Almost Famous are your ECL '24: Spring - Pro Champions

A champion has been crowned in the Pro Division for the ECL '24: Spring season, as Almost Famous defeated Falun Coal Miners in five games to win the ECL Pro Championship and have now clinched their place in the Elite Division for the start of the ECL '25 season.
 

Almost Famous's ECL 24' Spring Pro championship roster pictured from left to right: @Ikavalko @jezbaru @Oxdoggi @grontti88 @Jalkkin- @xrikardo55

This championship is the first for Almost Famous in their long history in the ECL. The club was established in 2018 and has participated in 444 games, compiling a record of 252-145-46 over the years in various competitions. The team made the Lite Division Finals in ECL 5 and the Pro Semifinals in ECL 6. They would later qualify for the Elite Division and compete there from ECL 7-10. However, the club was never able to find sustained success in the ECL's top division, as they stayed there for four seasons before finishing last in the division in ECL 10 and disbanding a season later. The club was defunct until this past season when it made its return after over three years. They attempted to qualify for the Pro Division, but fell short after losing in the semifinals of the Pro qualifier. This led them to the Lite Division, where they did make a Semifinals appearance before losing to the eventual champions Bone Breakers in seven games. They would however win the Bronze matchup to take home third-place in Lite and earn automatic promotion to the Pro Division for this season. 

Not only does this title victory mark for an amazing comeback story, but it also makes for a bit of league history as well. With this championship, Almost Famous are the first team in ECL history to win the Pro Division championship after failing to qualify for the division the season prior. They are also the first team to win the Pro Division championship in their first season after being promoted from a lower division.

Following their Game 5 victory to clinch the title, we got to speak with Almost Famous' captain and center Aaro @Ikavalko Ikävalko, who has been a captain of the team since its beginnings in 2018 and spoke with us about their amazing playoff run, player's that stepped up for the team and his excitement to finally be crowned a champion in the ECL with the team that he helped build.

Ikavalo Interview:

Almost Famous' Road to the Championship:

• Regular Season: 14-3-5-8 (53pts) - 4th in Group 1, 8th overall in Pro Division
• Round 1: 4-2 series win vs (5) Supernatural
• Quarterfinals: 4-1 series win vs (3) Deadly Phantoms
• Semifinals: 4-2 series win vs (7) RYHTIC
• Finals: 4-1 series win vs (1) Falun Coal Miners

 Almost Famous' ECL '24: Spring - Pro Championship Roster

🇫🇮 Aaro @Ikavalko Ikävalko (CAPTAIN)

🇫🇮 Miikka @grontti88 Gröhn (CAPTAIN)

🇫🇮 Eren @Jalkkin- Yalçin (CAPTAIN)

 🇫🇮 Teukka @Oxdoggi Niemistö

🇫🇮 Riku @xrikardo55 Ojala

🇫🇮 Jesse @jezbaru Ruuskanen