NHLGamers,
If you missed the previous parts of our preview, check them out here (part 1) or here (part 2).
In any competitive environment, be it business, sports or other ventures, the goal is to ascend to the top. For some, that goal is to be achieved as quickly as possible whereas others prefer to take their time. As the old adage goes; “the journey is the award”.
Regardless of your approach, the goal remains the same: climb upwards.
Nowhere is this scramble to reach the top more evident than in mountaineering. When you are climbing mountains, you are literally pushing yourself to make it to the top.
And, hopefully, back down again.
The better you get at summiting mountains, the greater the challenge becomes. Should you reach the pinnacle of mountaineering – the so-called “eight-thousanders” – you are staring down the 14 tallest peaks on the planet, including Mt. Everest. And it is when you reach this level that you first come into contact with the inhospitable, ruthless environment known as “the death zone”.
Dramatic as it sounds, the death zone is exactly what you think. It is the altitude-level of the mountain (8000+ meters) at which point oxygen levels become so low, your ability to breathe so hindered, that the cells in your body begin to die. The human body just cannot exist in such an environment for more than a brief period of time.
Basically, the longer you stay in the death zone the more likely you are to succumb and die.
At NHLGamer, the closest thing we have to a death zone is ECL Elite.
And while the top 16 teams in Europe are thankfully not in danger of running out of oxygen any time soon, they know what it is like to spend time in an inhospitable environment. Because not only are your 15 opponents in Elite doing everything in their power to keep you from reaching the summit; each and every team below this “death zone” would like nothing more than to see you plummet from the top, taking your place in the process.
Such are the conditions facing Black Horse, Farjestad BK, FILADELPHIA, GHETTO FIREBIRDS, Gotham Knights, HAVU Gaming, hREDS, JYP Jyvaskyla, KOVA Esports, Northern Ascendancy, Roots Gaming, SAWO ESPORTS, SJ Gaming, Team LEISURE, Vesa Pompa and YMCA Esports headed into ECL 11 Elite.
And at the very top – the teams usually expected to be the first ones to plant their flag at the summit of this metaphorical Mt. Everest – we usually find the likes of FILADELPHIA, HAVU Gaming, JYP Jyvaskyla and hREDS.
But remember, the longer you stay in the death zone the greater the danger becomes.
And after multiple consecutive tournaments of being viewed as the best of the best in pre-season rankings, could there now be trouble brewing at the top? Or will we find the same teams prevailing?
As late as FCL 2020, the last NHLGamer tournament to be played on the NHL 20 edition of EA SPORTS series of hockey games, these four teams made up the ‘top 4’. FILA defeated HAVU in the finals by a series score of 3-2, whereas JYP claimed the bronze by defeating hREDS 2-1.
Since then, much has changed.
1. 
hREDS (ECL 10 Elite: 4th - Semifinals)
hREDS is the team that has experienced the least amount of change as of late. In fact, the lineup of seven this Helsinki-based organization is fielding for ECL 11 is exactly the same as it was for FCL – minus a loan player or two. The hREDS roster is one of tremendous promise, a group that have stayed together for a long time and have put in the work in NHL 21 to be able to ascend from contenders to champions. Could this be the season where their roster consistency finally pays off? If so, it’ll happen through Joakim @Joukki Nyholm slamming one-timers from the left wing, Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen weaving through traffic like a precision driver, Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen making opponents’ heads spin behind the net, Tuukka @Tuukka.R Röpelinen and Teemu @Xteemuz Polttila conjuring up a formidable second wave with Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen and Mika @FinKonna Paasikontu forming a wall.
But first they need to get over the hump of the semi-finals – a roadblock that have put a stop to their title aspirations for the past couple tournaments.
Player to watch: Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen
This youngster came up a while ago and has just been getting better every season. The hREDS offense is arguably the most skilled in the entire division so you could rightfully pick just about anyone out of the tree to be their player to watch. But this time, the spotlight is on Nikke. While he might not always play with a razor-sharp focus when the opponent isn't up to snuff, as the going gets tough Nikke has a tendency to rise to the occasion and score the big goals. Will this be the season he truly solidifies himself as one of the best wingers in the game?
2. 
FILADELPHIA (ECL 10 Elite: 2nd - Finals)
FILADELPHIA have gone through some changes since their FCL title, but those changes have mostly come outside the “core six” of Casper @ICappeI Lundgren, Joel @jtorro-_- Tourunen, Aleksi @loimmu Loimuvirta, Erik @Eki Tammenpää, Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala and Paul @PleeMaker Arontie. The team’s utility players, successful Twitch streamer Joonas @SUPERVIRTA Virta and Swedish 1v1-specialist Sebastian @SebbeLarsen86 Larsen, both left the team in mutual agreement – Virta ending up with SAWO Esports and Sebbe returning “home” to Vesa Pompa HC. Instead, SCL silver medalist Jonas @poliskontroll Lindström was brought in to back up Cappe in net with Cappe taking on the role of utility forward outside of his netminding duties. On paper, FILA looks to have a good chance of claiming another title. Their starting lineup is, after all, unchanged.
However, a somewhat unique question mark remains for FILA: can you truly be a digital multi-sport esports pro? PleeMaker already achieved “verified” status (winning 27+ games in Weekend League) in FIFA 20 and have done so in FIFA 21 as well. What is new is that ICappeI has managed to do the same in FIFA 21 – twice even. While NHL is surely still the primary focus for both these gifted console gamers, getting the verified badge in FIFA does not come without a significant amount of time and effort invested. Can FILA keep their eyes on the prize?
Player to watch: Joel @jtorro-_- Tourunen
We've all seen what Torro can do as he's been a dominant force for seasons on end already, but his SCL run in the Vesa Pompa jersey was something else and showed that there is an even higher ceiling for this guy. His calmness with the puck and the flow of his game is unparalleled. If it's one of "those" seasons, keep your eyes peeled for #40.
3. 
HAVU Gaming (ECL 10 Elite: 3rd - Champion)
HAVU is another team that will see multiple players in their oh-so-successful starting lineup replaced. Or, well, in a way at least. Because while long-time left wing Ilmari @Buantso Lehkonen requested to be shifted from active roster to backup, the club chose to promote from within. Taking the reigns as starting LW will be former goaltender extraordinaire Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen. Now, for those who have been around the ECL scene for quite some time it is no surprise to see the gifted stickhandler and former 1v1 champion be the team’s choice for new LW. But it has been quite some time since Hansu last saw Elite action as a forward. ECL 6, to be precise. With Puantso being such a vital part of HAVU’s title collection, it certainly won’t be easy for the team to just “pick up where they left off” as if nothing happened. Not to mention, with Hansu now considered a forward – a new goaltender had to be found. Fortunately, HAVU were able to secure the services of long-time JYP wall Oskari @sibeelius Grönroos.
Even so, this kind of roster turnover means you cannot automatically just pencil HAVU in as a finalist this coming season as you perhaps could in previous iterations of Elite. The new-look green and black will have their work cut out for them. Will they be able to fend off the competing sharks smelling blood in the water?
Player to watch: Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen
Despite having all the experience in the world and having proven his skill on multiple occasions, Hansu is stepping into an extremely difficult situation in replacing one of the most clutch players in the HAVU roster. There's no doubt HAVU's offensive trio will be highly effective, but could the x-factor be fading with the absence of Puantso on the left wing?
4. 
Roots Gaming (ECL 10 Elite: 7th - Quarterfinals)
The Kerava-based organization is home to some very experienced gamers that have spent an extended period of time together. The main change that is seen compared to their ECL 10 campaign is wingers Timi @Rimpe Rimpeläinen and Jere @keranee Keränen being exchanged for a high-powered offensive motor in André @Foppatofflan Liljegren - a move that's been paying dividends all offseason long for Roots as their offensive game is looking sharper than ever. Despite a whole slew of naysayers and doubters, long-time captain Juhani @Tanski87 Tanskanen has become a defensive force in the division and elevated his offensive game in the process. Roots are now also running a tandem of two very capable goalies in Joonas @swagx88 Kuossari paired with Kasper @Kaz_zu Ramstedt and it'll be interesting to see which one will see the majority of ice time. At least on paper, Roots have made small but important improvements to their roster and there should be no doubt this squad is making the playoffs. How far they go is entirely up to them.
Player to watch: André @Foppatofflan Liljegren
One of the great playmakers of the game is making a return. After spending the majority of his career with Northern Ascendancy in various forms and making a short stint in Djurgarden Hockey in ECL 10, the magician is returning to top tier competition. @Foppatofflan likes to have the puck on his stick but also move it quickly and smartly. He is the definition of a player that makes his linemates better alongside him.
*****
For the first time in quite some time, we have seen significant changes among the perceived top 4. For the first time in quite some time, the future does not appear to be quite as set in stone as it has been in previous tournaments.
For the first time in quite some time, there could be trouble at the top.
We're kicking off the season already today with the first broadcast of the season at www.twitch.tv/NHLGamer starting 19:45 CET. Tune in for the action, we'll see you there!
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