Niko "vVoDee-" Vottonen: "I've always had an idea of what kind of player I want to be"

Niko @vVoDee Vottonen and his team Roots Gaming made an imprint on the Elite division in their inaugural season as an exciting squad of up-and-comers. Despite falling short of the playoffs, they're taking away one seasons worth of experience, which will be big for them moving forward.
 

When he was younger, Niko @vVoDee Vottonen spent a lot of time at the hockey rink. He played hockey all the way until high school. He reveals that the several injuries were among the reasons for him eventually quitting.

“Hockey came into my life right from the start. I started at Jokerit Hockey School at the age of seven and played until the end of high school. The reason for quitting was constant injuries and then later as a teenager I was interested in doing much more than being in the gym 3-5 times a week. I took a couple of years off from everything related to hockey." 

He says he had his first contact with the NHL 19 series. However, it wasn't clear from the start that the young man would succeed in the game. But little by little, some of his potential started to show.

"I can't say exactly, but I noticed somewhere that I was really starting to do better against high level players. Also, some of my former teammates told me that there could be some potential in me, which made me realize I should perhaps aim a bit higher."

The young man reveals that he, as a player, benefits greatly from a general playfulness as well as the good game perception he has gained from playing hockey in is youth. He says he has never considered a particular player as his role model, but enjoys watching others play and adapt according to that: “I have never really had a role model in terms of gaming, of course I have watched a lot of other teams on tape and especially how their defenders play and tried to take notes, but mostly I've always had an idea of what kind of player I want to be and played accordingly.”

As the best memory from virtual hockey, he definitely mentions the Elite Qualifiers, where Roots Gaming managed to beat his former team VISU Gaming and thus secured a place at the highest level.

He states that in his current team, the absolute positive thing is the continuity of their lineup. He also emphasizes that the team’s style of play has suited him really well.

“The core has always remained the same and the style of play has been to my liking. The good atmosphere within the team has also helped. Communication is great and I like the fact that you can speak up about any issues you might have, etc. The objective of the team is to solidify ourselves as an a reputable Elite squad and try our best to make the Playoffs”, Vottonen continues.

We asked the youngster if he could choose one feature from another player, then what would it be. Vottonen reveals that he would like to steal @imosi's hockey sense, as he is always in the right place at the right time.

In recent seasons, we've seen several young players elevate their level of play in new teams, and Vottonen is now joining that group of individuals as one of the Elite talents to look out for.

”A lot of young players put a lot of work into their own gaming and development. However, our scene is still so small that the talent is noticed quite quickly, and that way the talent quickly gets picked up into more established rosters.”

Vottonen plays as a defender. That’s why we asked him what qualities he sees in a perfect defender.

”A perfect defender is able to play a lot with the puck, create plays and be that cornerstone that other players can rely upon. Puck skill and an eye for the game are important.”

Despite not qualifying for the playoffs in their first Elite campaign, Roots Gaming and Vottonen managed to put forth a good effort, gaining them a chance to try again next season, which lies a bit shy of two months away. The young team now has some time to think things over and hone their skills, to come back even better after some downtime.