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NHLGamers, It’s a bit late into the season but we have decided to launch a new article series where we have a discussion with a player of choice and shoot over some various questions for them to answer. In the newly started series we’ll get to know more about the players competing in ECL Elite, both on and off the ice. First out is Färjestad BK’s Robin @Rubituss Söderqvist who got put on the spot for 17 tough ones. 1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL like? -It’s a pretty new one since I just started playing EASHL about a year ago. It was a fun experience with more action and teamplay and I immediately got hooked. 2. How come you didn’t start playing EASHL before that? -I started playing competitive in NHL 18 but I focused on playing versus and HUT. Then I felt like I should give EASHL a try in the middle of the NHL 19 season and it instantly felt like I had a talent for it and then I just kept playing it. 3. If you would be a manager for a day and had to pick one defender, one forward and a goalie to build a new ECL Elite team around. Which players would you choose? You can only choose one from your own team. -I would choose Swedens finest, Casper @ICappeI Lundgren as goalie. Defender is a bit harder but I think I would go with Aleksi @loimmu Loimuvirta from Linköping, I feel like he’s pretty good both on offense and defense. As forward I would go with who I think is the best player today, Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha, what he does on the ice is almost magical and he’s really slippery and hard to read. 4. What would you rather be, an average player in the real-life Swedish SHL or the worlds best EA Sports NHL-player in both 1v1 and 6v6? -I would choose to play in the SHL over EA NHL, sadly I didn’t have the talent for it. 5. I’m guessing you played hockey before? -Yes, I played until I was 18 years old. 6. On what level? -I played in division 4 in Sweden, so it wasn’t really close to the top, I mostly played because of the nice community. 7. What’s your best hockey memory? -That would be when I was down in Malmö with a friend. We watched the World Junior Championship and saw all of Sweden's games live. It was a great experience except when Sweden lost to Finland in the Final. But all in all, it was a wonderful experience. 8. What’s your favourite team? -That’s a sensitive question cause my heart beats for Frölunda, but I would like to add that no matter what I will always give a hundred percent for Färjestad when I represent their organisation. Above: Robin "Rubituss" Söderqvist took home the silver medal in the SCL 1v1 finals at Birdie LAN at the end of May 2019 9. What is your favourite holiday and why? -Christmas, cause I get to spend time with my family and watch the World Junior Championship. 10. What do you want for Christmas? -A trip to North America so I get to watch NHL live. 11. Is there a special team you would like to see? -Rangers, cause of Madison Square Garden. Otherwise it would be Toronto or Montreal cause of their hockey culture. 12. If you would have to spend one day playing NHL and had to listen to one song only, during the whole day, what song would you pick? -Levels with Avicii, I always get hyped up when I hear that song while playing. It got played frequently during the Swedish Championship in NHL 19. 13. How was it to play the Swedish Championship live? -I played the 1v1 tournament and ended up in second place. During the 6v6 tournament I hadn’t signed with the team yet so I sat down and watched it there live. It was a great experience where I learned a lot and it was fun to get a face on the players behind the screens. 14. How did you come up with your PSN ID? -Usually my nickname is Ruben and then my friends just started calling me Rubituss. And since it was available when I created my account, that’s what I went with. 15. Who’s the best player in ECL according to you? - @FlyerKungen 16. What do you do when you don’t play NHL or watch hockey? -I’m studying to be a police officer, in my free time I play floorball in the Swedish Division 2. So there’s a lot of studying and exercising in different forms combined with my gaming. 17. Which team will win ECL 9 Elite? -I think it will be Linköping vs HAVU in the finals. But I think Linköping will win since they have @ICappeI in the goal. They have really picked up pace since he joined the team. Above: Robin "Rubituss" Söderqvist stats in the 6v6 mode so far We thank Rubituss for taking the time to sit down with us for this interview. If you are lucky, next week you might be the one that gets to answer some of these questions. Who would you like to hear more from?

NHLGamers, It’s playoff time and Monday, December 16th marks the start of the first playoff round of ECL 9 Elite! We’ve got the eight best teams in Europe left and each one of those are extremely anxious to get their hands on the trophy and the largest share of the 5 000 € prize pool. Here's how the playoffs of ECL 9 Elite will be played: Quarterfinals: 16.12 - 22.12 Semifinals: 30.12 - 5.1 Finals: 11.1 (To be confirmed) All series are played in best-of-7 manner, meaning that the first team to amass four victories advances to the next round. Without further ado, let's get into the previews: (1) Linkoping HC vs Symphony (8) REGULAR SEASON RECORD 27-2-1 vs 14-14-2 TOP SCORER @Eki (32+52=84) vs @Nieppii (15+25=40) GOALTENDER @ICappeI (26GP, 23W, 83.06SV%, 1.23GAA, 7SO) vs @Lauri (30GP, 14W, 78.49SV%, 2.10GAA, 3SO) The newly announced FILA turned Linköping is a powerhouse for sure and is expected to run over Symphony, who have struggled mightily this season. @Eki won the scoring title of the regular season (32+52=84) and @PleeMaker on the other LHC flank came in second (34+37=71) so the firepower here is not to be doubted. Linköping in general seemed to cruise through the regular season but don’t read me wrong on that one - they had their struggles from time to time. Despite walking away with victories in a majority of their games, they dropped points and ended up in tight battles with several underperformers like BRAYCE Phantoms and Almost Famous, so there have been some fluctuation in their form. It is expected that the new colors and organisation backing them will give something of a boost to the squad but also bring some pressure. It remains to see how this affects these guys. Symphony on the other end haven’t had a cakewalk this season. They are a group that’s used to success, but the team hasn’t seemed to be able to recover from losing the trio @iilmarii, @Joukki and @Beniittto to Delusion. IS Cup 4 was a decent showing as the team barely missed the final event at GameXpo, but ECL 9 has been a struggle all season long as it’s been hard for the team to find the consistency that they need. On top of that, Symphony is heading into the playoffs with a five game losing streak having lost to Unlucky Boys, HAVU Gaming and Almost Famous in that timespan. Although Symphony hasn’t been too convincing so far this season, they should absolutely not be counted out of the race just yet. Mainly the looks will be turning towards captain @indi969 and centerman @tbnantti to strap the team on their backs and lead the way going forward. (2) HAVU Gaming vs Miracle (7) REGULAR SEASON RECORD 26-2-2 vs 12-11-7 TOP SCORER @FlyerKungen (36+25=61) vs @Artuzio (20+23=43) GOALTENDER @Hansulinho (16GP, 15W, 92.62SV%, 0.56GAA, 9SO) vs @PCJP (10GP, 4W, 82.23SV%, 2.70GAA, 1SO) If LHC are perhaps a slight unknown due to the impact of an organisation now backing them, then the players for HAVU Gaming will be going into this series against Miracle as though it is business as usual. With a roster untouched (as far as starters go), one could not be mistaken for thinking that HAVU look poised to become the first team in ECL history to win back-to-back titles. Although their path to that point will be anything but easy, their opponent in Miracle is looking like the perfect opponent to face, thanks in part to their subpar defence (3rd most goals conceded) which should allow HAVU to flex their offensive muscles and dictate the game with relative ease. Something that Miracle will have to be wary of as HAVU were only beaten four times this season, with three of those losses coming from them either being held off the scoreboard (0-2, 0-1), or only being able to score once (1-2 OT). Therefore, if Miracle looks to stand a chance of progressing, then they will have to insulate their chosen goalie as much as they can and hope they can steal a goal or two along the way, failing this the odds look fairly weak for Miracle to make this series competitive. Although that said, HAVU have seemingly made a habit of keeping games closer than they perhaps should have been throughout the season thus far, so it is perhaps not completely out of the realm of possibility that Miracle can steal a game or two providing they play exceptionally solid defence and do not hand HAVU any free chances. Regardless, this is HAVUs series to lose at this point, and you would have long odds on Miracle finding a way to win more than two games over the course of this best-of-seven, much I’m sure to the chagrin of Miracle’s captain @Zip player. (3) Butterfly Effect vs Unlucky Boys HC (6) REGULAR SEASON RECORD 24-4-2 vs 14-10-6 TOP SCORER @NikkeDangles (26+44=70) vs @Anhel (24+24=48) GOALTENDER @sibeelius (24GP, 20W, 82.37SV%, 1.91GAA, 5SO) vs @Viltzup (30GP, 14W, 81.10SV%, 2.16GAA, 5SO) Butterfly Effect is one of the most exciting teams in the Elite division currently, with an impressive outing being a mere breakaway conversion short of a final spot there and now finishing third in the regular season they have finally proved that they belong in the discussion of top teams in the European community. They have reached their current level by great individual development but also acting on the transfer market as they see fit. During the summer break the youngster @NikkeDangles was acquired and apparently the kid has now caught fire - leading his team and amassing 70 points in the regular season. Another important signing is @sibeelius - the accomplished former FILADELPHIA backstopper, who joined the team a few weeks back increasing their defensive potential and helping them prove their contender status. The opposing team Unlucky Boys are already veterans of ECL Elite and they have enough experience to put up a fight against any opponent in the playoffs, so viewers are in for a treat with this matchup to be watched. Last season UB made questionable history, being the first ECL Elite team ever to retain their Elite spot in a relegation battle, but by seeding 6th into the playoffs this season, captain @Anhel has surely proven that his team is able to bounce back. Make no mistake - The Unlucky Boys aren't done yet! In the regular season, Butterfly Effect managed to win both games. The playoffs are a different beast, so we're expecting a tight battle and UB to steal at least one win. Look for a 5-6 game series ending in a FLY win. (4) Roots vs Lulea Hockey (5) REGULAR SEASON RECORD 17-10-3 vs 16-11-3 TOP SCORER @keranee (15+24=39) vs @hpkfani (23+14=37) GOALTENDER @swagx88 (28GP, 16W, 83.42SV%, 2.14GAA, 3SO) vs @Supreex (30GP, 16W, 80.96SV%, 2.23GAA, 4SO) Roots is a squad that has been playing together for quite some time already and doing so with improving results. Their game is based largely on fast passing motored by experienced centerman @SadaPoika who is flanked by goal-scoring machine @Lamsa and the highly talented @keranee. It’s been no surprise that goaltender @swagx88 has been solid and is among the top of the pack measured in save percentage (83.42%). The season so far for Roots has been decent. Most of their statistics don’t tell a pretty tale, but they’ve been able to win games by being disciplined and converting on their high-percentage chances. Roots is the least scoring team out of all playoff teams and has also struggled in the face-off circle being the worst in that category too. On top of that, their powerplay lies at a measly 9,5% success rate. If the team is looking for a deep playoff run, these are the areas that need to be cleaned up. These two teams are no strangers to each other. During a small hiatus of the former Northern Ascendancy, a fusion between them and the also former Rusty Blades existed in which Lulea players @The_Alpha_Furyan and @MartindalexC sported the same colors as the now Roots players @Lamsa and @Tanski87. That’s an interesting factor going into this matchup and will surely bring a bit of spice and rivalry spirit to the games. Statistically, Lulea is almost exactly similar to Roots, as they too have had some trouble scoring and issues on their powerplay. What sets the two teams apart though is the somewhat wider arsenal that Lulea has in terms of offensive firepower. Whereas @keranee and @Lamsa will be the players to look for scoring from on the Roots end, Lulea has a highly capable offensive trio backed by @The_Alpha_Furyan who is a real offensive threat at his best too. This matchup is expected to be a nail-biter and it might come down to the very last games in the series to determine a winner here. Stay tuned for announcements about the games on our social media channels, playoff matchups will be broadcasted on our Twitch channel as usual. As always, play hard and see you guys out on the ice! The ECL Elite writing team, @MartindalexC, @Serg1vratar & @jahajaha93

NHLGamers, We’re closing in on the eSHL season and are about one month away from puckdrop and with that the time has come to announce yet another participating team. Linköping HC hails from the south of Sweden and has signed the very prestigious roster of FILADELPHIA. The team is regarded mostly as a Finnish group but their roster actually holds two Swedes as Joel @jtorro1233 Tourunen and the newest acquisition Casper @ICappeI Lundgren are sporting their colors. This acquisition raises the stakes significantly and is a great boost to the competitiveness of the entire league, as the former FILADELPHIA dominated the game in several ways during NHL 19 and has continued staying at the top in NHL 20 despite not quite reaching similar levels of success. Their star studded offense certainly needs no introductions with multi-champion Erik @Eki Tammenpää flanking the right side, “Mr. Selke” Joonas @Juunas Paatiala centering and the prodigal son turned seasoned and decorated veteran Paul @PleeMaker Arontie on the left. This trio will look to continue wreaking havoc now in the fresh colors of Linköping HC. "This acquisition shows that we mean business when entering the esports scene. We truly want our team to compete at the top level and show up when the brightest trophies are being dealt. There's no doubt that Casper together with his team will represent the LHC lion with pride and lead the way for our entry into esports", says Michael Sturehed, marketing manager at Linköping Hockey Club. Linköping Hockey Club roster: GOALTENDER #72 Casper @ICappeI Lundgren 🇸🇪 DEFENSEMEN #27 Aleksi @loimmu Loimuvirta 🇫🇮 #40 Joel @jtorro1233 Tourunen 🇸🇪 #88 Joonas @SUPERVIRTA Virta 🇫🇮 FORWARDS #25 Erik @Eki Tammenpää 🇫🇮 #44 Paul @PleeMaker Arontie 🇫🇮 #86 Joonas @Juunas Paatiala 🇫🇮 The newest face in the team is also a very experienced player and is one of the most highly regarded Swedish talents playing the game currently. Goaltender Cappe joined the team on September 17th and has been as solid as ever in his new jersey since the transfer. Cappe was also one of the main facilitators in signing with Linköping, so we caught up with him for a chat about the situation: What was it about Linköping that enticed you the most? Ever since our first contact, Linköping impressed us with their attitude towards esports and their ambitions with this project. They sold the idea that this project will be a big part of the club and the LHC family going forward. We're also very honored to be representing a club with a great history of developing talented players and outstanding individuals. Despite you and Torro representing the club, FILADELPHIA is generelly regarded as a Finnish team. Were you set on participating in eSHL right froom the get go? Most definitely. As soon as information about the eSHL reached us, we made a decision to reach out to some teams and enquire about their interests. Sweden isn't that heavily represented at the top of the European standings, so we felt that we are in a great spot going into the negotiations. In my opinion it's interesting to see teams like for example Luleå, with varying nationalities competing at the top. You recently assumed the role as the number one goalkeeper of FILADELPHIA after a long watch under the duo @sibeelius & @FinKonna. How has playing for you new team felt and was the transfer something that was planned long ahead? The transfer discussions happened rather quickly after our run in IS Cup 4. Sibe and Konna surely left me some big boots to fill, but I feel we've been doing great and the boys are making it comfortable to play behind them. Since day one, I've felt very welcome and a part of the team. It's not hard to feel right at home with a captain like @Juunas, what a great guy he is! The new league must be something of a dream come true for a Swedish competitive player. How does it feel to be one of the very best domestic talents in the league and what kind of goals have you set personally for the upcoming season? It's something we've been dreaming about for sure. Personally, I'm going to do everything in my power to win every game I play. I've got a winning mentality and losing is the absolute worst thing I know. As a team we're incredibly hyped about eSHL and will obviously be looking to put a trophy on the shelf at the end of the season. Currently the team stands second in the regular season of ECL 9 Elite and will be playing their last two games tonight against Luleå Hockey. Linköping has a chance to overtake their sweet rival HAVU Gaming for a number one seed going into the playoffs whereas Luleå is looking to secure a favorable matchup for their first round opponent. At the time of posting this article, you can head over to twitch.tv/I_Eki_I or twitch.tv/luleahockeyto watch the game.