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    ECL '23 brings 1v1, bigger prizes and World Finals to the table - are you ready to ramp things up to the next level?

    Lots of news are here along with the new ECL season, as always - bigger and better than ever before. This season we will also be able to realize a long-time community dream by organizing the first ever 6v6 World Finals!

    The ECL is back, and this time we’re in for a wild ride, leading up to the World Finals! Yes, you read that right - this season, we’ll have our ECL ‘23 Winter Champion go head-to-head with the NACL Champion in a World Finals event live at Assembly Winter 2023 in Helsinki. The event hosted in Messukeskus of the Finnish capital is the same venue where so many legendary moments have taken place. FILADELPHIA hoisted the trophy to cap off the unbelievable IS Cup 3 Finals, whereas HAVU Gaming celebrated their FCL 2019 victory at the very same spot. Who will be the next team to hoist the trophy in Helsinki and are you ready to ramp things up to the next level? 

    The ECL has established itself as the superior European NHL esports league and the objective is to continue solidifying that position with even bigger and better things in the future without forgetting our trademark quality. The new season ramps up the heat in several ways and we're extremely happy to announce a new record high prize pool of up to 28 000€ for only the Winter Season spread out across the divisions. Let’s also take a look at some of the other news our next season brings.

    ECL_23_Winter_Cover_Play_the_best.jpg

    Introducing ECL 1v1

    The first and most visible change will be the introduction of the all new 1v1 European Championship League. This is the new 1v1 league to rule them all in the European market, with the ultimate prize being the 1v1 European Championship. The format is designed to follow the true and tested format of our national 1v1 competitions, and as this falls under the ECL umbrella, you can also expect big production and a hefty prize pool to go along with it. 
     

    Changes to licenses

    The ECL has been on a steady growth trajectory over the past few years and we’re keen on continuing that trend. In order to help with that ambition, we will be introducing player licenses, and increasing team license fees for the upcoming ECL. 

    The new ECL Player License will cost 20€ and allow for participation in both the ECL 6v6 and 1v1 leagues for the full ECL ‘23 year including both the ECL '23 Winter and Spring seasons. This license will grant you access to compete in the most prestigious and biggest competitive NHL esports league in Europe. An ECL season spans over the course of two to three months and guarantees a minimum of roughly 20 games of competition on the 6v6 side*, whereas the 1v1 league adds - at the very least - the opportunity to participate in four single-elimination qualifier events that are used to qualify the top 128 players that move forward to the group stage.

    Starting this ECL Winter season, ECL Neo will continue being available at no license fee for teams wishing to get a taste of competitive virtual hockey, whereas all other divisions are subject to a team license fee. The license is exponentially higher at higher levels of competition, given the increased spotlight and additional content around the divisions in question.

    Each team can name up to 3 backup players (outside of the primary 6) that can help the team out and play up to 10 games without having to own the player license.

    The ECL ‘23 Player License can be purchased during the season if a backup wants to play more games than expected.
    ECL Neo will remain free to play, with no player license required to compete, however

    • To uphold the integrity of ECL Neo as the beginner level, we reserve the right to deny teams to participate in cases where they are clearly above the amateur level, as it could significantly impact the experience of what ECL Neo is intended for.
    • The ECL ‘23 Player License can be purchased by an ECL Neo player if they want to participate in ECL 1v1, benefit from the additional advantages that come with the license (more on this later), or simply as a form of supporting the league.

    License fees will be allocated to fund prize pools and developing operations, such as our broadcasts, live productions and promoting the league.

    *Based on the minimum amount of games played in a starting role in the ECL '22 Spring: Core regular season.


    ECL Legacy for PlayStation 4

    As the ECL is moving over to new generation consoles, we realize that a number of teams have still chosen to continue playing on the previous generation. In order to satisfy their need for competitive action, we will be hosting an ECL Legacy league that will be based on our ECL ruleset. ECL Legacy will be open for all PlayStation 4 teams, only requiring a player license. 

    ECL_23_Winter_Licenses_16_9.jpg

    Taking the next steps for the ECL into a more professional direction has been a long time coming already, and it has been an inevitable step to take in our journey to developing the league and platform as a whole. The league has been active since 2015 and ran without profit every season. Since the start, we’ve grown from a 50 team single division into a five division league with around 300 active teams, which has led to the requirements of the team increasing. These changes allow us to focus on core operations and develop even further, with the first step being the all new ECL 1v1.

    ECL23-Headers-What-Is-The-ECL.png

    The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports  - a league where all the best European NHL gamers compete against each other in both EASHL (6v6) and Online Versus (1v1) for the European Championship title. ECL 6v6 currently features five divisions, so action is guaranteed for everyone regardless of skill level and experience!

    Basic information/requirements of ECL:

    • Regional restrictions: ECL is a European tournament format, however, we do not necessarily exclude players located in North America or Asia. A European server will always be used. In case of severe connection issues, we reserve the right to exclude teams or players.
       
    • Individual requirements: Each player needs to have an account at SportsGamer.GG and create their personal player card.
       
    • ECL licenses: Teams in ECL Elite & ECL Pro, ECL Lite and ECL Core will require their respective ECL ‘23 Winter team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player needs to have a valid ECL ‘23 Winter Player License before taking the ice.
       
    • Rules: The ECL ‘23 Winter ruleset will follow the same foundation as the previous season. The updated rulebook will be available before the season.
       

    ECL23-Headers-Divisions-Framework.png

    The divisions framework for the ECL ‘23 season will follow the same logic as for previous seasons. We will have a total of five divisions with the following team allocation: Elite 16 teams, Pro 32 teams, Lite 64 teams, Core 128 teams and Neo 32+ teams.
     

    ECL_23_Structure_red.jpg

    Please refer to this ECL Ranking in order to understand which teams are eligible to sign up for each division.

    ECL23-Headers-Sign-Up-Period.png

    Wildcard teams: 14.-19.11.2022 ⚠️
    ECL Lite Qualifier: 14.-22.11.2022 ⚠️
    ECL Pro Qualifier: 14.-22.11.2022 ⚠️
    ECL Neo: 14.11.-8.12.2022
    ECL Core: 14.11.-8.12.2022
    ECL Lite: 14.-30.11.2022
    ECL Pro: 14.-30.11.2022
    ECL Elite: 14.-30.11.2022

    *Signups will close at 23:59 CET on the last day mentioned unless otherwise specified.

    Schedule

    Qualifiers: 24.11-7.12.2022  ⚠️
    Season duration: 11.12.2022-1.3.2023

    ECL_23_6v6_Sign_up_HERE_btn.jpg                 ECL_23_1v1_Sign_up_HERE_btn.jpg

    Signups are open right now, so now is time to brace for that final push in building your teams! Get your team together and sign up for the biggest event of the year!

    For our North American members who are eagerly waiting for the NACL announcement, we can reveal that it is in the works and will be dropping within the coming days. 

     

    Read more about specific division schedules, prize pools and more:

    ECL '23 Winter Wildcard
    ECL '23 Winter Lite & Pro Qualifiers
    ECL '23 Winter Neo
    ECL '23 Winter Core
    ECL '23 Winter Lite
    ECL '23 Winter Pro
    ECL '23 Winter Elite
    ECL '23 Winter 1v1
    Purchase Licenses

     

    Don't have a team yet? Team looking for additions to your roster?

    If you are a free agent looking to be picked up, please head over here.

    If you are representing a team looking for players, please head over here.
     

    Did your team sign with an organization that is represented in the game and needs in-game unlocks?

    Fill in this form. (Only if your organization has unlockables available in NHL 23)




    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    We all understand there are costs related to website, organising stuff, events, staff for the ECL... I would be fine paying a license for a team and a increase on last years would be fair IMO.

    I wholeheartedly disagree on paying a player's license. 20€ for some players that are back ups? Or have difficult work schedules? And that's only for this year's edition of ECL. 

    This is going to be a big source of conflict. Leave it for ELITE and maybe PRO, for the rest of leagues makes absolutely no sense.

    Edited by viktors89
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    How ungrateful some of you guys are here? 

    I don't see why it is such a big deal for people to pay a small fee for a one year license. You have been given an opportunity for 5+ years to compete and challenge the best in the NHL for free to this date. SportsGamer was a hobby for the organizers, but due to increasing amount of work a hobby became a job. SportsGamer is a company that has employees, and organizing tournaments of this quality is a full time job, and the people who are organizing these tournaments have families to feed.

    Don't buy two 24 packs of beer this weekend, and practice CHEL instead and there is your license. 



     

    Edited by lutuniemi
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    3 minutes ago, lutuniemi said:

    How ungrateful some of you guys are here? 

    I don't see why it is such a big deal for people to pay a small 40€ fee for a one year license. You have been given an opportunity for 5+ years to compete and challenge the best in the NHL for free to this date. SportsGamer was a hobby for the organizers, but due to increasing amount of work a hobby became a job. SportsGamer is a company that has employees, and organizing tournaments of this quality is a full time job, and the people who are organizing these tournaments have families to feed.

    Don't buy two 24 packs of beer this weekend, and practice CHEL instead and there is your license. 



     

    High paying job by the looks of it . 

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    12 minutes ago, lutuniemi said:

    How ungrateful some of you guys are here? 

    I don't see why it is such a big deal for people to pay a small fee for a one year license. You have been given an opportunity for 5+ years to compete and challenge the best in the NHL for free to this date. SportsGamer was a hobby for the organizers, but due to increasing amount of work a hobby became a job. SportsGamer is a company that has employees, and organizing tournaments of this quality is a full time job, and the people who are organizing these tournaments have families to feed.

    Don't buy two 24 packs of beer this weekend, and practice CHEL instead and there is your license. 



     

    I'll rather have the beers

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    I can understand if Lite and above is a fee, but CORE and NEO I can't understand. It was fun to play these tournaments.

    Edited by T33J11

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    34 minuter sedan, tkantola säger:


    yes + sponsors. Thats funds is only from community players

     

    + 1v1 players 20€ license fee!!

    + neo players license fee!!

    So. 

    ▪ 300 teams x 8 players 

    = 2400 players.

    ▪ 2400 players x 20€ 

    = 48.000€ For the 6vs6/1vs1 licenses.

    😰😰😰😰😰

    The value of a used 2014 Ferrari California ranges from $85,862 to $119,332, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options.

     

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    15 minuuttia sitten, iSvamp kirjoitti:

    So. 

    ▪ 300 teams x 8 players 

    = 2400 players.

    ▪ 2400 players x 20€ 

    = 48.000€ For the 6vs6/1vs1 licenses.

    😰😰😰😰😰

    The value of a used 2014 Ferrari California ranges from $85,862 to $119,332, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options.

     

    1v1 and 6v6 licenses for person are the same, so not like 20e for playing in 1v1 and another 20e for playing in 6v6, but just 20e and can participate in both. On top of my math is then just the players who play only 1v1.

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    56 minutes ago, viktors89 said:

    We all understand there are costs related to website, organising stuff, events, staff for the ECL... I would be fine paying a license for a team and a increase on last years would be fair IMO.

    I wholeheartedly disagree on paying a player's license. 20€ for some players that are back ups? Or have difficult work schedules? And that's only for the first ECL. 

    This is going to be a big source of conflict. Leave it for ELITE and maybe PRO, for the rest of leagues makes absolutely no sense.

    Ye, fine to pay but not how it is now. Always rescheduling problems and rules that are not followed.

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    38 minutes ago, Tauri said:

    Ye, fine to pay but not how it is now. Always rescheduling problems and rules that are not followed.

    Paying a fee as a player and later not being able to play because of reschedule, just one of the cases where license will be a conflict.

    When you pay something you are entitled to enjoy it. It will be a problem.

    Edited by viktors89

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    1 timme sedan, ChildishGerm8 säger:

    1v1 and 6v6 licenses for person are the same, so not like 20e for playing in 1v1 and another 20e for playing in 6v6, but just 20e and can participate in both. On top of my math is then just the players who play only 1v1.

    I said nothing about 20€ each in my example. 

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    For all the Lite/Core guys next year when you watch yanks come over to play in World Finals at least you can get some sense of accomplishment knowing you paid for those flights and 5* hotels. 

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    46 minuuttia sitten, iSvamp kirjoitti:

    I said nothing about 20€ each in my example. 

    Just wondering why you did same math as in my post.... Nevermind then 😂

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    Thank god they decided to play ECL on PS5. Would have been a pretty big investment just to get to participate in it playing a shitty game that's always broken somehow. 570€ console minimum, 40€ game, 20€ player license + core license.

    Thanks for the games, this decision was easy.

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    5 tuntia sitten, JakePlay77 kirjoitti:

    There is not schedule and rulebook for 1vs1 tournament? Are they added here later? Is 1vs1 in HUT or online versus? Most of the info was about 6vs6 tournaments so I assume you add more info on 1vs1 later.

    In online versus

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    16 minuter sedan, ChildishGerm8 säger:

    Just wondering why you did same math as in my post.... Nevermind then 😂

    Cuz who the fuck understands finnish outside of Finland? 😂 

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    I don`t have the time to play atm bc of work related stuff, have been pretty much on a brake for more than 6 months. 

    I don`t agree with neo nor core fees. Guys are playing for fun and/or are new to the scene, not necessarily competitive mindset at all. Same goes 30-50% of lite teams. So…

    But at the same time I think: 

    There is no free lunch in the table. 
    - Servers cost money, maintenance cost money, platform develepment…everything costs money. Hours Kenu has put in this for free of charge is mindblowing. 
    So I more than understand. 

    We have enjoyed ECL for no cost, same goes to NHLGamer/Sportsgamer for years, but there are people who has done the work behind the scenes. 
    So everyone is ofc free to try to do the same and put only the hours in. How many of members are actually ready to do that?

    I`d guess Kenu has done thousands of hours to ours behalf. And ofc all the volunteers also. And no, I`m not one of them, don`t have the time to put effort in it. 

    Edited by Oicteppotulppu
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    It would be awesome if all teams (at least neo/core/lite) signed up for neo, just to see how Moneygamer reacts. 
     

    10-20 euro in a fee would be okay. Maybe 80 % for prize money in the divison you play in and 20% to Moneygamer.

    1 minut sedan, Oicteppotulppu säger:

    I don`t have the time to play atm, have been pretty much on a brake for more than 6 months. 
     

    I don`t agree with neo nor core fees. Guys are playing for fun and/or are new to the scene, not necessarily competitive mindset at all. Same goes 30-50% of lite teams. So…
     

    But at the same time I think: 

    There is no free lunch in the table. 
    Servers cost money, maintenance cost money, everything costs money. Hours Kenu has put in this for free of charge is mindblowing. 
    So I more than understand. 
     

    We have enjoyed ECL for no cost, same goes to NHLGamer for years, but there are people who has done the work behind the scenes. 
    So everyone is ofc free to try to do the same and put only the hours in. How many of members are actually ready to do that?

    I`d guess Kenu has done thousands of hours to ours behalf. And ofc all the volunteers also. And no, I`m not one of them, don`t have the time to put effort in it. 
     




     

    I don’t think 90% would disagree on paying a small fee. But 45 euro is way too much.

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    Diizzylicious…

    yeah maybe. 
    At the same time (not related to that what I wrote) 45€ is 45€. You drink 5 beers in some of Helsinki Centrum`s  nightclub`s, and 45€ Is gone. 


    But now when I`m thinking, the problem what I see is what was written earlier. Core and Lite collects the money, but the prizepools in those respective divisions are much smaller compared to Pro and Elite. 
    So that is for me bit unfair. 
    It doesn’t go like that in real world leagues either. Division 3 and 4 are not paying Top-leagues salary. 

    Edited by Oicteppotulppu
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    I think its a good thing, even though price Pool should be updated in a direction that mid-table Elite Teams also have something to play for not only top 4 Teams. Like now we pay 1.000€ + Player licence for two seasons without having a chance at getting something back, when we could just go to Pro Div and fight for the win/money with less pay in.

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    As Captain of Inter Iceland (Former Geekz Energy eSports) we will play this upcoming ECL PRO, but it would be fine, if our earnig from last ECL Spring /Playoffs Round 1  ~ 210 € are here! I payed last year all from my side, and this year myb aswell, i don't the money so much, i have a good Private Life, but its not professionell to wait a half year for our earnig! And now i have to pay 560€, but still wait for my 210 €? 

    Don't get me wrong, we like to play ECL, especially its the only Chance as a Team from Mittle Europe to play against the north, but if u have a prizepool, dont let the guys wait for their cashout!

     

    Kind regards josh 

     

    Edited by PLA77NER
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    Every guy who writing here please tell me What you can do without paying it? That just normal, everything you wanna do In your Free time cost and everything cost so much More than this…. So take you head out off ass please😴 

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    7 minuter sedan, Frans-Fin säger:

    Every guy who writing here please tell me What you can do without paying it? That just normal, everything you wanna do In your Free time cost and everything cost so much More than this…. So take you head out off ass please😴 

    Bullshit. Caps Gaming is for free. :)

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