffs: 2% 4–8: 2% 9–12: 18% Relegation Series: 56% Auto-relegation: 24% One Quick Storyline: Star Names In An Unfamiliar Position for Vesuvius Esports Though this team is new to the Elite Division, many of the names on its roster are not. In fact, multiple of them are former champions, former individual award winners, or both. The fact that a team that as @Laiitinen, @KingOfApes_ and @kriketski17 on its roster is sitting one spot away from automatic relegation, is shocking to me. This doesn’t even include @AdriF_23, who was one of the best players in the Pro Division last season and someone that I would’ve had locked in as a Rookie of the Season contender prior to the season, as he was coming off of a 116 point and 70 assist campaign with Pirates Esports, leading the Pro Division in both stats. This team’s biggest issue has been its defensive struggles, as they have the second-highest GA/GP in the division at 4.45. Despite the stats, I think that their goaltender @Brainrovsky deserves a shoutout, as he has still managed very respectable individual stats with a 78.2SV%. This team will likely be harmed by losing to some of the teams ahead of them that aren’t in the playoffs, such as Vizio, Tiki x Pwolle, and others. Though they aren’t mathematically out, their chances at making the playoffs are close to none with just 10 games remaining, and they will likely just be fighting to stay out of 16th, as they are currently tied with Kastikauppa Esports at 11 points while having six more games played. These two teams have yet to meet head-to-head, so that series could very well decide which team sees themselves automatically relegated at the end of the season. Kastikauppa Esports Playoffs: <1% 4–8: <1% 9–12: 12% Relegation Series: 44% Auto-relegation: 44% One Quick Storyline: Kastikauppa Esports Looks To Stay Alive For Second-Straight Season Formerly under the ONSE Esports name, Kastikauppa Esports did just enough to maintain their place in the Elite Division. They finished above last-place Vapor by four points in the regular season, and then had a Game 7 victory in their relegation series vs Vapor to secure their place for ECL 26 Winter. Wildly enough the difference in them getting in and earning 5 points in the final three games of the season. In other words, they were dangerously close to being bumped down a season ago, and they now find themselves in almost the exact same position in their second Elite season. Though the math seems to favor EXEN and Vesuvius Esports to avoid finishing 16th compared to Kastikauppa, I would actually suggest that Kastikauppa has the more favorable route to points. They still play multiple non-playoff teams ahead of them, including Tiki x Pwoile, EXEN, and Vesuvius Esports, who each rank 13–15th. The most interesting part is that this team is actually respectable defensively, as they rank 10th in GA/GP at 2.93. What is hindering them is that their offense just hasn’t been able to produce, as Kastikauppa ranks last in Elite in GF/GP at 1.93. They are also the only team in the division that has yet to score a powerplay goal. Maybe this is just personal preference, but I would favor the team with reliable defense and goaltending that has struggles scoring, than the team that can score, but can’t find their way defensively or get enough saves from the goaltending to make up for it. They have some extremely tough series to go along with those series that we mentioned earlier, including games against both Tohtorit and HAVU, Mythix and vNexs I, so I would be surprised to see them avoid a relegation series, but if they can avoid the automatic relegation that comes with finishing 16th, then this team has shown that it can handle the pressures of playing with their spot in Elite on the line. We’ll see if they can do it again this season.

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.

As the ECL Lite and Core regular seasons approach their conclusion, the focus naturally turns to the playoffs. While the top teams continue their journey toward the championship, we also want to make sure that the season doesn’t simply end for those who fall just short of playoff qualification. For that reason, we’re introducing a new post-season competition for ECL Lite and ECL Core: The Post-Season Cooldown Tournament The Post-Season Cooldown Tournament is designed specifically for teams that do not qualify for the playoffs, giving them the opportunity to continue playing meaningful, competitive matches while the main playoffs are being played. Rather than the season ending abruptly, the Cooldown Tournament offers a structured and level-appropriate way to close out the season. How it works The Cooldown Tournament will be held separately for Lite and Core - one for each division Eligible teams are those that do not qualify for the playoffs Teams are allowed to opt out, with the default expectation that teams will participate. The tournament will run parallel to the playoff phase All Cooldown Tournaments will be played in a group stage format Group stage format – more games, better matchups The Cooldown Tournament will be played in a group stage format, ensuring that all participating teams get multiple games against opponents of a similar level. This format was chosen intentionally to: Guarantee more games for every team Avoid one-and-done eliminations Create closer, more balanced matchups Give teams a chance to build momentum and confidence toward the end of the season For teams that may have struggled during parts of the regular season, this structure provides the opportunity to play several competitive series against teams with comparable results — often leading to tighter games and a more enjoyable experience.   What’s next? Further details — including group sizes, match counts, and scheduling — will be shared closer to the playoff phase once final standings are confirmed. We’re excited to introduce the Post-Season Cooldown Tournament as a new part of the ECL Lite and Core season structure and look forward to seeing more great games played right through to the end of the season.