SportsGamers,
The ECL '23 Winter Pro season is seeing an unusually high turnover in teams due to several squads disbanding in the offseason, which means we'll have a lot of interesting new outfits to take under closer inspection! Some of these squads include long-time Lite dwellers Arkham Asylum and Bastu, who will finally be getting a shot at the second highest tier, while we're also seeing the return of Synergy Hockey after their winning ECL '22 Spring campaign where they beat Valco, who also earned a well deserved promotion, in the Finals.
Season Information
ECL '23 Winter Pro will feature 32 teams in two groups with 16 teams each. Default gamedays are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Eight teams from each group will make the best-of-seven Playoffs. This season, the prize pool for the Pro division is 5500€ with the split pictured below.
Head to the league page here to view the groups and game schedule.
ECL '23 Winter: Pro Schedule
- Regular Season: 12.2.2022-16.1.2023
- RO16: 19.-24.1.2023
- Quarterfinals: 26.-31.1.2023
- Semifinals: 2.-7.2.2023
- Finals: 12.-14.2.2023
Season Preview
Group 1 Written by @jahajaha93
HOT 🔥
HanaaHC
HanaaHC has been one of those teams that haven't quite been able to get over that threshold and be bona fide contenders for quite some time already. Recently they had their shot at promotion through an Elite Qualifier, but got edged out by ISO Esports in a dominant Qualifier Finals sweep, which indicates that Hanaa perhaps isn't quite ready for Elite competition yet. However, they've got a gruelling Pro campaign ahead of them now, and plenty of time to grow and gel. The desire to succeed is there, and so is the talent, now they just need to find a way to make it all work. The team's most notable additions will be Miro @Rytze_ Perho and Joonas @Jondeezz Tikkanen, who join them on the flanks of captain Jere @Hazard-laser Korte as Mikael @Mikka Alaheikka takes on a new role in defense. The team was able to perform in the Elite Qualifiers with this roster, so the indication is that they should finish among the top teams in their group.
Player to Watch: @Rytze_
Several rumors had RCTIC folding at the end of last season, and they had in fact been absent for a while, but now they’re back as a fusion with the former WannaCry, and we’re quite excited about their chances in this one! The team is sporting a deep offense with the likes of @Limbe65 and @yrjoo from the former RCTIC roster with additions @Okke40 (hifk_FANI), @Jjomppa and @IKarkkiI joining them. We’ll have to see where Karkki eventually plays, as she’s been seen both at the center and defense positions in past seasons. Young @Ricco will be their sole netminder.
Player to Watch: @IKarkkiI
Be a Bro is back with one of the most experienced rosters in the division. This roster features season 1 originals @Janikka and @imosi, who will hold leading roles despite not belonging to the captain group. The old dogs are accompanied by fringe Elite defenseman @MCH_98 and the duo @Sanezh and @ESSRV from the former Hokurit. The skill is still there for this team and their experience will certainly push them far in a division where every point will count. @Svone10 will be guarding the net for the squad, and with some decent performances in previous seasons, this could be the one he breaks out properly.
Player to Watch: @MCH_98
The Swedish roster is back in the Pro division, from which they stepped back at the end of the ECL 11 Pro season. They’ve worked their way back slowly but surely and after the long grind, these highly experienced gamers can now jot down a few more experiences in their journals. @Supremski is a great offensive defenseman that could certainly slot in for some Elite teams too, while their offensive trio @Buffy, @Isindar and @Mumsi- have been around enough to know how to win games. Goaltending is also in excellent shape for this team, with one of the strongest tandems in the league. @Sorsa103 and @DUNZA could end up sharing the responsibilities.
Player to Watch: @Supremski
NOT ❄️
Mora played their first ever ECL Pro season last Spring and ended up finishing 14th in their group ahead of Almtuna eSport and Pasilan SKA. They had big wins against strong RCTIC and Hokurit teams, but otherwise there weren’t many highlights to their campaign. with one more season of experience in the rearview, the leadership group has heavily overhauled the team and this time it unfortunately looks they might have gotten weaker. Time will tell, but with their recruits mostly coming from Lite squads outside of the Playoff picture, they’ll need to up their level a lot to make things happen this season.
Player to Watch: @andreaskakan
The team that once was a finalist in ECL 9 Neo has come a long way in their development over the years, and it’s a great thing to see that their core has done their best to remain intact through some of the adversity they’ve had to face in the Lite division. Now with a step taken to the next level, all of this squad will need to elevate their level very much in order to escape relegation. They’ve traditionally been a good regular season team, which might end up working in their favor this season!
Player to Watch: @juusoskari
Having earned their spot in the Pro Qualifiers by gaining bronze at the end of the ECL ‘22 Spring Core season, Frolunda HC Academy will be in for a massive challenge leaping over the Lite division entirely. Keep an eye on their early performances that could dictate a trend for their season. This team does have some offense to them and their force up front will be @Gustaf Olsson (gurrao10), who finished 2nd in scoring in the Core Playoffs last season. Now, they’ll need to find that defense too and really work together to make things click.
Player to Watch: @Gustaf Olsson (gurrao10)
There’s no sugarcoating it - the playstyle Ace Hockey have employed in the past will not work against most Pro level squads. They’ve got tremendous skill and speed up the wings, but thus far they’ve been a one trick pony, which unfortunately could end up being costly for them. However, if Ace Hockey finds a way to diversify their game and get those greasy goals whenever needed, they could end up finding a mid-table finish.
Player to Watch: @Dehliiin
Group 2 Written by @Mikka
HOT 🔥
Coming into their fourth Pro season, Björklöven has been in or around the playoff conversations since day one. Captain @Kallmanius has managed to reel in some exciting reinforcements for the upcoming campaign, with @Demski_, @Rubituss (l-Rubituss-l) and @Tkautto98 (Kautto_) joining from the now defunct HV71, who got relegated from Elite after the Spring season. They now appear to be one of the stronger squads, and should be battling not only for Group 2's top seed, but perhaps even the championship. That's a ways away though, and we'll see what the lengthy grind ahead brings them, despite the premise.
Player to Watch: @Demski_
DPH made their Pro debut back in ECL 6, and it only took them two tries to get up to Elite. They made some good runs during their four seasons in the highest division, before getting relegated after ECL 11. Getting back up to where they once were will always be the main target for any former top team, but this German side has fallen short in the first round of the playoffs twice in a row now. Even though the Phantoms haven't met their own expectations for some time, this is always a team who can compete and put up with the best of them. Though most of the old names like stars @Timasy and @PlaymakerSJ remain, the grown squad size leads one to wonder how much of a rotation we'll be seeing. Ehockey is largely based around tight knight team play, so it will be interesting to see how this could affect them. No matter what, Deadly Phantoms have surely earned the status of a frontrunner with their history.
Player to Watch: @xXPsykoSkillsXx
Another team to have really solidified its status as a high-end Pro team in the recent years is Herlev Eagles. They've played in the division since ECL 10, and have made it to the Quarterfinals for the past two seasons. @Dreamickie was slotted in defense for both of these runs, but now appears to be back in the center spot. With @Spearzz_ also re-joining the squad after an absence of equal length, the Eagles seem to have assembled the same @vibholm10 - Dreamickie - Spearzz_ forward trio they had for their first two Pro seasons! @oSandello's new partner will in turn be @KinQjuusto, joining from the now defunct Fiasko. While Herlev lost some extremely important pieces in @Suth98_ to Örebro Hockey and @keranee to Roots Gaming, the old chemistry seems to have been clicking moderately well in the ramp up to the season. That should bode well for their chances of at least maintaining their past level, even if trophy aspirations might still be too far off.
Player to Watch: @vibholm10
Rounding out the HOT4 is Nemesis, coming off a surprising eHSM 2022 performance. After topping their group ahead of JANO and HAVU Gaming, they further bested the former with a sweep in the third round before falling honorably 3-1 to Tunnel Vision in the quarterfinals. Even in the ECL, they've gradually moved up ever since their re-emergence last Winter: first they finished 12th, and then 10th in Spring, only two points off a playoff spot. Now is clearly the time to make a leap to the playoffs, at minimum. The only change in Nemesis' starting five compared to eHSM seems to be captain @Miska (Zundeh) stepping back into the defense, replacing Elite loan @Toneee9 as expected. A huge part of their success in goalie @Pasi (Pasi-Fism) is also absent from their roster, though @Viltzup can definitely perform and @JaxonRules93 showed decent results as part of Hawaii Hockey. As the core stays intact, it should take a step towards the top half of the table with the lead of offensive weapon @temppanen.
Player to Watch: @temppanen
NOT ❄️
The Geeks always seem to end up on the doomy side of these previews, but a testament to their base level is the fact that they remain here to be thrown under the bus – year after year. They are already coming into their 6th consecutive Pro season, though they've only made the playoffs once during that span (in ECL 11), instead having had to fight for their divisional spot more often than not. Captain @Jesus has managed to gather some interesting names, and most notably an old friend in @BlazEm0de- (domiinnn) is making a return after a couple of seasons away. They also appear to have added defenders @Pontinho (xClaughton-) and @MAYZIIX since their shaky qualifier performance, so perhaps COG can show some growth over the season. Regardless, their number one focus once again needs to be avoiding relegation.
Player to Watch: @Jesus
Having already been a long time Lite dweller with five seasons under their belt, IKO finally takes the step up to Pro after an impressive Spring season. They had a rough go at the SCL a few months ago, failing to even make it out of the group stage. Plenty of time has passed since then though, and along with a new version of the game, some recruits have arrived. RW @Chevikov (Hikoilija__) looks to finally play a proper ECL rookie season after showing some promise a year ago, while RD @Aunee95 joins after two Core seasons as captain of Guldkallan HC. @snippystatue returns after spending eHSM with Armada Hockey, bringing plenty of Pro experience to this squad which, aside from @JF1891, is desperately lacking from it. While Oskarshamn can show some flashes from time to time, their first season should mostly be about getting used to the rise in level of play.
Player to Watch: @Chevikov (Hikoilija__)
NGU spent two seasons in Pro under the PENTA banner before getting relegated, and now they've made an immediate bounce back after a single Lite campaign. Their roster seems to have undergone quite a makeover, with only captains @DaMan (Akin_Penta) and @CuteTerminator7 playing games both in the ECL '22: Spring Lite Playoffs and the recent Pro Qualifier. They actually had a decent performance in the qualifier, splitting points with everyone except Lemmenvelhot, who they bested in both games. That may indicate a stronger than bottom of the table contest, but the mostly DACH area side still has a lot to prove they belong at this level. Could these rather unknown names come out of nowhere and surprise us all? Who knows, it's all up to them and their former Pro top ten scorer captain to put on a performance.
Player to Watch: @DaMan (Akin_Penta)
One of the longest standing teams in the scene, the legendary former TIKI TALK is back in Pro! Once upon a time bouncing between Elite and Pro, this ECL 1 veteran team took their time to make it back here once facing relegation after ECL 11. Three seasons and a name change later, they made it all the way to the Lite Finals last Spring, though falling just short in the end with a clean sweep loss to another comeback-making veteran team in Synergy Hockey. Why is Valco on this side of the preview then? Well, the Finnish squad led by ehockey icon @itspardytime has always above all had a fairly unique way of playing, which shouldn't remain as effective as the competition gets tougher. Unless, of course, they manage to keep shocking their opponents similar to last season's playoff run, during which they kept on upsetting higher seeds one after another. The distinctiveness does work on their Twitter account at the very least, so there's that to look forward to even if things don't fall to place on the ice.
Player to Watch: @itspardytime
The season for these clubs kicks off already today, but tomorrow you'll be able to watch some of them in our weekly ECL Pro broadcast at www.twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG! Stay tuned for the broadcast announcement on our social media channels.
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