NHLGamers,
As you know, we're adding the Core division into our framework for the new season and with that we're in for a series of Qualifiers ahead of the ECL 12 season. Info to follow below:
Pro and Lite Qualifiers will be starting officially on Thursday, April 15th.
Qualifiers will be completed at an intensive pace, and therefore it is advisable for teams participating in the qualifiers not to attend our ECL 12 Warmup tournament. Here are the schedules for the respective qualifiers (all dates in April):
-
Pro Qualifiers:
- Round 1: Thursday 15th, Sunday 18th, Monday 19th, Wednesday 21st
- Round 2: Sunday 25th, Monday 26th, Wednesday 28th
- BO5 series (where needed): Thursday 29th
-
Lite Qualifiers:
- Group Play: Thursday 15th, Sunday 18th, Monday 19th, Wednesday 21st, Thursday 22nd, Monday 26th, Wednesday 28th
- BO5 series (where needed): Thursday 29th
In our New Division and Promotion Structure article, we stated the following logic as a basis of filling potential open spots in divisions and Qualifiers:
LainaaIf there happens to be more open spots than anticipated (e.g. from teams disbanding which would have been invited to play in the qualifier, or owned a spot to the division in question), we will award the next highest ranked playoff team each spot, whilst the next highest ranked potential qualifier eligible team will replace them in the qualifier. This procedure will be carried out for each and every extra unforeseen spot.
Based on that logic, to fill the available spots after sign-ups, the following ECL 11 Lite teams have gained direct promotion to ECL 12 Pro:
- Grenoble BDL Esport
- Sjukstugan
- BoxinElite
- Sinister
- PENTA (previously ECDC Memmingen eSports)
Also, based on the same logic, there are updates to the teams participating in the Pro Qualifier:
LainaaECL Pro Qualifier Teams
- Södertälje SK
- Ducktales BK
- UNI Gaming
- TIKI TALK
- noRex Gaming
- We Kings
- Orebro eHockey
- Beast Hockey
- Nearbird Fighters
- Lekstugan HC
- Golden Nights
- NOVA
- Patience (previously TeQuila SunRise)
- Hokurit
- Project X (previously Northern Legacy eSports)
- Birka Vikings
- WILDCARD 1
- WILDCARD 2
- WILDCARD 3
- WILDCARD 4
Due to us having a total of seven Pro Wildcard applicants fulfilling the requirements for a Pro Qualifier Wildcard spot, we made the decision to allow these teams play a pre-qualifier determining which teams will get the four Pro Qualifier spots. The teams not entered into the Pro Qualifier will be entered into the Wildcard spots in the Lite Qualifier.
Below are the Wildcard teams:
- Dynastia
- Reality Check HC
- Royal HT
- Hawaii Hockey
- Rogle BK
- Barys eSports
-
IK Oskarshamn
Some of these teams might already hold a divisional spot in ECL Lite due to their performances in ECL 11 and should they be promoted will open up a spot in their place.
After sign-ups closed and the number of available spots was determined, the following teams have gained a direct spot in ECL 12 Lite based on their performances in ECL 11 Lite:
- Armada Hockey
- FILADELPHIA Academy (previously Hammarby Hockey)
- Murohoki
- RoKi Esports
- Dynastia
- IK Oskarshamn
- BIK Karlskoga (previously Northern Falcons)
- TuTo Esports
- Oulunsalo HT
- Rogle BK
- Remparts de Tours Esport
- Spirit
- GIFU Hockey
Lite Qualifier teams:
LainaaECL Lite Qualifier Teams
- Calzone HC
- Lulea Hockey
- Baby Goons
- HC TOTAL CHAOS (previously Black Sharks)
- PunaKala
- EHC Biel Bienne eSports (previously The Black Jacks)
- The Last Line
- Finnish Hockey Legends
- StickLifters
- Northern Dust
- Clowns On Ice
- Thunder United
- Bare Knuckles Hockey
- Helter Skelter
- Vasteras IK
- Verket
- Lassen Lampaat
- No Name/Odd eSports
- Burning Goats
- United Front
- TEAM MODO
- Virtuoso
- KohKae Esports
- Lutunilkat
- Sopranos
- Saucer Hockey
- VANHAT KYLJYKSET
- KSE Teutons/Hyperion
- Seinajoki Noms
- Pinaattikone
- Vemppaosasto
- UKnighted HC
- Herforder Ice Dragons
- 5th Line Heroes
- FILA DE LA HC
- SCB eSports
- Dynamo Dragons
- DEG eSports
- Team SIKA (previously EN HUND)
- WILDCARD 1
- WILDCARD 2
- WILDCARD 3
- WILDCARD 4
- WILDCARD 5 (if available)
Teams that applied and are eligible for ECL Lite Wildcard spot:
Unwanted
Almost Retired
Due to the large number of teams moving up automatically to fill the spots in Pro and the Pro Qualifier, and how the rules were written for this, we were forced to reduce the number of teams in the ECL Lite qualifier. Below is an image of how the seeding will look.
What works, what doesn't?
At the end of last year we released our plans for how the promotions, relegations and qualifiers will work. Now, we've seen the formula in action for the first time, and while it's worth noting that we believe the transition from four to five divisions and significantly shrinking the size of ECL Lite is a big cause of the complexity of the process for this season, there's always theory vs reality. Perhaps for next season all (except for auto-promoted) spots should be given out through the qualifiers rather than moving teams before them(?).
What we set out to do with the new qualification process is to eliminate subjective opinions from the decision making. While we believe our pre-season seeding of teams into empty spots with the old system has historically been fairly accurate and based on the performance of those teams we would argue that it has been successful, the fact is that we are reaching 300 teams this season and forming an objective opinion on the constantly growing number of teams becomes a harder task each season.
Hence now is a good time to ask for your feedback - what part of the system do you like and what would you do differently?
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