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NHLGamers, The next championship to be crowned in the 9th iteration of ECL is the most prestigious of them all - Elite. Two teams entered. And once the dust had settled, only one was left standing. We present to you the ECL 9 Elite champions in Linkoping HC. This marks the third title for this franchise, and the second in three seasons - no doubt solidifying them as one of Europe's finest. Linkoping HC 🏆 Group stage record: 27-2-1 (1st) Round 1: vs Symphony (8) 4-2 Semifinals: vs Lulea Hockey (5) 4-0 Finals: vs HAVU Gaming (2) 4-3 GOALIES #72 C. Lundgren @ICappeI DEFENSEMEN #27 A. Loimuvirta @loimmu #40 J. Torro @jtorro1233 #88 J. Virta @SUPERVIRTA FORWARDS #25 E. Tammenpaa @Eki #44 P. Arontie @PleeMaker #86 J. Paatiala @Juunas The finals between HAVU Gaming and Linkoping were 7 incredible games, that no doubt treated the viewers to what NHL EASHL 6s looks like at the highest level. All games were broadcast on the NHLGamer Twitch-channel. @Tougie24 and @Cyn once again blessed us with their presence and put forth a great effort in the commentator booth. If you missed that action, you can watch it again here: Games 1-3: Games 4-7:

NHLGamers, Tonight we've reached the pinnacle of what European NHL gaming is all about, two of the very best teams will be going head to head in determining who gets to raise the cup and take home a hefty amount of cash. The European Championship League is one of the longest running competitive leagues and is certainly the one to win in Europe. HAVU Gaming vs Linköping HC HAVU shows their efficient scoring in game one 4-1 Win for HAVU Gaming The two dear rivals have gone at it for three games already during Tuesday night. The night started off with a dominant game one effort by HAVU in which Ilmari @Buantso Lehkonen was the man to watch, recording two goals and two helpers to get the series started. Overall, the game was very even with not too many chances opening up. HAVU was just the way more effective team on the opportunities given. Dominointi provides overtime heroics in game two 2-3 OT win for HAVU Gaming As the night progressed, the results also started trending in another direction - game two was a tight battle, where once again the flow of play wasn't really controlled by either team, but chances were evenly distributed and both teams got their say on both sides of the puck. A vast majority of action in the game revolved around wingers Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha and Paul @PleeMaker Arontie, who are going head-to-head on the same wing. The two stars are not only great scorers and difference makers in both ends of the ice, but enjoy puck possession and can do great things when their confidence is high. Eventually game two was extended into overtime, where Risto @Dominointi Järvi provided the overtime heroics, grabbing the second win in the series for HAVU Gaming. Cappe with the biggest save of the night in game three 1-2 Win for Linköping HC Game three was something of a HAVU clinic, where the team looked to control the flow of the game and was the more dominant party but could not find a way to overcome Casper @ICappeI Lundgren in net for Linköping more than once. It's also due to an astonishing defensive team effort by LHC. The result was 1-2 for Linköping after 60 minutes with @ICappeI making a save glove to remember with just 2,5 seconds left in the game. Three tough bouts put the series standing at 2-1 in favor of the reigning champion HAVU Gaming. The series continue tonight with games 4-7 at 20:45 CET at twitch.tv/nhlgamer.

NHLGamers, Starting tonight, we've reached the culmination point of the ECL 9 season. It's when the best of the best go at it in a best-of-seven series and eventually we crown a new European Champion. We've got an interesting setup for this one, as quite some time has passed since both HAVU Gaming and Linköping HC qualified for the finals, but due to time constraints and a number of various tournaments clashing for both the players and our NHLGamer staff, it was decided that postponing the finals would make for the best competitive setting and in that way highest possible level of play. That is something we're extremely eager to witness tonight when the puck drops at 20:00 CET. It's been a long time since the last playoff games in ECL 9 Elite were played (6th of January for HAVU, 5th of January for Linköping), so you can definitely not put too much weight on the teams performances earlier during the season. In general the postponing of the finals gives a bit of an extra twist to this matchup whereas it's unusual to see these long breaks in between tournaments. Although neither team might be in that ECL grind mindset anymore, the incentive here is certainly the biggest share of that 5000€ prize pool. Linköping HC Group stage record: 27-2-1 (1st) Quarterfinals: vs Symphony (8) 4-2 Semifinals: vs Luleå Hockey (5) 4-0 The strongest European team based on form across all tournaments recently. Apart from their opponents, LHC has been participating in the eSHL with the exact same roster that will take on HAVU in the ECL Finals starting tonight. Recent performances bode well for Linköping, as they've gone 9-1-0 in their last ten games and are currently at the top of the table by a three point margin. On the ECL side of things, the team also finished strong by sweeping fellow eSHL team Luleå Hockey. However, some questions have been raised whether this team is playing with the passion that we've seen before. Despite pushing from victory to another, the times of supreme reign are gone and this talent packed roster has proved to be human after all. It's not a statement based on poor performance, but based on the somewhat difficult games they've had where the offense hasn't been showing their usual flow and quick wits. Starting tonight, they'll be taking on a dear rival which in their last few meetings has proven to be the better team. Can we se a return to the throne? HAVU Gaming Group stage record: 26-2-2 (2nd) Quarterfinals: vs Miracle (7) 4-0 Semifinals: vs Butterfly Effect (3) 4-3 HAVU Gaming isn't a team that's been in the headlines of the community too much lately and that's simply for the reason that the team has been on a hiatus for the purpose of representing various teams in the eSHL. The forward line has been representing Malmö Redhawks and have absolutely obliterated the opposition in their last two matchups against Växjö Lakers HC and Färjestad BK - as expected. Defensemen @willekunq and @Nassustelija have been the backstops for Färjestad BK, which has been a strong and consistent performer throughout the season and to some extent have the two HAVU players to thank for that. A small cause for worry is the fact that these guys haven't played together too much as of late and goaltender @Hansulinho hasn't strapped on the pads for a good few weeks. These are the true elite of the NHL gaming scene, will they overcome the challenge and return to the ice in their old winning ways? Last 10 head-to-head games: ECL 9 Elite: 8.12.2019 Linköping HC - HAVU Gaming 2-1 OT ECL 9 Elite: 8.12.2019 HAVU Gaming - Linköping HC 2-1 OT FCL Finals: 3.8.2019 HAVU GAMING - FILADELPHIA 2-0 FCL Finals: 3.8.2019 FILADELPHIA - HAVU Gaming 1-2 FCL Finals: 3.8.2019 HAVU Gaming - FILADELPHIA 1-0 ECL 8 Finals: 3.1.2019 FILADELPHIA - Written In The Stars 2-0 ECL 8 Finals: 3.1.2019 Written In The Stars - FILADELPHIA 4-0 ECL 8 Finals: 3.1.2019 FILADELPHIA - Written In The Stars 0-1 ECL 8 Finals: 3.1.2019 Written In The Stars - FILADELPHIA 2-0 ECL 8 Finals: 3.1.2019 FILADELPHIA - Written In The Stars 0-1 OT *Written In The Stars is the previous name of HAVU Gaming, whereas FILADELPHIA is the previous name of Linköping HC. Regardless the outcome, this matchup has certainly become the grand rivalry of the NHL gaming scene. As seen from the list above, these classics don't come around all too often, but most of them have been in the finals, starting with the first ever European 6vs6 LAN at IS Cup 3, which was one for the ages as the teams battled long into the night and FILADELPHIA (now Linköping HC) eventually came out on top. When/where to watch? All of the games will be streamed on the NHLGamer Twitch channel. The beloved @Tougie24 and @Cyn will be providing commentary. Tuesday, February 4th Games 1-3 starting 20:00 CET Thursday, February 6th Games 4-7 starting 20:45 CET

NHLGamers, The third championship of the ECL 9 season was crowned on Sunday when the two title contenders Sulkavan Sudet and Riven Johdolla clashed for games 4-7 of their final series. Going into the games, we were in an interesting position, where Sudet had the chance to complete a sweep and with that go undefeated through the playoffs, but luckily for the viewers - Riven Johdolla had different thoughts as they held off the eventual defeat for two very exciting games. After a tough series culminating in a convincing 7-2 win for Sudet, we were finally able to crown a champion! Sulkavan Sudet 🏆 Group stage record: 16-3-1 (7th) Round 1: vs DEG eSports (26) 4-0 Round 2: vs WEREWOLVES HC (15) 4-0 Quarterfinals: vs Rookie Mistakes (6) 4-0 Semifinals: vs Mockba (2) 4-0 Finals: vs Riven Johdolla (3) 4-2 GOALIES #44 P. Juurikkala @TeikDaun DEFENSEMEN #27 -. Ipana @Ipana27 #77 J. Sepalus @Jusaagi #92 -. Lope @Pirkkalope FORWARDS #13 U. Erkkilä @urkk1 #29 -. Luokkala @Luokkala_ #41 M. Aaltonen @Kemppane_ #55 N. Kyllikki @Oxdoggi #93 J. Musselwhite @Stapletone All in all, the Lite season once again provided some very exciting action and surely showed the amount of skill that runs deep throughout the divisions framework. Next season, both of these finalist teams will be seen at the Pro level - congratulations! The decisive games of the finals were broadcasted at the NHLGamer Twitch-channel. @Tougie24 and @Cyn once again blessed us with their presence and put forth a great effort in the commentator booth. If you missed that action, you can watch it again below: