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NHLGamers, We're underway with perhaps (as always) the most exciting ECL Elite season yet. The first week held three broadcast nights and a bunch of interesting matchups outside that and we're really happy with the turnout in the streams. Our teams surely did not disappoint as we saw a bit of everything over the course of the first week- some games proved to be scoring battles and others were a bit tighter, we even saw a goal of the season candidate in the first week when Joona @jm98II Muona of YMCA Esports put his hands on display in this beauty of a goal: The incredible moves on display unfortunately posterized hREDS defenseman Tuukka @Tuukka.R Röpelinen, who will without a doubt be bouncing back and has been seen starting some minor Twitter beef with Gotham Knights defenceman Timi @Rimpe Rimpeläinen - the two will be going head to head already tonight in an exciting hREDS - Gotham matchup. We were also treated to some of the bigger goals we've seen in a while, when newly signed HAVU Gaming goaltender Oskari @sibeelius Grönroos was pulled for the extra skater at the end of their matchup against JYP Jyvaskyla. The long-time netminder managed to snag a massive goal against his former team to tie up the game, what a performance! To move on from the ridiculous goals that were on display this past week, we've also got to discuss the standings situation, despite it not being worth looking into too much after only a few rounds have passed by. After the first week we've got SJ Gaming and Vesa Pompa HC topping the table, albeit with two games in hand on the rest of the pack. Teams that are at the bottom of the standings still without their first win are Team LEISURE and SAWO ESPORTS, who will be going into the second week of action with some pressure of notching that first W soon enough. SAWO will be showcased in an NHLGamer broadcast against Gotham Knights on Wednesday, maybe that will be their chance? Other interesting matchups scheduled for the upcoming week are the Swedish rivalry Farjestad - Vesa Pompa, which will be broadcasted tonight and Thursday night's Finnish esports org clash between KOVA Esports and SJ Gaming. Transfers It's a somewhat rare occasion to see some movement at the Elite level after the start of the season, but some transfers have come to knowledge in the past week or so, we'll also be recapping possible movement in these reports. Here are the transfers that have come to light since the ECL 11 Elite season preview: HAVU Gaming OUT Topi @topikeranen Keränen, TuTo Esports After being in a backup role with Written In The Stars/HAVU Gaming since ECL 7, @topikeranen made the decision to move on to a playing role with Lite team TuTo Esports. He is taking a massive role in the club and will definitely be making an impact, which he already has in his first six games of the season. His departure will not affect the competitiveness of HAVU Gaming in any way. SJ Gaming IN Eemil @Eemil Koski, Tunnel Vision IN Samu @Ojamoska Ojamo, Enigma SJ Gaming have secured their much needed second starting defenseman in what seems to have been a package deal when signing @Eemil to play a huge role in their defense and @Ojamoska to a potential backup job at the center position, both of former Raccoon Rampage fame. The move significantly strengthens the defensive core of SJ Gaming, but might throw balance on the offensive side off if they need to work @Ojamoska into their seemingly clear plans in that department. Power Rankings Making a return this season will be the Elite: Power Rankings, provided by @MartindalexC. As always, the rankings are generated by weighting a team's results with the level of opposition that was faced, i.e. a team that went 4-0-0 against teams at the very bottom of Elite may very well be ranked below a team that went 0-4-0 against Elite's very finest. Due to time constraints, the first edition of these rankings will be pretty bare, and thus missing any additional writing that looks to elucidate the minutiae of what went into each respective ranking. The base ranking used for the first week is the ECL 11 Elite Preview. So without further ado, let's have a look at how teams fared over this first week: 1. HAVU Gaming (4-0-0) [+2] 2. FILADELPHIA (3-0-1) [=] 3. hREDS (2-2-0) [-2] 4. YMCA Esports (1-2-1) [+2] 5. SJ Gaming (5-1-0) [+8] 6. Vesa Pompa (5-1-0) [+5] 7. JYP Jyvaskyla (1-2-1) [-2] 8. KOVA Esports (3-1-0) [-1] 9. Farjestad BK (3-1-0) [-1] 10. Gotham Knights (1-3-0) [=] 11. SAWO Esports (0-3-1) [+3] 12. Northern Ascendancy (2-1-1) [-3] 13. Team Leisure (0-3-1) [-1] 14. Conquer Gaming (2-2-0) [+2] 15. Roots Gaming (1-2-1) [-11] 16. Dark Horse (1-3-0) [-1]

NHLGamers, Welcome to the first half of the ECL Neo mid-season report. As things begin to heat up in the race for the playoffs, we will take a look at the at the teams leading the race in pursuit of Group glory, the teams chasing those elusive final playoff spots, and the teams at the bottom looking to cause problems. Let's get on with the good stuff: Situations may have changed since the writing of this article - the article was written on 3.12.2020. Group 1 We begin with EV Duisburg and Reign who sit tied with 18 points each at the top of the group. Reign, however, hold two games over their rivals at the top. Reign will have their work cut out as they look to create an assured lead at the top of Group 1, they play their two fixtures in hand this Saturday evening against ambitious Piukat Paikat who sit just below them in third place, albeit with four more fixtures played. Both Reign and Duisburg then have a huge night this Sunday as they hold double headers. Duisburg play Eskilstuna Snake at 20:00 CET, and Reign face Black Wings HC, before the two meet each other in what could be a winner takes all encounter at 21:00 CET. In mid table, Rostedtin Jetit could remain the surprise package of the group. An incredibly tough early schedule has seen them face all the teams above them already, losing just twice. They finish the season with games against teams in the bottom 3 of the group, but fixtures with Black Wings and Northmen before this stretch could see their group topping dreams diminish. Northmen’s debut season in the ECL has been successful so far, with a staggering 72% powerplay success rate being the key to their success, but an opening day OT loss against Black Wings could come back to haunt them. In the race for the final playoff spot, Black Wings sit in 6th place with a comfortable three-point lead over nearest challengers, Alpenforcer. With a game in hand, they will look to extend this lead further. Eskilstuna Snake are the only team outside the playoff spots with a real chance to make up their point deficit, but 4 wins in a row for a team who have only won 2 games all season may be too much to ask. At the bottom, Polish Patriots have lost by 11 goals four times this season and will be hoping that they can recover some pride before the end of the season. Key team stats Most points per game: Reign (1,8) Most goals per game: Piukat Paikat (4.71) Least goals against per game: EV Duisburg (1.5) Best power play: HC Northmen (72.73%) Best penalty kill: Alpenforcer (89.29%) Group 2 It’s tight at the top of group two as 5th Line Heroes, Aladinit, Pinaattikone and Bauer Rangers GmbH battle it out for Group winners. With no team in these four having lost more than two games in regulation, it boils down to a number of big fixtures between the teams in the closing gamedays. Pinaattikone will face all three of their rivals in their final 6 games, meaning they are the only team in the group that control their own destiny: win all 6 in regulation and they will win the group, lose one and it all gets very complicated! In mid table, Mora IK eSport should have done enough to secure their playoff spot considering the struggles of the teams below them. While their tough finishing schedule contains group challengers Bauer and Aladinit, they have a fixture against group whipping boys Valhalla Riddare HC which should give them the 4 points needed to guarantee their progress. Occupying the final playoff spot is HC PyllistyS. They must defeat Redlight Jokers this Sunday to secure their own progress. Redlight, who also control their own fate, must win both games vs PyllistyS in regulation to give themselves hope of progressing before facing fellow playoff hopefuls Iserlohn Roosters and finally, Valhalla Riddare. Pirate Esports must also hope for a Jokers win vs PyllistyS, as they face the challenge of a penultimate game vs 5th Line Jokers before concluding their season against PyllistyS. For Valhalla it has been a debut season to forget. 11 games, 11 losses. Nevertheless, they hold they hold the key to other team’s playoff fates in their hands and will look to throw a spanner in the works before the end. Key team stats Most points per game: 5th Line Heroes (1.75) Most goals per game: 5th Line Heroes (5.08) Least goals against per game: Bauer Rangers GmbH (1.4) Best power play: Aladinit (21.05%) Best penalty kill: 5th Line Heroes (97.44%) Group 3 Group 3 is the most cut and dry group in the division. Electric-paced newcomers Fila De La HC have raced to the top of Group 3 and are yet to lose in regulation. Their final fixtures against fellow challengers Sesku Patversme and the always dangerous Russian Lightning give Fila the chance to win the group outright having never lost a match in 60 minutes. A stat that would mark them out as extremely dangerous opposition for any potential playoff opponents. Sesku Patversme could still upset their party however, a double victory over Fila, combined with wins over third place Sawolanche, and some help from Russian Lightning in their fixtures over Fila gives them a chance of upsetting the odds. In the middle of the pack, NHLgang and Goosebumps look clear favourites for the final playoff positions. UnknownHeroes sit just outside the playoff spots and will look to overhaul NHLgangs points advantage. With this said, their inability to defeat the Gang in the last round of fixtures leaves their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Particularly with NHLgang still to face the 0-10 Galaxy Huskies. At the bottom of the group, Galaxy Huskies prop up the table, but close out the season with fixtures against fellow strugglers OilBarons and Tango Delirium which gives all three teams a chance to avoid last place in the group and the dreaded wooden spoon. Key team stats Most points per game: Fila De La HC (1.86) Most goals per game: Sesku Patversme (6.58) Least goals against per game: Sesku Patversme (1.25) Best power play: Sesku Patversme (26.09%) Best penalty kill: NHLgang (100%) Group 4 At the top of Group 4 Ultimatum are also unbeaten so far this season in regulation, racking up a frightening average of 7.5 goals per game on their journey to the top. Hannover Indians eSports look to be the only team left in the group that can challenge Ultimatum, with the two teams set to meet this Sunday in a top of the table encounter. Packing out the rest of the playoff spots are Million Plus, EHC Basel eSports, SCB eSports. With Fearless Knights holding on to the final play-off spot, their fixture with 7th placed HC Sokol Moscow this Sunday could be a knockout blow for the Moscow side should they fail to take all 4 points on offer against the Knights. Given that they entertain Group leaders Ultimatum and challengers Hannover prior to the season’s conclusion, 4 points is a must for the Men from Moscow. The two Swiss sides Basel and Bern have enjoyed strong debut seasons, and with their Points per game positions will both enjoy pressure free games vs Ultimatum before the close of group play as they seek to send out a playoff warning to potential rivals in the next round. 3rd place Million Plus, with their low points per game average, will also be watching this weekends fixtures with a bit more anxiety as they seek to avoid being pulled into a playoff spot struggle. Legion of Doom, who sit dead last in Group 4, having been crushed 19-1 by Ultimatum in Season 11’s biggest margin of defeat, entertain fellow strugglers Puliveivarit and HC Porokeisarit. These 3 teams may look at these encounters as a way to build a winning mentality in competitive 6’s before their return to ordinary play. Key team stats Most points per game: Ultimatum (1.89) Most goals per game: Ultimatum (7.56) Least goals against per game: Ultimatum (2) Best power play: Ultimatum (48.28%) Best penalty kill: Ultimatum (100%) Group 5 ‘It’s lonely at the top, but the view is nice.’ - Rahinakaukalo. Finnish club Rahinakaukalo have utterly dominated Group 5. 12 played, 12 wins and 15 goals conceded in the process. They have defeated 2nd place Norrland twice this season, and face 3rd place Dead Evil on Sunday. You would be hard pressed to find someone willing to bet against them winning 18 straight, they have been that dominant. Norrland and Dead Evil also look secure in their playoff qualification and it would take a monumental collapse by both teams to see them enter the playoff battle. In 4th place, 3Tuna Le Sport are being led to a fine season by Captain TableHockey, and despite some last-minute roster changes prior to the season puck drop, they have looked convincing. Tough single goal losses to Norrland in the last round of fixtures were a sore blow to the Swedes, but they do not look like slowing down in their playoff pursuit. Team Rocket, Yellow Jackets and KulmalaHengaus will battle it out for the final playoff sport, with less than 3 points separating these teams with 6 fixtures remaining, it’s going to be a no holds barred battle in the Group 5 playoff hunt. KulmalaHengaus hold the advantage in the pursuit for the playoffs, facing both Yellow Jackets and Team Rocket in their remaining fixtures. Full points from these games would place them in the playoff spots going into the final fixture round. At the bottom HC Lachen’s troubles continue, they are 1-11 going in to a 3-game stretch against 3 teams in the playoff hunt. With this said, their single victory this season came against 3rd place Dead Evil, with no pressure on Lachen, they could always create another upset. Key team stats Most points per game: Rahinakaukalo (2) Most goals per game: Rahinakaukalo (5.83) Least goals against per game: Rahinakaukalo (1.25) Best power play: Yellow Jackets (32.26%) Best penalty kill: Dead Evil (100%) That's it for the first part of our mid-season report! We'll be releasing the overview of the rest of the groups shortly.

NHLGamers, Welcome to the 2nd half of the ECL11 Neo mid-season report where we’ll look at Groups 6 through 10. Let’s get back to it, shall we! Group 6 Group 6 looks to have a clear winner already, with Latvian Warriors cruising in to a comfortable 5 point lead over nearest challengers Bone Breakers, who they won both games against earlier in the season. MOGA and EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk sit behind in 3rd in 4th place, but the playoff battle in the group remains wide open. Only 7 points separates MOGA, EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk, HC Poteropojat, Nordic Eagles, Etuna Eagles, Acta Non Verba and Aina Pystyy, with some of the lower placed in these teams already averaging a higher points per game average than the teams above them, with several games in hand over their rivals. Etuna Eagles will battle this week with Acta Non Verba, and Nordic eagles, the teams above and below them, in what will shape a fascinating playoff race in group 6. With the games coming thick and fast for these sides, the playoff race in group 6 could end with as little as 2 points between 7 teams. SC Rackelhahn eV, who sit bottom of the group with just a point will also play key games vs Bone Breakers and MOGA. While Rackelhahn can no longer qualify for the playoffs, their solitary win came in OT vs the Group leading Latvian Warriors, in their most recent round of games and they will take confidence from this going into the end of their season. Key team stats Most points per game: Latvian Warriors (1.8) Most goals per game: Latvian Warriors (3.08) Least goals against per game: Latvian Warriors (1.42) Best power play: SC Rackelhahn eV (40%) Best penalty kill: MOGA (91.67) Group 7 UKnighted HC hold a comfortable lead in Group 7 at the midway point. With just 1 loss to their names this season, and holding two wins over nearest rivals IHL Rams, they certainly hold advantage in the group. The most likely side to cause them problems is Masiina. Who also hold one loss, but winning their 2 extra games will leave them tied at the top of Group 7, with UKnighted and Masiina to meet in the final round of fixtures, neither side can afford to slip up in their remaining games. Elsewhere in the top half of the group, Karhukissat are sitting pretty in 4th place but 3 losses at this early stage may have already turned their table topping dreams into a damp squib. In the playoff battle, Ballbusters HC and Gleumes Hockey Krefeld occupy the final playoff spots, holding a considerable points advantage over the teams below them. In 7th place, most likely playoff spot challengers IHL Royals can still look to spring a surprise and overtake Krefeld but it will prove a difficult challenge. Games against HC Ice Time, Russian Ghouls, and leaders Uknighted leaves the Royals needing a minimum of 6 points prior to their last round of games which sees them play against Krefeld. At the bottom, Czech side The Hockey Crew, have disappointed this season. Holding just a single win over fellow strugglers Russian Ghouls. HC Ice Time also sit outside the playoff race, with their defensive struggles being the cause of their woes, as their offence has been effective despite their league position. Key team stats Most points per game: UKnighted HC (1.83) Most goals per game: UKnighted HC (8) Least goals against per game: UKnighted HC (1.17) Best power play: UKnighted HC (44.74%) Best penalty kill: UKnighted HC (89.47%) Group 8 A top of the table encounter tonight between EHC Tatneft AK Bars and the Finnish Finishers may well decide the winners of the group if either side can take the 4 points on offer in regulation, be sure to keep an eye out on twitch for these games! The Russians, who hold a 3-point advantage going into tonight’s games will see this as an opportunity to put the Group out of sight if they can put the Finishers away early. In the playoff spots, it remains extremely tight. BackDoorLoosters hold 3 points over their group rivals but just a single point separates x6tence Hockey, HC Palosaari and Team Czechoslavakia and French side Remparts Tours Esport 2. These sides all play each other in the coming week in what is the most cutthroat playoff race in ECL Neo this season. As Spain’s solitary representatives in ECL, x6tence will be hoping they can carry the flag into the playoffs but face a tough schedule to allow this to happen. At the bottom, Swiss Seniors, HC Korobka and French Rookies are all well out of the playoff race. The Rookies sit bottom of the group but and face Korobka tonight in battle to move off the bottom. For the Seniors, while the playoffs are gone, their remaining games against Finishers and Palosaari gives them a huge chance to affect the final group standings should they pull off a shock. Key team stats Most points per game: EHC Tatneft AK Bars (1.71) Most goals per game: EHC Tatneft AK Bars (6.71) Least goals against per game: Finnish Finishers (1.92) Best power play: Finnish Finishers (41.67%) Best penalty kill: EHC Tatneft AK Bars (100%) Group 9 Group 9 sees both a 3 team race for Group winner and a 6 team race for the playoffs. At the top, Vemppaosasto sit with a 3 point lead over Dynamo Dragons. Vemppaosasto however have the benefit of games against strugglers Epinal HC Esport and playoff challengers Uudenmaan Oilers to round of their race for the top. Dynamo Dragons face fellow Challengers The Real Rookies in the final round of fixtures however. The Rookies are the most physical side in Neo this season, racking up 296 hits so far this season. Herforder Ice Dragons debut season sees them hold a comfortable lead over the other playoff challengers. Just three points separates the next four teams, Enkopings SK HK eSport, Uudenmaan Oilers, EASHL Russian, and Motherfreakerz. Of these 4, Motherfreakerz hold the advantage in scheduling with 2 games to play against bottom side Karvanakit, maximum points here followed by a huge match this week vs the Oilers would see them sneak into the playoffs for the first time in 4 attempts. Karvanakits position in the table could be false however, as they are yet to play three of the four teams that lie directly above them, and while wins in all six of these games is unlikely, it would still be enough to pull them in to the playoff race also. Key team stats Most points per game: Vemppaosasto (1.71) Most goals per game: Vemppaosasto (4.64) Least goals against per game: Dynamo Dragons (1.5) Best power play: Dynamo Dragons (43.48%) Best penalty kill: Vemppaosasto (94.12%) Group 10 Group 10 sees possibly the strangest table in ECL Neo. With the race for the top underway, All, 6 teams in the playoff spots can still win the Group. Due to this, all 6 teams sit at least 8 points clear of the teams outside the playoffs, having played the same number of games, or less. Outside the playoff places, both Swiss Tigers, EHC Ice breakers sit tied at the bottom with just one win each. Annecy Hockey eSport, sit above in 8th but need 6 wins from their final 6 to mount a very unlikely playoff challenge. Taskubulis in 7th need the same. At the top, a 2nd game loss for EHC Amur against Annecy leaves them also needing straight wins to secure the group, despite having beat nearest challengers Monkey Brotherhood twice earlier in the group. With the Brotherhood unlikely to slip up tonight against Ice Breakers, it’s all to play for in the top 2. Ettan IK play both teams in the deciding week of fixtures and will want to prove that they can also challenge the top teams, with just 4 points separating them from the top its everything to play for Ettan. For Wisby Islanders this week, they will look to right things on offence as their 15 minutes on attack against Deggendorfer SC eSports mustered them just 3 goals, and zero wins. Key team stats Most points per game: EHC Amur (1.67) Most goals per game: EHC Amur (5.92) Least goals against per game: Wisby Islanders (2.33) Best power play: EHC Amur (60.61%) Best penalty kill: Biggie Stockholm (90.91%) With that, we conclude this second part of our ECL 11 Neo mid-season report. The last half of the season is already underway and now is the time to rack up those extremely important points, we wish all teams good luck in the pursuit of those last playoff spots!