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The 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship has rolled on to the Semifinals at this point and we've seen some surprising results to say the least and the great virtual hockey excitement this tournament is offering is surely very welcome during these hot summer days. At the Semifinals stage we're seeing Finland (Erik @Eki Tammenpää & Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen) vs Latvia (Kristers @PSchibra Bauers & Juris @JLopatko Lopatko) and USA (David @JrPens Roebuck & Joseph @Jos x 10 Olmstead) vs Czech Republic (Adam @dzouvi Mensik & Josef @pepcastachurcik Stachura). Out of these games, Finland and Latvia will be going at it at 18:00 CEST on Saturday, whereas USA and Czech Republic are clashing in the later bout at 20:30 CEST. The Quarterfinals surely were exciting as some really big upsets were evident over the course of the weekend. First, on Saturday the very talented Canadian team featuring recent NA GWC Champion Justin @Regs84 Reguly and Safir @SafirSnipezGOLD Sodouri were surprised by the Czech, who were on their game all night long. On Sunday, Latvia managed to overcome the very strong Swedish group by a narrow one goal margin in a series for the ages, perhaps the most exciting games we've seen to this point on the international stage. Finland overcame the Swiss team with their very high routine level and the same can be said for the US squad in their Quarterfinals performance against Germany. As seen on previous weekends, the games will be live both in the international stream at www.twitch.tv/iihfhockey and in the Finnish stream at www.twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG.

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other! Niko @Maexsa Mäkelä got thrown the challenge from his friend and former teammate Juuso @TheSpeedo Sirkola and has decided to take on the Player Spotlight interview! The veteran winger currently captaining the mammoth squad Stone Age has come a long way since some of his first ECL appearances with the legendary Elämäm Kiekko. His easy going personality and fiery temper have become staples for the man, that has made him the loved and respected community member he is today.  1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL? My first ever experience with EASHL was back in the fall of 2016. We got a group of friends together and after about 10 games, we were ready to take on ECL 3. We lost almost every game and my plus minus was a solid -183. Good times! 2. What’s the best part of playing for your current club Stone Age? My teammates, definitely. Amazing people who make me want to get back to the game again and again. ❤️ 3. What is your greatest NHL gaming memory? All the beer & Chel tournaments we've had with the boys. The ECL seasons have also provided their fair share of good memories, despite my own team managing to avoid success quite efficiently. Elämäm Kiekko also holds a special place in my heart, although our social media game was definitely stronger than the team on ice. 4. Describe your perfect breakfast! Coffee, fresh juice, toast, bacon and eggs. A classic. 5. You're GM for a day and get to pick any player for your 6v6 team but none of your current teammates. Who's in your starting six and why? That's a tough one. I've met so many great people over the years that it's tough to pick only six.  @Timotei97 @Ankkalasvegas @Jaks_10 @KepakkoFIN @iRSPe @TheSpeedo Irspe and TheSpeedo were cornerstones of the legendary Elämäm Kiekko for several seasons. Some great and less great memories over the years and they're both great guys. In my books, Kepakkofin is the best captain in the scene and I really look up to him. GHETTO FIREBIRDS is an excellent example of what you can accomplish with long term commitment. Jaks and Timotei I've played with mostly late on the weekends, but it's always been a lot of fun. Last but not least Ankkalasvegas is a very skilled player and a great guy, who I've played with on various rosters.  6. What was your dream job growing up and what do you currently do? As a kid I wanted to be a soccer player, now I'm working at a sports store.  7.  Do you play or have you played hockey? On the outdoor rink and the couch.  8. What’s your best hockey memory? When Porin Ässät won the Finnish Championship back in 2013. The party lasted for five days and I'm still a bit hungover.  9. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL?  I spend time with my friends and family, and do some sports. Disc golf is my latest pickup and it's been nice to notice that something can be even more frustrating than NHL at times. 10. Pizza with three toppings, what are your choices? Kebab, pineapple and blue cheese.  11. You're the locker room DJ and get one song to hype up your team. What do you play? Tommi Läntinen - Via Dolorosa.  12. How did you come up with your PSN ID? My first nick was Markogirl87, which I used for a surprisingly long time. My name isn't Marko, I'm not a girl and my birth year isn't -87, so you could say that's a total disaster of a PSN ID. Maexsa is a variation of a nickname based on my last name.  13. Who’s the best player in the ECL according to you? It's impossible to pick the best one, but @NikkeDangles is a player who's always fun to watch. 14. Describe your ideal holiday!  A weekend cabin getaway with friends and family or a full three day festival rager.  15. Now it's up to you to suggest who we should interview next. Who do you want to hear from and why? I'll go ahead and challenge @KepakkoFIN next. Although the man is done with NHL, I'd love to hear some GHETTO stories and what that guy has for breakfast! Feel free to also suggest who you'd want to see in the Player Spotlight-series. Also, if there are any questions you'd like us to add to the arsenal, let us know!