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We're coming full circle by returning to the ECL's first ever cover gamer for the upcoming '23 Winter season! ECL 8 was our first season featuring a Cover Gamer, and since then we've taken a lot of big steps forward as a league and as a community. Over the course of that time, there's one player that has above everyone else managed to maintain a high competitive level and even more importantly, managed to act as an ambassador for the entire sport. That is why we're coming full circle and announcing Erik @Eki (EkiOriginal) Tammenpää as the ECL '23 Winter Cover Gamer. After some experience back in the PlayStation 3 days with good friend Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala in Carlsberg HC, and a few seasons of ECL competition in various teams, in early 2018 the youngster @Eki was recruited to a very strong and experienced MUKIMIEHET side for ECL 4 Elite, the first season in our divisional framework. MUKIMIEHET were set on a championship push with season 1 originals Ville @MuKiMaisteri Luukkonen and Atte @Aze (Atte91) Aho in their roster, combined with throwbacks Lasse @Lage (Lagezickarno) Pennola and Ville @Piri (a_n_t_a) Pirttilä and a fresh influx of talent with Eki joining the already powerful forward core. Despite their campaign not really getting the end that they so had hoped for, this season set into motion an era of competitive success at the very top level that we've yet to see an end to. A list of Eki's biggest wins 🏆: 1v1 NHL GWC European Champion 2018 NHL GWC World Champion 2018 IS Cup 3 Champion 2018 NHL GWC European Champion 2019 IIHF Esports Fan Championship 2020 eLiiga Season 1 Champion 2020 NHL GWC European Champion 2021 NHL GWC European Champion 2022 IIHF eWorld Champion 2022 6v6 IS Cup 3 Champion 2018 ECL 7 Champion 2018 SCL Champion 2019 ECL 9 Champion 2020 eSHL Season 1 Champion 2020 FCL Champion 2020 ECL 11 Champion 2020 eSHL season 2 Champion 2021 FCL Champion 2021 The accolades and trophycase that Eki has managed to build over the past four years is unmatched, and while four years seems like a rather short time in any other sport, in NHL esports, especially with the yearly release cycle of the game and ever changing meta, that is an eternity. Even when Eki hasn't been winning, he's still managed to be right there, breathing down the neck of his toughest competitors. Who are some of the toughest opponents that you've faced through the years? Paul @PleeMaker Arontie is without a doubt the best opponent I've ever faced. He's the only player that I've never had the edge on completely, even when I've been at my very best. Plee is also one of those players who always seem to elevate their game in big tournaments and that's why my respect for him is so high. Internationally, Justin @Regs84 Reguly has to be one of the better players I've faced. We've played each other once on LAN in 2019 and remember that his game was so different from anyone else. He's tough to get a read on. We'll be playing each other in New York next week also! Who are some of the players you've looked up to over the course of your gaming career, not only because of their skills but perhaps their personalities? Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala is my #1. We played together for the first time in 2012 when we were neighbors and I was just a kid. I consider him to be one of my best friends and respect him very much both as a player and a human being. We'll definitely be playing together for as long as Joonas will have me in his team. Other guys I've looked up to in terms of streaming and content creation are definitely Risto @Dominointi Järvi and Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen. These are the guys I watched while on the comeup and they really were the first ones to show what that side of the game is all about along with teaching me lost of tips and tricks on the 1v1 game. Your skill and grind are certainly big reasons that have put you in the position you are now, but what other attributes do you think a true professional needs to succeed? Success is definitely a combination of small factors and a tiny bit of luck and chance. I wouldn't even be here without the likes of Patzlaf and Mika @mikaasi Heikkilä, who managed to spark my interest for the game and made it fun for me. With that, came some timely success, which allowed me some of the opportunities I've got to this point. A tip for any player out there looking to go pro is definitely creating content centered around the game. NHL is such a small game that you'll have to generate value outside competition in order to interest sponsors and organisations. Also, keep your head cool. One tournament win will not last or get you anywhere, success will follow those who grind, so put in your hours and practice. Last but not least, a couple of thoughts on the upcoming season, who do you think will be contenders? Any interesting new outfits to look out for? The upcoming season is going to be very, very interesting personally. Our own team has seen more changes than ever before and you could almost call this squad something of an old school FILA x Written In The Stars mashup. I'm taking on a defensive role, so it'll be a learning experience at least early on. With all the changes to our own squad, it'll definitely be an exciting experience and we're definitely hungry for success after a failure to win any trophies in NHL 22. It'll be interesting to see how the standings will start to shape up. hREDS has been great as always, Tunnel Vision is right there and we're doing all we can to challenge them. One team I think will surprise is Växjö Lakers, who will be in their first Elite season, look for them to be in the Playoffs. On the 1v1 side the level is higher year by year. The young guns who have been on the comeup for some time already will definitely have success. Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen and Roope @pikkuroger Bergström represent the young and talented group of players to keep an eye on. Henrik @Eken45jr Eklund is another player I expect to do just as well as before. List of previous ECL cover gamers: ECL 8: Erik @Eki Tammenpää ECL 9: Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen ECL 10: Casper @ICappeI Lundgren ECL 11: Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha ECL 12: Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen ECL '22 Winter: Johan @Lehmannens Lehmann & Hampus @l-Furyan-l Duvefelt ECL '23 Spring: Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen You'll be able to see Eki in action in the upcoming ECL '23 Winter season with his Frölunda HC, where he will be playing as a defenseman alongside new recruit Kristian-Mikael @Nassustelija Katajisto, who has recently been recruited from the disbanded HAVU Gaming. The season starts December 11th, so there's still some time to get geared up and prepare for some of the best virtual hockey around. Sign-ups are also still open for our ECL '23 Winter Neo and Core divisions, so here's your chance to get your career started in some competitive action! ECL 1v1 also still has two more qualifiers to go until the top 128 stage, so join that too! Read more about the ECL '23 Winter season here.