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The fourth season of the Western European Championship League (WECL 4) has come to a close with a spectacular grand final performance by Pirates eSports, who claimed the title in dominant fashion. With a 4-0 sweep over Owned Hexa, Pirates eSports left no doubts about who ruled the ice this season.   🏆 A Final of Control and Precision From puck drop to final buzzer, Pirates eSports executed a game plan built on possession, disciplined defense, and explosive offense. While Owned Hexa showed flashes of potential, including a tight 6-7 OT loss in Game 2, the Pirates consistently capitalized on turnovers and controlled the tempo in each game. Their fluid passing, structured zone entries, and relentless forecheck suffocated their opponents and set the tone early in every match. In the deciding four-game series, Pirates outscored Owned Hexa 27 to 10, with standout performances across their entire lineup.   📊 Pirates eSports - Player Statistics (Final Series) Player Goals   Assists   Points    +/-   Shots   Hits       AdriF_23  4   14   18  +16    18   0       JimmyCooks-_-  6   6   12  +17    17   13       Winci-_o  12   6   18  +17    34   8       Tromi13  2   6   8    +15    10   9       RaphaIsky69  2   8   10  +17    13   5       MANU-LLORIS-16 (G) Saves: 38, SV%: 74.51%   ⭐ MVP of the Finals: Winci-_o While the entire Pirates roster performed at an elite level, @Winci-_o stood out with an incredible 12 goals and 18 total points in 4 matches. His offensive awareness, finishing, and consistency made him a nightmare for defenders and the clear MVP of the WECL 4 Final.   👑 Champions of WECL 4: Pirates eSports Congratulations to Pirates eSports, the undisputed champions of WECL Season 4. With clinical precision, unrivaled synergy, and unshakable confidence, they have earned their place in WECL history. Their run was not just dominant — it was championship caliber at every level. Pirates eSports, take a bow. This was your season.   Pirates eSports  👑 Championship Lineup 👑 #1    Margaux @Andy Caper Mameri  #9    Emmanuel @Emmanuel Peltier Peltier #13  Jake @NotzPanthers Leversuch #14  Nick @xCocii Suzuki #17   Raphalsky @Raphalsky69 Maverlinsky #23   Patrik @Winci-_o Wenzel #33   Calum @Calxm41 Mcateer-Ellis #50  Kieran @KnightK10 Knight #68   Adrien @AdriF_23 Frinkelin #73   Max @Tromi13 Tromeur #77  - @Pekedipeks Pekedipeks   🙏 Thank You to All Teams & Players The WECL 4 journey wouldn’t be the same without the passion and dedication of every team that participated. We extend our deepest thanks to:  Brothers In Gaming Brothers in Gaming 2 EKH GLEBOGRYZARKA  Hawks HC,  HC UKRAINE  HK Bricks  Owned Hexa  Pirates eSports  Pylsais  Silver Sword Griffins  Three Stars  Valence Hockey  Wildcats esport I The WECL administration values the contribution of every single player toward building this competitive and respectful community. Your spirit makes this league thrive.   💬 See You in WECL 5 With the curtain closing on an unforgettable season, we’re already looking forward to the next chapter. Until then — stay sharp, stay united, and we’ll see you on the ice in WECL 5. — WECL Administration Team

ECL ELITE - WEEK ONE STORYLINES We're seven days into the ECL '25: Spring season and are already seeing storylines develop across the Elite division. We've seen everything from early-season surprises (both good and bad), to significant transfers that could very well change to outlook of a team's season. Considering all of that, let's take a look at some of the biggest storylines that we saw take place throughout the first week of action in the Elite Division. Also, thanks again to @Mozjayh for his contributions to this week's article! Defending Champs Looking To Recapture Last Season's Magic As of this writing, Parasite has scored just 13 goals despite registering a staggering 129 shots on net. That is an average of 2.17 goals on 21.5 shots per game. Even though we all know that the goals will come eventually, this is the total opposite of what we saw from this team last season. During the Winter season, Parasite averaged 5.32 goals for per game, which is an ECL record. The team's newest addition, Aaro, has also been held scoreless in their first 6 games. Despite the team's slow start offensively, its defense and goaltending have made up for it plenty, as Parasite has the fewest goals allowed per game by a landslide at 1. This shouldn't be anything to worry about. Parasite is one of the best teams in the world and its only change in the lineup was replacing one of Europe's best wingers (NikkeDangles) with another one of Europe's best wingers (Aaro). They will find their scoring touch eventually and when they do, this will be a non-story. After all, it's not like they aren't creating chances. Still, though, it's something to keep an eye on considering how steep of a drop it is from their Winter season goals number. Tohtorit's Surprisingly Slow Start After back-to-back seasons of finishing in the Top 4 in the standings, Tohtorit is off to a much slower start to their Spring campaign; getting only 2 wins in their first 8 games with only one of them being in regulation. Their start also includes 4 OT losses. Considering the fact that this team brought back its entire lineup from a group that earned the finish 2nd in the regular season standings and made it to the Semifinals just three months, it's surprising to see them struggle to find their form. The reason for their struggles can be pointed at a few factors. One would be their struggles on the penalty kill, something that was a sizable flaw for this team a season ago. So far, Tohtorit has taken 16 PIM and is 50% on the penalty kill. Not good. Additionally, last season's goaltender of the season Stammer has not been up to his usual form, sporting just a 75.7SV% in his eight starts. In comparison, he ended the Winter season with an 86SV% while starting all 28 games. Tohtorit ended their week by playing over 186 in-game minutes in two matches against vNexs. A big 3rd-period comeback in the second game after trailing by two goals earned the team a victory in OT, one that feels much needed after six straight losses going into that game. Mythix Making A Statement Early The story surrounding Mythix coming into the season was whether they could emerge as a true championship contender. One week into the season, and so far they've answered that challenge. Through their first six games, Mythix have earned a total of 16 out of possible 18 points; placing them 2nd in the standings only behind Last Dance. Their offense has been dominant so far, leading the league in goals for per game with 4.67 and a total of 28 goals scored. Sokkelo has been the stand-out player amongst the group, scoring a staggering 14 goals and 21 points in those games, both of which lead the division. They've also been lethal on the man advantage, boasting a 58.33% power play with a total of 7 goals scored. The most impressive part about was Mythix is doing is that they are doing this against multiple playoff-caliber teams; as they were able to sweep both EXEN and Tohtorit in their series' this week. They were especially impressive in the two games against EXEN, and very well could've scored even more with the number of counterattacks they had (they outscored EXEN 10-3 in the series). There's still plenty of hockey left to be played, but based on Week One, Mythix looks like a legitimate championship threat. Combine this with their recent FCL and I think you can officially say that Mythix is the hottest team in Europe right now. Time will tell if they can keep this up, but if they can, look out. Heimo Back On The Rise? Speaking of hot starts, let's talk about Heimo for a minute. The group finished the first week with only 1 loss in 6 games played while having one of the most productive offenses in the division. They've also been able to do this against a pair of playoff teams from a season ago in Last Dance and The Black Jacks, as well as a notable playoff hopeful in Polski Boys. The biggest story for this group has been the offensive boost that their new acquisitions have provided. Last season, Heimo had the second-lowest goal total in the division, scoring just 56 goals and averaging 2 GF/GP. That is only three goals more than the lowest-placed team, which was Renascor. So far this season, the script has completely filled, as Heimo now has the second-most goals scored at 24 and are averaging 4 GF/GP, doubling their number from the Winter. KingOfApes' return to the Elite division has started off with quite a bang, as he's managed to put up an unheard of amount points for a defenceman to begin the season. Through six games, KingOfApes has tallied 18 points, which ranks second in the division. Just to give you an idea of how insane that is, he is currently on pace to finish the season with 90 POINTS. AS A DEFENSEMAN. Is that not unreal??? The most notable series was against Last Dance, who currently sit at the top of the Elite standings. This series saw a totally opposite pair of games, as Heimo managed to earn a 7-1 win followed by a 5-1 loss. They also saw a pair of dramatic games against Polski Boys; losing a lead with just four seconds left on the clock in Game 1, and tying the game with only two seconds left in Game 2. Both games resulted in overtime wins. Can they continue this form? That'll be put to the test on Monday when they play against the defending champions, Parasite. Multiple Notable Transfer Moves Krike - FA -> GOONS A long-standing piece to this GOONS has officially made his return in Krike. Though he hasn't played in any tournaments the whole year, everybody knows his ability and the impact he can bring to a team. In 130 career games as a defenseman, Krike has put up 146 points and 903 hits while being a +56 when on the ice. He'll slot in at LD in GOONS' starting lineup and will not only be someone who can make an immediate impact, but will also be able to fit in well with a group that he is familiar with, as three of his current GOONS teammates were with the team when he last played in the ECL 24 Spring season. This should make for a seamless and smooth transition for all involved. JM98 - Polski Boys -> Vapor Replacing Jemmmuu and taking the LW spot with Nieppii switching wings, JM is a veteran, goal-producing winger who will make an impact on Vapor's forward core. His Elite division resume goes back to as early as ECL 6 with Unlucky Boys, and he's scored as many as 32 goals at this level, doing so with YMCA Esports in ECL 12. In its two games this week against Last Dance, Vapor were held to a pair of one-goal losses and mustered just three goals in the series, averaging 11 shots per game. Though his goal-scoring numbers have gone down in each of the last three seasons, he also found himself on the division's lowest-scoring teams in each of those three seasons with Polski Boys and Renascor. A change of scenery paired with two other proven forwards in Dzouvi and Nieppi should make for a respectable forward trio. Jemmmuu - Vapor -> Polski Boys It's funny how things work out. JM goes to Vapor taking Jemmu's spot, and Jemmu winds up going to Polski Boys, JM's former team. Jemmu played in two games with Vapor this season, registering one point in a pair of one-goal losses to Last Dance. Jemmu has played in one ECL season prior to this season, as he put up 44 points and 36 assists in 30 games with Gotham Knights in the Pro Division last season. He also tallied 59 points in 16 FCL games with TIKI TALK, which ranked second on the team was was 30 more points than the next closest player on the team. With Polski Boys having already played eight games prior to the move and struggling for goals (they averaged just 1.75 goals for per game), it'll be interesting to see if Jemmu can earn his place in the starting lineup as a rookie on a team with a ton of experience and chemistry. Lakritsipiippu - ONSE Esports -> Blackbirds The departure of Blackbirds starting goalie Jeerik17 was followed by a slightly controversial move with ONSE Esports starting goalie Lakritsipiippu switching teams within the division midseason. The rookie goaltender has been able to prove himself by having the third-highest save percentage so far with 86% in six starts, including two with his new team on Sunday, where Blackbirds were able to split the series with the defending champs Parasite. ONSE obviously had to react quickly and were able to acquire Hulkkoo. Hulkko was ONSE's starting goalie last season in the Pro division when they were still known by their previous name Ismon Valinta. He posted a 78.9SV% in the regular season while starting all 30 games. xCurhed - Brynäs IF Esport (Pro Division) -> SSK ESPORTS SSK was able to add to its forward group with the transfer of Curhed. Curhed the season in the Pro division, scoring 25 points in 8 games for Brynäs. Last season was his second ECL season and the most action that he has seen in his ECL career, as he played 28 games with Devilz in the Pro Division, notching 51 points, 23 goals, and 28 assists. Prior to that, he played eight games with Section A12 in the Lite Division in the ECL '24: Spring season, but the team DNF's the remainder of the season. He made his Elite debut on Sunday against GOONS, putting up 3 points with a goal and two assists. The 19-year-old Swedish rookie started at LW in both games. Adaaaam_2 - Brynäs IF Esport (Pro Division) -> SSK ESPORTS Another transfer to SSK ESPORTS from Brynäs IF Esport, Adaaaam will add another defenseman to an already plentiful SSK roster. Adaaaam managed to notch 8 points in his eight starts with Brynäs IF this season, and managed to earn himself 27 points in 28 games with AFTERLIFE in the Pro Division last season. The rookie defenseman played in SSK’s season-opening series against GOONS on Sunday and managed to contribute two assists and 7 takeaways. The two teams split the series with a win-a-piece. Adaaaam started at LD in both contests. Want to keep up with everything happening ECL in the this season? Make sure to follow/subscribe to SportsGamerGG on Twitch, YouTube, and X.

Meet the ECL '25: Spring Cover Gamer: Lauri "sopulii_" Enström The ECL '25: Spring season is here, and leading the way as the Cover Gamer is none other than Lauri @sopulii_ Enström of Blackbirds. A Pro division champion, competitive floorball player, content creator, and a driving force behind Blackbirds' esports project, Enström embodies what it means to be an ECL athlete both on and off the ice. We caught up with him to talk about his journey, his team's rise through the divisions, the connection between virtual hockey and floorball, and what it means to represent Blackbirds on two fronts.   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 🇫🇮 ECL '23: Winter: Erik @Eki Tammenpää 🇫🇮 ECL '23: Spring: Tomi @tomboo- Laitinen 🇫🇮 ECL ‘24: Winter: Adam @dzouvi Menšík 🇨🇿 ECL ‘24: Spring: Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen 🇫🇮   Interview with Lauri "sopulii_" Enström Congrats on becoming the ECL '25: Spring Cover Gamer! What does this recognition mean to you personally and as part of the Blackbirds organization? Thank you, being named cover gamer is of course a great honour considering the cover gamers in the past. It is very cool to be able to represent the league as a team that was just promoted to Elite for this season. The journey we've had with this team has been unbelievable and finally, after so many seasons in lower divisions, we have our chance to give it all we have at the highest level.   Your journey in the ECL has been steadily rising season by season—how did it all start for you, and what motivated you to keep pushing to this level? I personally started in ECL 11 during NHL 21, but the story of the modern-day Blackbirds really began in the ECL'23 Winter season with xBots. Finally, we were able to build a team around the Xbox community since this was the time cross-play was added to the game. We were also the first and only Xbox team to compete that season, and we managed to push into the Lite division in the qualifiers. Our group has always been pretty close, so I think over the years that has been our strength - being able to really stick together as a group even through the tough times.   Blackbirds had a dominant Winter season and capped it off with the Pro title. What do you think made the difference this time compared to earlier seasons? This is a pretty simple one to answer - we played much more together than any previous season. And we played with this exact roster a lot. Most seasons during our club's existence have seen sometimes even up to 10+ players playing throughout the season. But this past season it was really the first time we were able to play a stable season without a huge amount of roster variance between games. The current roster was mainly 1v1 oriented players in the past meaning the motivation to play a lot of 6s wasn't really there.   You’ve been part of the team’s core through multiple seasons and changes. How has the chemistry evolved, and how important is that off-the-ice connection to your success? I think the off-the-ice chemistry is a huge strength of ours - and has always been. The core of our team has been friends ever since around 2020, so the club was created much after we knew each other. What separates the current lineup from the ones in the past is probably the way we're all more or less on the same page about how we want to play and what our expectations/goals are. It's a young team but I think the past 2 seasons have given us so much growth as a team - both on the ice and off it.   Are there any teams or players in Elite you’re especially looking forward to matching up against? The floorball derby - Blackbirds vs Heimo. Both teams are representatives of Finnish floorball clubs (Blackbirds, Kerava & Westend Indians). Funny enough we have a player playing for Heimo in real life, so this is a matchup I'm looking forward to. SportsGamer was even kind enough to schedule this matchup as a broadcast game.   You’re not just a top-tier NHL player—you also compete in floorball at a high level. How do the two sports complement each other for you, if at all? I've said this for years and I still believe it's true - the virtual hockey gameplay resembles floorball much more than real hockey. So I really think they do complement each other in a lot of ways. The principles of the games are very similar - a good play in one is very likely a good play in the other. The gameplay allows for much more control than real-life hockey does, meaning it's possible to make for example passing plays the same way it can be done on the field in floorball.   What does it mean to represent Blackbirds in both physical and digital arenas? That’s a pretty unique position to be in. Haha, yeah. I've represented Blackbirds in real life for almost 10 years now and it is always a cool feeling to step on the field or virtual ice at "Kurkela Garden". Tune in to the Season Opening Broadcast Tonight! Stay tuned as Lauri and Blackbirds take on their biggest challenge yet in the Elite division. Watch them live this season on twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG and twitch.tv/BlackbirdsUnited follow their journey across both the esports and floorball arenas. Both Blackbirds and ONSE Esports kick off their maiden ECL Elite broadcast matchup together, starting tonight at 19:45 CEST, followed by NOVA taking on Polski Boys - be sure to tune in!  

The time has come – the most thrilling esports hockey competition in Europe is back! 🏒🔥 ECL '25: Spring is officially here, and we’re in for another action-packed season. Whether you're a diehard fan eagerly awaiting the action or a newcomer curious about the excitement, now's the perfect time to get involved. Fire up those systems because the competition is about to reach new heights! 🎮🚨 In this preview, we’ll dive into a few teams and their key players taking center stage in the fierce battle for supremacy in the prestigious ECL. From the experienced veterans to the rising stars looking to make their mark, this season promises to be full of high-stakes matchups and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned as we explore what makes this spring’s ECL so special and what fans can expect as the season unfolds! 🌟🏆 Almost Famous It wasn’t many seasons ago that Almost Famous won the Pro title, with a few different players of course, nonetheless this is a new team with new expectations. @Ikavalko headlines this roster as he usually does, this veteran player takes his age-old team into ECL once again and is now looking to win the Pro title once again, with a revamped squad. Player to watch: @kkostiiii 👀 Season Prediction: Title Contenders 🏆 Carnages With newcomers from qualifiers it’s quite hard to give a good read or estimate, but plowing through the qualifiers in stage 1 and gaining the Pro spot as group winners surely made a statement for other teams in the Pro division. Captain @Fin_S1su has assembled a worthy team for the Pro division that will be fighting for a playoff spot this year and beyond, with great goaltending from their leader and solid offense we might just see that happen. Player to watch: @Bugimir🧤 Season Prediction: 1st round of playoffs 📈 Chiubibigle After a few rough seasons in the Pro division (former Devilz), this team continues to stay alive and keep their spot in the second highest division, now after qualifiers they claim their spot once again in Pro, with their main goal to not be playing qualifiers at the end of the season. However, with a completely new look this season, Devilz have gotten some experience in the form of @Haldeem & @Original-SnuS, if the whole team can find some chemistry to begin the season, Devilz might just find them pushing for a playoff spot. Player to watch: @I_Alex28_I 🎯 Season Prediction: Relegation 📉 Falun Coal Miners After a disappointing season in Elite, they had another chance at redemption in the Elite qualifiers but didn’t quite pull through, another top performance is highly likely in the upcoming Pro division for the experienced Swedish team. With a lot of experience comes different ways to play the game, and Falun Coal Miners surely knows how to do that at the Pro level, if they can put up a similar effort as their last Pro season they surely are a favourite. Player to watch: @STRANDMANNEN11 💪 Season Prediction: Title Contender 🏆 F U R Y Fury comes in with one of the most experienced of new teams in Pro. Players from different teams come together and take a Pro spot and immediately become favourites to go far in the playoffs. @LE1PAKONE nordzman headlines the newly founded team and is looking to pave his way back to the Elite division, now as a forward Nordzman has to make it work with some new teammates and big expectations on his shoulder. Player to watch: @Konsuk05 🎮 Season Prediction: 2nd round of playoffs 🚀 Golden Buffalos This one sure is an interesting one, as everyone watches and wonders what this team has done, and is going to do we’ll give a fair evaluation at the mid-season report when it’s clear who plays at what position, with new signings like @Patzlaf , @FlyerKungen & @Eken45jr who have played in Elite for their entire careers, we’ve never seen anything similar in the Pro division, so buckle up and follow this team closely this season. Player to watch: @xSauron_96 👑 Season Prediction: 2nd round of playoffs 🔥 Golden Sticks After a strong playoff performance in ECL 24, the team faced a bit of a setback during the offseason, losing several key players to transfers and other commitments. Despite these challenges, they narrowly avoided relegation to the Pro qualifiers, managing to stay in their current league by the slimmest of margins. With a renewed focus and a few strategic additions to the roster, the team is now looking to bounce back and make a stronger push this season, aiming to build on their playoff experience and overcome the difficulties they faced in the past. Player to watch: @peppenntur 🧊 Season Prediction: Relegation 🚨 HC Lugano eSport After a solid regular season for Lugano, their playoff hopes got squashed by eventual semifinalists and qualifier winners Nova, and are now looking for redemption. This season Lugano needs to prove that last season's regular season finish wasn’t a fluke, and that this is their true level. Now with some more experience under their belt, Lugano are looking to build something great and go deep in the playoffs with the same roster from last season. Player to watch: @CMB-wf- 🧱 Season Prediction: 1st round of playoffs 🎯 Kertoimia Vastaan After a difficult Pro qualifier, Kertoimia Vastaan made it to Pro and now want to cement themselves as a playoff team immediately, that’s going to be tough with some new teams and a lot of dark horses. One who can stand out for them this season is @HopeaKypara99, he has that Pro experience and he knows what it takes to succeed at this level. If Kertoimia Vastaan can get a hot start, they can fight for a playoff spot. Player to watch: @HopeaKypara99 🎯 Season Prediction: Relegation 📉 Nurnberg IceTigers eSport Landing in Pro for the season and not seeing a big change from last season for the German team might just be what they need, more time to get their ducks in a row and start progressing as a team. Now they need that little bit of a push to be more competitive, and @Flo_goes_grazy flgr93 has that needed flair any team needs to be a good team in Pro, but can the rest of the team keep up? Player to watch: @Flo_goes_grazy flgr93 ⚡ Season Prediction: No-man's land 🗺️ Otukset Always a team that competes well in the Pro division, again quite close as they made the Elite qualifiers, but they were outclassed and sent packing. Now a new season in Pro and their goal has to be a deep playoff run, a very skilled team with a lot of games played together under their belt, and once again a heavy favourite to win it. Player to watch: @Mikka mikkaah 🎯 Season Prediction: 2nd round of playoffs 🚀 REALISTIC A team that played well in FCL, and took a Pro spot and is eager to show that this is where they belong, now Realistic has everything going for them and need to capitalize on that. @N44TTI_16 naatti__ joins Realistic after a few seasons in Elite with good numbers, and is going to be one of many who might be after the top scorers position in Pro this season, if his team can keep with him, they might just find themselves in a good position at the end of the season. Player to watch: @N44TTI_16 naatti__ 🏹 Season Prediction: 2nd round of playoffs 🔥 Blegi An experienced squad who some have played in the highest level of ECL, now they begin their climb back up with a new squad, with uncertainty in the squad who plays yet it will be interesting to see who starts when the season starts. After an interesting FCL campaign, Blegi sure has a lot of doubters, and wants to prove them wrong, recent Elite standout @koleslaav_ who captains Blegi surely wants to win more games than most now has something to prove once again. Player to watch: @ItzPoro 🎮 Season Prediction: No-man's land 🌫️ Pivto4ka Another newly founded team in Pro with some good experience, this Russian side is spearheaded by veteran @NyambI4. Advancing through the qualifiers and eventually making it, this team had its issues with finding chemistry early on, it’ll be an interesting season for them if they keep having the same issues. Player to watch: @muzhichok39 xbelzzyy 🧩 Season Prediction: No-man’s land 🚧 Sunne IK esport The newly crowned SCL champions are headed to the Pro division! Has a nice ring to it, right? Or maybe ECL 25 Winter champions, either way this team has accumulated a ton of experience and trophies on the way, and now they’re looking for one more. After a few seasons in ECL, Sunne IK really found their groove and leading the way is @forreberra, the talented winger really can put on a show, so Pro defenseman, be ready. Player to watch: @benjamint737 ✨ Season Prediction: 1st round of playoffs 💪 Vizio A mainstay now in Pro for a few seasons, this Finnish side seem to have found that groove that it takes to play in the Pro division. Now is the time to build on their upwards trajectory, after a tough ending to the season last ECL where they were held off of making the playoffs in the last regular season game. The team gets some well needed boosts this season, notably experienced defenseman @SirLateksi who has built a resume worthwhile, now helping Vizio hopefully to the playoffs. Player to watch: @Artuzio 🛡️ Season Prediction: 1st round of playoffs ⚔️ ECL Pro Format: 2 Groups - 33 Teams Team license required: Yes Player license required: Yes Gamedays: Mon, Tue & Thu Regular season starts: 7.4 Transfer deadline: 25.4 23:59 CEST ⚠️ Regular season ends: 8.5 Playoffs (BO7) Round of 16: Monday 26.5 Tuesday 27.5 Thursday 29.5 Quarterfinals: Monday 2.6 Tuesday 3.6 Thursday 5.6 Semifinals: Monday 9.6 Tuesday 10.6 Thursday 12.6 Finals: 16.6- 17.6* Promotion & Relegation games are to be played shortly after the season, however dates are flexible. * Dates are subject to change as broadcast productions are confirmed. We would recommend everyone to go through the ECL Essentials - A Guide to the ECL. If you face any problems, feel free to contact us through the Support Tool. Welcome to the season. Let the games begin!

Ahh, Spring. The birds are chirping, the flowers are growing again and the ECL Elite Division is back for another season. The last time we were all here, Parasite lifted the Elite Division trophy at Winter Assembly; capping off what will go down as one of the most dominant campaigns in ECL history. Now, they will hope to defend their crown against 15 contenders, each of them hoping to be crowned champions of the Elite Division for the Spring season. With the season officially getting underway this week, let's take a look at each of the division's 16 teams and catch up on some of the changes that we saw over the offseason. Also, though my name may be on the post, I have to thank @Mozjayh for helping put this piece together. Now without further ado, let's get into our Elite division preview. Blackbirds Last Season: Competed in Pro Division, ECL Pro Division Champions IN: - OUT: - After a Winter season where we saw multiple recently promoted teams make their name known in the Elite Division, Blackbirds are hoping to be the next breakout team in ECL's top tier after winning the Pro Division title in February. Despite not having a single game of Elite Division experience on its roster, Blackbirds returns its entire starting lineup from last season's championship team. What they lack in experience, they make up for in continuity and chemistry. This is a young and very skillful group who have a good philosophy in their game and have been able to use their individual skill as an advantage. Though the adjustment to playing Elite competition will be a viable concern for this team, many have said that they could be a dark horse in this season, certainly a team that I think no one expects to go down or be even close to it. I wouldn't expect this team to make a similar run as Mustaa Kultaa did last season in its inaugural Elite season, but their individual skill combined with their chemistry as a unit will help ease its transition in playing against the best teams that Europe has to offer. Though making it into the Top 8 feels like a lofty expectation, I do expect Blackbirds to catch a few teams by surprise this season. A successful season would be staying competitive and keeping themselves safe from the relegation zone; giving themselves something to build on for ECL '26. EXEN Last Season: Finished 7th in Regular Season standings, lost in Quarterfinals vs Tohtorit in 5 games IN: @x-_-BoBi-_-x from Mythix @h3rmu__ from FA OUT: @benuh_ to Falun Coal Miners @Mozjayh to Heimo @Lxndstrom to Last Dance EXEN's NHL 25 run has been one of the most fascinating stories there is. In last season's preview, I said that it was EXEN's most talented roster to date and that they should be a championship favorite. Six weeks later, EXEN barely made the playoffs and were ousted after just five games in the Quarterfinals. This team's biggest problem last season was goal-scoring and this showed up in the largest way in the playoffs. In their Quarterfinals series against Tohtorit, EXEN were outscored 8-2 and were shut out twice. Despite solid play on their own end, a lack of offense sealed this team's fate. This was an unmitigated disappointment for a group with championship-level talent, and arguably one of the biggest letdowns that we've seen in the Division in years. For whatever reason, things just never clicked for this group. This meant for multiple significant changes to the roster over the offseason to shake things up, as benuh_, Mozjayh, and Lxndstrom each departed to separate teams. To replace, them EXEN brought in one of the league's better point-producers in BoBi & an interesting signing in Hermu, who joins the team as a free agent after not playing since ECL 23 Spring in the Pro Division with Polski Boys. It would seem odd to sign someone like Hermu from an outside perspective, but he is a talented and mechanical winger who has so far fit in fine with the rest of the roster. Hermu will be making his Elite debut having only a total of 4 appearances in the lower Pro division. The loss of benuh also makes it clear that kaz_zu is the now uncontested starter at goalie for this team, as the two split times last season in both the regular season and playoffs. This group did play in the recent FCL, where they lost to Tohtorit again in the Round of 16, so the group has had some practice already. The expectations for this team are much more tame than they were six months ago, but they should still be a playoff team that should aim for a Top 4 finish in the standings. GOONS Last Season: Finished 8th in Regular Season standings, lost in Quarterfinals vs Parasite in 4 games IN: @Sakkem from Heimo @MrNipsuli from RYHTIC @LeiskaViis7 from Kymmenelta Clubille OUT: @sisu33_ to Almost Famous @Easychasniper2 to N0VA GOONS has been the rollercoaster team of the ECL for the past three years. They've seen the highs of an Elite Division Semifinals appearance, and the lows of being relegated to the Pro Division and having to earn their way back to Elite through a Qualifier last season. Considering that they had just hit what felt like rock bottom, many were surprised to see GOONS make the playoffs last season after not even being a lock for the Division just weeks before. GOONS are known for their unique, run-n-gun style of playing; powered by high-hitting numbers which has resulted in high-scoring games on both ends. Where they struggled however was in special teams, as besides Tohtorit, GOONS had the worst combined PP/PK in the division last season. GOONS returns most of its core from a season ago, but after a shockingly disappointing display in FCL, their young defensive pairing of Sisu and Easychasniper decided to go their own ways and leave the team. Replacing the duo are two experienced defenders in Sakkem and MrNipsuli, who each boast multiple successful seasons in the Elite Division. The team also added to their defense in Leiskaviis, a rookie who though has had some successful seasons in the Core and Lite divisions, played as a forward with Kymmenelta Clubille, who finished last in the Pro Division last season. Though to his credit, he was the team's leader in points with 42 and assists with 22. Thie biggest question for this team will be whether of not they can replicate last season. With increased parity and stiff competition in the mid-table, it'll be a tougher challenge for GOONS to find their way into the Top 8. I don't see this team elevating much more than it did last season, but they should be in the playoff conversation again and will hope to avoid the relegation battle. Heimo Last Season: Finished 12th in Regular Season standings IN: @Mozjayh from EXEN @KingOfApes_ from N0VA OUT: @xHatsi to FA @Sakkem to GOONS The last time we saw Heimo make the playoffs was two years ago in the ECL ’23: Spring season, back when they were under the JANO name. They switched to the Heimo name and brand after that season and haven’t made playoffs since, though core members of that team in SadaPoika, Eemil, and Vamoux have remained with the group during that time and are back again with the team this season as captains. Despite three straight disappointing finishes, Heimo made two key acquisitions in acquiring KingOfApes and Mozjayh. KingOfApes is back where he belongs in the Elite Division after spending last season in Pro, where he was instrumental in helping N0VA get promoted to Elite. It doesn't feel like long ago that KingOfApes was undoubtedly viewed as one of the best defenders in Europe and was an anchor for hREDS during their run of three straight Elite Division titles. I still believe that he has a level of form in him, though lack of team success since departing hREDS has hindered him over the last few seasons. Expect him to be a vocal point of this team and a frontrunner for Comeback Player of The Year throughout the season. Similarly to KingOfApes, Mozjayh was a key piece to a championship group, winning back-to-back championships with Tunnel Vision in ECL 23 and a third championship. with hREDS in the ECL 24 Winter Season. He spent the past two seasons with EXEN, but struggled to find his form last season with just 37 points in 28 games during the regular season. The former champion is now being given a fresh start with Heimo and will look to bounce back from what was a disappointing Winter. Any time you can bring in two players who were key pieces to a championship team, you do it. These are the type of moves that Heimo has needed for a while. Players that have skill, ambition, and championship pedigree. These two will bring exactly that as highly-demanding and accomplished players who will be motivated to make their way back to the very top where they were not long ago. I'd expect this team to be in the playoff hunt if all goes according to plan, with the potential to even make some noise if they can make it there. Last Dance (formerly Voittamaton) Last Season: Finished 4th in Regular Season standings, lost in Semifinals vs Parasite in 5 games IN: @NikkeDangles from Parasite @Puantso from Tiki Talk @Lxndstrom from EXEN OUT: @FlyerKungen to Golden Buffalos @Patzlaf to Golden Buffalos @temppanen to Mythix After multiple seasons of speculation and disappointing playoff exits, Last Dance decided to completely revamp most of its core for the first time in a while. As much as it may hurt, a shake-up for this team was needed. Formerly Voittamaton, Straikers, and Frolunda HC, the previous just wasn't able to get over the hump, as it had fallen in the Semifinals each of the last four seasons and last made the Finals in ECL '23, where it fell short to Tunnel Vision in both the Winter and Spring season. The departure of the most iconic duo in league history Eki and Patzlaf and a long-accomplished player in FlyerKungen is one that sent shockwaves around the league. The addition of NikkeDangles, who has been one of the best players in the scene for many, many years, caused even more. Puantso, a former long-time forward of this team, makes his return to the lineup after a short stint with TIKI TALK during the Winter campaign. This will give Eki - one of the league's most consistent players no matter the situation - a familiar face to pair with the new acquisition in Nikke at the wings. Is it actually the Last Dance? The team's name and the statement in its bio would suggest yet. Outside of NikkeDangles, this group has been long-starved for championship gold. Its last ECL Championship was in ECL 11. Time (apparently) is running out for this team to make it back to the top. Though it won't be easy, anything less than a Finals appearance would feel like a disappointment considering the circumstances. They'll hope that their "Last Dance" includes one more trophy. Mustaa Kultaa Last Season: Finished 3rd in Regular Season standings, lost in Elite Finals vs Parasite in 6 games IN: @Wpaanane from PANIC ON ICE @karlssonadam_ from Unwanted OUT: @xAaro89x to Parasite It's been a long time since we've seen a team rise as radially as Mustaa Kultaa has over the past two years. After the magical run and a great effort in the Elite Finals against Parasite, Mustaa Kultaa is back and hoping to make it one step further than it did in the Winter. A ton of credit has to got to Allupekkaz for the work he has done as the team's primary captain over the past year. It'll be interesting to see if they build on what was a dream debut season; especially considering that their leading scorer and point-getter, Aaro, transferred to Parasite over the offseason. Replacing him is wpaananen, who returns to the Elite division after a two-year stint with teams in the lower divisions. In his last Elite season in Spring 23, he finished fourth in the division in points with 71, helping lead JANO to a playoff birth and the division's third-highest scoring offense. Mustaa Kultaa did well with this acquisition considering the circumstances and how late in the offseason it was. This group also added another goalie in Karlssonadam, who was really able to prove himself in NHL 24 with Purification and Unwanted. It'll be interesting to see how the ECL 24 Winter Rookie of the Season will pair with last season's top rookie Latvex, as the two will likely split time despite both playing like unquestioned starters over the past year. We also have to note that the removal of golden abilities, particularly "One Tee", will be something to watch with this team, as it takes away what is a considerable part of Mustaa Kultaa's game. I’m sure that they will be able to adapt with this group having high-level players across the roster, but it's still something to keep in mind; especially during the earlier stages of the season. Though it'd be easy to view this team as "championship or bust" after falling just two wins short a season ago, I wouldn't expect them to surpass last season, nor would I put much pressure on them to do so. It's not that they aren't a playoff threat, but the only way this team could truly move up is by winning the championship, which feels like a considerable ask from a team that lost its most productive skater from its roster from a season ago. With that being said, this is still a team that can challenge for a Semifinals spot and potentially earn their way back into the Finals if everything clicks. Mythix Last Season: Finished 5th in Regular Season standings, lost in Quarterfinals vs Voittamaton in 5 games IN: @Sokkelo__ from Roots Gaming @temppanen from Last Dance (previously known as Voittamaton) @Akunkku from FA (Played ECL ’24 Spring in Heimo) OUT: @koleslaav_ to BLEGI @x-_-BoBi-_-x to EXEN @Valee__ to Almost Famous Coming into the season as the newly crowned Finnish champion, Mythix will look to carry over the momentum and form to the ECL season. This team has surprised some people as a consistent playoff threat in its first two Elite Division seasons; finishing 6th and 5th in the standings, but being bounced in the Quarterfinals each time. This season will be much different though than the last. Mythix returned all six of its starters for the Winter season, but lost multiple key players over the offseason and have undergone a significant roster revamp. Temppanen was one of the bigger additions in the offseason, as he joins Mythix after putting up 54 points and 27 goals with Voittamaton last season. He will replace Bobbi who has proven to be a high-productive forward with Mythix the last two seasons. The team also brought in Sokkelo who joins from the relegated, and now-defunct Roots Gaming team. Sokkelo is a good player who has unfortunately made history in the Elite Division for the wrong reasons unfortunately, as he has yet to make a single playoff appearance despite having 11 seasons in the Elite Division under his belt. Can he finally break the streak? This certainly felt like one of the best opportunities so far. As quietly as it's kept, he scored 32 goals last season with ranked sixth in the Elite division. Kunkku will join WeDux at defense and are hoping to prove themselves as a top defense pairing in the Division. They have shown that the potential is there and will be key if Mythix want to elevate to the next tier of teams within the division. This team and its form feel like it's improved over the past month. They brought in multiple skilled players and carried in more momentum than any team in the division to start the season. They even brought home their first trophy in club history. Now it's time for Mythix to take the next step in the ECL; proving themselves as a serious contender. NOVA Last Season: Competed in Pro Division, lost in Semifinals vs Blackbirds in 5 games, won Elite Relegation series vs Roots Gaming in 4 games IN: @Easychasniper2 from GOONS @Motzzyy from Renascor @LaxenHD from Unwanted OUT: @KingOfApes_ to Heimo @Nester4343 to Rusty X @letsgoat to Aspyre @XxKapUstaxX to MISSCLICK @Shaitan_Batyr to HC NAMOTKA After its best run as a club in the Pro Division last season, NOVA was able to break through and earn its way into the Elite division in their fourth season of competition. With promotion, however, comes the need for improvement, and NOVA got quite busy in the transfer window to try and make those improvements possible. Vlxddy and Dekko are the only skaters who remain from the previous season's promoted side, with Dekko moving himself to defense after spending last season at LW. Outside of the loss of KingOfApes, who was second on this team in points last season and led the team in assists. His departure will be considerable, as NOVA would've loved to have his experience and skill in their first season up, but the rest of its departures were players without previous prior Elite experience though, and their additions were all players who have played at this level for multiple seasons. Motzzyy will be a name to watch for NOVA. He'll likely be one of the more puck-dominant players in the league and looks to replace the production left behind by KingOfApes. He'll be a key part of NOVA's success this season. Easychasniper has the potential to be a great winger in this league. He's one of the best 1v1 players in Europe and his success in that scene has translated well to 6v6 so far. He comes over from GOONS after spending the prior two seasons at defense. It will be a significant adjustment for him, but the talent and potential are there. He will pair with another transfer in Laxen, who though playing just one game last season with Unwanted, was a solid player for Purification in his rookie season prior to that. This team feels like one of the more unpredictable groups in the field. With the additions they've made to their roster, they have the individual skill level to compete and play a high-tempo style of play. But is that enough in a long 30-game season? How much will their team game (on both ends) evolve and improve in that time period? That remains to be seen, but NOVA has the potential and the roster to potentially catch some people by surprise. ONSE Esports (formerly Ismon Valinta) Last Season: Competed in Pro Division, lost in Quarterfinals vs Blackbirds in 5 games, won Elite Qualifier vs Herlev Eagles in 4 games IN: @aJuti from Kolikot Esports @Sagee95 from RHYTIC @LucePro from Gotham Knights @Lakritsipiippu from DILAC @JoJuzz01 from FA OUT: @Ikavalko to Almost Famous @Jalkkin-- to Almost Famous @Hulkkoo to Almost Famous @xrikardo55 to Almost Famous @lycki10 to ROBE Esports @JoakimOilers to AFTERLIFE Earning it place in the Elite Division just days before the start of the season, ONSE Esports will look to make a name for itself in the ECL's top tier. Formerly Ismon Valinta, this group is captained by Jusu121 and have competed in the ECL 23 Spring season, where they began in the Core division. They spent the last two seasons in the Pro division and despite being just the 13th seed, made a run to the Quarterfinals before being ousted by Blackbirds, the eventual champions. Considering the amount of roster turnover that we saw from this team over the offseason, with five players entering and six exiting, ONSE Esports is presented with a unique challenge. Not only will they have to make th adjustment to the Elite division as a team with zero Elite experience on its roster, but it will also have to adapt to each other, as just three players return from last season's Ismon Valinta team. On a positive note, ONSE do return its to leading goal scorers from last season in Jusu and Puosu, who combined for 44 of Ismon Valinta's 82 goals during the regular season. They also have some positive momentum heading into the season, as not only did they win the qualifier to earn their spot into Elite, but they also had an impressive FCL run on top of it. ONSE Esports finished first in their Group which included an Elite division team in TIKI TALK (much of Vapor's roster was on that team). They eventually made it to Round 3 of the playoffs before being eliminated by Lemmenvelhot. Admittedly, it's tough to truly predict where the ceiling for this team could be with there being so many unknowns. They have multiple talented players from the Pro ranks, but lack experience at this level and were a mid-pack team in their group in the Pro Division last season, and it's not often that a team in that situation stays in Elite for very long. I don't think it means that they can't, as we saw TIKI TALK manage to stay up and even compete for a playoff spot despite similar circumstances, but the lack of experience that ONSE is a real concern. Their goal will be similar to many first-time teams in the division. Grow, be competitive, and fight to stay out of the relegation zone. If ONSE Esports can do that, their first season in the division will be considered a successful one. Parasite Last Season: Finished 1st in Regular Season standings, ECL Elite Division Champions IN: @xAaro89x from Mustaa Kultaa OUT: @NikkeDangles to Last Dance The defending champions are back and return the majority of their dominant core from a season ago. Their one loss however was the biggest of any team this season. The departure of NikkeDangles is a significant one. He's one of the best players in the world and has been a key part of the team since ECL 11, winning multiple championships and individual awards in the process. Despite the change though, Parasite was able to replace one of the scene's best forwards with another, acquiring Aaro from Mustaa Kultaa, who Parasite faced in last season's Finals at Assembly Winter. Aaro was a key piece to Mustaa Kultaa's magical Winter season and proved that he belongs among the top players of the Elite division, notching a career-best 69 points and 40 goals. He will be switching from LW to RW this season, which is notable considering that he has played on the left side for his entire 6s career. We will see how quickly he can make the adjustment, though playing with fellow MVP-level talents in Beniittto and Vattu will certainly ease that transition. Outside of this, it was an uneventful offseason, which is a great thing for a defending champion. Parasite did lose 2-3 in the Finnish championship Final against Mythix over the weekend, though with a different RW and ruleset (no abilities allowed to be used). It would be unfair to expect them to match their performance from last season. Parasite won 27 of their 28 games in the regular season and finished it as the highest-scoring team in Elite division history, putting up a mind-lowing 5.32 goals for per game. In the playoffs, they never went further than six games in a series and defeated three totally different styles of teams and some of the better players in the scene on those rosters. Parasite are the championship favorites until proven otherwise. Polski Boys Last Season: Finished 9th in Regular Season standings IN: - OUT: - As weird as it is, I could almost copy and paste what I typed in last season's preview and it would apply. Polski Boys are still looking for their breakthrough moment in the Elite Division, finishing in no-man’s land in each of their first three seasons, but steadily improving during their time in the ECL's highest tier. Few teams have had more roster continuity than Polski Boys. They return their entire lineup from last season's team and they only made one move prior to the Winter season, adding Tunkeilija. Last season this team finished 8th in the division in both goals for and goals against; all while flexing the league's best PK at 95.8%. Despite statically being one of the Top 8 teams last season, Polski Boys missed the playoff cutline by just three points, as they fell down the table at the end of the season after finishing 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, while EXEN, Mythix and The Black Jacks all passed them in the standings. This team is experienced, together and has steadily improved since winning the Pro Division title in ECL 23 Spring. They've been widely predicted to make the playoffs for the last two seasons, but just not been able to get over that line, is it finally time? It feels like it has to be. If not, questions will begin to form on whether this group will ever be able to become a playoff team without a significant shake up to the roster. SSK ESPORTS Last Season: Competed in Pro Division, lost in Finals vs Blackbirds in 4 games, won Elite Relegation series vs Falun Coal Miners in 5 games IN: @bystrom___ from Unwanted @Demski_ from Serpentes OUT: @jojjep- to vNexs Academy @Jonte05_ to vNexs Three months ago, no one would've predicted that SSK ESPORTS would be playing in the Elite Division. The Swedish lineup made the Pro Division playoffs by just one point after ending the regular season with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games. During their postseason run, they knocked off three of the top eight teams, including the #1 overall seed and a former Elite division team. Their Cinderella run came to an end in the Finals via a sweep, but they were able to earn their way into the Elite division the next week by knocking off Falun Coal Miners in a relegation series; giving SSK their first Elite season in club history. This team will need for that magic to be replicated, as four of its starters from that run have returned this season. They made an experienced addition to their defense in Bystrom, who was a steady defender for Purification two seasons ago before playing eight games as a forward with Unwanted last season. Outside of Bystrom, the only other players on the roster with Elite division experience are Rubituss and Demski. Rubituss spent three seasons with Farjestad BK and two seasons with HV71. His most recent season in the division was in ECL 24 Spring with Purification, where he and Bystrom were teammates. He'll be slotting in at center for this team. Demski spent two seasons in Elite with HV71 during the ECL 22 Winter and Spring season. He played eight games last season with Sepentes in the Pro division and will slot in at forward for this team. He's played sparingly over the last few seasons, but is familiar with the competition level and will be a welcome piece to the team's forward group. Though few will view this team as a playoff threat, the expectation for this group should be to continue growing and improving while adjusting to Elite division competition; giving them the opportunity to avoid relegation and build on their progress for ECL 26. The Black Jacks Last Season: Finished 6th in Regular Season standings, lost in Quarterfinals vs Mustaa Kultaa in 5 games IN: @ProfaneKiss from Deadly Phantoms @Houddel_RBM from Red Bull Munich eSports OUT: @kkostiiii to Almost Famous @Keuschemisch After three consecutive seasons of making the playoffs, The Black Jacks are back after falling in the Quarterfinals last season and undergoing a turbulent, and controversial end to their season. Though the group has become an established playoff team and is coming off of its best regular season finish in Elite, they enter the Spring season without their most creative and maybe feared offensive player in Keuschemisch; putting this experienced Central European powerhouse into quite an interesting position. Losing Kermit takes away TBJ's most consistent and productive player, as he led The Black Jacks in points in each of the last four seasons. Replacing Keuschemisch this season is ProfaneeKiss, an experienced player who was a long-time staple for Deadly Phantoms for many years. Though many of the Phantoms' recent seasons were in the Pro Division, Profane has some Elite Division experience, playing at this level in ECL 9, 10, and 11. He also put up multiple 60+ point seasons at forward during his time in Pro for a team that though wasn't able to make its way back to the Elite division during his time there, did get close several times. Along with the loss of Kermit is the team's starting goaltender from last season, Kosti, who departs to Almost Famous in the Pro Division after posting a 79.6sv% and starting every game for the team last season. His shoes will be filled by rookie goalie THE EAGLE, who spent a few seasons with HC Lugano eSports before transferring to The Black Jacks midseason after just four games in the Pro Division. This team also has plenty of form going for them, as they're still currently participating in the German Championship Playoffs and had an undefeated regular season in Division I. The Black Jacks have a certain style of play, but Keuschemisch was able to put his own spark into it and make it work which certainly was shown in the results. This will be a significant gameplay adjustment for TBJ to undergo, and it'll take more than just Profane to make up for the loss of Keuschemisch's production. If they can do it, they'll be a fringe playoff team again. If not, then it could see their season end in no man's land. Tohtorit Last Season: Finished 2nd in Regular Season standings, lost in Semifinals vs Mustaa Kultaa in 5 games IN: - OUT: - Last season, Tohtorit proved that the ECL 24 Spring season was no fluke. This team is legit, and are likely here to stay. They finished in the Top 4 in the regular season for each of the past two seasons and won their first playoff series in the Elite division after knocking out EXEN in January's Winter season quarterfinals. Combine that with their run to the Semifinals in the FCL (fell to the eventual champions Mythix), and Tohtorit have proven that they belong in the conversation of Europe's top teams. In terms of play style, Tohtorit plays compact, shutdown defense and pair it with one of the best goalies in Europe with Stammer, who won Goaltender of the Season in the Winter. Offensively, they are able to either counter very fast, or fully reset and take their time with possession. They're able to frustrate many high-puck possession teams and have unpredictable forwards who utilize deception to create quality scoring chances. They also have Kkarkas on defense, who has proven to be one of the best puck-handling defensemen in the league, as he led the division in time with the puck last season with over 200 minutes. He also finished second in that state in the Spring 24 season, placing only behind Tombo. Tohorit made zero roster changes for the second offseason in a row and has as much chemistry as any team in the Division. They've proven that they can consistently in this division and have done so well beating other top teams. Tohtorit should be squarely in the championship conversation come playoff time and should aim for another Top 4 finish in the regular season. Vapor (formerly TIKI TALK) Last Season: Finished 10th in Regular Season standings IN: @dzouvi from FA @Nieppii from Vizio @Jemmuuu from Gotham Knights OUT: @itspardytime to HC Lugano eSports @TeMeX to Kokemus Puuttuu @Puantso to Last Dance After a strong return to the Elite division and a great end of the regular season to secure 10th, Vapor hopes to take the next step in their return to prominence; earning its way into a playoff spot for the Spring. This team had unfortunately had one of the more impactful departures of the offseason in longtime captain ItsPardyTime, who currently sits as a free agent and likely seems to be stepping away for the season. Pardy was a critical key to the group's success last season and was the heart and soul of TIKI TALK for many seasons. He had a career season in the Elite Division with 75 points, 33 goals, and 42 assists; which each ranked Top 5 in the division and earned him Comeback Player of the Season honors, as well as being a nominee for Forward of the Season. Along with Pardy's departure was TeMex, who was the team's second-leading point-getter at 54 points. Losing these two forwards is a considerable loss for a team that was tied for third in the division in goals per game at 3.11, so this will be the biggest question mark for them this season. Vapor was able to acquire Vesa Pompa's long-time servant and a highly skilled center in Dzouvi, who returns after taking last season off. Expect him to likely be in the running for Comeback Player of the Season. Searching for a new home alongside the other experienced winger Nieppii, who after his comeback to the scene hasn’t really found a long-term home yet. He spent last season with Vizio in the Pro division and will play his first season in Elite since ECL 23 Spring when he was with Växjö Lakers. They also added Jemmu to the roster. The 17-year-old rookie only has 1 ECL season under his belt which was in Pro, but he played with TIKI TALK in the recent FCL and was impressive through his 16 games, putting up 59 points. Vapor's fate this season will likely be decided by whether or not it can improve defensively and/or replicate its offensive production from last season despite losing its top two forwards. Despite being one of the division's highest-scoring teams, TIKI TALK was also one of its worst teams in its own end, allowing 3.46 goals per game. Only Root Gaming and Falun Coal Miners allowed more, and both were relegated at the end of the season. They were able to add some proven names to its roster which is encouraging, but with many of them being new to each other, we will have to wait and see how quickly they can mesh. This feels like a team that can either make the playoffs, or end up in a relegation battle depending on the answers that they give to these questions. vNexs (formerly Vesa Pompa) Last Season: Finished 11th in Regular Season standings IN: @iSvamp from FA @Ttv_ahnbergs99 from Bjorkloven Esport OUT: @Eken45jr to Golden Buffalos @SebbeLarsen86 to FA vNexs is an interesting team for a lot of reasons. The past two seasons have been a bit of a disappointment for Vesa Pompa. They haven't been a bottom-of-the-barrel team, but they've found themselves stuck in mediocrity as of late; finishing 12th and 11th in the ECL 24 Spring and ECL 25 Winter season. On top of that, two of its most experienced players, the team's long-time captain Eken and SebbeLarson are both no longer with the team. It doesn't mean that this team doesn't have talent, as it return four of its starters from a season ago, including two of its three forwards vNexs' revamped backline will be the biggest story to follow this season. Vesa Pompa allowed 3.04 goals per game last season, so they will hope that a new pairing and a new brand will help them improve in that area. Ahnbergs, the 14 year-old phenomenon, will be a player to watch. The young Swedish defenseman makes the jump to the Elite division after an impressive Pro campaign with Bjorkloven Esport last season. If he's in the lineup consistently, look out for him to be contender for Rookie of the Season. He'll pair up with iSvamp, who joins the team as a free agent after taking the Winter season off. He was a key piece to the Leksands IF team that made it to the Pro Division finals in ECL 23 Winter before falling to Tohtorit. He's played sparingly in the Neo division since, but he has multiple seasons of Elite division experience, last playing in ECL 9 with Miracle, so he should provide a steady, veteran presence with the young rookie by his side. This team is a bit of a mystery and slow starts to the season have plagued them in each of the past two campaigns. It'll be important for this team to collect points consistently rather than play catch-up like they've had to in the two seasons prior. If they can do that, then they have the talent to be in the playoff race at season end, but they will need to show some improvement from what we've seen from them over the past calendar year. Predictions # @Mozjayh (Excluding Heimo) @bMaJuH 1 Parasite Parasite 2 Last Dance Last Dance 3 EXEN Tohtorit 4 Mythix Mustaa Kultaa 5 Tohtorit EXEN 6 Mustaa Kultaa Mythix 7 Blackbirds Heimo 8 Polski Boys The Black Jacks 9 The Black Jacks Polski Boys 10 vNexs Vapor 11 N0VA Blackbirds 12 Vapor vNexs 13 GOONS N0VA 14 ONSE ESPORTS GOONS 15 SSK ONSE ESPORTS 16 - SSK ECL Elite Format: 1 Group - 16 Teams Team license required: Yes Player license required: Yes Gamedays: Mon, Wed & Thu Regular season starts: 7.4 Transfer deadline: 25.4 23:59 CET ⚠️ Regular season ends: 8.5 Playoffs (BO7) Quarterfinals Monday 26.5 - 20:00 CET | 4vs5 & 1vs8 | Games 1-2 Wednesday 28.5 - 20:00 CET | 3vs6 & 2vs7 | Games 1-2 Thursday 29.5 - 19:30 CET | 4vs5 & 1vs8 | Games 3-4 Sunday 1.6 - 19:30 CET | 3vs6 & 2vs7 | Games 3-4 Monday 2.6 - 19:30 CET | 4vs5 & 1vs8 | Games 5-7 Wednesday 4.6- 19:30 CET | 3vs6 & 2vs7 | Games 5-7 Semifinals Sunday 8.6 - 20:00 CET | 2vs3 & 1vs4 | Games 1-2 Monday 9.6 - 19:30 CET | 1vs4 | Games 3-7 Wednesday 11.6 - 18:30 CET | 2vs3 | Games 3-7 Finals Saturday 14.6 - TBC Want to keep up with everything happening ECL in the this season? Make sure to follow/subscribe to SportsGamerGG on Twitch, YouTube and X.

Following a review of the events surrounding the SCL 6v6 semifinal series between teams Spartan family and The Solution, the Regional League Administration is issuing the following official ruling based on the match timeline, rulebook, and communication from both parties. Any quotes mentioned in this article have been translated from Swedish to English and may have been paraphrased to cut to the chase. Teams will be referenced as  Background The semifinal series was originally scheduled to be played between Sunday and Tuesday.   Spartan family requested to play Sunday, but The Solution was unavailable. Both teams then agreed to play Monday and Tuesday at 21:30 CEST.   On Monday, just before the scheduled start, EA servers went down, making gameplay impossible.   To resolve the situation and maintain scheduling for the finals on Thursday, the League granted a one-day extension, allowing the series to be completed on Wednesday.   Refusal to Play on Tuesday Although Tuesday was one of the originally agreed match days, The Solution refused to play, stating they only wanted to play all 5 games either Tuesday or Wednesday — but not split.   Spartan family could not accommodate a full BO5 on either day due to their players participating in ECL Pro Qualifier matches, where they represent SSK Esports.   Despite the League’s effort to propose flexible solutions, The Solution refused to compromise, and expressed frustration claiming Spartan family were receiving “special treatment” due to their "Pro status".   While it’s understandable that players may have real-life commitments, the tone and unwillingness to cooperate gave the Administration the impression that The Solution was not engaging constructively in rescheduling efforts.   Scheduling Compromise for Wednesday To accommodate both sides, the Administration proposed the following: Play would begin at 20:00 CEST with up to 3 games. A break at 21:30 would allow Spartan family to play their ECL Pro Qualifier matches. Any remaining games would resume around 22:30.   The Solution did not oppose this proposal or suggest alternatives, replying only: “We meet 20 to play 3 and we will see then.”   Matchday: Wednesday At 20:00, Spartan family began searching for the first game and messaged The Solution.   With no reply received, Spartan family declared a walkover win for Game 1 at 20:16, in line with the rulebook’s 15-minute lateness rule.   At 20:17, The Solution responded: “ok, see you at 20.30.” The Solution joined the lobby at 20:39 — 39 minutes after the agreed start time, and with no explanation for the delay.   While the walkover could be viewed as slightly strict, the combination of The Solution’s refusal to play on Tuesday, poor communication, and disregard for the 20:00 start time left the Administration with no choice.   Games 2 and 3 were played without further issues.   At 21:30, Spartan family left for their ECL Pro Qualifier matches, as previously agreed. During this time, The Solution began searching and messaging that Spartan family were not showing up — despite the pre-scheduled break.   Spartan family returned around 22:30 to continue the series, but The Solution had left and refused to complete the remaining games.   Ruling Summary Game 1 is awarded to Spartan family by Walkover The Solution did not communicate within the allowed 15-minute window. Their eventual arrival was 39 minutes late, without explanation. While the walkover was declared at the edge of the 15-minute window and could be viewed as strict, the refusal to play on Tuesday, poor communication, and failure to notify of delays made the decision warranted.   Games 2 and 3 are considered valid and played results.   Remaining games are forfeited by The Solution The structure of the night — including the break at 21:30 — was agreed to in advance. The Solution did not raise concerns beforehand, nor give a valid reason for leaving and refusing to continue. This constitutes a clear forfeit of the remaining games.   Spartan family are awarded the series win and advance to the Finals.   Closing Notes The Regional League Administration always strives to ensure that series are decided on the ice, not off it. Unfortunately, due to a combination of a server outage, scheduling conflicts, poor cooperation, and tight finals and qualifier deadlines, a ruling was required to keep the competition on track.   We would like to remind all teams: Respect the match schedule and your opponents’ time. Communicate proactively and clearly with both your opponent and the League. Be willing to compromise when scheduling conflicts arise — especially in the playoffs.   We thank both teams for their efforts this season and wish Spartan family and Sunne IK Esport the best of luck in the Finals tonight.   — Regional League Administration

Two weeks have passed since the start of the ECL 25 Spring season, and now we’ll analyze a few teams and how some have performed so far this season! Stats and points are current as of April 23rd, 01:00 EET. Trending Up Three Stars The Latvian group has surprised a lot of teams this season, raking in a PPG of 2.25 so far, leading the entire Pro division. This exciting team plays an incredible style of eHockey, combining skill, puck movement, and good team defense. An impressive season is capped by @artusjo’s point production, sitting at 8th in points with 48 (21+27). With fewer games played than those above him, he is a favorite to top the leaderboards by the end of the season — although good team success must be the priority. Important games coming up: Golden Buffalos Vizio Vizio, who has been around for quite a while now, has finally hit that booster button. Now sitting at the top of their group (for now) with 45 points in 22 games, they have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. When talking about Vizio, the first guy, of course, is team captain and Finnish champion @artuzio. But this time, he is not the one we’re highlighting. @Jetsu28 has been lighting it up for Vizio this season with 32 goals, putting him in 3rd place behind @Konsuk05 and @Winci-_o of the top scorers in the league. If the rest of the team can keep up, we’ll see Vizio go further than the predicted first round. Important games coming up: Afterlife Pirates eSports After splitting with Owned Hexa and creating their own team, Pirates immediately made a statement by winning the WECL. After their dominant championship run, they now continue their remarkable form in the ECL and take on the rest of Europe. Sitting nicely in the top 3 of their group, the most eye-catching thing about the Pirates has been their offense, averaging an astounding 4.6 goals per game. If they keep this pace, we’ll see the Pirates in the top 4 for sure. @AdriF_23 has taken his team on his back with an astounding 75 points (27+48), leading the entire Pro division in points. Close to him is his partner in crime @Winci-_o Important games coming up: ROBE Esports Trending Down Owned Hexa After parting ways with their entire identity, Hexa has now dug themselves into a deep hole. With 7 points in 16 games, there is little hope they will avoid relegation. However, an experienced squad might still have a trick or two up their sleeve to survive for next season. Important games coming up: Chiubigigle Sunne IK eSport A team we had predicted as playoff-bound has had a rough start to the season. With 0 wins in 8 games so far, Sunne IK faces a tough decision: stick with the roster that won them SCL gold, or change their lineup to chase wins in the coming weeks. A few more losses and it’s goodbye playoffs, hello relegation. Important games coming up: HC Lugano eSports Blegi After the departure of @koleslaav_ , Blegi hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations of a playoff-bound team. Now with @tapppu moving to RW and @Kahvinpapu playing at RD, they still have half the games left to play. Sitting at 8th isn’t terrible, but they need to find their game and push for a top 4 position. Important games coming up: Falun Coal Miners Jury’s Still Out Otukset Still an uncertain team. They haven’t had the start we all expected, but are still playing well. They have started strong on offense, averaging 3.79 goals per game. Considering they’ve played mostly against teams above them in the standings and still raked in points, they might still end up with a good playoff seed. Important games coming up: Poggers SSK Prospects With a fairly new team, it’s always touch-and-go for a while before we see the real potential of a squad. They still haven’t shown their true colors as they look to find their starting lineup — 9 players have played so far, making it tough to know who you’re playing with or against. So far they’ve been carried by their star @dippen04 , who has continued where he left off in the SCL. If the rest of the team can support their star player with points and goals, they might just set the record straight. Important games coming up: Aspyre Unique A solid roster usually gets you solid results — but now, it’s not that clear. Unique have the talent and the chemistry to do well in the regular season, but currently sit 12th with a point per game of 1.19. It’s a long road ahead. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. Their most experienced player, @Esko-etikka , has been strong this season despite his somewhat struggling teammates. He sits at a 79.19% save percentage, which isn’t bad but could be better. Now, he faces the challenge of playing well while hoping his team delivers the necessary goals to win some games. Important games coming up: Herlev Eagles

As part of ongoing efforts to uphold fairness and integrity in competitive play, league officials are highlighting Rule 14.10 – a regulation that outlines what happens when a team is disqualified from a tournament or league. Additionally we're highlighting rules 3.4 and 3.5 for reference to registration deadline and withdrawing from a tournament.   3.4 Registrations are final once the sign-up deadline has passed, and teams are required to participate in the league/tournament they signed up for 3.5 To withdraw a registration, the captain must remove the team's sign-up and signify that they are no longer intending to sign up. Additionally, if the team has already been moved into a division they must contact support to make sure that this doesn't go unnoticed. This is only possible before the sign-up deadline is over. According to the rules, if a team is disqualified for any reason, the team captain and assistant captains will be banned from further participation in the competition. This measure ensures accountability among team leadership and reinforces the importance of responsible conduct. For the rest of the team, the rule offers a path forward. Players who were not involved in the actions leading to the disqualification are generally allowed to transfer to other teams. However, any player found to have contributed to the violation will also face a ban. It's important to note that standard transfer deadlines still apply. A team disqualification does not override these deadlines, so eligible players must act within the set timeframes if they wish to continue competing. Rule 14.10 plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the competition. By holding responsible individuals accountable while allowing uninvolved players to stay active, the rule strikes a balance between discipline and fairness. In line with these rules, we must also clarify that teams who signed up for ECL '25 and were placed into a group but later informed us that they will not participate are considered disqualified. As a result, Rule 14.10 applies: the team captains and assistant captains from these teams will not be permitted to join or play for another team during the tournament.

With 52 hungry teams entering the fight, the stakes in the ECL Lite division are as high as ever. From seasoned former Pro squads to fresh faces looking to make a name for themselves, this season is shaping up to be another exciting one! Whether you’re chasing redemption, fighting for that first big breakthrough, or just trying to stay afloat, the Lite division has it all—grit, grind, and glory on the line. Get ready for highlight-reel moments, breakout stars, and a playoff race that’ll go down to the wire. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top contenders, dark horses, and teams speculated not to have such an easy time this season. 🏆 Title Contenders Wida After a hard fought Pro qualifier, they quite couldn’t make it this season, but they surely made some waves, and showed teams that they can play this game. Now it’s time to take to Lite and fight for promotion with 51 other teams. With more experience year after year, players get more comfortable in their respective positions, and Wida hopes that young and hungry goalie @Veijo13 can be the difference maker this season. Player to watch: @Veijo13 🥅 Deadly Phantoms As expected the former Pro team has to be a favourite, the once mighty Elite team has taken a few steps back from their glory days and are now in Lite again, with their experience and skill level a deep playoff run is more than close, but will it be enough for the title? In a tough group it might not be as easy as some may think, Lite is not for the faint of heart and Deadly Phantoms are going to be put to the test. Player to watch: @RPH_31 🥅 Hokurit Another well rounded team that has made a comeback for this season, now with some additions to their team, a hard team to play against with some skill too, after a break it’s always tough to get back into it, but those who’ve played against this team knows what they’re capable of. One of their signings is a seasoned veteran in @MCH_98 , a tough defender to play against for any winger, and can showcase his talent in the offensive zone if his team needs it. Player to watch: @Sanezh 🛡️ 🥈 Deep Playoff Teams HC Last Resort A solid team with good chemistry is always a tough matchup, for any team. Now looking to build on a strong FCL campaign, HC Last resort is a must follow team this season, they play an exciting brand of hockey loaded with talent. If they want to be in the title race, they have some big teams to beat first and now they have their eyes on the prize and a potential promotion to Pro. Player to watch: @Tzon93 🎯 Lemmenvelhot Lemmenvelhot have been a Lite mainstay team before a hiatus, now they’re back and hungrier than before. After a successful FCL they now have the tools and the momentum to get a hot start to the season, and those who have played ECL for a while knows that momentum can be a dangerous thing. Player to watch: @hallonberg69 🔥 🧩 Fighting For Playoffs TikiTaka An exciting team that plays well and moves the puck quickly, at the Core level it seemed to bode well and they challenged far more experienced teams, now they’ve made the Lite division and have made strides in their game. New players are always a gamble and TikiTaka made that gamble with a relative new signing in goal, @K3mpny takes the starting goalie position and with new goalies you never know, we’ll see if their gamble pays off. Player to watch: @Patadevils ♠️ HC Vadelma Last season in Lite playoffs does wonders for a team, now they want to expand on that and take it further, with a tough group I believe this team will be on the right side of the playoff line at the end of the season. Captain @Awesome_Zone_ now has the task to change the playbook for his team, they know what it takes to get to the playoffs, but now for the tough task, going all the way. Player to watch: @Ubula ruttuberse 🧠 🐎 Dark Horses Modo Hockey They now know what not to do, a good solid regular season and a 2nd round exit last season, with a similar season ahead of them it’ll be a coinflip if they will repeat last seasons style or go further. The playoffs are a different breed, and now Modo faces the challenge many do, how to get there, and newly signed Rookieliamovic might just be what Modo needs to get back to the Pro division. Player to watch: @RookieLIAMOVIC 🎯 🚨 Relegation danger HC Pustertal Esports After a solid season, most of the team had to be reconstructed, a difficult task to do for any team. If they can find the talent and learn to utilize it, this might just see themselves in the playoff hunt, but it’s a long way there. Now starts the rebuild and hopefully it will be short lived, @Elmageo has the talent to take this team on his shoulders and get this team into a good spot, maybe even push for playoffs? Player to watch: @Elmageo 🛠️ SSK Adepts Now with 3 teams in the ECL SSK has stepped up their game, however, a new team in the Lite always has their challenges and SSK Adepts are going to experience that first hand. There are some positives too, new teams bring new exciting players and if SSK can somehow harness this talent onto the ice, with some luck they might avoid relegation. Player to watch: @Asap_Kev321 🛠️ ECL Lite Format: 4 Groups Team license required: Yes Player license required: Yes Gamedays: Tue, Wed & Sun Regular season starts: 7.4 Transfer deadline: 25.4 23:59 CET ⚠️ Regular season ends: 7.5 Playoffs (BO7) Round of 32: Monday 26.5 Tuesday 27.5 Wednesday 28.5 Round of 16: Sunday 1.6 Tuesday 3.6 Wednesday 4.6 Quarterfinals: Sunday 8.6 Tuesday 10.6 Wednesday 11.6 Semifinals: Sunday 15.6 Tuesday 17.6 Wednesday 18.6 Finals: 23.6- 24.6* * Dates are subject to change as broadcast productions are confirmed. We would recommend everyone to go through the ECL Essentials - A Guide to the ECL. If you face any problems, feel free to contact us through the Support Tool. Welcome to the season. May the best team win!

As we gear up for ECL ’25: Spring, we’re highlighting a set of valuable perks available to the members of the SportsGamer community. These benefits are designed to support players on their journey toward better performance, well-being, and team unity – both in and out of the game. These are companies that have made the commitment to support our community and hope to grow with us, so we hope you check them out and like what they have to offer!   Free 3-Month Membership to the SportsGamer Health & Performance Program All SportsGamer community members are eligible for a free 3-month membership to the Health & Performance Program, developed in partnership with Wellnet. The platform offers a variety of training content and recovery-focused resources tailored to the needs of competitive players and esports athletes. It’s suitable for all fitness levels and is accessible worldwide. To activate your free membership: 🔗 Visit health.sportsgamer.gg 🔓 Use code GAMER3     The platform includes: • Exclusive content produced for SportsGamer users • A large selection of English-language material • Extensive content available in Finnish • Select material also offered in Swedish You'll also be happy to hear that there is no credit card required.     10 € Off Game Changer Supplements (Finland Only) Players based in Finland can redeem a €10 gift card on Game Changer supplements using the code SPORTSGAMER10 at checkout. Choose the formula that suits your needs: Level Up – For sharper concentration and mental clarity 🧠 Level Down – To help relax and recover after intense gaming or workouts 🌙 Immunity Boost – To support overall wellness and daily defense 🛡️ Performance – For lasting energy and improved endurance ⚡   Please note: Game Changer currently ships within Finland only, but let's show them our support and hope for internal shipping options soon.   Instagram Giveaway (Finland Only)   Finnish players can also participate in our Instagram giveaway for a chance to win a Game Changer supplement package containing all four Game Changer products. Enter by April 3rd. How to enter: Visit the IG giveaway post Tag two friends in the comments Follow the Game Changer Instagram account That’s it – you’re in! Winners will be announced April 4th.   ECL ’25: Spring – 6v6 - Registration Still Open   Spots are still available for the upcoming ECL ’25: Spring season, but registration is closing soon. Make sure your team is signed up and ready to compete. 🔗 Read more and register for ECL ’25: Spring   Stay Connected   Whether you’re here to improve your health, elevate your gameplay, or compete at the highest level – we’re glad to have you as part of the SportsGamer community. More perks and performance-focused features are in the works, so stay tuned.   Follow us on: Discord Facebook Instagram Threads TikTok Twitch Twitter/X YouTube

SportsGamers, The ice is calling. ECL '25: 1v1 is back with two standalone seasons: Spring and Fall. First up: Spring — and this time, it’s all business from day one. Even if you aren't the most competitive 1v1 player, keep reading, there might be something for you here! There are no qualifiers. The season starts directly with group play, followed by the playoffs. All matches are played in the Online Versus mode on PlayStation 5, where only the sharpest stick handlers and calmest minds will make it through.   🗓 Key Dates: Sign-up Deadline: May 2 at 23:59 CEST Group Stage: May 4–21 Playoffs: Starting May 25 (end date TBA) The group stage features groups of 10 players, battling it out for a spot in the playoffs.    💰 Spring Season Prize Pool: 🥇 1st Place: 800€ 🥈 2nd Place: 400€ 🥉 Semifinalists: 150€ each 📌 Accepted Licenses for the ECL '25: 1v1 Spring Season: ECL '25: Full Player License ECL '25: Winter Season Player License (One season) ECL '25: Winter Season Neo Player License (One season) ECL '25: Spring Season Player License (One season) ECL '25: Spring Season Neo Player License (One season)   Think you’ve got what it takes? Then sign up, suit up, and we'll see you on the ice!   🥳 Introducing: ECL '25: 1v1 Spring Chill To offer an alternative for players not competing at the highest 1v1 level, we want to offer the ECL 1v1 Spring Chill tournament, where you can compete in a more relaxed environment against players of a slightly less competitive mindset. There is no prize pool here, only good vibes and fun competition. The administration will be reviewing sign-ups and may deny sign-ups for players deemed too skilled to take part in the Chill Season. The same license requirements apply to the Spring Chill Season.    🍂 ECL '25: Fall Season information The second season of ECL '25: 1v1 will be played in late August and early September, under the name ECL '25: 1v1 Fall. Players with the Full Year Player License, as well as the Spring Season Player License and Spring Season Neo Player License will be eligible to participate. The prize pool will match the Spring season.

Welcome to ECL Essentials! Here you’ll find a concise guide on how the European Championship League (ECL) operates. This includes important information on scheduling and reporting games, transfer rules, and communication best practices. Whether you’re a new team or a seasoned player, these guidelines will help ensure smooth participation in the league. Dive in and get familiar with the essentials! Game Scheduling & Reporting Guidelines Scheduling Games Contacting Opponents: Mandatory: Reach out to your opponents 12-24 hours before the default scheduled game time. Use the SportsGamer.gg Private Message system or, if necessary, other platforms like Discord. Default Schedule: The default schedule is set by the league. DO NOT schedule games on top of your default opponent without prior agreement with said opponent to move the games. Rescheduling: After agreement, use the rescheduling tool on SportsGamer to update the schedule. Only one postponement is allowed per matchup. If you need to move a matchup a second time, please contact support with an explanation and a suggested date immediately. Deadline for Postponements: Notify the opponent by 12:00 CET on the game day if rescheduling is required.   Reporting Games Winning Team’s Responsibility: Use the API Reporting Tool for normal games. For disconnected games, use the manual reporting tool for accurate stats submission. Submission Deadline: Reports must be submitted immediately after the games due to EA’s limited game history available online (5 most recent games). Accurate Stats: Maintain screenshots of all stats (overview, events, and individual stats) for the entire tournament for verification.   Contacting Opponents Essential Communication: Do not assume opponents will show up without prior communication - always reach out well ahead of the scheduled games, at the very latest before 12 CET of the scheduled gameday Always confirm the game time and servers in advance. Missed Communication: If opponents are unresponsive, notify League Administration (LA). For advice on how to write Support, please read this article.   Transfer Rules Transfer Deadline: The deadline for all player transfers is April 25th at the end of the day. Licenses Basic Requirements: Every team must have 6 licenses to be eligible. Teams are allowed to hold up to 3 backup licenses. A backup license can be used for up to 10 games total across ECL 25 Winter and Spring — including Qualification, Regular Season, and Playoffs combined. Do not play a game if a player has a ❌ next to their name on the roster page.   Are you still missing your license? A valid license is required before stepping on the ice. Purchase your license here. Need help with your license? Please contact Support.   SportsGamer Placeholder Team If you're wondering what the Placeholder team in the standings are at the start of the season: This is a temporary extra team added to the group as a failsafe.  This is not a real team and with an 80% probability will not become a real team, so if you're scheduled to play against this team, please ignore it unless told otherwise by the administration. Placeholder teams are removed during the first few days of the season. Did we miss something? Please see our Frequently Asked Questions. Still need help? Please contact Support.

SportsGamers, The newest update to the ECL '25: Spring rulebook is now live and can be accessed through the league pages. Generally speaking, the rulebook is a revised and improved version of the rulebook used in ECL '25: Winter. Find the new rulebook here. Here's a snapshot of some of the major adjustments / additions compared to ECL ‘25: Spring: 11.7.: Player ability bans and their enforcement have been updated Fair Play has been updated to include not spamming empty net as a goalie Updated qualifier transfer rules Handing out WO wins during the qualifiers is no longer allowed We ask every team and it's members to familiarize themselves with the rulebook before taking the ice for the ECL '25: Spring season. Please refer to the rulebook in case of any issues that may arise throughout the season. If you have any questions, please get in touch with support. Statement on the ECL Division placement of team BLEGI Background: The League Administration raised concerns regarding BLEGI, a team initially signed up for the Lite division for ECL '25 Spring. Their roster consists of two former Elite Starters and four former Pro starters, which led to worries that they might be too strong for the Lite division, potentially disrupting the competitive balance. This concern stems from a similar situation in ECL '24 Spring, where Nordic Stars dominated the Lite division with a highly accomplished roster. Upon inquiring, BLEGI explained that they had originally intended to compete in the Pro Qualifiers. However, due to a tight schedule with the FCL and late roster changes, they were unable to complete a full roster in time for the qualifiers. Decision: To maintain the integrity of the divisions, BLEGI will be placed directly into the Pro Division as the 33rd team. This decision should be treated as a one-time exception. Moving forward, the rulebook will be reviewed to provide clearer guidelines for handling such situations in the future. Additionally, the League Administration retains the right to make final decisions regarding team placements, seedings, and potential refusals of entry, ensuring that the competitive balance of the league is upheld.

Sunne IK Esport are the SCL 2025 6v6 Swedish Champions after stunning the top-seeded Spartan Family with a clean 3–0 series sweep in the grand final. With relentless discipline, smart execution, and clutch performances, Sunne capped off their incredible playoff run with total control. 🏆 Finals Results Game 1: Sunne IK Esport 3–2 OT Spartan Family Sunne IK Esport opened the SCL 2025 final with a dramatic 3–2 double-overtime win over Spartan Family. It was a tight contest throughout, but Sunne found the edge in the extra frame to claim the series opener. The first period set the tone with back-and-forth momentum. Fredrik @Larzzon96 Larsson struck first for Sunne at 12:27, finishing off a smooth sequence from David @DAFA_03 Halvorsen and Andreas @Svana_22 Svanberg. Spartan hit back almost immediately—just under two minutes later—when Mikael @Mikzu-_- Håkansson equalized off a setup by Leevi @Nikuy Nikumatti and David @HambergD Hamberg. The second period saw no scoring but plenty of tension as both teams tightened up defensively. It wasn’t until early in the third that the game opened up again. Andreas @Svana_22 Svanberg restored Sunne’s lead with a clean finish after great puck movement from Mathias @Prolane Larsson and Fredrik @Larzzon96 Larsson. Spartan wouldn’t go quietly. With just over six minutes to play, Leevi @Nikuy Nikumatti buried the 2–2 goal, assisted by Eelis @Toivo Toivola and Elias @Sloogan Rydin, forcing the game into overtime. In OT, it was Sunne’s patience and structure that paid off. At the 84:38 mark, Edvin @forreberra Bengtsson stepped up and buried the game-winner—fed once again by the reliable pairing of David @DAFA_03 Halvorsen and Mathias @Prolane Larsson. Statistically, Sunne held the advantage across key metrics. They outshot Spartan 18–12, won 17 faceoffs to Spartan’s 7, and logged more time on attack. Their physical presence also stood out with 16 hits to Spartan’s 9. Benjamin @benjamint737 Tallgren was solid in goal, stopping 10 of 12 shots to secure the win. With this overtime victory, Sunne set the tone for the series. They showed balance, composure, and the ability to close tight games—traits that would carry over into their dominant Game 2. Game 2: Spartan Family 1–4 Sunne IK Esport Sunne IK Esport delivered a strong and controlled performance in Game 2 of the SCL 2025 final, defeating Spartan Family 4–1. Despite being outshot 20–13, Sunne made the most of their chances and never lost grip on the game. The scoring opened midway through the first period, when Fredrik @Larzzon96 Larsson found the net after a well-executed setup from Edvin @forreberra Bengtsson and David @DAFA_03 Halvorsen. Spartan had opportunities to respond after a couple of penalties against Sunne, but their powerplay failed to generate momentum. In the second period, Sunne took full control. Mathias @Prolane Larsson doubled the lead with a composed finish—once again assisted by Bengtsson, who was everywhere on the ice. Just minutes later, Andreas @Svana_22 Svanberg made it 3–0 following another clinical play from Bengtsson and Halvorsen. Spartan Family managed to get on the board early in the third, with Leevi @Nikuy Nikumatti scoring off a feed from Mikael @Mikzu-_- Håkansson and David @HambergD Hamberg. However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the final second of the game, when Edvin @forreberra Bengtsson capped off his dominant night with a goal of his own, sealing the 4–1 win. In goal, Benjamin @benjamint737 Tallgren stood tall for Sunne, making 19 saves on 20 shots for a 95% save percentage. Even though Spartan controlled more of the puck and logged longer time on attack, they struggled to convert and were repeatedly shut down by Sunne’s structured defense. Sunne played a more physical game, out-hitting Spartan 21–11, and matched them in the faceoff circle. With this result, Sunne IK Esport sends a clear message: they’re here to compete. Clinical finishing, solid defense, and smart goaltending were the keys to a convincing win. Game 3: Sunne IK Esport 2–1 Spartan Family In the decisive Game 3 of their Best-of-5 series, Sunne IK Esport once again proved their composure under pressure, edging Spartan Family 2–1 in a tight, physical battle. With the win, Sunne completed a 3–0 sweep and winning SCL 2025. From the drop of the puck, the game was a grind. Spartan came out strong, outshooting Sunne 15–8 and dominating time on attack. But Sunne’s defensive structure held firm, and goaltender Benjamin @benjamint737 Tallgren was sharp between the pipes, stopping 14 of 15 shots for a stellar 93.33% save percentage. The scoring opened in the first period when Edvin @forreberra Bengtsson broke the deadlock at 11:43, finishing off a pass from Andreas @Svana_22 Svanberg. The second period followed a similar script—tight checking, few chances, and little room to operate. But Edvin @forreberra Bengtsson struck again, doubling the lead late in the frame after a brilliant team play involving both Andreas @Svana_22 Svanberg and Mathias @Prolane Larsson. It would turn out to be the game-winning goal. Spartan fought hard to stay alive and finally found the net with just 15 seconds left in regulation. David @HambergD Hamberg scored off a scramble, assisted by Mikael @Mikzu-_- Håkansson and Eelis @Toivo Toivola, making it 2–1. But the push came too late, and Sunne held firm in the dying seconds to seal the win. Despite taking five penalties—including three in the final period—Sunne’s penalty kill stayed perfect, and their shot efficiency again made the difference. Bengtsson, who scored both goals, was the clear standout. Svanberg added two more assists, finishing the series as one of Sunne’s most consistent producers. While Spartan had more puck control and out-hit Sunne 14–16, they couldn't find a way past Tallgren or capitalize on powerplay chances. The loss ended their run in straight games, but not without pushing Sunne in a tough final matchup. Sunne’s sweep was anything but easy—but they showed the calm, discipline, and killer instinct. Sunne IK Esports road to the championship: Third place in Group stage Quarterfinals: vs TROJANS (6) 3-0 Semifinals: vs Carolus Icemen (2) 3-1 Finals: vs Spartan family (1) 3-0 Keys to the Sunne Win Structure: They played tight, disciplined hockey across all three zones. Goaltending: Both @sneipmusic and @benjamint737 delivered when needed most. Composure: Sunne never looked rattled, even when Spartan pressed. Depth: Every player contributed — this wasn’t a one-man show. Sunne IK Esport – The winning roster: 🇸🇪 #30 Benjamin @benjamint737 Tallgren 🇳🇴 #87 Kai-Remi @sneipmusic Berge 🇸🇪 #10 David @DAFA_03 Halvorsen 🇸🇪 #96 Fredrik @Larzzon96 Larsson 🇸🇪 #21 Mathias @Prolane Larsson 🇸🇪 #86 Edvin @forreberra Bengtsson 🇸🇪 #88 Viktor @vPahlen Pahlén 🇸🇪 #95 Andreas @Svana_22 Svanberg Foreberra After the Win: “We Trust Each Other and Have Fun” A calm yet focused performance secured the victory — now the team sets its sights on the Pro division. Following a solid showing in the tournament, @forreberra spoke after the final whistle with a mix of confidence and humility. Backed by strong team chemistry, sharp goaltending, and clear communication, the squad has proven it’s ready to take the next step. One of the biggest talking points after the match was the performance of both goaltenders. Opposing keeper therozz94 @Axelsson stood tall and denied several one-on-one chances. But even with De Ross’ efforts, it was @benjamint737 , Foreberra’s own goalie, who stole the spotlight. Now, after their win in the Lite division in ECL, the team is moving up to Pro — and they’re sticking together. When asked about team communication during games, Foreberra emphasized how vital it is to their success. Before wrapping up, Foreberra made sure to give props to their opponents. 🎁 Exclusive Prizes 💎 6v6 Champions – Sunne IK Esport Sunne IK Esport not only claim the Swedish 6v6 Champion title — they also take home: 6x Tre Kronor VIP Package + 6x copies of NHL 26 at launch A well-earned reward for a flawless playoff performance. 💎 1v1 Champion – @BuffaViana BuffaViana dominated the 1v1 bracket and walks away with: 1x Tre Kronor VIP Package + 1x copy of NHL 26 at launch 💎 Standout Player Award – @dippen04 Despite Spartan Family falling short in the final, @dippen04 stood out as one of the tournament’s brightest stars. He is awarded a Tre Kronor VIP Package for his individual impact throughout SCL 2025. 💎 Bonus Draw – @Darkfox_fire_bal One random SCL player was drawn during the final broadcast and wins a free copy of NHL 26 — congrats to @Darkfox_fire_bal 🎉 Congratulations to Sunne IK Esport, the SCL 2025 6v6 Swedish Champions!

After weeks of intense matchups, comebacks, and statement wins, it’s official: Robin Olofsson — better known as @BuffaViana — is the SCL 2025: 1v1 Swedish Champion. With elite puck control, smart decision-making, and a relentless offensive instinct, Robin proved he’s the top individual player in the competition. He sealed the title with a 3–1 series win over one of the toughest opponents in the bracket — O3_DAFA. After losing both of their previous meetings in the group stage, Robin came into the final focused and composed — and won to close out the series and take the crown. But who is the man behind the gamertag? Robin is 37 years old and originally from Tjörn, an island just north of Gothenburg, Sweden. These days, he lives in Skåne, in the southern part of the country. Hockey has been a constant in his life—both on the ice and in the game. He started playing NHL more actively around NHL 20, and has since become a steady presence in the online community. In recent years, he’s mainly focused on online Versus, especially in an American league where he competes regularly. He’s also dipped into Chel (6v6), which he just recently started exploring more seriously. While he’s played more HUT than usual this season, Online Versus is where his passion lies — that’s the mode he finds most rewarding and fun. 📈 Path to Victory Robin didn’t just win — he dominated. Key results on his road to the top included: vs. Handsken111: 13–0 and 3–0 vs. Darkfox_fire_bal: 12–1 and 8–1 vs. benjamint737: 6–4 and 5–2 vs. Lokterpengar: Four wins (13–2, 7–6, 11–1, 7–2) vs. Hellqvist23: Took 3 out of 4 in a tough semifinal Results in the BO5 Finals BuffaViana - O3_DAFA: 3-1 BuffaViana - O3_DAFA: 4-5 OT BuffaViana - O3_DAFA: 4-3 BuffaViana - O3_DAFA: 4-0 What stood out about Robin’s game wasn’t just the scorelines — it was his mentality. He kept his cool under pressure, adapted to every opponent, and punished mistakes instantly. His ability to shift tempo and control play was unmatched. 🎤 Post-Final Interview with Champion Robin “BuffaViana” Olofsson Congrats on winning the Swedish Championship in NHL 25! How does it feel? It feels great, of course! You won almost every match throughout the tournament — did you expect to go all the way and take the title? I don’t fully agree with that — I think I lost four games in the group stage. And Hellqvist really impressed me in the semifinal, that was way tougher than I expected. Honestly, I never thought I’d win it all, but I was really hoping to be in the mix. What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses? That’s a tough one… probably easier for my opponents to answer. But one big weakness is definitely the counterattacks I tend to allow — I give up too many of those. How would you describe your final series against DAFA? Wow — super fun. Ever since he beat me twice in the group stage, I’d been hoping for a rematch. I play a lot on feel, so that hunger for revenge gave me a real spark. I have to say, in the final, DAFA played just as well as I did. But you do whatever it takes to win — and some days, the bounces go your way. 🎁 Exclusive Prizes 🏆 Robin “BuffaViana” Olofsson not only takes home the Swedish Champion title — he also wins: 1x Tre Kronor VIP Package + 1x copy of NHL 26 at launch Here’s the full SCL 2025 prize breakdown: 💎 6v6 Champions – Sunne IK Esport wins 6x Tre Kronor VIP Package + 6 x copy of NHL 26 at launch 💎 1v1 Champion – @BuffaViana wins 1x Tre Kronor VIP Package + 1x copy of NHL 26 at launch 💎 Standout Player Award – Given to a player who stood out throughout the tournament. This year’s winner: @dippen04, who earns a Tre Kronor VIP Package 💎 Bonus Draw – One random SCL player was drawn during the final and receives a free copy of NHL 26. Winner: @Darkfox_fire_bal 🎉 Huge congratulations to Robin “BuffaViana” Olofsson — your 2025 SCL 1v1 Champion and Swedish Champion in NHL 25!

ECL ’25: Spring Sign-Ups Close Tonight – Welcome to Season 20 and the League’s 10-Year Anniversary! It's hard to believe it’s been 10 years since we kicked off the ECL! Now, as we enter Season 20, what started as a one-division journey with around 50 teams has grown into a 200+ team, five-division experience. It’s incredible to see so many players who have been with us since the beginning—there’s been a lot of eHockey played over the years! You can browse some of these legendary player profiles on the SportsGamer All-time Stats page. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the players who have joined us on this journey and continue to compete in the league we all live and breathe. Since its inception in 2015, the European Championship League (ECL) has established itself as the pinnacle of eHockey. It’s where the best players from across the continent face off in a 6v6 format that leaves no margin for error. Every position on the ice—forward, defense, and goalie—is controlled by a human player, creating a uniquely competitive and authentic environment. With divisions ranging from the elite to entry-level, the ECL provides a platform for players of all skill levels to make their mark. With a total prize pool of 24 000 EUR on the line—spread across both 6v6 and 1v1 formats—the stage is set for yet another amazing competitive season in European NHL esports.     The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports. The abbreviation stands for the European Championship League and it features NHL 6v6 esports in five divisions aimed at various skill levels. Every player, including the goalies, is controlled by a human. League games are played in the EASHL mode and the platform is PlayStation and Xbox. ECL has been played since 2015, so the upcoming season is already the 17th. The latest addition to the ECL product family is a 1v1 tournament, where Europe's best solo players fight for the championship. ECL 1v1 has been played since the ECL '23 Winter season. Basic information/requirements of ECL: Regional restrictions: ECL is a European tournament format, however, we do not necessarily exclude players located in North America or Asia. A European server will always be used. We reserve the right to exclude teams or players in case of severe connection issues.   Individual requirements: Each player needs to have an account at SportsGamer.GG and create their personal player card.   ECL licenses: Teams in ECL Elite & ECL Pro, ECL Lite, and ECL Core will require their respective ECL ‘25: Spring team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘25: Player License or ECL ‘25: Spring Player License before taking the ice. Players in ECL Neo require only an ECL '25: Spring Neo Player License.   For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story.     The sign-ups close on the below-mentioned dates: Pro Wildcard Battle: 18.3.2025  ECL Pro Qualifier: 21.3.2025  ECL Neo:  4.4.2025 ⚠️ ECL Core: 4.4.2025 ⚠️ ECL Lite: 4.4.2025 ⚠️ ECL Pro: 21.3.2025  ECL Elite: 21.3.2025  * Signups will close at 23:59 CET on the day mentioned unless otherwise specified.       For more detailed information on the different divisions and their schedules, see this article. Regular Season duration: 7.4-8.5.2025 Estimated finals dates: Below are estimated dates for the Finals to be approximately played. We reserve the right to changes in schedule. ECL Neo Finals 29.6 ECL Core Finals 25.6. - 26.6 ECL Lite Finals 23.6. - 24.6 ECL Pro Finals 16.6. - 17.6 ECL Elite Finals 14.6     Free Agents & Teams Looking for Players Don't have a team yet? Team looking for additions to your roster? If you are a free agent looking to be picked up, please head over here. If you are representing a team looking for players, please head over here. Need more help, check out the below article!     The ECL Neo division does not require a team license, however, you do need the ECL Neo Player license at the cost of 10 EUR per season. All other divisions require the ECL '25 Spring or Full Year Player License and Spring Team License.   PURCHASE YOUR ECL '25 LICENSES HERE    Please refer to this ECL Ranking in order to understand which teams are eligible to sign up for each division.   Rule Changes: Ability Bans All Gold abilities and the silver abilities Truculence, Big Tipper, and Stick 'Em Up are banned for the ECL '25: Spring season. Read the full League Administration statement here. The full updated ECL '25 rulebook will be published on Saturday, you can check out last season's rules here.  

Top seed vs tournament dark horse – one will lift the trophy After a playoff run full of drama, discipline, and unexpected twists, the final showdown is set: Spartan Family will take on Sunne IK Esport for the SCL 6v6 championship. But there’s a major shift in the storyline — Spartan’s star forward @dippen04 will miss the opening matches and may not return until Game 4. This opens the door for a much more balanced and unpredictable final than many expected. The Road to the Final Spartan Family (1) – 3–1 vs The Solution (4) Spartan advanced after a messy semifinal. Game 1 was awarded as a walkover when The Solution showed up late. Games 2 and 3 were played, but The Solution later left the session without a valid reason, resulting in forfeits. Spartan moved on with a 3–1 series win, despite the series not being fully played out. Sunne IK Esport (3) – 3–1 vs Carolus Icemen (2) Sunne IK powered through a strong Carolus team in four games, showing poise, structure, and consistency. Led by offensive threats like @vPahlen, @forreberra and @Svana_22 , and backed by a calm and reliable performance in net from @benjamint737, Sunne neutralized Carolus' offensive stars and advanced to their first SCL Final. The Final: Spartan family VS Sunne IK Esport Spartan Family have been the team to beat all season. Their high-paced offense, anchored by @dippen04, has torn through defenses with precision and confidence. But with their top scorer unavailable for the first matches of the final, the team faces its biggest test yet. Without @dippen04, Spartan will rely heavily on the leadership and playmaking of @Nikuy92. Defensively, they still hold one of the strongest units in the league, and goaltender @Axelsson (therozz94) has been rock-solid with a 86.54% save percentage heading into the final. But the pressure is on to find goals elsewhere — and fast. Sunne IK, on the other hand, are thriving in the role of underdog. Their calm, tactical approach has been remarkably effective throughout the playoffs. They don’t chase the game — they let it come to them. Their structure frustrates opponents, and when mistakes happen, they strike with lethal precision. With no glaring weaknesses and momentum on their side, Sunne may never have a better shot at a championship. And if Spartan can’t find their rhythm early in the series, the opportunity is wide open. Key Factors to Watch Spartan without @dippen04 – Can they generate enough offense without their star forward? Sunne’s defensive structure – Perfect for shutting down top lines and turning games into grindfests. Game 4 – If the series is still alive and @dippen04 returns, momentum could flip instantly. Prediction Sunne IK Esport wins 3–2 With Spartan missing their star early on, Sunne has the edge in discipline and consistency. If they take control early, they could ride that wave to their first title. 📺 Watch the Final LIVE Spartan Family vs Sunne IK Esport – all or nothing 🗓 Date: April 3 🕖 Time: 19:45 CEST 📺 Stream: twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG 🎙 Commentator: Peter “@Jack Flack 65” Novara 🎮 The full Best-of-5 series will be broadcast live – don’t miss this clash between two of the best in SCL 6v6.

After an intense and dramatic group stage, the top eight teams in SCL 6v6 have secured their spots in the playoffs. The competition was fierce, with every point proving crucial for teams aiming to advance. Spartan Family dominated, finishing at the top of the standings with an impressive 60 points, while the battle for the final playoff spots was razor-thin. Fladie Faxes clinched the last quarterfinal spot and are ready to challenge the favorites. Now, the knockout stage awaits, where four teams will fight to move closer to the ultimate goal – becoming the SCL champions. Here’s a breakdown of the quarterfinals and an analysis of which teams have the best chances of progressing. Group Stage Recap After 22 intense rounds, the SCL 6v6 group stage has come to an end, showcasing some outstanding performances. Spartan Family dominated the competition, going unbeaten and securing 60 points, making them the clear favorites heading into the playoffs. Carolus Icemen claimed second place, thanks to their strong defensive play and an impressive 26.83% power play success rate. Sunne IK Esport secured third place, boasting the highest-scoring offense in the league with 105 goals. The Solution finished fourth despite some inconsistent performances toward the end of the group stage. Nordic Nosebleed followed closely behind, largely due to their lethal power play efficiency of 29.03%. TROJANS, VBO STARS, and Fladie Faxes claimed the final playoff spots. Fladie Faxes finished strong, winning eight of their last ten games (8-2), giving them solid momentum heading into the quarterfinals. Prowlers narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing just one point behind Fladie Faxes. Their season was inconsistent, with crucial points lost late in the campaign. Surte Sisu HC battled hard but ended up in tenth place after a tough season where their defense struggled to hold up. Aberraticus Hockey also faced difficulties, particularly in their own zone, conceding the most goals in the league. Standout Individual Performances Individual performances have been key to many teams’ success in this year’s tournament. The scoring leaderboard is topped by @dippen04 from Spartan Family, who racked up an impressive 66 points (36 goals, 30 assists), making him one of the most dominant offensive players. Close behind is @forreberra from Sunne IK Esport with 64 points, and I-@Bror1326-I from Carolus Icemen, who registered 62 points and a league-best 40 goals. There have also been standout playmakers, such as @Nikuy from Spartan Family, who led the league with 43 assists, consistently setting up teammates for scoring opportunities. Another notable performer is @vPahlen from Sunne IK Esport, who despite playing fewer matches than some of his competitors, managed to tally 59 points. On the goaltending front, some players have truly excelled. @Tlindgren96 from Carolus Icemen has been a rock for his team, boasting a save percentage of 86.8% and a goals-against average of 1.9 per game. His closest rival is @benjamint737 from Sunne IK Esport, who has also been a crucial part of his team's success with an 86.0% save percentage. Special mention goes to @Axelsson therozz94 from Spartan Family, who lost only one game – and that in overtime – throughout the group stage, finishing with a strong 84.9% save percentage. Quarterfinals & Predictions Spartan Family vs Fladie Faxes Spartan Family has been a class apart all season. With the league’s top scorer, Dippen04, leading the way and therozz94 providing solid goaltending, they are overwhelming favorites. Fladie Faxes earned the final playoff spot and have shown strong defensive play, but their weak power play could prove costly. Predicted Outcome: 3-0 to Spartan Family Carolus Icemen vs VBO STARS Carolus Icemen have been consistently solid all season and boast the tournament’s best goalie in T_Lindgren96. Their power play has been razor-sharp, converting at 26.83% efficiency. VBO STARS have been inconsistent but can be dangerous when they find their rhythm. If Carolus Icemen maintain their usual level, they should win without major issues. Predicted Outcome: 3-1 to Carolus Icemen Sunne IK Esport vs TROJANS Sunne IK Esport has proven to be one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league, scoring 105 goals in the regular season. TROJANS will need a rock-solid defense to withstand their attacks. The key question is whether TROJANS can contain Sunne’s fast-paced offense. A lot will depend on whether benjamint737 can step up in goal for Sunne. Predicted Outcome: 3-2 to Sunne IK Esport The Solution vs Nordic Nosebleed This looks set to be the most even quarterfinal series. The Solution boasts a stronger power play and a deeper offensive lineup, but Nordic Nosebleed counters that with the tournament’s best penalty kill and a physical, hard-hitting playing style. This could be a series that goes the full distance. Predicted Outcome: 3-2 to The Solution How to Follow the Playoffs The SCL 6v6 playoffs kick off with the quarterfinals from March 25-27, followed by the semifinals between March 30 and April 1. The bronze match and the grand final will take place on April 3. The final will be streamed live on SportsGames’ Twitch channel, featuring commentary by none other than Peter "@Jack Flack 65” Novara. Don’t miss the excitement as the SCL 6v6 champion is crowned!

SportGamers, Our community is growing with new members every year. From time to time we are asked for tips on how to find a team or how to find players for your team. In this post, we have put together a few links to our forum where you can either search for a team or sign up as a free agent. You'll also find some tips at the end, that might be just what you need to connect with that new group of potential teammates. This post is mainly intended for the European audience that is interested in playing in the European Championship League. Free Agents EU - PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S In this forum section, you can register as a free agent or search for new players for your team. You will find a "reply to topic" section under the last message on the page where you can post your own free agent message. In this message, you can briefly tell us about yourself, what position you are looking to play, and how to best reach you. Please note that a community account is required in order to post a message. Please also note that this forum section is only for free agent messages. Free Agency Team feature Last season we tested a feature to have the free agency status appear on the player card of free agents. We got some good feedback, so we'll continue running this. If you wish to participate, send a private message to @SG Free Agent Admin with your PSN ID/Gamertag. You will receive an invitation to the Free Agent team on SportsGamer and by accepting it, this will give you the status visible on your player card. Please note that the invitation is usually not immediate and can take some time. Also, note that whatever positions and favorite position you have selected on your player card when accepting the invitation is what will appear in your free agency profile. You can browse the Free Agent team here. Once you find a new team you can join it right away and send a message to @SG Free Agent Admin (who is the captain of the Free Agent team), and you will be removed from the free agency. While this new approach will help list free agents and offer an additional way to be seen, for the best result in finding a team we still recommend following the other tips in this news story! EU Clubs looking for players - PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S In this section of the forum, you can let everyone know when your team is looking for players, which means free agents can find teams by browsing this thread. You will find a "reply to topic" section under the last message on the page. Here you can write your "club looking for players" post where you tell us about the club and what kind of player you are looking for. You can look for good tips for your post in the numerous posts written by other clubs. Please note that both of these above-mentioned forum threads are meant only for writing the "ads". When you see something you're interested in, please use private messaging (e.g. SportGamer, Discord, PSN or Xbox Live) to contact them. Usually, the writer of the post will let you know how to best get in touch. So here is your reminder: whenever you post, remember to mention how to best get in touch with you. Useful tips In addition to these previous tools, we recommend you to be active and try to play as much as possible. On our Discord server, you will find a section called "free for tonight" In this section, you can sign up for free play and of course, if you're lucky you might find some people that want to play with you in the future. Another good tip that works is to add "FA" or "Free Agent" to your player's name in the game so that your teammates and opponents can see during the game that you are looking for a team. There you have it! We hope you find these tips useful. Feel free to share your advice in the comments. Good luck finding the perfect match!