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Hey NHLGamers, we are back with another player spotlight! We believe there are many talented and skilled players in the German speaking community that are currently quite unknown to the bigger audience. For this edition of the Player Spotlight, we will get to know more about Max "@Toneee9" Tonitz who recently joined ZSC Esports for NHL 21. Let's get right into the interview with Max: 1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL? In 2011 I got a stable internet connection and started playing EASHL drop-ins in NHL 11. After some games I was invited to play for the ICY DEMONS by @ali-kn (see ali-kn's player profile). 2. What’s the best part of playing NHL 21 for the Swiss club ZSC Lions? Everybody is playing for the team and while it's very professional we still have fun while playing. 3. What do you remember the most from your NHL career? The EHL semifinals in NHL 14 with the Finnish team EA Riivaa, there still might be some highlight videos on YouTube. 4. What is your favourite food? Spaghetti Bolognese 5. 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 (no DACH players) team and a new GCL team - which players would you choose? You can only choose one from your own team. ECL: G - Hannes "@Hansulinho" Kettunen - for me the best goalie in the community (see Hansulinho's player profile) D - Joel "@jtorro-_-" Tourunen - he is the most complete defender I've ever seen. He has no weakness. (see jtorro-_-'s player profile) F - Erik "@Eki" Tammenpää (ENCEKI) - he is the best NHL player of the whole community (see ENCEKI's player profile) GCL: G - Sandro "@I-THE_EAGLE-I" Wüller - If Sandro would decide to play mainly goalie, he would be the best german speaking goalie (see I-THE_EAGLE-I's player profile) D - Niklas "@xXPsykoSkillsXx" Schmitz - The most dangerous defender in the DACH community, hockey IQ over 1000 (see xXPsykoSkillsXx' player profile) F - Stefan @Stefan_397 Hämmerle - I only played against him and he gives me a headache every time doing so (see Stefan_397's player profile) 6. Do you play or have you played hockey? I have played hockey since I was 4 years old. 7. What would you rather be, an average player in the real-life Swiss hockey league or the world’s best EA Sports NHL-player in both 1v1 and 6v6? The best EA NHL player. 8. What’s your best hockey memory? We finished on rank 14 out of 128 teams in Kitzbühel in a one week U14 tournament in France. 9. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL? In my spare time I engage myself a lot with hockey and sport in general, if my job leaves me with some free time. Click here for full player profile | Artwork: Chris @RyanDesigns Ryan 10. Pineapple or no pineapple on pizza? Without pineapple - that's very clear. (ADMIN NOTE: WARNING! 🍍) 11. If you would have to spend one day playing NHL and had to listen to one song only, for the entire day, what song would you pick? Rise Against - Prayer of the Refugee 12. How did you come up with your PSN ID? My nickname in hockey is Tone, which refers to my family name. My jersey number was always number 9. 13. Who’s the best player in ECL/GCL according to you? ECL: Erik "@Eki" Tammenpää GCL: Simon "@PlaymakerSJ" Junker (see PlaymakerSJ's player profile) 14. What kind of holiday is your favorite and why? I like to travel to the sea. Spain and Greece are my favourite spots as they have a very nice culture. 15. High-scoring game or OT Thriller? As I lost pretty much every important game in the ECL which went to OT, I'm more into a high scoring game. 16. Do you have any rituals before the league games? 5 minutes of 1vs1 against a bot. 17. What was your motive behind the transfer to Zürich and what do you expect? I wanted to take the next step and thought that this was the right time. I expect to develop myself as a player and get used to the higher level and can bring my strengths into the team 18. What are your goals for ECL 11 and GCL 7? ECL: I want to reach the second round of the playoffs. GCL: To kick the Phantoms (who are now known as Team LEISURE) from their throne. We would like to thank Max for his time and hope you enjoyed the article. We would be happy about your wishes who should be featured for the next article - let us know in the comments!

NHLGamers, We're a mere few days away from the start of the ECL 11 Elite season and tonight we're able to announce that the former GHETTO FIREBIRDS will be heading into their second ECL Elite season representing Conquer Gaming. The team that's grinded through the ECL divisions framework started back in ECL 4 Lite and have since come a long way largely with the help of the same guys that are still running the show for them. Their roster still features club founders Keka @KepakkoFIN Muyima, Joni @GreventiousFIN Tanttu, Joonas @Taettonov Siira and Ville @Vilze Systä, which showcases the kind of roster sustainability that is virtually unheard of in the NHL esports scene. "We've been looking to partner with an organization more or less actively since we went our separate ways with YMCA and we finally got in touch with Conquer Gaming. As the deal was inked, I can't be more satisfies with the organization we signed for - Conquer Gaming seems to run things like pros and the people are nice." - Captain Keka @KepakkoFIN Muyima on the new deal Conquer Gaming will be conquering an entirely new niche of gaming when heading into NHL esports. The Finnish organization was founded in 2016 and have since sported teams or representation in several games - however currently competeing exclusively in CSGO and NHL. The organization also has an active streamteam featuring Tomi "Kung" Arola and Kiri "Kirdez" Kylmälä to name a few. "We have been following the Finnish NHL esports scene for a while and we have seen that potential in the Finnish scene is huge. In addition to that we are excited to have another team beside our CSGO roster and to give our contribution to NHL esports." - Jyri "Jyppe" Karvanen, CEO Conquer Gaming ECL 10 was the time that GHETTO FIREBIRDS made their first run at the Elite level and after being given zero chances in previews and such, the resilient team proved doubters wrong by almost pushing for playoffs. However, the team suffered some massive losses to end their latest campaign when both right winger Valeri @Valluxet Reihel and right defenseman Saku @Sakkem Saaranluoma announced their departure for KOVA Esports. "Our roster saw some drastic changes as we were forced to rebuild our entire right flank after our FCL run. Especially the departure of Saku @Sakkem Saaranluoma stung as he had been a part of our team for such a long time. Eventually we found the right pieces for us as founding member Joonas @Taettonov Siira took on the challenge boosted by acquiring a better internet connection. On defense we managed to snag Niklas @Talonmies69 Tamminen, who shows great potential." "I'd be lying if I said the changes haven't affected our team. However I feel like our game has improved each day and have been able to play at the level that is required from us. I also think that the atmosphere in our group has improved drastically when comparing to the FCL which will help us in achieving our goal for the season - reaching the playoffs."

A brand new esports organization UNI Gaming takes part in the ongoing ECL 11 Pro and doing quite well at it so far, going 3-1-0 through their first games in group 2. UNI Gaming founder and owner Tommi @Dominik Uni Ranta-Eskola has played many seasons in the ECL but now the man between the pipes has become the man behind the desk. Ranta-Eskola has been working full time on the esports scene for a couple years. UNI Gaming is the founder’s dream come to reality. The organization’s CS:GO team has been competing in the ESEA league. Now its’s time for some competitive NHL. "The competitiveness of the NHL scene brought UNI to the ECL. We want to pursue success in many games. The first NHL game in 93-94 was also one the first games I had on a floppy disk", says Ranta-Eskola. The NHL team of UNI Gaming has their roots in the former Cheers Hockey. The captain of Cheers Hockey Harri @Black1Eagle1 Tervonen has taken his captaincy and Pro league spot to UNI. Ranta-Eskola and Tervonen have known each other for a long time and have played along each other in previous teams. The team leader in hands on matters is Markus @Maki-san2 Leskinen who has also taken the jump from playing to managing the team. He was the backup goalie when Cheers Hockey got their ECL Pro spot. Another piece from the Cheers roster is assistant captain Samuli @samblenegger Repola. "We played about two years with the same roster as Cheers Hockey, but now we’ve got a new group put together around me and Samuli. It goes without saying, that we have challenges ahead this season. But I have full confidence in our team and organization. Every challenge that comes our way, we take as an opportunity, not as a threat", says the team captain. The starting lineup of UNI has some familiar faces from past ECL seasons and some possess more experience than others. Many players also have a background in traditional sports, even on a semi-professional level. "I believe that our strength will be in playing a balanced game in unison. We’ll proudly stand for UNI Gaming and we’ll respect any opponent we play against", says Tervonen. Sustainability is a key value to the newly formed organization on the way to success. "Developing a competitive and flexible team is a goal in the long run. Our ultimate objective would be gaining promotion to ECL Elite in our first year, but not maybe in this first ECL. For now, we need to learn and get some experience", states founder Ranta-Eskola.

NHLGamers, With our sport constantly growing and expanding, the time has come to launch a new national league - the Czech Slovak Championship League - the CSCL in short. The brand new Czechoslovak league running under the NHLGamer portal has arrived. Czechs and Slovaks, prepare for the battles! Going by the name CSCL, our leagues first season is just about to begin. So far, we have received applications from total number of 16 teams and the registrations have closed over the weekend. It may be far from the number of teams of the ECL, but you have to start somewhere and the Czechoslovak community really loves the sport and is showing good growth. Here are our participating teams for the inaugural CSCL: Blue Pioneers CZ JDOUCI NA SMRT SK eKoVy UNIT3D Golden Warriors InFamous Inferno Kapsa Boys Las Dilas Legion of Dooom Milion Plus Partisan Squad Slovak Legends TAIFUN HYBRIDI Team Czechoslovakia The Hockey Crew Toceny Salamy As we are kicking off the premier season, we want to get it started in all its greatness. We can also boast of our great commentator Petr Hais who will provide his commentary of CSCL matches. What basic information do players need to know? • CSCL is a 6v6 league building upon the EASHL mode in the latest EA SPORTS NHL 21 game. • CSCL is open for all Czech and Slovak players (with a maximum number of 2 other European players for each team) to provide the best possible gameplay experience for our players that is not negatively affected by connection issues. • Each player needs to sign up on NHLGamer.com and create his personal Player Card. • Teams need to have rosters of at least 8 players to successfully sign up. • Default game days are Tuesday and Thursday. Registrations have now closed. The league will start on Tuesday, December 1st. As usual, the rules and the league format will be adjusted to the amount of registrations. At this time, we are still looking for your input to determine the best possible outcome for all participants. To give us your feedback on CSCL, follow this thread. You can also find the complete rules of the league here. Game Reporting is also very easy - We have the reporting tool up and running properly. Keep in mind that the GMs should still make sure to save the relevant screenshots of each game just in case they were needed for evidence or investigation. The following team of CSCL administrators will be the helping hand for every team when needed: @Xpatena @xDejvosCZx @CzE Toni @CSCLkomentator @forsite84 @poweriq @Kenu That's it. Tell your friends and let's get this party started!