EASHL Thursday's is a new collaboration between SportsGamer and EA Sports, throwing some of the most liked Finnish celebrities into some virtual hockey action, getting to know the people and showing just how much fun the most social gaming experience EA Sports NHL has to offer can be. 

EASHL Thursday's gathers the most well liked Finnish celebrities for some EASHL action and relays their personalities and reactions directly to your screens at home. At it's best, EASHL is the most social gaming experience EA Sports NHL has to offer with all players, including the goaltender being human controlled. Players get to express their personalities by customizing their in-game avatars and their team branding freely according to their own liking. This makes for the ultimate teamplay experience with the social aspect highly present.

The first EASHL Thursday's will air tonight at 18:00 EEST at www.twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG, featuring record selling pop duo JVG consisting of Jare Brand and Ville Galle, rising star Ege Zulu, producer Niko Karlsson, Joonas "Mäk Gälis" Galle and Youtuber Jaakko Parkkali.

Now your team can challenge the celebrity teams each Thursday, the only thing you need is five friends that are willing to join you! Sign up to be a challenger using this form.

Our Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

Three weeks before the release of NHL 23, we are back with yet another iteration of our Player Spotlight-series! You voted and we listened, so here we are with a closer look at Alex @IDangledYouOut Wagner, dubbed by your favorite commentary guy Paul @Cyn Anderson as "the player with the biggest set of arms in ECL Elite". He is known as a hard hitting forward and part-time EBUG for the Swiss back-to-back GCL Champions ZSC Esports!

1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?

I think this goes way back to NHL 11. Back in the days I used to play with Stefan @Stefan_397 Hämmerle who is also one of my best friends in real life. We started playing 2v2 where the remaining positions were played by the AI until one of our opponents messaged us if we want to join them. My first competitive 6v6 games was when I joined UKnighted HC roughly one year later.

2. What’s the best part of playing for your current club ZSC Esports?

I really like our determination and positive mindset. No matter the result our biggest strength is to stay positive at all times and push ourselves. Most of our team have been playing in the same squad for a long time now. This and the fact that we all know each other off the virtual ice as well can surely give us the edge in many moments.

3. You are one of the few German players that have been here since ECL Season 1. What is your favourite NHL Gaming memory so far?

There were many great memories made on the journey. My first ECL Elite Shutout as a goalie and getting promoted to ECL Elite with ZSC Esports three seasons ago. But If I had to choose on specific moment I had to choose winning the GCL 7 title against our "eternal" rivals Deadly Phantoms. Finally being able to beat and especially sweep them in the finals was a big relief. Being able to defend our Championship in GCL 8 really tops things off - especially with the way we played and dominated.

4. You started playing competetive 6v6 as a Goalie. Which things do you like most about playing as a Goalie and as a Forward?

The thing I love most about playing as a Goalie is being one of the most important x-factors in the team. Working together with your D-pair can be very decisive if you perform well or not. But being able to decide games with important saves is an amazing feeling.

As a Forward or Defender I like making creative plays. Always trying to find new ideas and solutions for certain situations in a game and working with your teammates to improve is why I love playing this game. The rewarding feeling to see how you build up chemistry and improve your results is also one of the main reasons for that.

5. You are GM for one day and can pick your perfect starting six. One GCL Lineup (only DACH players; you are allowed to pick 2 players from your own team) and one ECL Lineup:

ECL Lineup:

LW: @xLeikku C : @Patzlaf RW: @NikkeDangles

                    LD: @xDoumi RD: @loimmu

                                   G: @Faze91-

GCL Lineup:

Obviously I would love to pick all of my current teammates because in my opinion they all belong to the best players in the community. But to mix things up I am going to pick following players:

LW: @Stefan_397 C : @IiVAPOR100iI RW: @DangledYouOut(TIUINIA)

                             LD: @Reutschner16nhl RD: @Spezi

                                                     G: @Hasek100

6. Which team do you support in real hockey?

I support my hometown club EV Füssen who are currently playing in the "Oberliga Süd" (3rd German division). 

7. Do you play or have you played hockey?

When we were younger we always used to play Inline Hockey in the Summer and Ice Hockey on the frozen lake in Winter. Unfortunately I never played actively in a club.

8. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL?

Most of the time you will find me in the Gym. When I'm not lifting weights you will most likely find me watching videos of Markus Rühl*. Apart from that I love to spend time with my friends, drinking a beer and having good conversations. I'm also a big fan of listening to podcasts. At the moment my favourite podcast is "Einfach mal Luppen" by Toni and Felix Kroos.

*Explanation to our non-German readers: Markus Rühl is a famous German bodybuilder.

9. Who’s the best player in the ECL according to you?

If I had to choose one specific player I would pick Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala. The combination of offensive and defensive awareness, Hockey-IQ and vision on the virtual ice is just fun to watch. How he masters the game mechanics on both ends of the ice is something I really look up to.

10. Who's the best player in the GCL according to you?

I have to pick my current teammate Max @Toneee9 Tonitz. In my opinion he is the perfect combination of ideal defensive awareness and offensive abilities. He is irreplaceable for our game.

11. How did you come up with your PSN ID?

My PSN ID is an "homage" to one of my former teammates: Jürgen @DangledYouOut(TIUINIA) Kloster. He is one of my closest friends and at one point in time he changed his ID (to TIUINIA) and so I asked him if I can take his nickname instead. For me he is one of the most underrated forwards in the DACH-community.

12. Describe your perfect breakfast.

Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pancakes, EAA'drink, whey clear isolate and I'm ready for the day!

13. If you had to choose: being the best player in EA SPORTS NHL or an average hockey player in real life?

To be honest I would pick being an average hockey player. To witness the atmosphere created by the fans in the arena must be an amazing feeling. Even if I was able to "only" play for my local 3rd division team EV Füssen.

14. You are DJ in the dressing room and can play one song to hype up your teammates. Which song are you playing?

Limp Bizkit - Rollin'.

15. What’s your best hockey memory?

This has to be when my local club EV Füssen gained promotion back into the Oberliga (3rd division). It was an amazing away day and securing promotion on that day away from home is something I will never forget.

Apart from that another special moment was the World Championship quarterfinal in 2021 when Eisbären Berlin forward Marcel Noebels sent us into the semifinals with a cheeky one-hander against our favourite enemies from Switzerland.

16. What's the most important goal you have scored in a competetive 6v6 match yet?

To be fair I cannot remember any specific goal. But one of my best performances has to be securing a shutout in ECL'22 Winter against Conquer Gaming after being called up as an "emergency goalie" for our team and being a bit shaky in the warmup games.

17. If you had to choose to play only one position for the rest of your virtual career. Which position would you pick and why?

I think Goalie is my "most natural" position since I also stand between the pipes in real life when playing football or hockey with my friends. This position was always most fun to play for me. But currently I would prefer playing as a Forward especially due to the broken matchmaking in the game, playing as a Goalie can be quite ungrateful.

18. Pizza with three toppings, what are your choices?

I'm rather uncomplicated in those things. Pizza Margherita is the way to go.

19. Who do you want to see featured next in Player Spotlight?

I think it's finally time for Joshua @Hasek100 Plattner!

SportsGamers,

With the 5th generation of consoles being out for almost two years at this point, after careful consideration and community polls we've made the decision to move to Gen 5 consoles starting with ECL '23 Winter, as announced in late July in our article about the NHL 23 Technical Test. 

This means in all simplicity, that future tournaments organized by SportsGamer.GG will be played on Gen 5 versions (PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X|S) of NHL 23, but we will be gauging interest for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One tournaments, and external partners can still choose to host PlayStation 4 or Xbox One tournaments at SportsGamer.GG. 

What it all comes down to then is, which version should you get in order to make sure you can participate in all SportsGamer.GG events?

Here's a quick reminder of how the cross-play feature on NHL 23 will work:


Players can play against any opposing team within their console generation, but mixed teams will not be possible. Therefore, teams must be made up of only one console generation and type in order for cross-play to work. However, keep in mind that EA Sports hasn't yet announced when exactly the cross-play feature will be implemented to the game, and it is possible that tournaments launched before then will not be able to support teams from the other platform. For ECL '23 Winter specifically, the preferred platform of choice will be PlayStation 5. We predict Xbox Series X|S teams will be able to join in on the ECL action once cross-play is confirmed to have been added to NHL 23, so hopefully by the ECL '23 Spring season at the latest.

NHL 23 features two versions of the game available for Pre-order. Players will be able to opt for the standard version or the X-Factor Edition on any console. When opting which version to go for, keep in mind that while NHL 23 will include cross-play for consoles within the same generation, it does not feature cross-play between console generations. If you are planning on upgrading to a next generation console over the course of the NHL 23 life cycle, you should definitely look to go for the X-Factor Edition in order to secure double entitlement without having to buy both editions separately.

The bottom line is, if you want to be able to participate in all upcoming action, we recommend still purchasing the X-Factor edition, getting you the double-entitlement. However, our own tournaments and leagues will in the future be ran on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms.

Here are the NHL 23 Editions available for pre-order including the pre-order perks:

Standard Edition

- HUT X-Factor Women's choice pack
- 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone ability unlocks
- Be a Pro X-Factor slot unlocks (2), XP boost and bonus trait points
- Signed Sarah Nurse World of Chel jersey

X-Factor Edition

- Double entitlement (Unlocks the game for both Gen 4 & Gen 5 consoles)
- 3-Days early access
- 4600 NHL Points
- HUT X-Factor Player choice pack
- HUT X-Factor Power-up starter pack
- HUT X-Factor Women's choice pack
- 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone ability unlocks
- Be a Pro X-Factor slot unlocks (2), XP boost and bonus trait points
- Signed Sarah Nurse World of Chel jersey

At around 20 CEST last night, the NHL 23 Technical test focused around the World of Chel was released and we hope all of you have received your codes in the mailbox by now. This is an exciting time for our community and we hope all of you will have some fun testing out the early build of NHL 23 over the next few days. As always, these tests are early versions of the game and don't show the full finalized product, but are here for the community to get a taste of what's to come and voice their opinions. As one of the biggest NHL gaming sites in the world - not to mention the amazing talent and passion of our community members - we want to help out with this.

That is why we're reaching out to you in order to hear what you think. Any concerns and opinions are welcome, both the good and bad. Please let us know in the comments section about anything you run into during your time with the game and expand on the topic as much as possible. If you enjoy something in particular e.g. the passing in the Technical Test, be sure to bring that out also to make sure it doesn't change. If you find any bugs, please let us know as much detail as possible, so that the development team will be able to recreate them as accurately as possible.

Please note that the official EA Answers HQ forum is also live and taking feedback and that is the official way of providing feedback of the technical test. You can find it by clicking this text.

NHL 23 is the most connected virtual hockey experience to date and despite all the focus on bringing us cross-play, NHL 23 also brings us some other news!

Last Chance Puck Movement

Hockey is most certainly a contact sport and one of the most frequent gameplay occurrences is some type of player contact and situations where you’ll end up jostling for position. In previous iterations of the game, these events have led to the offensive player being unable to react, but NHL 23’s Last Chance Puck Movement will address that issue. With over 500 new animations, you’ll now be able to move and shoot the puck more realistically than ever just like the superstars of the NHL do on a nightly basis. 

The development team has added a new mechanic accompanying Last Chance Puck Movement, which allows players to dive for the puck in a desperation attempt by double tapping the shoot or pass button when skating towards a loose puck.

In order to balance out the playing field, desperation moves have been added to defensive play features too. The key factor in puck battles moving forward will be body positioning, and the player with the more favorable position will be able to counter plays more easily.

Updated strategies

NHL 23 aims to bring you more control of the game than ever before and does so by allowing you to use new strategies. Two new strategies have been added to the game, which are the 1-3-1 power play and the 1-1-2 penalty kill. You’ll now be able to control these strategies by assigning player positioning before and after faceoff draws and utilizing the new X-Factors in order to get the most of your special teams whenever you get the chance!

You'll also be able to select player specific roles for your powerplay, so now you're in total control to get the right players on the job.

Balanced gameplay

With balancing the game in mind, NHL 23 will be improving the ability for defensemen in passing lanes to pick up the puck and intercept passes, again, with the key factor being body positioning and field of view for the player. Offensive players will still be able to play the puck in behind defensemen if their positioning is more favorable. 

Community feedback about poke checks has also been heard, and with that, the development team has been able to make some improvements mainly in relation to the effectiveness of poke checks when chasing or in a bad position. There will now also be a speed penalty when activating the defensive skill stick.

NHL 23 will be available on October 14th, 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For more information visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-23.

SportsGamers,

We just saw the first footage of NHL 23 with the new reveal trailer and while there’s a lot going on in the minute and 41 seconds of footage, there’s not a lot of concrete information about the game we’re able to take away from it. However, some new additions to the game have been clearly highlighted, we’ll be taking a closer look at everything here. Also, if you haven't seen the trailer yet, check it out below!

First off, the trailer is very fast-paced and is built to look like a live broadcast. Whether that will have to do with the game looking to support the social aspects of the game and aid streamers and content creators alike in their work with the game, we’ll have to wait and see. The thing that is certain is that this year, there will be a heavy focus on social play, which is evident from the trailer, where cover athletes Trevor Zegras and Sarah Nurse are joined by TSN’s Marissa Roberto, the Ducks’ mascot Wild Wing and Zac “AlwaysHockey” Bell for some very arcadey looking hockey action in the HUT and EASHL game modes.

Zegras flip and last chance puck movement

These are some of the things you surely couldn’t miss in the trailer and especially the viral Zegras flip was something we expected to see in this year’s iteration. It looks like the flip will be triggered through the lacrosse move animation and is going to be another variation that players can try to pull off from behind the net this year. On top of that, we’re seeing a few different examples of last chance puck movement, which allows your player to reach for a lost puck in a last chance effort to make a play. There’s the option to either go for a shot, like we see Trevor Zegras doing in the trailer on a few occasions, or you could opt for a pass, which is what Sarah Nurse is going for in the still image we’ve got below. 

Cross-platform matchmaking, mixed HUT teams and custom special teams strategies

Here’s a screenshot that gives a lot of interesting information about the new game. It’s from the HUT hub and shows us that this year, we’ve got cross-platform matchmaking, which is confirmed to work within the console generations only (coming in a November update). 

Also, we’ll see mixed HUT teams with women’s national teams being added to the game mode, so now your dreams of having all the sport’s iconic players on your team can be a reality. 

Lastly, the screenshot hints that we could be seeing custom special teams strategies or at least an expanded amount of variation to the options on that front. 
 

NHL 23 will be available on October 14th, 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For more information visit www.easports.com/NHL.

For all new information on NHL 23, please check out our article about the game here!

Notice anything cool or interesting that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

NHL 23 brings an enhanced Frostbite experience, cross-play and much more in the most connected virtual hockey experience to date. The new game is set to release on October 14th with preorder perks allowing early access.

The yearly iteration of EA Sports NHL is closing in on us and the release date for NHL 23 has been set to October 14th. As usual, we’ll be getting the choice between a few different editions with some extra pre-order perks, which we’ll be taking a closer look at towards the end of this article. Once again, with NHL 23, the franchise really draws inspiration from some of the sport's most exciting and influential players. In recent years, we’ve seen an influx of exciting new talent into the NHL, breaking barriers of what we ever thought was possible on the ice. We’ve also seen the emergence of worldwide stars in women’s hockey and the momentum they’ve been able to generate for themselves has served the sport extremely well, but they’ve also paved the way for the younger generation looking up to them. This year, EA Sports NHL is adding more Women’s content than ever and including some of the greatest female players to ever take the ice in the HUT game mode, allowing you to make your dream team of the sport’s greatest players a reality. With this being said, the cover athletes acting as an inspiration for this year's game will be Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks and Sarah Nurse from the Canada Women’s National Team. If you missed it, check out our cover athlete reveal article here.

“I’m pumped up and excited to be on the cover and it’s a huge honor for me. It’s a game I've been enjoying for quite some time and I’m pumped to see that so many of you have tried my moves out there. See you on the ice!” - Trevor Zegras

“I’m so excited and honored to be the first ever female cover star on an NHL video game. Women’s hockey is definitely here to stay!” - Sarah Nurse

Leaning into what Frostbite has to offer

While last year was something of a transition year for the franchise, this year the development team should have really been able to lean into the full potential of what the Frostbite engine and the new generation consoles will be able to deliver, and from the snippets we’ve seen thus far, it’s looking promising. The visual aspects and the lighting is obvious, but the crowd atmosphere, dynamic momentum, emotion and overall immersion in the arenas is a thing that’ll be the next step with the new title.

Last chance puck movement

On top of the improvements and tweaks the team has been able to make to existing mechanics, some new things we’ll be seeing in NHL 23 is last chance puck movement and enhanced goaltender AI. While the latter might be rather self-explanatory, last chance puck movement is going to be an interesting one that might divide a lot of opinions. What it does is allowing your player to reach for the puck in a last chance effort to make a play on a loose puck. Whether it’s going to be a shot while falling down or a pass to your teammate, you can now go for these moves in a situation that might have previously been lost.

Enhanced AI all around

NHL 23 promises enhanced goaltender AI, but also really leans into the X-Factors that will now impact how the AI players play the game even more. For example, players with the One tee X-Factor now have a higher propensity to look for a shooting position and their teammates will actively try to find the passing lane for that rocket slapshot.

Cross-play implementation

What we’ve heard from the development team thus far, is that the connected experience has been their main goal for NHL 23, and we’re happy to report that they’ve been able to deliver on that front. While the community has been asking for cross-play be implemented to the NHL-series, we haven’t really seen or heard anything about it, until now. NHL 23 promises to bring full cross-play implementation to the Hockey Ultimate Team and World of Chel game modes, allowing PlayStation and Xbox users to play against each other for the first time in the series history. The one drawback is that cross-play won’t be available across console generations and it will not be available at launch, but is going to be included in an update in November. Cross-play promises to greatly improve the matchmaking experience and allow you to play with your friends regardless of the console commitment you’ve made - that’s a massive W in our books!

Pre-order versions of NHL 23 - double entitlement

NHL 23 features two versions of the game available for Pre-order starting today. Players will be able to opt for the standard version or the X-Factor Edition on any console. When opting which version to go for, keep in mind that while NHL 23 will include cross-play for consoles within the same generation, it does not feature cross-play between console generations. If you are planning on upgrading to a next generation console over the course of the NHL 23 life cycle, we can confirm that HUT progress will be transferable to some extent, meaning that the top 20 players and coach can be locked, whereas the rest of your collection will be converted into pack value towards your HUT team in the next gen version of NHL 23.

Standard Edition

- HUT X-Factor Women's choice pack
- 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone ability unlocks
- Be a Pro X-Factor slot unlocks (2), XP boost and bonus trait points
- Signed Sarah Nurse World of Chel jersey

X-Factor Edition

- Double entitlement (Unlocks the game for both Gen 4 & Gen 5 consoles)
- 3-Days early access
- 46000 NHL Points
- HUT X-Factor Player choice pack
- HUT X-Factor Power-up starter pack
- HUT X-Factor Women's choice pack
- 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone ability unlocks
- Be a Pro X-Factor slot unlocks (2), XP boost and bonus trait points
- Signed Sarah Nurse World of Chel jersey

Technical test and release date

There will be a technical test going live most likely around the start of September, but no date or duration has been confirmed at the time of writing. As it is a technical test, the community will be asked to report feedback to the development team and also all streaming and recording of the work in progress is prohibited. Signups for the technical test have closed by now.

NHL 23 will be available on October 14th, 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For more information visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-23.

Canadian Women’s National team hero Sarah Nurse becomes the first female hockey player to grace the cover of an NHL video game, as she is featured on the cover of NHL 23 together with Anaheim Ducks highlight machine Trevor Zegras.

For the first time in franchise history, the EA Sports NHL cover art will feature two athletes, when both Trevor Zegras and Sarah Nurse will grace the NHL 23 cover. 

We’ve all seen the highlights and some of the impressive and creative moves that Trevor Zegras showed off in his sophomore year with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Most notably, the internet breaking flip pass for Sonny Milano against the Buffalo Sabres. As usual, the new iteration of the NHL video game series draws some inspiration from its cover athletes, so we wouldn’t be surprised if some of these moves have been added to the game. 

Sarah Nurse has become an international hockey hero and an inspiration for the new generation of female hockey players. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, she not only led the tournament in scoring and capped off the tournament with a gold medal around her neck, but she also became the first ever black woman to win ice hockey gold at the Olympic stage. 

Together with Trevor Zegras, Sarah Nurse is leading the charge of a new generation taking over the ice!

Stay tuned for the full NHL 23 reveal tomorrow at 17:00 CEST, as we’ll be following the announcements closely and bring you the latest scoops on the new game as soon as they drop.

You can follow along with tomorrow's first airing of the reveal trailer here:

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

GCL8 is just about to finish! We have seen many favourites maintaining their position in the league as well as supposed smaller teams tripping up the juggernauts of the DACH-Community. Right in time we are back with yet another player spotlight. This time we are glad to present to you Thomas @newman_2909 Neumann. Captain for the Eisbären Lauf - on and off the virtual ice!

1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?

My first experience was back in 2012. Since I started to play in 1994 on the Super Nintendo I always played EA SPORTS NHL quite regularly. Most of the times I used to grind Franchise Mode with a friend until I fell in love with Be a Pro and World of CHEL.

2. How did you end up in the 6v6 community?

Due to the lockdown caused by Covid in 2020 we decided to found our Offline team (Eisbären Lauf) in World of Chel. In the beginning we played with 2 or 3 players and the other positions were played by the AI. After grinding 5v5 games with an AI goalie we decided to sign up for ECL 12 Neo and were in need of a goalie. Due to the fact that we were quite new to the community most of the Free Agents declined our offers to join us. Luckily two friends of our team decided to join us as our first goalie tandem in 6v6 EASHL! Looking back it was a big surprise that we managed to reach the ECL Neo Playoffs in our first season.

3. Describe your perfect day!

Spending time with my friends and family while being on vacation. I would love to stay at the seaside, lake or pool! The day starts with a relaxing breakfast. Good conversations or board games are accompanied by a cold beer! A good BBQ session in the afternoon is completed by a live sport event at the evening.

4. Do you play hockey in real life?

Yes, I play Goalie since 2008 for the Eisbären Lauf. We were able to secure four consecutive DNHL titles before Covid stopped the league operations (DNHL = Die Nordbayern Hockey Liga; similar to Beer/Hobby League). I hope that we are able to secure the 5th title in a row as soon as the season starts!

5. What's the biggest similarity between virtual and real hockey?

Details matter. Just as in real hockey the small details will make the biggest differences in EASHL, too. In my opinion small things are extremely important to perform well. Feeling good with your equipment and setup is the foundation to be succesful. I also like to watch and try other players loadouts especially from the Elite and Pro Division to improve myself. But in the end it is very important that you feel comfortable - on and off the virtual ice.

6. As mentioned before you are between the pipes in real hockey. What do you prefer playing as a forward or defender in EASHL?

In my first competitive seasons I played as a Defender since it was the only option in our team. I like playing as a defender because you are always under pressure and can be the deciding factor to your team on both ends of the ice. Since the start of this season I started playing as a Center. I really like being involved in almost every offensive and defensive play on the virtual ice. It starts with winning faceoffs which can be the x-factor in tight matchups and ends with being the transition man from defense to offense.

7. You are GM for one day and can pick your perfect starting six. One GCL Lineup (only DACH players; you are allowed to pick 2 players from your own team) and one ECL Lineup:

ECL Lineup:

LW: @PleeMaker C : @Beniittto RW: @Eken45jr
      LD: @Toneee9 RD: @Bobiraataja(nikhaa27)
                              G: @McSavid

The ECL Lineup is a bit more tricky for me to pick. Even though I watch as many ECL Broadcasts as possible it is difficult to pick certain players due to the high performance density in the league. But above mentioned players have always been very remarkable to me.

GCL Lineup:

LW: @Keuschemisch C : @PlaymakerSJ RW: @IDangledYouOut
                        LD: @GERxVillain RD: @CashAllGreen
                                               G: @Hasek100

Due to the fact that the density in the DACH-Community is not that high, picking 6 players is a bit more easy for this lineup! Both wingers have proven themselves in the Elite Division and shown what they are capable of. @PlaymakerSJ and @Hasek100 have been institutions in this community for years now! And I really like both D-men and their capabilities on the offensive end of the ice!

8. You are quite new to competetive 6v6. What is your favourite NHL Gaming moment so far?

There are two moments I'd like to highlight. Making the playoffs in our very first ECL Neo season as well as winning our first playoff series in this years ECL'22 Spring Core!

9. What was your dream job growing up and what do you currently do?

As a child I always wanted to become a policeman or pilot. Unfortunately for both jobs my vision and eyesight were not good enough. Nowadays I'm working as a client advisor for a private bank.

10. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL?

I love playing real hockey and spending as much time as possible on the rink. Apart from that I like visiting sports events such as hockey, football or handball games.

11. Who is the best player in the ECL and GCL?

ECL:

Definitely @Eki. There can't be any discussion about someone who secured several consecutive 1v1 European Championships.

GCL:

@Original-SnuS and @PlaymakerSJ are both extremely fun to watch. Their experience and skillset in 1v1 and 6v6 is something to look up to. But even though we are doing this interview I have to pick @Keuschemisch. In my opinion there is no other player in the whole community who invests so much time into the game to improve. His record and Championship in the eDEL and performances in 6v6 underline that.

12. High scoring game or OT drama?

OT drama all the way. Those are the games that everybody wants to see.

13. What was your favourite team in real hockey?

Chicago Blackhawks. Tony Amonte was the first player that I watched on TV. I was totally blown away and became a fan of the Blackhawks!

14. What are your goals in the next ECL in NHL23?

In the next ECL '23 Winter Core we would like to make the playoffs again. We want improve step by step and perhaps secure Home ice advantage in round 1! Maybe we are capable of winning two consecutive playoff series next season!

15. What do you like most about being a captain on and off the virtual ice?

Apparently I am not that bad at organizing. Since I always captained the team off the ice it was obvious that I would to that on the virtual ice, too. I really like to create a good environment so that everybody in the team feels comfortable. Building a good philosophy for the whole squad and having good conversations with all of my teammates is something I really appreciate. Seeing a good development of a certain player makes me really proud!

16. What’s your best real life hockey memory?

Two Championships with the Eisbären Lauf! One decided in Overtime and the other one with a shorthanded GWG at 59:58. Absolute scenes!

Apart from that I enjoyed watching my first live NHL Game back in May 2019. Game 5 between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks! I wrote an article for nhl.com/de and was able to interview the German goalie Philipp Grubauer after the game.

17. Pizza with or without pineapple?

Obviously without. If I'd put pineapple on Pizza I won't be able to go on vacation in Italy anymore.

18. Who would you like to see next in Player Spotlight?

I would love to see Christian @GERxVillain Ungeheuer in the next Interview!

Hey SportsGamers,

EA have just announced that once again we will have the opportunity to play an early build of the game in the run up to the release of NHL 23 - to sign up please click here!

Typically these technical tests are fairly bare bones and feature a stripped back version of the game that will release down the line, that said however they offer a great insight into how the game is shaping up, as well as the opportunity to provide EA with our own feedback and suggestions regarding the state of play of the game. 

In terms of modes and features to expect, we are fairly confident that EASHL will be the main attraction as this always offers up a lot of feedback due to the sheer number of players that are involved in a single game. As for features, this is the first news of any kind for NHL 23, so we really have no inkling as to what EA has focussed on for the next iteration of the series - should be noted as well that it was recently announced that FIFA will make use of crossplay so that players are not segregated based on their console of choice, perhaps EA has extended this ability to the NHL developers?

As always, spots in the technical test are limited and offered on a first come first serve basis, of course providing that you sign up for the test you will undoubtedly receive a code once it is available, which EA is scheduling for late August. The code to gain access to the game will be provided in the inbox for the email of the EA account that you signed up with - we encourage all players to quickly check their EA account settings and see if it is paired with the PSN account that you think it is to avoid confusion and possible aggravation on the day. Furthermore, let it be known for our European members that our upcoming ECL season will be moving to PS5 and so we encourage all players that are signing up to try to make as much use of the technical test as possible by choosing the PS5 version. 

What are you most looking forward to see? More offensive weapons? Easier ways to defend? Improved goaltending? No matter what, please feel free to share below!

Finland hoists the cup in the 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship and completes a 2022 Leijonat Triple gold. The Finals finish was a true thriller and one for the ages.

After a year off from international virtual hockey competition, the revamped IIHF eWorld Championship has returned, and finished it's run in successful fashion. The two week long tournament finally ended in the victory of the Finnish team for the second time. The finals featured an impressive and extremely tough series between the Finns Erik @Eki Tammenpää & Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen and USA Hockeys David @JrPens Roebuck & Joseph @Jos x 10 Olmstead.

The decision went all the way to overtime, as at the end of four games, we had an even 7-7 score. The overtime was played in two simultaneous games, out of which the first nation to score would win it all. Eventually, Eki managed to net the game winner and earn Finland the Championship.

"I was really bummed out about the fourth game, but now I'm so relieved and happy. Over the last couple of years, the North American players have been able to push the Europeans around a bit, so it feels great to fight back and earn our claim to the top", Eki commented after the games.

After the decisive goal both the viewers and players were mildly confused, but the message was instantly relayed to Vattu: "I immediately got the message that we had won, but I was a bit confused about what I was supposed to do at that point, so we continued playing for a while. I think I played my best games of the playoffs tonight, but wasn't able to convert on chances. Luckily my teammate did the scoring work, it's amazing playing with Eki."

The win seals the deal for a Finnish triple gold, as Leijonat has managed to earn both the Olympic gold and the IIHF Worlds gold previously this year. The eWorld Championship gold is an excellent finish to a successful season.

Below you can find a short recap of key moments during the Finnish Broadcast:

The 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship has rolled on to the Semifinals at this point and we've seen some surprising results to say the least and the great virtual hockey excitement this tournament is offering is surely very welcome during these hot summer days.

At the Semifinals stage we're seeing Finland (Erik @Eki Tammenpää & Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen) vs Latvia (Kristers @PSchibra Bauers & Juris @JLopatko Lopatko) and USA (David @JrPens Roebuck & Joseph @Jos x 10 Olmstead) vs Czech Republic (Adam @dzouvi Mensik & Josef @pepcastachurcik Stachura). Out of these games, Finland and Latvia will be going at it at 18:00 CEST on Saturday, whereas USA and Czech Republic are clashing in the later bout at 20:30 CEST. 

The Quarterfinals surely were exciting as some really big upsets were evident over the course of the weekend. First, on Saturday the very talented Canadian team featuring recent NA GWC Champion Justin @Regs84 Reguly and Safir @SafirSnipezGOLD Sodouri were surprised by the Czech, who were on their game all night long. On Sunday, Latvia managed to overcome the very strong Swedish group by a narrow one goal margin in a series for the ages, perhaps the most exciting games we've seen to this point on the international stage. Finland overcame the Swiss team with their very high routine level and the same can be said for the US squad in their Quarterfinals performance against Germany.

As seen on previous weekends, the games will be live both in the international stream at www.twitch.tv/iihfhockey and in the Finnish stream at www.twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG. 

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

Niko @Maexsa Mäkelä got thrown the challenge from his friend and former teammate Juuso @TheSpeedo Sirkola and has decided to take on the Player Spotlight interview! The veteran winger currently captaining the mammoth squad Stone Age has come a long way since some of his first ECL appearances with the legendary Elämäm Kiekko. His easy going personality and fiery temper have become staples for the man, that has made him the loved and respected community member he is today. 

1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?

My first ever experience with EASHL was back in the fall of 2016. We got a group of friends together and after about 10 games, we were ready to take on ECL 3. We lost almost every game and my plus minus was a solid -183. Good times!

2. What’s the best part of playing for your current club Stone Age?

My teammates, definitely. Amazing people who make me want to get back to the game again and again. ❤️

3. What is your greatest NHL gaming memory?

All the beer & Chel tournaments we've had with the boys. The ECL seasons have also provided their fair share of good memories, despite my own team managing to avoid success quite efficiently.

Elämäm Kiekko also holds a special place in my heart, although our social media game was definitely stronger than the team on ice.

4. Describe your perfect breakfast!

Coffee, fresh juice, toast, bacon and eggs. A classic.

5. You're GM for a day and get to pick any player for your 6v6 team but none of your current teammates. Who's in your starting six and why?

That's a tough one. I've met so many great people over the years that it's tough to pick only six. 

@Timotei97 @Ankkalasvegas @Jaks_10
@KepakkoFIN @iRSPe
@TheSpeedo

Irspe and TheSpeedo were cornerstones of the legendary Elämäm Kiekko for several seasons. Some great and less great memories over the years and they're both great guys. In my books, Kepakkofin is the best captain in the scene and I really look up to him. GHETTO FIREBIRDS is an excellent example of what you can accomplish with long term commitment.

Jaks and Timotei I've played with mostly late on the weekends, but it's always been a lot of fun. Last but not least Ankkalasvegas is a very skilled player and a great guy, who I've played with on various rosters. 

6. What was your dream job growing up and what do you currently do?

As a kid I wanted to be a soccer player, now I'm working at a sports store. 

7.  Do you play or have you played hockey?

On the outdoor rink and the couch. 

8. What’s your best hockey memory?

When Porin Ässät won the Finnish Championship back in 2013. The party lasted for five days and I'm still a bit hungover. 

9. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL? 

I spend time with my friends and family, and do some sports. Disc golf is my latest pickup and it's been nice to notice that something can be even more frustrating than NHL at times.

10. Pizza with three toppings, what are your choices?

Kebab, pineapple and blue cheese. 

11. You're the locker room DJ and get one song to hype up your team. What do you play?

Tommi Läntinen - Via Dolorosa. 

12. How did you come up with your PSN ID?

My first nick was Markogirl87, which I used for a surprisingly long time. My name isn't Marko, I'm not a girl and my birth year isn't -87, so you could say that's a total disaster of a PSN ID. Maexsa is a variation of a nickname based on my last name. 

13. Who’s the best player in the ECL according to you?

It's impossible to pick the best one, but @NikkeDangles is a player who's always fun to watch.

14. Describe your ideal holiday! 

A weekend cabin getaway with friends and family or a full three day festival rager. 

15. Now it's up to you to suggest who we should interview next. Who do you want to hear from and why?

I'll go ahead and challenge @KepakkoFIN next. Although the man is done with NHL, I'd love to hear some GHETTO stories and what that guy has for breakfast!

Feel free to also suggest who you'd want to see in the Player Spotlight-series. Also, if there are any questions you'd like us to add to the arsenal, let us know!

The 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship is the second coming of the IIHF into the esports scene and with a newer, expanded concept there is promise for growth in the future. This year, a total of 18 nations will compete for the title.

As you'd expect, lots of SportsGamer talent will be featured on ice throughout the tournament and 2020 Champions Finland are eager to defend their title, this time with Erik @Eki Tammenpää and Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen in their reigns. Also the former runner-up Sweden are bringing their big guns, with effectively the same duo as last time, in the form of Sebastian @SebbeLarsen86 Larsen and Henrik @Eken45jr Eklund. The two big Nordic nations are definitely expected to be at the very top of the standings, but a challenge will be thrown from across the pond from the USA and Canada teams, who will be represented by David @JrPens Roebuck & @Jos x 10 and Safir @SafirSnipezGOLD Sodouri & Justin @Regs84 Reguly respectively. 

Some other strong contenders could be the Latvian team, represented by Kristers @PSchibra Bauers and Juris @JLopatko Lopatko, or the Swiss, Germans or Czech with Sven @Original-SnuS Julmi & Mirco @Tron1x90 Salvi, Luca @cpt_dirtyDangler Knoll & Kevin @Kevinator-373 Wuerterle and Adam @dzouvi Mensik & Pepca @pepcastachurcik Stachurcik. 

We're excited to follow along during the weekend for how the nations will stack up against each other! You can also follow the action on these streams:

Main stream: IIHF Gaming

Swedish stream: Esdor15

Finnish stream: SportsGamerGG

German stream: bl00dylp

Here are the full 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship groups:

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

GCL8 action is on its way and we have a special guest for our next "Player Spotlight". Justin @JS_1510 Schütz - Player for EHC RB München in the DEL and Captain for The Real Rookies on SportsGamer.gg! Let's take a closer look at the German international and if there are similarities between virtual and real hockey!
 

1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?

I started playing NHL casually back in 2017.
 

2. Which team did you support when you were younger?

Pittsburgh Penguins have always been my favourite team!
 

3. Describe your perfect holiday.

I'm a big fan of a relaxing All-inclusive holiday. Lying at the pool, spending time at the beach with my girlfriend or good friends and enjoying life!

4. In real life you are playing in the highest German division (DEL) for EHC RB München. In your quite young career you already played over 100 league games. What is your best memory yet?

My best memory yet is the first game of the season in 2019/20. I scored the gamewinning goal against Augsburg in what was only my 4th league game. This season is also really special because it was my first full season in the league!

5. How do you prepare yourself for a DEL match?

Having good lunch, relaxing while playing some videogames, catching some good sleep and arriving early at the Arena. I like to be quite early in the dressing room to prepare my equipment for the game.

6. You are GM for one day and can pick your perfect starting six. One lineup consisting of EASHL players of the DACH-community and the other one of DEL players in real life:

DACH-Lineup:

LW: @Keuschemisch C : @Domi_PENTA RW: @Timasy
             LD: @GERxVillain RD: @Franky__2768

                                  G: @RPH_31

DEL-Lineup:

LW: Cedric Schiemenz C : Taro Jentzsch RW: Yasin Ehliz

                 LD: Zach Redmond RD: Marco Nowak

                            G: Mathias Niederberger

7. How do you like to spend your sparetime?

Obviously hitting the practice rink to improve in real hockey. But apart from that I love spending time with my girlfriend, family and friends.

8. You are DJ in the dressing room and can play one song to hype up your teammates. Which song are you playing?

Jorge Quintero - 300 Violin Orchestra

9. What other sports do you follow beside hockey?

I love watching football, tennis and Formula 1!

10. Where are the biggest similarities between real and virtual hockey?

The biggest similarity between virtual and real hockey is that it's always very important to stay creative also while being under pressure. Surprising moves and good decisionmaking gives you the edge in tight games in EA SPORTS NHL aswell as on the real ice! Having a gameplan and believing in it is also a really important aspect in both games. Sticking to the tactics and gameplan is the key to success.

11. Pizza with or without pineapple?

Definitely without.

12. Highscoring game or OT drama?

OT drama!

13. Who was your hockey idol when you were younger?

I always looked up to Sidney Crosby and his Hockey-IQ.

14. What are your goals for this GCL8?

We definitely want to perform better than in ECL'22 Winter and Spring. One of the most important factors for us is having fun but obviously we want to get as far as possible. Making the playoffs should be doable and maybe we can provide some upsets!

15. If you had to choose: Champions in the CHL or winning the German Championship in the DEL?

I think I would choose winning the CHL. Being the best team in Europe sounds good to me.

16. What is your favourite dish?

To be honest I do not have any favourite dish. I'm uncomplicated.

17. Which is the most important goal you have scored yet in your career?

My most important goal has to be the OT GWG in the CHL Quarterfinals 2021/22 against Lukko Rauma. Scoring the winner in OT and advancing to the semifinals in the CHL is really something special!

18. Which player would you like to see next here?

I would love to see my The Real Rookies teammate @OlafjenneJR (Eichelkratzer10) soon! Thanks for having me.

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

Right in time we are back with yet another Player Spotlight! The first week in the 8th season of the German Championship League is on its way - so it's the perfect time to take a closer look at Reto "eTschitsch" (@afc_Tschitsch) Ulrich. Goalie of the reigning GCL champion ZSC Esports from Switzerland!

1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?

I started playing in NHL09 with Claudio @Freeman7187 Salamoni. We started playing 2v2 where all remaining positions were played by the AI. After a few years I stopped playing until Claudio contacted me in 2018 again. They were in need of a Goalie for the former "The Black Jacks". That's when I started grinding again.

2. What do you value most in playing for ZSC Esports?

It makes me extremely proud to be part of this team and represent one of the biggest clubs in the country. Furthermore ZSC is my childhood club. So it's even more special to me.

3. Describe your perfect day!

Sleeping until 11am. Have a good workout in the gym and spending the rest of the day in Zürich, enjoying the sun and having good dinner.

4. You are GM for a day and get to pick any player for your 6v6 team. Who is in your perfect ECL lineup and GCL lineup (only DACH-players)?

ECL Lineup:

LW: @NikkeDangles C : @Eki RW: @FlyerKungen 

       LD: @Toneee9 RD: @Tuukka.R (KingOfApes_)

                        G: @uhNikke

GCL Lineup:

LW: @IDangledYouOut C : @PlaymakerSJ RW: @Freeman7187

                             LD: @Toneee9 RD: @Haldeem
                                         G: @PLA77NER
 

5. Do you play hockey in real life?

I played 14 years for ZSC Lions Youth teams. When I was 18 years old I had to end my career due to an injury.

6. What's your best hockey memory?

There are several moments I like to remember. I was able to play with great players who paved their way to the NHL. Such as Kevin Fiala, Jonas Siegenthaler, Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto and many more. But apart from that my biggest highlight was winning the Swiss Youth Championship back in 2012 and finishing as the top scorer of the league.

7. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL?

I love doing sports and having a good time with my friends. Spending time with my family is really important to me as well as travelling as much as possible.

8. Pizza with Pineapples. Yes or No?

NO!

9. What song do you listen to while playing an intense match in ECL?

Currently my favourite tune is "Good Vibe" by R.I.O. & Kyanu.

10. What's the background story to your PSN ID?

As a kid I fell in love with the Croatia kit at the World Cup 1998. My father bought me one and due to the fact that most of Croatias players name ended on "-cic" he told me that 'Cic" has to be my new name. A few friends started calling me that nickname and so it started its course until it eventually became "Tschitsch" instead of "Cic".

11. Who is the best player in the ECL?

This is a really tough question to answer. There are many great players and talents out there. But if I had to choose one I would pick @Eki. He is almost always able to make a difference and give his team the edge over the opponents.

12. What's your favourite dish?

As a Swiss there can be only one answer: cheese fondue.

13. What are your goals for this GCL and next ECL in NHL23?

For this GCL I will take the role as a backup goalie to have Mike @burban26 Müller and Christian  @Fightlocke3 Schubert's back. But our only goal for this season has to be to defend the title. In the next ECL I would love to participate in the playoffs. In the past seasons we improved steadily and making the playoffs has to be the next step.

14. High scoring game or OT drama?

Since I'm a Goalie I will obviously take the OT drama. And personally I feel like I perform best when being under pressure.

15. What are your NHL career highlights so far?

My biggest highlight has to be winning the GCL7 title in the finals against Team LEISURE (now Deadly Phantoms again). After falling short in four finals it was a big relief to finally beat them. On top of that we were able to secure the title with three sweeps in a row and personally securing five shutouts in the postseason felt really good! The ECL 7 Lite title was also really special to me aswell as making it to the top of the ECL and playing there now for the 4th consecutive season.

16. Who should be featured next in "Player Spotlight"?

In the next spotlight I would love to see my Swiss fellowman Sven @Original-SnuS Julmi!

Feel free to also suggest who you'd want to see in the Player Spotlight-series. Also, if there are any questions you'd like us to add to the arsenal, let us know!

For the first time since the inaugural IIHF Fan Challenge back in 2020, the IIHF is back with the all new 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship, where hockey fans all around the world will get the chance to qualify for their national team and go for gold in the final tournament between the best 22 teams in the world!

In the 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship, the amount of participating nations has been expanded from 16 to 22, with even more to come in the future. The new championship is part of a new IIHF initiative to bring more opportunities for games to represent their country at the world stage in smaller and bigger competitions.

“With the launch of the IIHF eWorld Championship, we are aiming for this to be the start of a new program of esports offerings in the future,“ comments IIHF President Luc Tardif.

The 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship is played in three stages, out of which the first is the National Qualifiers. All participating nations will first host National Qualifiers, where both a PlayStation and Xbox champion will be determined, these 44 champions in total will make up the national teams for each country. After this, the final tournament starts with the Group Stage in early July, followed by the playoffs, that will finish with the Grand Final in mid-July.

List of Qualifiers:
Thursday, 16th of June
Norway 
Switzerland 

Friday 17th of June
Hungary 
France 

Saturday 18th of June
Slovenia 
Poland 

Sunday 19th of June
Korea 
Germany 

Monday 20th of June
Ukraine 
Slovakia 

Tuesday 21st of June
Kazakhstan 
Czech Republic 

Wednesday 22nd of June
Japan 
Austria 

Thursday 23rd of June
Denmark 

Friday 24th of June
USA 
Italy 

Saturday 25th of June
Canada 
Great Britain 

Sunday 26th of June
Latvia 
Sweden

Tuesday & Wednesday 28th & 29th of June
Finland 

Click your country in order to advance to the registration site, Finnish players are able to qualify right here at SportsGamer.GG.

The signups are already open and anyone over 16 years of age from a participating country is available to sign up! To compete a player is required to have a stable internet connection and a console that is able to play the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version of NHL 22, so sign up now in order to help your country go for glory in the 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship!

This weekend, the 2022 NHL GWC European Finals were concluded in Maastricht, the Netherlands and after a long tournament and some dramatic events throughout the weekend, the golden boy Erik @Eki Tammenpää secured his back-to-back title.

With the grand prize of 15 000 USD at stake and for most players, the return to LAN events in practice was a very exciting setting for the weekend in Maastricht at the GG DreamHack Sports Festival, which eventually culminated with the crowning of a new European NHL GWC Champion. The contenders had all paved their way through a gruelling online qualifier stage, and eventually the eight best players were invited to enter the final weekend. Here's a list of those contenders:

Erik @Eki Tammenpää 🇫🇮
Johan @Lehmannens Lehmann 🇸🇪
Henrik @Eken45jr Eklund 🇸🇪
Olli "IOLL1" Lehtimäki 🇫🇮
 Jimi @jamal-_- Rönkkönen 🇫🇮
Teemu @Teemuyy Polttila 🇫🇮
Aaro @xDoumi Ruuhinen 🇫🇮
Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen 🇫🇮

Eventually, after lots of excitement and even some controversy we saw the Finns Eki and J-_-Jamaltheman qualify for the finals, and the two truly proved that both of them could be worthy of the Championship. The two of them went head-to-head in a full three game series, trading blows in a true ebb and flow situation. The first game of the finals was a 3-1 win for the defending champion Eki, and it looked like he had it all under control, but in the low-scoring series Jamal was able to surprise in the second game, taking it to a decisive third match. After a full three periods of the third game, the game was tied at 1-1 and we knew we'd see a worthy finish for the European NHL GWC Finals - the two best players going at it for one goal only. As the title of our article suggests, the scorer was eventually Eki, who managed to secure his back-to-back title!

We reached out to the Champion for some comments about his feat:

How would you compare this campaign to the one you had last year, and who was the best opponent you played?

Well obviously the biggest difference was the LAN finals. It's all different when you get to see everyone and play at 0 ping, which is always great. I have to say that @jamal-_- was in a class of his own today, the finals were absolutely crazy and it speaks volumes that we went all the way to game 3 OT. I feel like he was way calmer than everyone else around and some of the dekes and plays he tried to pull were very different. The fact that he managed to stay so relaxed put me in a tough place since it's usually way easier to play off your opponents when you can tell they're nervous. 

What are your thoughts about this years GWC overall and the format, how about the live finals?

The format was good, I liked the fact that we had the draft earlier than before (already at the top 16 stage) and that the console qualifiers had a double elimination format. However, I've always wanted the GWC to be a longer tournament and for players to have more chances to qualify, I'm not a big fan of the "one and you're done format". Naturally it makes for some thrilling moments as we witnessed today but in general it's not my cup of tea. 

How has it been for you to return to LAN games after a longer pause with the pandemic?

It's been great. I already got some touch for playing big LAN games in Tampa Bay earlier this year. I've always been good at LANs for some reason, my first ever tournament I finished second although I by no means were the second best player at the event, but ever since then it's just been working for me. I can't tell why but maybe I'm just less nervous than the competition or can better use the advantage from the 0 ping factor, I'm just guessing but some of that could be.

Finally, how are you going to celebrate this Championship?

It's 10 PM and I'm at the hotel answering these interview questions, so that's pretty much it! We've got an early flight tomorrow and I'm not one to party too much anyways, so maybe I'll figure something out when I'm home but no bigger plans than that. 

On behalf of the SportsGamer community, I extend a heartfelt thank you to the Champion and congratulations on the title! Now it's time for all the contenders to turn their heads toward next year and what's to come, maybe that will be your time to challenge Eki?

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

You asked for it, so we'll provide! This time we had a chat with Santeri @Sanezh Maanselkä, who has spent all of his virtual hockey career with Hokurit. The defenseman hailing from Mikkeli in southeastern Finland has come a long way together with his team, with their sights set on consistent improvement, one step at a time.

1.    What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?

I think it was back in NHL 13 when I first played EASHL with a couple of friends, quite casually. The fire for playing competitively was ignited somewhere around NHL 16, when Hokurit was founded.

2. What’s the best part of playing for your current club Hokurit?

I've played for Hokurit for my entire career and several of my teammates have become great friends for me even outside of the virtual rinks. The best part though is the way the core players have been committed to our long project that started already in 2015. Naturally we've had some roster turnover over the years, but it's been great to see how each player has grown through the years and with each iteration of the game.

3. What is your greatest NHL gaming memory?

There's so many and it's tough to pick just one. I think one of the most memorable moments was our ECL 8 debut when every player was so nervous and some shaky hands were evident! Another more recent memory was our promotion to ECL '22 Winter Pro through the qualifiers. The five season grind finally paid off and the feeling was incredible when we managed to secure our spot at the second highest tier in the final matchup of the qualifiers.

4. Describe your perfect breakfast!

I'm not a big breakfast person and often tend to skip it, but a true and tested combo I've stuck with is a few slices of rye bread with ham and cheese, washed down with a couple glasses of cold milk.

5. You're GM for a day and get to pick any player for your 6v6 team but none of your current teammates. Who's in your starting six and why?

I could easily pick a player each from the top 3 teams, but I'll go with players I've played with over the years and that have made an impression on me:

@jouni29 - @MozjaTG (Mozjayh) - @vepdsssss (Werppi)
@Maestroffi - @ripKeisari
@burban26

I started my career playing with Mozja so he is an easy pick for center. He is a very skilled player and I'd say he is one of the best centermen in Elite right now. Flanking him I've got Jouni, who I've played with for several years. He's a guy who handles his defensive duties with care and backs his teammates regardless of the situation. On the right flank I've picked a rather unknown name, Werppi. Be on the lookout for his skill.

On defense I've picked my former defensive partners. Maestroffi is a very good player in his own zone and also handles scoring when some backup is needed on that front. ripKeisari is a guy I've known for over ten years and he is a high-skill defenseman who is great with the puck. 

In net, I've got the Swiss beard king, Burban. I had the honor of playing an FCL tournament with him and he made an impression as a very nice person with a passion and fire for the game.

6. What was your dream job growing up and what do you currently do?

As a kid I always wanted to be a police officer, but later on I've dreamt about a job in sports. A marketing job for a hockey team could be very cool. Right now I'm working at the fresh meat counter of a supermarket.

7. Do you play or have you played hockey?

I've never played for a team although I wanted to do so as a kid.

8. What’s your best hockey memory?

The best memory is from 2015 and it's not even close. That's when my hometown team Mikkelin Jukurit secured the Mestis championship, which sealed the deal for them to advance to playing at the highest level in Liiga.

9. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL?

I like playing other games too, especially FIFA and Call of Duty. I'm also an avid sports fan and I can be found in the stands cheering on local football and hockey teams throughout the winter and summer. Nothing beats having a few beers in a group of friends after a tough week of work, though.

10. Pizza with three toppings, what are your choices?

Pepperoni, blue cheese and paprika mayonnaise to top it off.

11. You're the locker room DJ and get one song to hype up your team. What do you play?

Motörhead – The Game.

12. How did you come up with your PSN ID?

My name is Santeri, and most of my friends call me Sane, which eventually transformed into Sanezh, when all other options for my PSN ID were taken.

13. Who’s the best player in the ECL according to you?

@Beniittto. He's the captain and centerman for the best team in Europe. If anyone, he makes the game look easy.

14. Describe your ideal holiday!

On a beach somewhere warm with good friends.

15. Now it's up to you to suggest who we should interview next. Who do you want to hear from and why?

I'm gonna call out @Rytze_. I think this gentleman could provide a great interview for you!

Feel free to also suggest who you'd want to see in the Player Spotlight-series. Also, if there are any questions you'd like us to add to the arsenal, let us know!

SportsGamers, the Player Spotlight series is making its return with the objective of showcasing gamers that would perhaps otherwise fall outside normal reporting, but that we want to get to know better. Our strength is this community, so let's get to know each other!

We're coming at you with an interview of Prima eSport goaltender Juuso @TheSpeedo Sirkola, who took his first strides back in the second season of the Summer Cup with NG International Army alongside players such as @janbonator and @Mullweiser, who have since put down the controller. The 25-year old virtual goaltender hailing from the Finnish coastal city of Vaasa actually started his NHL gaming career as a winger, but quickly realized that his talent is better suited for stopping pucks.

1. What was your first experience with the EASHL mode in NHL?
Back in NHL 17 we played 3v3 in a team called Gainsville Gains with some friends. We all played on our 4G connections with pings between 100-200. Good times.

2. What’s the best part of playing for your current club Prima eSport?
The team is full of highly skilled players with high ceilings. That also motivates me to become a better player every time i take the ice.

3. What is your greatest NHL gaming memory?
NHL gaming get togethers between friends. Tough 1v1 matches, great drinks, fair and sometimes less fair competition. Usually these things last far into the morning hours before the best of the best is determined, and who will hold the bragging rights until next time we go at it.

4. Describe your perfect breakfast!
Not a big breakfast guy by any means, but if I'm on a day off I'd say lots of coffee, apple juice, sausage, bacon and some yoghurt with granola will do the trick. On workdays my specialty is to throw water & oats in a shaker - bon appétit!

5. You're GM for a day and get to pick any player for your 6v6 team but none of your current teammates. Who's in your starting six and why?

@Hippitukka - @ReDMisTi - @Maexsa
@saunapastori - @jahajaha93
@ICappeI

Giving credit where it is due. Maexsa opened the door for me to the legendary Elamam Kiekko back in the day, as a young goalie I got a lot of responsibility which definitely motivated me and made me a better player. Eventually we co-captained the team for a while too. I picked Redmisti & Hippitukka for similar reasons, they trusted me to mind the net for Arkham and I really learned a winning mentality from these guys. Saunapastori will be our press guy, handling all the public statements and PR. Jaha is the one who originally got me into the scene. Finally, I had to pick the best goalie out there to give this team the slightest chance of being competitive!

6. What was your dream job growing up and what do you currently do?
Every little boys dream, I wanted to be a hockey player, and later on a chef. Nowadays I'm a correctional officer.

7.  Do you play or have you played hockey?
As a kid I played for Vaasan Sport, but nowadays my hockey is limited to the PlayStation version or outdoor rinks.

8. What’s your best hockey memory?
Absolutely the 2009 SM-Liiga relegation series between Sport and Ässät. I was a little kid back then and cheered so hard my throat got sore in those games.

9. What do you like to do in your spare time besides playing NHL? 
Sleeping and watching Netflix, but also a lot different types of sports. At the moment floorball and Padel are my favorites.

10. Pizza with three toppings, what are your choices?
Pepperoni, shrimp and paprika.

11. You're the locker room DJ and get one song to hype up your team. What do you play?
Fabian Mazur & Snavs - Arena

12. How did you come up with your PSN ID?
As a kid I was a pretty good swimmer and when creating my PSD ID I laid eyes on some trunks of a particular brand next to me. The rest is history.

13. Who’s the best player in the ECL according to you?
I'll have to say another goalie, Casper @ICappeI Lundgren. He's been at the top for so long and won pretty much everything you can imagine. He doesn't just give his team the opportunity to win every night, but also the opportunity to claim the title every season.

14. Describe your ideal holiday! 
A summer cottage getaway. No rush, great food, a sauna and some good drinks, what else could you ask for?

15. Now it's up to you to suggest who we should interview next. Who do you want to hear from and why?
@Maexsa, the guy has been around for a long time and I'm sure he would have some interesting stuff to tell. When will we see the return of Elamam Kiekko, for example?

Feel free to also suggest who you'd want to see in the Player Spotlight-series - let us know in the comments below!

SportsGamers,

We proudly announce the Relax Cup, aimed for all teams playing on the Central European server. After five years of running the Relax Cup tournament independently for the Czech and Slovak community we came to the conclusion that playing on the limited regional basis with all the same teams over and over is no longer that fun. That is why it would be more interesting to play with the teams from different countries and we're hoping that expanding the scope of our cup will do just that!

Eligibility
Teams, who have the Central European server as "home server" are eligible to join the Relax Cup. This entails that the captains and majority of the lineup have to be located in a Central European country.

Format
The Relax Cup will consist of a group stage and playoffs. Groups will be formed based on the amount of participating teams, also the amount of playoff teams will depend on participation. Playoffs are played in a best-of-seven format. 

Schedule
Registration: OPEN NOW - closes February 27th
Season start: March 7th
Season end: TBA

SIGN UP HERE!

The main picture of the Relax Cup tournament is a friendly spirit and joy. The objective is to involve many teams from different skill levels to have a good time, get to know each other, while having some friendly competition along the way. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible join us.

CSCL / RC Admin team

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.

This is a post written directly by Björn @Jungledonk Lindberg and reflects his own thoughts. If you're interested in writing a Captain's Log, please contact @jahajaha93 for more information. You can also let us know who you'd like to hear from in the comments section.

As the captain for Djurgården Hockey it's for sure a real pleasure to look back a couple of years and to think about our whole journey from the start. 

Almost two years ago, I got the honor to take over the C in Djurgården. A shattered team, a terrible collaboration, with results lower than they should be and with frustration and fights among many players in the community. Confidence was at rock bottom, players had come and gone and everyone was pulling in different directions.

We had an incredible amount of work in front of us, in terms of the game play, with the mental aspects on and off the ice, to build a team with the same ambitions but also with Djurgården Hockey as an organization. 

The first thing I did was explain to all the players that we would build something long-term, we would stick together and we would accept each other for the individuals we are. I also made it clear that even if I would be the captain on paper, all players in the team will be involved in decision-making and would get their opinions heard. We would work in the same direction no matter how long it would take.

After a stormy season in ECL 10 Pro, where we finished in 11th place, it was now time to course correct and do the right thing. It was not an easy road to go but we looked forward to ECL 11 Pro. We made some adjustments in the roster and decided to go with a lineup that we would use as much as possible. We had lost Tobias @svetidaje Karlsson to SSK Esport but took in Janne @jahajaha93 Tarvonen as a replacement. We felt that Janne, who had experience from Elite, was just the player who could give us tips to develop even more. The season ended with us going all the way to the quarterfinals of the ECL Pro.

Somewhere there, we felt that we had something really good going on, and now it was the relationship with Djurgården Hockey that felt important to address. After a fantastic meeting at their office in Stockholm, it was clear that both we as players and Djurgården as an organization had the same ambitions and a clear plan for how we would proceed and with that we decided to go all in. Since ECL 12 was played in the middle of the summer, our motivation and objectives were a bit unclear at the start, but after the meeting with Djurgården we set things straight and decided that we would go for the ECL 12 Pro Title no matter what.

Since Janne early made it clear that he would be signing with Conquer Gaming after ECL 11, we needed a new right defender, and what option could be better than to take back @svetidaje, being a Stockholm native and with Djurgården as the club in his heart. He was up for it and as a huge bonus we managed to acquire Philip @Strumpan87 Ström at the same time and the roster was complete. A few months later we were the winners of ECL12 Pro and the Elite spot was secured. A couple of months after that, we had also won bronze in the SCL.

Now as we're underway with our first Elite campaign, we understand it's a massive challenge and while we aim to go as far as possible, it is important that we get comfortable with the level of play and do everything in our power to retain our divisional spot. In the long run, of course we want to become an established top team and in this way gain an increased interest in the sport in Sweden, and to get more people to follow us.

Players who haven't played at this level should know that ECL Elite is a special league. Every point is extremely important and every match feels like a playoff match. At this point of the season it can be stated that our start has been a struggle, but we're a team that will keep fighting no matter how difficult the task ahead of us appears.

I am incredibly happy with all our players. Each and everyone has grown a lot both as players but also as individuals. We are a team that stick together and have strong bonds, and I can only hope that this journey continues for a long long time.

We are excited to see how the season ends, wish all teams good luck and thank NHLGamer who make this possible for all of us!

Sincerely,
Björn @Jungledonk Lindberg

We had the opportunity to discuss with one of the most influential Swedish NHL esports personalities, Daniel @Demski_ Gadd, who has captained the HV71 esports project since the start and is now entering the first Elite campaign with the club near and dear to him. 

Daniel @Demski_ Gadd believes that work experience with children has also brought a lot of benefits in the field of virtual hockey. He feels he has grown as a person and become an even better leader.

”Working with kids you need to be good at noticing how people feel even in stressful situations. You need to learn what to look for in peoples behavior in order to know how to help them and be there for them without having to ask. If you are good at those things the job just gets so much easier. Understanding that every person is unique and that people thrive under different circumstances is almost mandatory to be good at the job. I’ve really grown as a person and have become better and better at noticing small things while working with kids. I feel like those things are directly applicable when leading a team as well. Obviously it’s not the exact same thing but those skills have really helped me become a better leader. Because in my opinion, you can talk about tactics and how to get better at the game all day long, but if people in the team don’t  feel good about themselves and enjoy playing, you won’t get any better at the game anyway. Feeling good and being happy is the most important thing, that’s where you need to start, because that’s where all good comes from.”

Daniel has been playing competitive virtual hockey for many years. Earlier in his career, he won bronze at the SCL in 2019 with the Bucketeers. Gadd says he got his first NHL from his dad back in 2004, and has been playing with passion ever since.

”I’ve always been a big hockey fan, so hockey has always been a natural part of my life. Growing up I had a full size rink just a couple of meters outside the house where I spent a lot of hours as often as I could. Naturally you can’t play hockey outside when it’s not cold, so my father surprised me with a gift back in 2004, NHL 04. Since then I have been hooked on the NHL series playing every game that came out.”

Now with several ECL campaigns under his belt, Gadd recalls with warmth the first tournaments he participated in. He emphasizes that he is very grateful for every opportunity that has presented itself throughout his career.

”My first experience with EASHL was when I was just playing for fun with a couple of friends. Back then I honestly didn’t even know that you could compete in NHL. Luckily for me we randomly got matched up against Bucketeers (now Färjestad) where Johan @Jerkix Eriksson played. He must have picked up on something when we played them because later on we got in contact and a new world opened up for me when he told me they were interested in signing me to compete for them in ECL 7 PRO. We put together a real solid team and managed to earn that elite spot my first season competing. To be able to compete in NHL was so much fun and something that really made it worth putting in all the hours that you have to. Looking back I am so grateful for Bucketeers giving me the opportunity that they did”, Gadd continues.

He warmly recalls how HV71 has always been a very important thing throughout life. Gadd has grown up in the hockey town of Jönköping, so supporting the club has been a natural part of the Swedish players youth. He tells how he has watched almost every match of the Swedish team during the twelve years and these years are associated with very fond memories.

"I have tons of amazing memories but the two greatest ones that come to mind is my first ever live hockey game that my dad took me to. HV71 won against Djurgården Hockey with 7-1, I think it was the season of 03/04 so I was only around seven years old. The other one is without a doubt HV71's latest championship in 2017. Overtime in a game seven for the gold medal and Simon Önerud scores the game winner assisted by Martin Thörnberg, both of them local hockey players whose hearts beat for HV71, I get goosebumps just thinking about it."

The Swedish player has been involved in the construction project of the HV71 esports squad from the beginning and he also serves as the team captain. He feels that the decision to join the project was the best he has done in his career.

"It’s an honor and a privilege. As a kid I dreamed of representing HV71 but I never thought it could become a reality, it really is a dream come true. I’m so glad HV71 keeps believing in me and the team and what we can do together. To be able to make this journey with such a great organization and amazing teammates, I really am blessed to have this opportunity. I am very exited for the new season, it’s going to be a lot of fun competing with the team again. This season will be by far the biggest challenge for us since HV71 was created two years ago. We as a team haven’t played in Elite so far and it will be a new experience for most of our players. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to grow though, both as a team and as players and I am really looking forward to see how we can handle it. I truly believe in this team and I will do my very best to help out as much as I can with the experience that I’ve got so far.”

He believes that when they started as a team (in 2019), their greatest strength was building the squad from local players. He also feels that it has improved the chemistry between the players as they were also better able to practice in LAN environments.

"I’m confident in saying that locality in the early stages of developing this team was the most important thing. It gave us the opportunity to practice together in HV71's arena, Husqvarna Garden. It helped me out as the captain of the team in an amazing way making strategies and helping players with small details in their game so much easier. And the team chemistry really took a big step forward being able to hang out together, we really became tighter as a group. I think we created a very good foundation of our team play back then, something we to this day keep building on. But as I mentioned before, sometimes you need a change and as important as locality was before I wouldn’t say it’s the most important thing right now. A good example of that would be how much my good friend and teammate Robin @Rubituss Söderqvist have helped us become a better team. The impact he has had is huge and also one the biggest reasons of our success. Putte @Putteekiing Unasin is another example of a player bringing something to the team that we just didn’t have before, a puck moving defender who is calm with the puck and good at setting up plays. The impact both of these players have on our team is big and the “A” on their chests is well deserved. Locality created the foundation of our team play, but the signings of some big names has given us an edge we simply didn’t have before.”

The road they've traveled with HV71 has been a memorable one, and it's still tough to believe that the squad has paved their way to the European top in a relatively short time: "When starting out I couldn’t believe that one and a half year later I would throw the puck on net looking for a rebound and Martin @Zupancic_King424 Zupancic would score the game winning goal from that rebound securing the elite spot for us. The moment that puck crossed the goal line is by far my best memory as a captain.”

He admits that the team has strengthened despite the player changes: ”To be honest most of the lineup have changed since we started two years ago. Sometimes you just need a change to take that next step in developing a team and in other cases you just kind of grow apart and heading in different directions just makes sense for both parties. However I have a strong belief in not changing too much too quickly, I think you need consistency to be able to grow, both as a team and as a player and I think that shows since a lot of players have played multiple seasons in HV71. The only players left since we first started is me and one the best goalkeepers in Europe, Christoffer @Tiipponenii(Coffelainen) Ericsson. He is very important for us and a big reason behind our success. The changes that we have made have always been one or maybe two at a time, keeping the core in the team and therefore the consistency. I’m very grateful for every player in HV71, both current and past, they all have a big part in what we have built so far."

The HV71 centerman mentions that the fight for the Elite title will be tougher than ever this upcoming season. However, he has an exceptional eager to play the encounters between the Swedish teams: "In Elite every single team is so talented and there is so much skill in every player. I think all matchups will be very tough and it will be an honor to play against the very best of Europe night in and night out. Our goal is to establish ourselves in the Elite so our biggest competitors will be the teams looking to do the same. However, including ourselves it will be four Swedish teams in Elite and those games is always extra fun to play so I will have to say that Granit Gaming, Färjestad BK and Djurgården Hockey is a couple of big matchups for us."

The Swedish player sees his team's greatest strength as a great team spirit and very good chemistry. He states that they enjoy playing together.

”I think we have a very well balanced team with players complementing each other creating a team first mentality. We love playing together and we have so much fun while playing, after all you gotta have fun to be able to perform. So our chemistry both on and of the ice is also one of our biggest strengths, creating the foundation of everything we do. Playing as a unit really is key for us, that said sometimes you need to do something extra, something out of the ordinary, especially when you are up against the very best of Europe, and I am confident we have the players to do so when needed. We also have a lot of young and hungry players who want to show the world their potential, that in combination with a couple of players with a lot of experience is a really good mix."

"The two most important things for us this season is to stay humble for the task ahead of us and believing in ourselves and what we can achieve together. No matter how the seasons starts, no matter if we win or loose we can’t get too high or too low. We need to take one game at a time without thinking about the game before or the game after. We need to be consistent and not forget why we are here in the first place. We earned this spot in elite through determination and hard work, so let’s enjoy this season and work even harder to keep that spot", Gadd finishes.

Virtual ice hockey is on the rise among traditional hockey clubs, as many top international clubs have announced their involvement and are thus launching their own teams.  Along with that trend, Örebro Hockey from Sweden, who previously participated with various rosters in both the SCL and ECL, have now signed a new Elite-level roster. Prior to joining forces with the Swedish club, the former POGGERS advanced to the quarterfinals in the last ECL 12 Elite playoffs. As the head of Esports för Örebro, hometown player Elie @eliekamel87 Kamel will take on a new role with the club in developing their operations, while also being the netminder on the virtual ice. 

“Since I live in Örebro and also played for Örebro in my youth my goal has always been to represent the club in the esports scene. When their previous affiliation ended, I saw my chance and contacted Ludwig at Örebro Hockey and in a short period of time we agreed that we could do great things together with me as a local esports representative, but also as a member of the playing squad and having history with POGGERS from before.

Elie mentions that Örebro has a vision to make their club an attractive esports team and to create an academy for local players to further boost the growth of NHL esports in the area. The academy will help young players to learn, grow and evolve while representing Örebro eHockey on the virtual ice: "The first phase is to introduce the new Örebro Elite team, while phase 2 is going to be recruiting an academy team of potential younger talents."

We also had a short talk with team captain Tero @Terodee Dahlström and asked about his thoughts on their new affiliation, and the story behind it all: “After all, for me, things don't change at all. He (Elie) has been a part of the core group here for a long time. Although in our group, at least in my opinion, it means much less than elsewhere. We are primarily a group of friends and all decisions are made together. We were without an organization for quite some time after the SJ contract ended, but at some point talks about representing Örebro surfaced, with Elie being local and all. How Örebro can help us will certainly be seen better in the future, but the support of the organization is always a great help and we're really excited to be a part of the future with Örebro.”

Janne @Nieppii Niemelä has experience from both the virtual side of hockey and the more traditional sport. He has played competitive NHL since NHL 17 and has in recent years managed to pave his way to the top of European competition with his team IQUE. Niemelä also represents the prestigious Oulun Kärpät in their eLiiga campaign.

"Of course I've been playing the NHL series casually for quite a long time, and then during NHL 17 became interested in the competitive side while watching a lot of Hannes@Hansulinho Kettunen and Risto@Dominointi Järvi streams, through that I really started to develop my own game and got the ball rolling."

Niemelä feels that playing hockey has been useful also when transitioning to the virtual side of things. He says he’s developed a good eye for the game and in-game responsiveness from that side.

"This is an interesting topic for me and when thinking of it I'd say that the eye for the game and reaction to situations has definitely come from that side. However, perhaps the pressure tolerance and the fact that I am at my best in a tough spot is something that has transitioned directly to the virtual ice."

As his best memory from playing virtual hockey, Nieppii states that his first LAN experience takes the cake, however, back in his junior days he played one season in Bradford, Ontario, which he remembers fondly.

"The best memory of virtual hockey was the first GWC back in NHL 18 when I qualified for the EU finals in Stockholm and got to play on a LAN event for the first time. The best memory for hockey is probably the entire season when I played in Canada, although the league level wasn't too good, but the experience was overall great and I got to focus on the things I like the most (NHL and real hockey) so it was cool."

Niemelä states that personally, playing the 6v6 game mode is much more fun because you can experience it with the team, while in the 1v1 game mode it's only you. However, he says he appreciates both forms of play.

"In my opinion, 6v6 makes more sense, because playing with a team brings a different feel to it, and for example big wins feel much better with the team than alone, although of course I appreciate the 1v1 side of things, but team sports are always better."

We asked the IQUE captain what kind of tips he would give to those young people who want to play and succeed in competitive virtual hockey in the future. He notes that humility is crucial.

"Well, the biggest thing I would say is that you shouldn't overthink things, and stay as humble as possible, this works for both the 1v1 and 6v6 sides of things. I also think it’s too common for people to think it’s easy to move from a hard 1v1 game mode to the 6v6 game mode, I was a bit guilty of that at a younger age myself but the reality is that it’s not as easy as you'd imagine."

His team IQUE ran into some turbulence in the offseason and experienced some major changes after playing together with success for a few months.

"Yeah, there has been quite a turnover in the team after the FCL season and things didn't look too good for a while, but in my opinion good pieces were found for the team and of course the main thing is a nice fresh look and everyone has a strong motivation to make it work.  Perhaps the team has been strengthened through a certain kind of experience in that it's noticeable in the team how more experienced players take on different situations, and through that we will certainly be able to be a tough team to beat in future tournaments.  I feel that the team has to play together a bit longer to find out which styles of play work for us, but there are already signs of good teamwork."

One of the players lost in the offseason was young prodigy Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen, who suddenly left for GOONS and left a gaping hole down the middle for IQUE.

"Of course, it's not an easy situation and it's hard to say whether you can directly replace such talent, but I feel like we've made a great acquisition in Aaro @Ikavalko Ikävalko, who is getting back to Elite games and surely still can develop a lot despite being an experienced player already."

Also, If you could choose one player from your own team with whom you could swap places, who would it be and why?

"Yes, Nico @zNico Tuoreniemi and I swapped places before, and I heard a bit of a story that his ECL career as a forward only lasted one night, so he could show his skills at the attacking end. At least it couldn't go any worse than last time."

You get one more task... assemble your own 6v6 team of players who you think possess exceptional potential to make it big in the future, you may choose players from your own team.

Left wing: Matias @theMaddias Kilpinen - played a really good FCL tournament and proved to be a very versatile player, reminds me of Ilmari @Buantso Lehkonen with his unpredictability. Secured a roster spot in Conquer Gaming so I think he's ready for Elite now.

Center: Aaro @Ikavalko Ikävalko - I'm making a homer call on this one and choosing our center. Ikis is making a return to Elite and possesses high skill and grinds the game alot. 

Right wing: Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen - Makes a return to the ECL ice now and is still young and hungry, which gives a lot to this game and I think it will make him even better than before. 

Left defenseman: Juho @juhkis96 Katajamaa - Also made a name for himself in Otukset and has a good eye for the game. Understands how a good defenseman is supposed to play and now gets a shot to prove his level in Elite.

Right defenseman: Putte @Putteekiing Unasin - I think a good puck moving defender who doesn't forget his defensive obligations and now gets to show with HV71 what he has to contribute on the Elite ice.

Goaltender: Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen - Has already been among the best goalkeepers for a while, but the army slowed down the progress a little bit. Now is the time to prove how he can perform in the long season and in a team where the goalkeeping game will also play a big role in their success.

Frölunda HC is one of the most prestigious Swedish hockey clubs especially since the turn of the century, and the club hailing from Gothenburg in southwestern Sweden is now entering the esports scene with a similarly ambitious initiative. That entails that NHL gaming powerhouse FILADELPHIA will in the future dress in red, green and white for the Indians. In addition to signing the most accomplished roster in the history of the sport, Frölunda also launches an academy team for upcoming talents and a regional team comprised of local players, both receiving coaching and advice from first team captain Casper @ICappeI Lundgren. 

"For me, personally, this is a dream come true since childhood. I've grown up with Frölunda and watching hockey at their home arena Scandinavium", says @ICappeI, who is the starting goaltender for the team and also recently joined the Frölunda HC organization in the role of esports manager. Naturally the club also starts their esports journey with the game Cappe is most familiar with, EA Sports NHL. 

"I feel like we (FILA) have wanted to be very patient in regards to finding the right fit with an organization. We've had several opportunities but chosen not to pursue any of them in favor of finding the perfect fit, where we have similar long term goals that align. When Frölunda made it known to us that there was interest, the entire team got an incredible boost of energy. They have a vision of pushing the entire NHL gaming scene forward and are showing that initiative by having three full squads join the upcoming season of ECL", the captain continues.

Most recently, FILADELPHIA were crowned FCL champions, to end another successful season of NHL gaming, capping off their NHL 21 campaign. Now they're excited to start their NHL 22 journey in their fresh new jerseys and are doing so with a virtually unchanged roster, only adding experienced Mattias @Tacterz Hjelm as a utility player to help them out in tight situations.

The initiative of having three rosters represent the club right from the get-go is unheard of in the NHL gaming scene and the idea came from Cappe as he got to work in his new role at Frölunda.


"I believe that this is the way to do it and it's totally in line with what Frölunda are working towards with their hockey operations. I also think that other clubs will pick up on this and follow our lead, focusing more on the depth in their organization. It's very important to focus on the youth and younger players, there are lots of players out there with the ambition of one day representing Frölunda but perhaps don't have the physical capabilities to do so."

Christian Lechtaler, club president for Frölunda HC expresses his excitement about the clubs new branch: "Esports is a new challenge for Frölunda. I'm excited to follow Caspers initiative to combine an elite squad with two local teams. The set up is totally in line with what we're working on on the hockey side - youth, academy and first team."
 

In addition to playing for the regional team, Robin @Robin Barbosa Barbosa will be putting his skills to the test as a content creator for the organization. He has already built a following with his NHL videos on Youtube and is now connected with the competitive gaming scene in order to horizontally integrate. 

"I'm very happy to have Robin on board working on content related to his Youtube channel. He is a very devoted local guy from Gothenburg who I'm glad to have connected with the competitive gaming scene.", Cappe finishes.

This time, we had the chance to discuss the beginnings, highlights and future of NikkeDangles' career so far. Despite his young age, the hREDS winger has become one of the brightest stars in the scene.

Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen has at a very young age risen among the brightest of stars in competitive NHL. Success has also been achieved, most recently the Finnish Championship bronze medal in 1v1 and the Finnish Championship silver medal in 6v6.

Tukiainen admits that although NHL has always been his number one game, he has still enjoyed quite a lot of Fortnite and considers himself decent at it: "The first NHL was NHL 09 and since then I've played all the NHL games. Gaming became a bit more serious when I switched over from Xbox to PS4 at the start of NHL 18. In addition to NHL, I also play a lot of Fortnite, where I'm also good. However, NHL will always be my number one game. I live with my mom, and she's very supportive of my gaming, and I'm lucky to have her. She always watches the streams of all my important games."

The young star also says that he has always looked up at superstar Erik @Eki Tammenpää, especially when he himself was unable to participate in international tournaments.

"When I couldn't participate in international tournaments myself, I looked up to Eki, especially after his World Championship title. I still look up to him, he makes very good content while streaming and his Youtube content is great too. Also his consistent tournament success is something to admire. He really knows what he's doing."

Tukiainen says his best memory of the game is the first LAN event where he was able to play against top players in the qualifiers.

"One of my fondest memories from the beginning of my competitive career is when I got through to the LAN event and got to play the best players in Finland. From the beginning of NHL 19, I realized that I could play at the top level, but it took me a while to get the tournament success. I also remember that helpless feeling of not being able to take the next steps towards success, but you just have to be able to grind, things are going to go your way at some point as long as you don't give up."

He says that the 1v1 game mode is comfortable to play, since you're able to control every position and the flow of the game better, while in 6v6 you can only do so much from your own spot.

Tukiainen says that on important gamedays he makes sure that he has slept enough, eaten well and taken a little walk before getting games started. Listening to good music also helps to prepare for important moments.

"When it's an important gameday, I make sure to have a good nights sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated. I also like to go for a walk before the games and listen to a lot of music to get in a good vibe."

Most recently, hREDS surprised the reigning Champion FILADELPHIA on the European grand stage when they swept the finals 3-0.

"The best memory I have so far is definitely out ECL 12 victory. After our loss some time ago in the FCL Finals, i really began to understand the trick we pulled back then and began to appreciate the championship more."

No team has ever managed to win consecutive ECL titles. hREDS will set out for the coming season to snap that streak.

"The goal is just to win the ECL and be the first team to win the ECL back to back. If we want to do that we have to train a lot more than during the last ECL, because all teams are going to play a lot more at the beginning of the new version (of the game) than during the last ECL because many teams had little motivation to train due to the summertime."

The youngster is already a role model for many players of the future. We asked him to give some tips to those players who may be dreaming of a competitive gaming career in virtual hockey.

"You have to train a lot, especially every time a new game comes out because you need to get caught up with the new stuff. Regularity is always really important to me because since I feel like even a 1-2 day break can impact your gameplay negatively, that's why i try to play at least a little bit every day. Then if you really want to do well in tournaments, I recommend looking over your own game afterwards and trying to figure out what went wrong and what you could develop in the future."

Finally, we asked who he'd like to switch places with if give the opportunity to do so: "If I had to switch places with someone, it would probably be with Tuukka @Tuukka.R(KingOfApes) Röpelinen because I'm used to playing forward and personally I'd like to play on defense at some point in my 6vs6 career."

Yesterday, we saw the release of the NHL 22 Technical test, focused around the World of Chel. This is an exciting time for our community and we're sure everyone who have got their hands on some codes have already got to testing out the new game. As always, these tests are early versions of the game and don't show the full finalized product, but are here for the community to get a taste of what's to come and voice their opinions. As one of the biggest NHL gaming sites in the world - not to mention the amazing talent and passion of our community members - we want to help out with this.

That is why we're reaching out to you in order to hear what you think. Any concerns and opinions are welcome, both the good and bad. Please let us know in the comments section about anything you run into during your time with the game and expand on the topic as much as possible. If you enjoy something in particular e.g. the passing in the Technical Test, be sure to bring that out also to make sure it doesn't change. Screenshots and short video clips are also welcome, so don't hesitate to add those to your messages as they provide valuable added info.

Please note that the official EA Answers HQ forum is also live and taking feedback and that is the official way of providing feedback of the beta. You can find it by clicking this text.

We hope all of you have a good time with the Technical Test and please remember to let us know what you think!