SportsGamers,

Plenty of speculation has been rumbling around about which teams will be filling open spots left by disbanded teams in the European Top 16, and we're here to shed some light on the Qualifier process!

UPDATE ON THE ELITE QUALIFIERS

At the moment, two spots were left open by the disbanded Tohtorit and Reality Check teams. We have invited a total of six teams from ECL '23: Spring - Pro to participate in the Qualifiers, based on their success the previous season. As many of you have seen, Golden Nights decided to decline their invitation and Purification will be taking their place as the next best team up. 

Here is a list of the participating teams:

Purification
RCTIC
Renascor
Unwanted
Deadly Phantoms
POGGERS

Schedule
Group stage: 8.11-15.11.
Playoffs (BO5): 16.11.

The group stage consists of double-headers against each opponent. The four best teams advance to the Playoffs, out of which the winners of each BO5 series will advance to ECL '24: Winter - Elite.

UPDATES ON THE FORMATS OF THE PRO AND LITE QUALIFIERS

ECL '24: Winter - Pro holds a total of 17 open spots, meaning that the Qualifier Stage 2 will not be played. The four best teams out of the Qualifier groups will advance to ECL '24: Winter - Pro, whereas the rest will play in the playoffs for the last remaining spot. The winner of the playoffs will clinch the last available Pro spot, whereas the remaining teams will play in ECL '24: Winter - Lite.

ECL '24: Winter - Lite will allow for all Qualifier teams to enter the division, as long as said Qualifier teams have proven a willingness and ability to compete in the Qualifiers.

SportsGamers,

We are only a couple weeks away from the beginning of the ECL '24 season and we want to remind you that today (November 6th)  is the last day to sign up for the ECL Lite, ECL Pro, and ECL Elite divisions. This applies only to the teams that are eligible based on last season's performance. Please see our previous post for the full list of eligible teams.

The ECL '24: Winter signups will still continue for the Core and Neo Divisions until November 15th, so there is still time to build or join a team and join the fun!

If you're new to the ECL and don't know what this is about, please familiarize yourself with the below news story:

Wildcard teams: 18.-30.10.2023
ECL Lite Qualifier: 18.-30.10.2023 
ECL Pro Qualifier: 18.-30.10.2023 
ECL Neo: 18.10.-15.11.2023
ECL Core: 18.10.-15.11.2023
ECL Lite: 18.10.-6.11.2023  ⚠️
ECL Pro: 18.10.-6.11.2023  ⚠️
ECL Elite: 18.10.-6.11.2023  ⚠️

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

For a full list of the default gamedays during ECL '24: Winter, please see the below image.

Schedule

• Pro & Lite Qualifiers: 1.11->
• Elite Qualifiers 7.11->
• Regular Season duration:
  • 19.11.-21.12.2023 (Neo, Core, Lite)
  • 20.11.-21.12.2023 (Pro, Elite)

SportsGamers,

The ECL '24 Winter Lite & Pro Qualifiers kick off today and we're in for a bunch of exciting gamedays leading up to the regular season, as the Qualifier teams will need to fight tooth and nail for open spots in both divisions. In a situation where all previous season teams sign up ECL Pro has seven open spots, while the Lite division has nine open spots. The amount may increase if teams eligible to sign up for the respective divisions drop out. The final numbers will be announced after November 6th, when the Elite, Pro & Lite signups have closed and the final number of spots open has been determined.

ECL '24 Winter Lite Qualifiers

Schedule

• Group stage:
  • Round 1: Wednesday 1.11.
  • Round 2: Thursday 2.11.
  • Round 3: Sunday 5.11.
  • Round 4: Wednesday 8.11.
  • Round 5: Thursday 9.11.
  • Round 6: Sunday 12.11.
  • Round 7: Monday 13.11.
• Playoffs (if needed):
  • BO3 Series: Tuesday 14.11.
  • BO3 Series: Wednesday 15.11.
  • BO3 Series: Thursday 16.11.

The following teams will be taking part in the Lite division Qualifiers:

The Lite Qualifiers will consist of four groups out of which at least the top two teams in each group will be securing a spot in the Lite division. The Playoff format will be announced after November 6th, when the Lite division signups have closed and the final number of Lite spots open has been determined. See the groups and schedule on the league page here.

ECL '24 Winter Pro Qualifiers

Schedule

• Group stage 1:
  • Round 1: Wednesday 1.11.
  • Round 2: Thursday 2.11.
  • Round 3: Sunday 5.11.
  • Round 4: Wednesday 8.11.
  • Round 5: Thursday 9.11.
• Group stage 2 (if needed):
  • Round 1: Sunday 12.11.
  • Round 2: Monday 13.11.
  • Round 3: Wednesday 15.11.
• Playoffs (if needed):
  • BO5 series: Thursday 16.11.

The following teams will be taking part in the ECL Pro Qualifiers:

The Pro Qualifiers will also hold four groups, out of which the top three teams in each group will be advancing to stage 2 (two groups - six teams) of the Qualifiers. The top three teams of each group in stage 2 will secure a spot in ECL '24 Winter Pro. The Playoff format will be announced after November 6th, when the Pro division signups have closed and the final number of Pro spots open has been determined. See the groups and schedule on the league page here.

SportsGamers,

With the ECL '24: Pre-Season tournament going on and getting closer to the puck-drop of the actual ECL season, we want to remind you that today (Oct 30th)  is the last day to sign up for the ECL Lite & Pro Qualifiers. If you're interested in playing in ECL Lite or Pro but haven't got your spot yet - sign up today.

The sign-up deadlines for all divisions can be found below.

If you're new to the ECL and don't know what this is about, please familiarize yourself with the below news story:

Wildcard teams: 18.-30.10.2023 ⚠️
ECL Lite Qualifier: 18.-30.10.2023  ⚠️ 
ECL Pro Qualifier: 18.-30.10.2023  ⚠️ 
ECL Neo: 18.10.-15.11.2023
ECL Core: 18.10.-15.11.2023
ECL Lite: 18.10.-6.11.2023
ECL Pro: 18.10.-6.11.2023
ECL Elite: 18.10.-6.11.2023

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

Schedule

• Pro & Lite Qualifiers: 1.11->
• Elite Qualifiers 7.11->
• Regular Season duration:
  • 19.11.-21.12.2023 (Neo, Core, Lite)
  • 20.11.-21.12.2023 (Pro, Elite)

SportsGamers,

With the new iteration of EA Sports NHL having dropped a couple weeks back, the time is right for us to launch registrations for the biggest and best league around. Another massive competitive season will kick off with the ECL '24 Winter season, starting officially on November 1st with the Lite & Pro Qualifiers. Whether you are an experienced gamer looking to take the next step, or are just starting out your career, one of our five divisions will be sure to offer you a challenge suitable for your skill level.

After the intense fights we saw go down at the finish lines of all five divisions last season, the ECL '24 Winter season will have lots to live up to, but with the skill level constantly increasing and the superstar talent across the league intent on bringing their top game on a nightly basis, we're confident that this will be an even better year! The total prize pool of the ECL '24 Winter season will be 23 420 EUR.

If you're itching to get things started already, remember to sign up for the ECL '24 Pre-season tournament here! Signups will close at 12:00 CEST, on October 19th, 2023. <- TOMORROW! ⚠️

The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports. The abbreviation stands for the European Championship League and it features NHL 6v6 esports in five divisions aimed at various skill levels. Every player, including the goalies, is controlled by a human. League games are played in the EASHL mode and the platform is PlayStation and Xbox. ECL has been played since 2015, so the upcoming season is already the 17th. The latest addition to the ECL product family is a 1v1 tournament, where Europe's best solo players fight for the championship. ECL 1v1 has been played since the ECL '23 Winter season.

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. We reserve the right to exclude teams or players in case of severe connection issues.
   
• Platform: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S
   
• 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 ‘24 Winter team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘24 Winter Player License before taking the ice. Purchase your license in the Store.
   
• Rules: The ECL '24 rulebook will be published closer to the season, but you can check out last season's rules here.

For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story released a few weeks back. 

For a thorough look at the entire competitive year and event calendar, please refer to our ECL '24 Season Presentation.

Wildcard teams: 18.-30.10.2023 
ECL Lite Qualifier: 18.-30.10.2023  
ECL Pro Qualifier: 18.-30.10.2023  
ECL Neo: 18.10.-15.11.2023 ⚠️
ECL Core: 18.10.-15.11.2023 ⚠️
ECL Lite: 18.10.-6.11.2023
ECL Pro: 18.10.-6.11.2023
ECL Elite: 18.10.-6.11.2023

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

Schedule

Pre-season tournament: 23.10.-6.11.2023
Qualifiers: 1.11-> (Pro, Lite) 7.11-> (Elite)
Regular Season duration: 19.11.-21.12.2023 (Neo, Core, Lite) 20.11.-21.12.2023 (Pro, Elite)

PLEASE NOTE: ECL '24 WINTER 1V1 SIGNUPS WILL LAUNCH LATER THIS YEAR

Rule Changes & Community Opinion

Reminder: We would like to raise two items up for a community vote and open up the floor for discussion. So far the topics have not attracted a lot of conversation, but there's still time to make your voices heard.
 

The 3-point system vs 2-point system
For the longest time, the ECL has used the 2-point system, where the winner gets 2 points, whether in regular time or overtime, and 1 point for a loss in overtime. We’ve heard some wishes for a change and the time has come to re-evaluate whether we should instead opt for the 3-point system instead. In the past, the polls have been pretty close to 50/50 on this topic, but it’s time to discuss this topic properly and if the discussion suggests a need for a poll, that can be implemented. You can already discuss the point-system here.  

Zone & Superstar Abilities - Yay or nay?
For the ECL ‘23: Spring season we made the decision to ban a selection of Zone & Superstar Abilities. As NHL 24 is a new release, our initial instinct is to start with a clean slate and not ban any abilities until the community gets to know the new game and has a chance to make up its mind about whether the abilities are working or not. While we have preliminarily set our minds on not banning any abilities for the first season, we welcome the discussion and would love to hear your opinion. You can discuss player abilities here.

Are there some rule-related changes we’ve missed? Now is your chance to discuss and suggest what type of changes you would like to see in the rulebook.

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.

Hey Gamers,

It's time to get the NHL 24 season started with the ECL '24 Pre-Season. The ECL Pre-Season Tournament is a friendly tournament with three tiers for teams to get into the competitive mindset, without the heavy structure that comes with the actual ECL divisions framework.The tournaments include playoffs for each tier and the lowest tier allows for new interested teams an opportunity to try out the competitive games in a relaxed environment.

The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports. The abbreviation stands for the European Championship League and it features NHL 6v6 esports in five divisions aimed at various skill levels. Every player, including the goalies, is controlled by a human. League games are played in the EASHL mode and the platform is PlayStation and Xbox. ECL has been played since 2015, so the upcoming season is already the 17th. The latest addition to the ECL product family is a 1v1 tournament, where Europe's best solo players fight for the championship. ECL 1v1 has been played since the ECL '23 Winter season.

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. We reserve the right to exclude teams or players in case of severe connection issues.
   
• 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 ‘24 Winter team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘24 Winter Player License before taking the ice. The ECL '24 Pre-Season tournament does not require the license, but purchasing the license early on is recommended for faster processing.
   
• Rules: The ECL '24 rulebook will be published closer to the season, but you can check out last season's rules here.

For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story released a few weeks back. 

ECL Pre-Season

As stated, the tournament will be hosted in three tiers without any major restrictions except for the ones mentioned below.

Elite & Pro

• Only ECL Elite & ECL Pro teams
• This is a friendly warmup tournament, no need to argue (no League Admin cases)
• The final format is determined by the number of teams
• Double-header gamedays
• Regular season 23.10-6.11
• Playoffs (BO3)
  • 7.-8.11 (RO16)
  • 9.-10.11 (Quarterfinals)
  • 12.-13.11 (Semifinals)
  • 14.-15.11 (Finals)

Sign-ups are open until 12:00 CET, October 19th

SIGN UP HERE

Lite & Core

• Only ECL Lite & ECL Core teams, and by special request wildcard teams
• This is a friendly warmup tournament, no need to argue (no League Admin cases)
• Qualifier teams can participate, but the final rounds of the playoffs may coincide with the qualifiers
• The final format is determined by the number of teams
• Double-header gamedays
• Regular season 23.10-6.11
• Playoffs (BO3)
  • 7.-8.11 (RO32)
  • 9.-10.11 (RO16)
  • 11.-12.11 (Quarterfinals)
  • 13-14.11 (Semifinals)
  • 15-16.11 (Finals)

Sign-ups are open until 12:00 CET, October 19th

SIGN UP HERE

Neo & Newcomers

• Only ECL Neo & Newcomer teams
• This is a friendly warmup tournament, no need to argue (no League Admin cases)
• The final format is determined by the number of teams
• Double-header gamedays
• Regular season 23.10-6.11
• Playoffs (BO3)
  • 7.-8.11 (RO16)
  • 9.-12.11 (Quarterfinals)
  • 13.-14.11 (Semifinals)
  • 15.-16.11. (Finals)

Sign-ups are open until 12:00 CET, October 19th

SIGN UP HERE

Uniform and logo unlocks

This form is intended for organizations associated with SportsGamer to request primarily uniform and logo unlocks in order to represent their team appropriately.

Here is a link for the unlocks form: https://forms.gle/eGyEQwYqDRLPEMyk7

Rules

We hope you all enjoy and remember to play by the ECL rules! Although the Pre-Season Tournament will not be under as strict scrutiny as the ECL, we want to remind you to respect your opponents and go about the games just as you would when playing real ECL league matchups.

• The tournament will be played on the NHL 24 Gen 5 version (PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X/S)

If teams are tied in points after the group stage, we will utilize these usual tie-breakers:

• Wins (including OT-wins)
• Head-to-head record (points in mutual games)
• Goal difference (across all games played)
• Scored goals (across all games played)

We hope you're as excited as we are to get back into the action - build your team, sign up, and have fun!
 

Edit: Note - the campaign has now ended.

Hey Gamers,

I'm sure many of you have seen the reminders already, but we want to make sure nobody misses the fact that today is the last chance to purchase the ECL '24 licenses at the Early Bird pricing. This is final reminder for those who have not had a chance to purchase the Early Bird Licenses yet. Grab your Early Bird ECL '24 Winter Team license and ECL '24 Player License (Winter + Spring) at special pricing until midnight. After that, standard pricing applies, so get yours now!

If you're wondering "What is the ECL?", read this article.

If you're looking for information about the new ECL season and the NHL 24 competitive year, read this article.

Welcome to the ECL ‘24 season and the NHL 24 competitive year!

The ‘23 season was certainly one for the history books as most notably, we managed to pull off the first-ever 6v6 eHockey World Finals in a successful manner. With the continuous growth of the community supporting us, we are confident in our ability to make similar moves in the future and focus on the development of the sport from the ground up. This post marks the starting point of a new, great season with new, great Champions - will this be your time to shine? The prize pool for the ECL ‘24 Winter season will be 23 420 EUR!

Before we go any further, if you’re reading this and find yourself wondering “What is the ECL?”, or you're looking for a blast from the past listing of all ECL Champions so far you can find an article about that here.
 

One of the more frequent requests from our community through the years has been transparency in terms of upcoming plans. The benefits are clear, as it will help teams with preparation, strategizing, and assembling rosters, and of course, help players plan their holidays, trips, or other activities without sacrificing the opportunity to partake in the eHockey season to the fullest.

So, without further ado, here is what the NHL 24 competitive year looks like for Europe. Please keep in mind there are still lots of details being put into place, but we want to provide as good of an overview on the timing of the ECL ‘24 Winter and Spring seasons, as well as the National Championships, that are played in between the ECL seasons. 

ECL '24 Competitive Year

• The ECL ‘24 Pre-season tournament will kick off on October 16th, giving teams the ability to get right into action, get familiar with NHL 24, and test their line-ups against teams of equal skill levels. The Pre-season will consist of the following groups:
  • Elite & Pro
  • Lite & Core
  • Neo & Newcomers
     
• The ECL ‘24: Winter - Lite & Pro Qualifiers will kick off on November 1st. For this reason, we suggest that teams participating in the qualifiers skip the Pre-season tournament.
   
• The ECL ‘24: Winter - Regular Season will start on November 19th and be completed just in time to wind down for Christmas and the New Year. The last round of games before the holiday break will be played on December 21st.
   
• The ECL ‘24: Winter - Playoffs will start after the holidays, on January 3rd.
  • Most of the ECL ‘24: Winter divisions will be completed by the end of January, whereas the date for the Elite Finals is still TBA at this stage, and could be as late as the last week of February.
     
• After the end of the ECL ‘24: Winter season, it’s time to battle in the National Leagues, such as the CSCL, eHockey SM, GCL, SCL & WECL. Many of the details are still work-in-process, but rest assured weeks 6-14 are reserved for National League play.
   
• The ECL ‘24: Spring season will commence with the Lite and Pro Qualifiers in weeks 13-15. The regular season will be played weeks 16-20, and the playoffs will be played weeks 22-26, with most divisions done before midsummer and the Lite Champions being decided just after.

Early Bird Offer on Player and Team Licenses

Below you’ll find the pricing of the team and player licenses for ECL ‘24. Starting today and for the next two weeks (until September 14th), you can pick up the ECL ‘24 Winter Team license and the ECL ‘24 Player License (Winter + Spring) for the Early Bird pricing listed below. After that, standard pricing will be in effect.

PURCHASE YOUR ECL '24 LICENSES HERE

For those of you participating in the qualifiers and unsure which division your team will play in for the ECL ‘24: Winter season, you can still take advantage of this offer; Purchase the Early Bird license for the division you are qualifying for and if your team is unsuccessful in the mission, we will refund you the difference to the Early Bird price for the division your team ends up in. For example, if you enter the qualifiers for the Lite division, purchase the Early Bird Lite license. If your team doesn’t qualify for the Lite division, you will play in the Core division and we will refund you the difference - in this example: 100 EUR. The ECL Neo division will remain free of cost.

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

New and refreshed ECL 1v1

With ECL ‘23 we launched the first-ever ECL 1v1 seasons and while they were a blast and we saw some great games and worthy champions (1, 2) crowned, we have gathered the feedback and data and aim to improve the experience for players of all levels for the ECL ‘24 season. We’ll save some details for later, but what we can tell you is that there will be a TOP 4 selected from both the Winter and Spring seasons, that will then face each other at the end of the ECL ‘24 year to crown one ECL ‘24: 1v1 Champion.

Rule Changes & Community Opinion

We would like to raise two items up for a community vote and open up the floor for discussion.

The 3-point system vs 2-point system
For the longest time, the ECL has used the 2-point system, where the winner gets 2 points, whether in regular time or overtime, and 1 point for a loss in overtime. We’ve heard some wishes for a change and the time has come to re-evaluate whether we should instead opt for the 3-point system instead. In the past, the polls have been pretty close to 50/50 on this topic, but it’s time to discuss this topic properly and if the discussion suggests a need for a poll, that can be implemented. You can already discuss the point-system here.  

Zone & Superstar Abilities - Yay or nay?
For the ECL ‘23: Spring season we made the decision to ban a selection of Zone & Superstar Abilities. As NHL 24 is a new release, our initial instinct is to start with a clean slate and not ban any abilities until the community gets to know the new game and has a chance to make up its mind about whether the abilities are working or not. While we have preliminarily set our minds on not banning any abilities for the first season, we welcome the discussion and would love to hear your opinion. You can discuss player abilities here.

Are there some rule-related changes we’ve missed? Now is your chance to discuss and suggest what type of changes you would like to see in the rulebook.

Stay tuned for the official kick-off of the ECL ’24 Winter Signups, launching mid-September.

The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports. The abbreviation stands for the European Championship League and it features NHL 6v6 esports in five divisions aimed at various skill levels. Every player, including the goalies, is controlled by a human. League games are played in the EASHL mode and the platform is PlayStation and Xbox. ECL has been played since 2015, so the upcoming season is already the 17th. The latest addition to the ECL product family is a 1v1 tournament, where Europe's best solo players fight for the championship. ECL 1v1 has been played since the ECL '23 Winter season.

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. We reserve the right to exclude teams or players in case of severe connection issues.
   
• 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 ‘24 Winter team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘24 Winter Player License before taking the ice. 
   
• Rules: The ECL '24 rulebook will be published closer to the season, but you can check out last season's rules here.

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 (up to) 128 teams
• and Neo 32+ teams.
   

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

Generally speaking, teams that are new to the ECL will start in the Neo or Core division. However, it is possible to apply for the ECL Lite qualifications to prove that you can compete at that level.

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.
 

Hall of Fame: The ECL Champions so far

ECL 6v6:

• ECL 1: Nordic Blizzard
• ECL 2: Mukimiehet
• ECL 3: X Factor
• ECL 4: Laser HT
• ECL 5: Aapon Taikasauva
• ECL 6: Carlsberg HC
• ECL 7: FILADELPHIA
• ECL 8: Written In the Stars
• ECL 9: Linköping HC
• ECL 10: HAVU Gaming
• ECL 11: FILADELPHIA
• ECL 12: hREDS
• ECL '22 Grand Champion: hREDS
  • ECL '22 Winter: hREDS
  • ECL '22 Spring: hREDS
• ECL '23 Grand Champion: Tunnel Vision
  • ECL '23 Winter: Tunnel Vision
  • ECL '23 Spring: Tunnel Vision

ECL 1v1:

• ECL '23 Winter: Sisu "sisu33_" Nurminen
• ECL '23 Spring: Väinö "Pikkarii" Pikkarainen

SportsGamers,

This news story is for you to understand the ECL Ranking for teams at the end of the ECL '23 Spring season. That means that this ranking determines the eligibility for teams entering various divisions this upcoming ECL '24 Winter season. 
 

Below you will find a list of teams that have secured a division spot at the Elite, Pro or Lite league level. If you didn't find your team on the list, don't worry! You can apply for a wildcard spot for your team in the Pro qualifiers or participate in the Lite qualifiers, which are open to everyone.

Pro Qualifier Wildcard requirements

• Three former Elite starters or four former Pro starters
• A starter is defined as having played 16 or more games in the ECL '23 Spring season, or 20 or more games in the ECL '23 Winter season
• If there are more players from the same team that relegated out of the Pro (in the same season) in the team applying for a wildcard, they will be counted as one player

What if all Pro Qualifier positions are not filled?

• Teams will not be promoted straight and all open spots will be filled through qualifiers (excluding automatically relegated/promoted teams). If there happens to be more open spots than anticipated (e.g. from teams disbanding which would have been invited to play in the qualifier) spots are filled as follows:
  • Pro relegated teams
  • Lite #14-16
  • Wildcard teams #5-8
  • Lite #17-32

All teams without an Elite, Pro or Lite league spot can participate in the Lite qualifiers without restrictions. The format of the qualifiers will be decided according to the number of participants, but a maximum of 64 teams can participate in the qualifiers. Spots will be filled in the order of registration, but the teams on the list below will have priority if the number of teams is full.

SportsGamers,

A long season and hard fought Finals series saw us crown an ECL '23 Spring Core Champion a while ago, and we are happily announcing that the ones to hoist the cup were the French Eagles! Their experienced squad were able to best Ismon Valinta in a thrilling seven game series where all players had their opportunity to shine and showcase themselves for further opportunities in their respective careers.

French Eagles' road to the Championship:

• #1 seed from Group 1 with the record 25-3-0
• Round 1: vs WarHeads (16) 4-0
• Quarterfinals: vs EV Duisburg (10) 4-0
• Semifinals: vs North Sawo Lions (9) 4-1
• Finals: vs Ismon Valinta (6) 4-3

The championship roster:

GOALIES
#76 @Trollstivegen (A)

DEFENSEMEN
#87 @André WerSonst87 (M-_-E_87)
#89 @matt05000gap (Chris05Gap)

FORWARDS

#23 @Aigeu
#85 @Caboli30
#96 @Edgard Goechon (xl-9-Bobby-6-lx) (C)
#97 @Coco (x--CoCo76--x) (A)

On behalf of the whole community we want to thank all participants and congratulate our Champions!

SportsGamers,

last week we have seen one of the most intense ECL Neo finals here on SportsGamer.gg! The German outfit Flaschback Skwad faced the Darra Stars in the Best-of-5 final. After being down 1-2 in the series, the experienced Germans managed to turn the finals around to bring the first ECL Neo title to the DACH-community. We could not have asked for any more tension than an exciting deciding game 5 OT-thriller as the "Skwad" managed to equalize a two-goal-deficit in the dying seconds of the game. Assistant-Captain Jonas @kandykills Fleischmann was the OT-hero as he hit the championship shot with a cheeky deflection! Captain Stefan @Toews19(BarriosLucas18) Schoierer was one of the most prolific scorers in the regular season (18GP: 36G + 38A) and during their playoff run (16GP: 31G + 19A). After a more than dominant playoff run the Germans stayed focussed and maintained their status as one of the juggernauts in ECL'23 Spring Neo!

Flaschback Skwad's road to the championship:

• #6 seed from Group 2 with the record 16-2-0
• Round 1: vs Freunde des Alkohols 3-0
• Round 2: vs FOX RIVER PENITENTIARY 3-1
• Quarterfinals: vs Engerau Pythons 3-0
• Semifinals: vs Kettukarkki 3-1
• Finals: vs Darra Stars 3-2

The championship roster:

• #19 @xeffektiiv (yasokuhlx)
• #74 @Laurentius (Larphox) (A)
• #89 @hoffmann_1995 (Waldstadt_0812)
• #24 @derfe (Fe-Hockey24)
• #41 @kandykills (A)
• #69 @Toews19 (BarriosLucas18) (C)
• #76 @Boogeyman (Alpenvulkan76)
• #81 @KlOis
• #91 @Jesufin

On behalf of the whole community we want to thank all participants and congratulations to the Flaschback Skwad!

SportsGamers,

A dominant showing throughout the season by a rather unexperienced squad with several rookies in their roster has awarded Mustaa Kultaa the ECL '23 Spring Lite Championship, and with that direct promotion to the Pro division. The team were in several tight positions throughout their Playoff run especially in the Semifinals and Finals, but as a well-oiled machine, they were able to work together to find their way to victory each time.

Mustaa Kultaa's road to the championship:

• #2 seed from Group 3 with the record 25-5-0
• Round 1: vs RoKi Esports (31) 4-0
• Round 2: vs Golden Sticks (25) 4-1
• Quarterfinals: vs HC Lugano eSports (29) 4-2
• Semifinals: vs Boost HC (9) 4-3
• Finals: vs Supernatural (5) 4-3

The winning roster:
GOALTENDERS
#69 @ANIMALpak82
#82 @Simbanho
#88 @PerfectGorilla

DEFENSEMEN
#3 @Velttola
#97 @xray65x

FORWARDS
#12 @jaageri_ (A)
#13 @Launonexx (C)
#61 @Allupekkaz (A)
#89 @Tumuttaja (xxHise)

On behalf of the entire SportsGamer community, we congratulate the Champions and extend a warm thank you to all participants!

SportsGamers,

Tonight we'll be treated to the first three games in a highly anticipated Lite division Finals between Mustaa Kultaa and Supernatural. Both of these teams could take the Cup, so strap in, and expect a long series!

(2)  Mustaa Kultaa vs (5) Supernatural

TOP SCORER (Playoffs)
@Launonexx 22 GP, 24+24=48 vs @selänne8 (BiggestEight) 22 GP, 25+20=45

GOALTENDER (Playoffs)
@Simbanho 17 GP, 12 W, 82,11 SV%, 2 GAA, 0 SO vs @Jugi9 22 GP, 16 W, 86,21 SV%, 1.45 GAA, 4 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
25-5-0 vs 22-3-5

REGULAR SEASON MATCHUP
5-4 OT, 3-2

We're in for an interesting battle in the ECL '23 Spring Lite Finals, which will be starting tonight at 19:45 CEST with the first three games of the series. As you'd have it, both Finalists have paved their way to this stage from Group 3 in the regular season, and they clashed for some very hard fought battles back in the group stage. Back then, Mustaa Kultaa managed to come away with both wins and @Launonexx lead the way for his team with 7 points to his name in the two games. Since then, both squads have solidified their starting goaltenders in the Playoffs and that'll be one to keep an eye on. Supernatural's @Jugi9 is experienced in these situations as he's now reached the Lite Finals for a third consecutive time with different teams - with a win still avoiding him. Both teams at this point are highly deserving Finalists and without a doubt the most skilled in the division at the moment. We could end up seeing a bit of a battle between styles, where Mustaa Kultaa could benefit from keeping the tempo up more, while Supernatural and their more experienced core would want to control the game more. I'd give the benefit to Supernatural due to their extensive experience. 

Prediction: Supernatural in 7.

SportsGamers,

At the end of an impressive Playoffs run and a hard fought Finals series against big brother Golden Nights, we are able to crown Polski Boys the ECL '23 Spring Pro Champions! Polski Boys took the community by storm earlier in the year and were self-proclaimed Champions before the season had even started - rarely do we see teams actually deliver on their promises like that!

With their Championship, not only does Polski Boys secure the largest share of the 5500€ prize pool, but also manage to gain promotion to the European Top 16 for their ECL '24 Winter campaign. 

Polski Boys' road to the championship:

• #3 seed from Group 2 with the record 22-7-1
• Round 1: vs Prestige (6) 4-2
• Quarterfinals: vs Renascor (6) 4-0
• Semifinals: vs Luleå Hockey (1) 4-3
• Finals: vs Golden Nights (4) 4-1

The winning roster:
GOALTENDERS
#35 @Miettinen14
#62 @Kирилл (W1nchester_62)

DEFENSEMEN
#13 @kungenkurwa
#44 @vote_10 (A)

FORWARDS
#4 @punt1la98
#22 @Brockela22 (C)
#97 @h3rmu__
#98 @xSaski_ (A)

On behalf of the entire SportsGamer community, we congratulate the Champions and extend a warm thank you to all participants!

SportsGamers,

Early into the new week, we'll be bringing you the ECL '23 Spring Pro Finals with broadcasted matchups today and tomorrow. The two finalists are Golden Nights and Polski Boys, who will be going at it in a heated rivalry battle, which was already extensively previewed by Polski's social media admin in a highly biased Twitter thread. Tune in for all the action on the SportsGamer Twitch channel!

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Pro Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 24.4.-25.5.
• RO16: 29.5.-1.6.
• Quarterfinals: 5.-8.6.
• Semifinals: 12.-15.6.
• Finals: 19. & 20.6.

Golden Nights  (4) vs Polski Boys  (5)

A highly anticipated rivalry. These two already clashed in the last matchup of the regular season in what can now be seen as a prelude to this Finals series. Back then, the wins were split, but Golden Nights walked away with a point more, eventually awarding them the higher seed and the home advantage in this Finals series. It's been about a month since those clashed, but we are still expecting to see very similar games - a hard fought battle where both teams should have the opportunity to employ their respective gameplans. 

On Golden Nights' side, we know they'll rely heavily on defenseman @Mikka to kickstart their offense. Together with @jm98II, he forms the link on the left flank that will be key for the success of their team in the Finals. Both players are in great form and are among the leagues top scorers on their positions, Mikka in fact leads all defensemen. Golden Nights have been outstanding on the powerplay in the Playoffs thus far and are miles ahead of Polski Boys in terms of special teams, so that's one factor to definitely keep an eye on.

In terms of playing style, Polski Boys have employed one of the more simple playbooks all season long, but the way they manage to do it in an incredibly effective manner. In the Semifinals, they took down #1 seed Luleå Hockey in a testament of their strength and once again, the opponents weren't able to stop @punt1la98 from forcing a few pucks to the netfront for some easy tap-ins. Polski Boys would benefit more than their opposition from a fast-paced game and could try to take advantage of that. In net, they have the choice to make between two great options.

Prediction: Golden Nights in 7.

SportsGamers,

Another ECL Elite season was wrapped up at the SportsGamer offices in Espoo over the weekend and at the end of a hard fought Finals series, Tunnel Vision emerged as the winners, claiming their second consecutive Championship in their third consecutive Finals appearance. The team is in unstoppable form and finished the clean sweep for the ECL '23 season.

Tunnel Vision's road to the championship:

• #2 seed from with the record 24-3-3
• Quarterfinals: vs JYP Jyväskylä (7) 4-3
• Semifinals: vs hREDS (3) 4-3
• Finals: vs Frölunda HC (1) 4-1

The winning roster:
GOALTENDERS
#7 Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen
#86 Oskari @SibeIius Grönroos

DEFENSEMEN
#24 Veeti @Wenger Paloneva
#65 Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen

FORWARDS
#9 Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen
#37 Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen
#67 Aleksi @MozjaTG Kähkönen

SportsGamers,

An exhausting ECL '23 Spring 1v1 season has come to it's close last night and with that, it's time for several players to start their summer holidays. We had an incredible Finals event at the SportsGamer offices, where the top four European players battled it out for ultimate glory. Eventually one managed to rise above the others, and this time it was Väinö @Pikkardz Pikkarainen, who caught fire and was in a class of his own throughout the Finals evening.

Pikkarii's road to the Championship:
Group stage: 11-0-0 (#2 seed into the Playoffs)
Round 1: vs @Danyyy452 2-0
Round 2: vs @J-_-Jamaltheman 2-0
Top 16 Group stage: 2-1-0 (#5 seed into the Playoffs)
Quarterfinals: vs @sisu33_ 2-1
Semifinals: vs @Artuzio 2-0
Finals: vs @dzouvi 2-0

SportsGamer congratulates the new Champion and extends a warm thank you to all participants! 

SportsGamers,

Get ready for an electrifying showdown as two NHL esports powerhouses collide once again in the highly anticipated ECL '23 Spring Elite Finals. The stage is set for an epic rematch between Tunnel Vision and Frölunda HC, reigniting the intense rivalry that captivated fans during their thrilling Winter season Finals series. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions, jaw-dropping plays, and nail-biting moments as these elite teams battle it out for supremacy.

Follow the ECL '23 Spring Elite Finals live at Twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG on Saturday, June 17th starting 18:00 CEST!

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring: Elite Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 24.4.-24.5.
• Quarterfinals: 29.5.-1.6.
• Semifinals: 4.-7.6.
• Finals: 17.6.
• Relegation: 26.-29.6. **

 

** Series can be started as soon as pairs are known

(1)  Frölunda HC vs (2)  Tunnel Vision

TOP SCORER (Playoffs)
Erik @Eki Tammenpää 12 GP, 8+15=23 vs Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen 14 GP, 14+5=19

GOALTENDER (Playoffs)
Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen 12 GP, 8 W, 79,12 SV%, 1.58 GAA, 1 SO vs Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen 14 GP, 8 W, 86,21 SV%, 1.71 GAA, 3 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
24-3-3 vs 24-4-2

This Weekend, we'll get to witness a rematch from the latest ECL Elite Finals at Assembly Winter, back then Tunnel Vision drew the longer straw and came away with a 4-3 series win to go to the World Finals against Entourage. Earlier this season, the two split wins in two very hard fought battles in which Frölunda HC controlled the pace and centerman Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala was one of the most dominant players on the ice. In an interesting turn of events, Frölunda will be entering the Finals without their number #1 centerman, though. Their true and tested Finals stand-in Aleksi @loimmu Loimuvirta wil be subbing in on defense and we're expecting to see Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha taking over at center. They should've had plenty of time before the Finals to work things over within the team and the rearrangement shouldn't matter all too much in a team of their caliber, but margins are small at the top, and Tunnel Vision will strike at any sign of weakness they can spot. 

While Tunnel Vision were far from their best in their Semifinals clash against rivals hREDS, they've now had lots of time to digest the takeaways they've made from that thriller of a series. Their experience from big events pales at the side of Frölunda HC, but Tunnel Vision has a "prove it"-factor after managing to clinch their first ever ECL title in the Winter season but losing out on a World title in a rather disappointing World Finals series. Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen has managed to continue being their main man on offense, clinching the regular season scoring title for the second time in a row. Tunnel Vision's undeniable strength in this series will be the puck carrying ability of Veeti @Wenger Paloneva and his skill to jump in on the rush to assist his forwards. Coupled with excellent play throughout the season by goaltender Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen, this looks like a tough team to beat at the moment. 

Statistically, a glaring difference between these two teams is the amount of shots they are allowing. Naturally the styles of their opponents will matter greatly, but thus far in the Playoffs, Frölunda HC have limited their opponents to less than half of the chances that Tunnel Vision have allowed. Frölunda is also statistically more prone to take shots than their opponents, do with that information what you will but to us these factors suggest that we're going to see a series where Tunnel Vision might be more conservative with their shots, whereas Frölunda HC could end up being the ones to throw more pucks on net, partially forced as a result of their roster rotation ahead of the big games. 

Prediction: Tunnel Vision in 6. 

SportsGamers,

It is finally time for the highly anticipated ECL '23 Spring Finals Weekend! Get ready for an extraordinary display of skill, strategy, and fierce competition as the top NHL esports players in Europe come together to battle it out for ultimate glory. This two-day extravaganza promises to be an unforgettable experience for all hockey and esports enthusiasts - everything live right at Twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG!

Schedule

Friday, June 16th
ECL '23 Spring 1v1 TOP 4 Finals - Start time 19:00 CEST
#1 Teemu @temppanen Karvonen vs #7 Adam @dzouvi Mensik
#5 Väinö @Pikkardz Pikkarainen vs #6 Arttu @Artuzio Mustila

Saturday, June 17th
ECL '23 Spring Elite Finals - Start time 18:00 CEST
(1)  Frölunda HC vs (2)  Tunnel Vision

From the jaw-dropping individual skills on Friday to the awe-inspiring team plays on Saturday, you won't miss a single moment of the action from the comfort of your own screen. Join the passionate NHL esports community as we witness the pinnacle of European competition. The stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable as these skilled competitors vie for their share of the combined prize pool of 10500€.

So make sure to gather your friends, and prepare for an epic weekend of NHL esports excellence. Join us for the live stream on both days at Twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG!

SportsGamers,

We're excited to be closing in on the final games of the ECL '23 Spring Lite season as we are already in the Quarterfinals! All remaining teams certainly have what it takes in terms of skill to claim that ultimate prize, but at this point of the competition, it often comes down to intangibles. Look for experienced teams to thrive, teams that know what it takes to win in the Playoffs. Most of these series have already started yesterday, so make sure to check in to see how these thrilling matchups finish!
 

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Lite Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 25.4.-24.5.
• RO32: 30.5.-4.6.
• RO16: 6.-11.6.
• Quarterfinals: 13.-18.6.
• Semifinals: 20.-25.6.
• Finals: 27.-29.6.

Mustaa Kultaa  (2) vs HC Lugano eSports  (29)

If you think one of these teams look out of place at this point of the competition, it's because they really do! HC Lugano eSports had a weak regular season campaign, barely finding their way into the Playoffs, where they've finally turned on the jets, so to speak. As one of the lowest seeded teams in the competition, they've been able to take down two very highly ranked squads in Dark Wild & Skelleftea AIK already. Now they'll try to crush the championship dreams of Mustaa Kultaa, who are on what looks like an unstoppable trajectory towards the cup. Spearheaded by what looks like one of the best offensive trios in the division this season, they will wreak havoc on the defense of HC Lugano in this series unless the Swiss team finds a way to counter that, perhaps with a supercharged offensive of their own?

Prediction: HC Lugano eSports in 7.

Supernatural  (5) vs Predators  (21)

As previously mentioned, Supernatural is one of the strongest squads in the division on paper, and they've got plenty of experience to get them out of tough situations, should they need it. @selänne8 (BiggestEight) has been an invaluable asset for the team, who hardly played in the regular season but really shines when the games are at their toughest. Predators are another one of those lower seeds, who are living off of their strong offense, but really need to tighten up in their own end against stronger competition. They had a tough time in round 1 against Hannover Indians eSports, but easily defeated Nappula in round 2. 

Prediction: Supernatural in 7.

PunaKala  (6) vs Cheeky Grinders  (10)

PunaKala is looking like they're in prime form just in time for the biggest games of the season, with an 8-2 record in the Playoffs, this team haven't been tested at all by their previous opponents. @Joniner is also sporting a good 87,44 SV% with two shutouts between the pipes. We've got Cheeky Grinders in equally good form though and since the first games of the round have already been played, the former Core Champions are already up in the series by 2-1. The Grinders have been able to keep more possession and generate slightly more chances in the three games played, so that bodes well for them moving forward.

Prediction: Cheeky Grinders in 6. 

Ultimatum  (7) vs Boost HC  (9)

Ultimatum is another squad that relies on high-octane offense to carry them in breaking down the opposing defense, but it might get tougher to do that when effective defensive squads start shutting down the netfront and best scoring positions up the middle. Boost HC have managed to do that very well early on in this series, and are already up by three after the first night of competition. 

Prediction: Boost HC in 4.

SportsGamers,

We're at the Semifinals stage in our ECL '23 Spring Core season already! While these teams certainly are looking for time to vacation in the summer sun, they are still very much hungry for bigger success and larger chunks of the prize money. #1 seed French Eagles remain undefeated in the Playoffs, whereas all other teams have been beaten at least once. An interesting last few series remain!
 

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Core Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-20.4.2023
• Regular Season: 25.4.- 24.5.
• RO16: 30.5.-4.6.
• Quarterfinals: 6.-11.6.
• Semifinals: 13.-18.6.
• Finals: 20.-25.6. *

French Eagles  (1) vs North Sawo Lions  (9)
#1 seed French Eagles have been on an undefeated streak throughout the first two rounds of the Playoffs. In this Semifinals series, they'll be taking on #9 seed North Sawo Lions, whom they've already met in the Group stage. Those clashes were two very different games, in which they ended up splitting points in a 2-0 Lions win, and a 7-2 Eagles win. This fight between two groups of predators from the wild will be an interesting one to watch, keep an eye on the top scorers @Caboli30 and @Liimatainenn in particular. 

Dompa HC  (5) vs Ismon Valinta  (6)

Dompa HC were extremely close to taking home the Group 2 top spot in the Group stage and have proven themselves even further in the Playoffs. This mainly Swedish outfit is reaping the benefits of having @STRANDMANNEN11 in their roster, tearing up the division offensively. He runs their play and controls what happens, for good or for bad. Ismon Valinta is another Group 1 team in the Semifinals, and they've been able to click quite nicely in the Playoffs. They've had a total of nine players take the ice for them in the Playoffs and really seem like a squad that is having fun with their game and being successful as a result of that. 

SportsGamers,

As the month of June is rolling on and the sun is slowly starting to find even us up North, the time has come to start with the Semifinals of the Pro division already! We're down to the top four teams in the division, and to be fair any one of these contenders could end up taking the title. At this point, the games will be decided by the smallest of margins, so keep your eyes peeled throughout the round not to miss a second of the action!

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Pro Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 24.4.-25.5.
• RO16: 29.5.-1.6.
• Quarterfinals: 5.-8.6.
• Semifinals: 12.-15.6.
• Finals: 19.-22.6.

Luleå Hockey  (1) vs Polski Boys  (5)

This could be an interesting battle between the former ECL Twitter meme princes and the new annoying little brothers, who want to play with the big boys now! While Luleå Hockey (the former POGGERS) have cleaned up their social media game, it seems like their farm team Masin Maansiirto eSports had their account hijacked by some Polish farmers. Polski Boys obviously didn't let this slide and called the big squad out to play, but it seems like we'll have to wait until the action gets going tonight to watch any of it unfold. 

In terms of what will happen on the ice, Luleå Hockey definitely are the more well versed team that can pose a threat from a variety of situations in comparison to Polski Boys, who have been a bit of a one-trick pony this season. @Migo_boo and @vote_10 respectively will be the guys carrying the puck and being responsible for the breakouts, and @JaKurrii & @xSaski_ will be at the other end, potting pucks in from the back post. As stated, Luleå's offense will consist more of a cycle game when given the opportunity, while Polski poys have been exploiting @punt1la98's cross-crease force to Saski all season long with evidently tremendous success. Luleå Hockey also like to throw pucks at the net more, evident by the 15 deflections for JaKurrii thus far in the Playoffs.

These two teams have never played each other in a competitive setting before, so it'll definitely be an exciting series to watch and the first games should set the tones for what's to come in the rest of the series. The experience and chemistry Luleå has built over years of playing together shouldn't be understated in a situation like this, but on the other hand, this team has a history of fluctuating in form - let's hope it doesn't happen in this one!

Luleå Hockey and Polski Boys will be starting action tonight at 20:00 CEST - http://twitch.tv/YleTV_Polski

Prediction: Luleå Hockey in 6.
 

Deadly Phantoms  (2) vs Golden Nights  (4)

The Deadly Phantoms have really caught fire these Playoffs and look highly intent to keep on going. The German outfit was called out by @ripKeisari last week for a weak social media game and they've since upped their banter, highlighting an impressive snippet of ECL Pro Playoffs info - Ever since ECL 7, the Phantoms have always made the Finals if they've gotten past the first round in the Playoffs. Were not entirely sure that'll mean anything in this series, but nice to know nevertheless!



What is actually very interesting to me is the fact that the Phantoms have been able to advance to the Semifinals while playing rotating nine players in their roster in the Playoffs - take that, everyone whose opposed to playing their backups. @gzell60, @xXPsykoSkillsXx and @ProfaneKiss have been locks in the starting six, while everyone else has been in rotation for one reason or another. Regardless of who they end up putting on the ice, the Phantoms with their four forward formation will be a tough team to crack for Golden Nights.

While the Golden Nights have been considerably more quiet than their annoying little brother Polski Boys on social media, they found a way to fire back at Deadly Phantoms right off the bat. None of their current players have ever been on the losing side in a Playoff series against the Phantoms, which should make for an interesting story in this one, as their left defenseman @Mikka has never won a game in the ECL Pro Semifinals despite being a top player in the division on highly rated teams for years already. This season, the kid reigns supreme as an offensive defenseman and his squad is looking as strong as ever, but can they break that curse?

We're expecting Golden Nights to come out of the gates as the team looking to control the pace of the game, sticking with possession against the Germans. @Sagee95 will be the main man responsible for slowing down the counter attack spearheaded by @ProfaneKiss and his boys. In net, the statistical advantage goes to @RPH_31 and the Phantoms, but both goalies have been outstanding throughout the season and aren't known for letting soft ones slip through, so you can expect this one to go down to the wire as a battle of two different playstyles. 

Prediction: DPH in 7.

SportsGamers,

Our ECL Elite Player Awards vote is making a return and all of you will have the opportunity to impact who will receive the individual awards at the end of the season. We have six categories in total with five nominees in each category. Based on community feedback, this season all nominees have been selected through a vote within the Elite division captains. 

Voting will open effective immediately and we're asking you to cast your votes by Thursday, June 15th at 23:59 CEST. The awards will be presented in the ECL '23 Spring Finals broadcasts on Saturday, June 17th. Make sure to cast your vote in order to support your favorite player!

Cast your votes here!

List of nominees in each category:

Forward of The Season
The Top Forward award is awarded to a player that has excelled above the competition in their forward position.

Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen (Tunnel Vision)
Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala (Frölunda HC)
Erik @Eki Tammenpää (Frölunda HC)
Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen (Tunnel Vision)
Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen (hREDS)

Defender of The Season
The Top Defender award is awarded to a player that has excelled above the competition in their defenseman position.

Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen (Tunnel Vision)
Veeti @Wenger Paloneva (Tunnel Vision)
Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha (Frölunda HC)
Joel @jtorro-_- Tourunen (Mayhems)
Aaro @xDoumi Ruuhinen (hREDS)

Goalie of The Season
The Top Goalie award is awarded to a player that has excelled above the competition in their goaltender position.

Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen (Tunnel Vision)
Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen (Frölunda HC)
Ville @Viltzup Poutiainen (Mayhems)
Jesper @I-Lillebror-I Nidalen (Leksands IF)
Teemu @ITemeI Laukkanen (hREDS)

Rookie of The Season
The Rookie Of The Season award is awarded to a player in their rookie ECL Elite season, who has excelled above the competition regardless of position.

Robert @Robban kaudern Kaudern (Leksands IF)
Teemu @temppanen Karvonen (Mayhems)
Timi @Kkarkass Kärkäs (Mayhems)
Jesper @I-Lillebror-I Nidalen (Leksands IF)
Jami @N44TTI_16 Ruuskanen (Mayhems)

Transfer of The Season
The Transfer Of The Season award is awarded to a player who after a transfer is deemed to have been the most impactful player for their new team.

Joel @jtorro-_- Tourunen (Mayhems)
Adam @dzouvi Mensik (Färjestad BK)
Bajram @Katunarski Xhafa (Leksands IF)
Benjamin @benu Rinnet (Nordic Stars)
Miikka @xColeslaww Kolehmainen (Reality Check HC)

Returning Player of The Season
The Returning Player Of The Season award is awarded to a player that after one or more seasons away from ECL Elite competition, makes an impactful comeback to the highest level.

Aleksi @ADETIKKI Kinnunen (Tohtorit)
Jere @jxrska Laukka (GOONS)
Ville @Viltzup Poutiainen (Mayhems)
Aaro @xDoumi Ruuhinen (hREDS)
Teemu @ITemeI Laukkanen (hREDS)

SportsGamers,

Yesterday marked the end of Round 1 in the Lite division Playoffs and the action was interesting to say the least! Two big favorites in Dark Wild and Technical disaster are out as the result of massive upsets and we've got plenty of exciting action coming up in Round 2, starting already today.

In this Round 2 preview we'll be taking a look at a few interesting series that we expect could end up being quite close, and highlight a lot of interesting statistical anomalies and facts from the first round of Playoff action, join us for the ride!

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Lite Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 25.4.-24.5.
• RO32: 30.5.-4.6.
• RO16: 6.-11.6.
• Quarterfinals: 13.-18.6.
• Semifinals: 20.-25.6.
• Finals: 27.-29.6.

To see all of the RO16 series, head over to the League page!

Mustaa Kultaa  (2) vs Golden Sticks  (25)

Based on their offensive production, it's tough to discount Mustaa Kultaa from the Championship fight, but the highly talented team didn't quite pop off as dominantly as expected in Round 1 against RoKi Esports. A 4-0 sweep tells the tale of a one-sided series, but in reality, RoKi were in the fight for many of those wins and ultimately struggled with too many individual errors that cost them the series. Mustaa Kultaa will have to gradually rev up their engines again against Golden Sticks, who are coming off a full seven game thriller against Techical Disaster. This squad, consisting of mostly Russian and Latvian players is one to keep an eye on, but they'll certainly need a big effort from either @Romanych13 or @Fuflogon81 in net in order to have a chance.

Prediction: Mustaa Kultaa in 5. 

Supernatural  (5) vs Sodertalje SK  (18)

Supernatural are sporting some of the biggest names in the division and were expected to be true contenders for those top spots - thus far they've definitely delivered, but they could be in for a tough fight against Sodertalje SK in this one. Both clubs have lots of experience, but the more skilled side should be Supernatural in this one - they haven't spent all that much time together which could end up showing in a tight scoring battle against the very disciplined Sodertalje. Keep an eye on @HambergD (David_ovic), who likes to lay the body and is the most physical player left in the competition. He'll pose a forechecking threat to supernatural defensemen @Vilisopanen15 (Ruandalaine) and @Black1Eagle1, who are no strangers to moving the puck. 

Prediction: Supernatural in 7. 

PunaKala  (6) vs Frolunda HC Academy  (17)
PunaKala have been one of those sneaky good teams for some time already. They might be suffering a bit from their reputation as a lower tier club, but have made some impressive development over the course of their career and are now ready to challenge as real contenders in this division. Captain @Mttjs (JMattjus) plays any position his team needs him on and leads the squad from the front. Expect @Unknownlehtis and @sir_sniper to take care of most of the production. Frölunda HC Academy even made a Pro appearance but struggled to find their footing at the higher level. Despite some roster turnover, they are a capable team that could take down any competition in this division. @antonlule (Antonlund_08) is a new talent and has been highly effective for Frölunda this season. 

Prediction: Frölunda HC Academy in 7. 

Editors' picks from Round 1:

• Major upsets by both HC Lugano eSports and Golden Sticks, who took down #4 seed Dark Wild and #8 seed Technical Disaster respectively.
• Hc Replay with a valiant effort against Sunne IK Esport in the first round, their great special teams play continued, but Sunne IK's excellent discipline only allowed one powerplay opportunity in seven games. 
• Armada Hockey with the choke of the season thus far - the team dropped a 3-0 series lead to Nurnberg IceTigers eSport and are now out after a devastating game 7 OT loss.
• @Chara 33 (Bugimir68) was in a class of his own throughout the first round with 10+10=20 for Predators. They're up against a defensively sound Nappula in the second round.
• @sonny - We see you! Four wins and a 90.12 SV% posted in the first round earns an honorable mention for the Boost HC goaltender.
• Equally impressive goalie heroics by @Samilandia for Ultimatum with 3 shutouts in 6 games.

SportsGamers,

The first round of the ECL '23 Spring Pro Playoffs is now in the books, and we're quickly pushing on to the Quarterfinals already! After some hard fought battles, we're now left with eight of the best teams left, and they're quite a healthy mix of squads from both regular season groups. At this point, all teams have secured a part of the prize pool, but now it's time to go for the title and increasing that cash prize!

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Pro Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 24.4.-25.5.
• RO16: 29.5.-1.6.
• Quarterfinals: 5.-8.6.
• Semifinals: 12.-15.6.
• Finals: 19.-22.6.

Luleå Hockey  (1) vs RCTIC  (15)

The match between Luleå Hockey and Oskarshamn ended with Luleå winning 4-2. Luleå had already been leading the series 3-0, but faced difficulties when Oskarshamn fought back and won a couple of low-scoring games. @Janski (Jansku23) was the highest scorer in the series, while @Janne Hietala (Hiatala_) maintained an impressive 85% save percentage. Luleå is typically considered the favorite in every playoff series, but the added pressure can sometimes work against them if the game doesn't go as planned. In addition, @Migo_boo has been impressive aswell and is tied for the first place in defenders top points.

RCTIC surprised everyone by defeating SIKA with a score of 4-0. SIKA failed to dominate in the offensive zone, as none of their forwards scored more than a point per game. RCTIC starts as the clear underdog in the preliminary settings, but they shouldn't be completely underestimated. Their strong defensive play can make things difficult for Luleå. @Okke40 (hifk_FANI), playing as a right wing has been particularly effective with 13 puck steals in 4 games. This allows players like @Limbe65 and @yrjoo to focus more on the attack. @Hokiboi18 has taken over as the number one goalkeeper for the team and has an impressive 92.86% save percentage, the best in the Pro league from the first round.

In the upcoming match, we can expect to see a clash between individual skill and a tightly-knit team defense. The author had a casual conversation with the RCTIC right wing, @Okke40 (hifk_FANI) and here are some of their responses:

How come SIKA was so bad?
They weren’t bad at all, just had a hard time scoring. 

Luleå’s weakest link?
I don’t know much about Luleå. I know that their goalie is talented.
 

Deadly Phantoms  (2) vs HV71  (8) (Written by @OGjahajaha)

This is going to be a hard fought series to say the least. Both teams are highly experienced, like to play a tough defensive game and slow down the pace when beneficial for them. In a Playoff series, that's just about the recipe for success and it gets me beyond excited to watch this clash unfold. Both of their regular season games were extremely tight and saw the Phantoms come away with two wins 4-2 and 3-2. @Rayman was on his game with 3+2=5 in the double header. 

The Phantoms are sporting a rather deep roster with options for rotation, @xXPsykoSkillsXx and @ProfaneKiss are locks for the starting lineup, supposedly together with the experienced @gzell60. Goaltender @RPH_31 is arguably one of the best in the division and has the stats to back that up. In their first round matchup against Otukset, the Phantoms were in for an interesting battle against a highly skilled offensive minded group, which played right into their basket as a strong unit dependent on good counter attack and efficient finishing. The upcoming series against a very different style of play is going to pose a fresh challenge for the Germans.

HV71 are a rather similar squad who benefit greatly off the puck possession skill of captain @Demski_, evident by the possession numbers. This team doesn't move the puck that much, but likes to wait for their opponents to overcommit and strike when they spot an opening. Much alike their German opponents, HV71 are backed up by elite goaltending in the form of @Tiipponenii (Coffelainen), who managed to record two shutouts in their six game series against Gunners HC in the first round. In general, this is going to be a battle in which both goalies will have important roles. 

Ahead of the next round we reached out to @ProfaneKiss for a few comments on the series:

How do you think your style of play will match up against HV71?
We’ve faced these guys numerous times over the years in Pro. I think we have pretty similar styles and both teams like playing within their structure. Usually the games are tight and low scoring.

What did you learn from facing them in the regular season?
That we have to start on time! They scored two goals early in the 1st period in both games, but luckily we managed to come back and win both.

Series prediction?
I expect close games and probably a tight series as well. DPH in 7.

Golden Nights  (3) vs Purification  (7)

The Golden Nights performed impressively and exploited Project X's weaknesses, winning the series 4-1. While I don't want to solely focus on @kkostiiii in every article, his outstanding 91.8% save percentage cannot be ignored. He might possibly be the best goaltender in the Pro league. @Mikka, my writer daddy, worked diligently and showcased his skills both defensively and offensively, contributing 1 goal and 7 assists in 5 games. The team's cooperation in their own end was effective, as Project X was only able to score an average of one goal per game.

As suspected by the writer, the series between Purification and Pirati Chomutov was filled with goals and fast-paced attacking play. The lowest number of goals scored in a game was 4, while all other games had 5 or more goals. This is evident in the point standings of the playoffs, with all of Purification's attackers occupying the top 5 positions. The team demonstrated that despite the beginning of the playoffs, the players maintained their composure, although they now face tougher opponents.

I can confidently say that the Golden Nights do not allow Purification to enter the offensive zone as easily as Pirati Chomutov does. One of Purification's greatest strengths lies in their ability to quickly turn the game around. However, if the Golden Nights become aware of this strategy, it may pose a challenge for the Purification team. There are rumors suggesting that Mikkaah always performs exceptionally well in the quarterfinals. Similarly, Purification's players have reportedly expressed their reluctance to face the Golden Nights.

I had little chat with the Golden Nights Left Wing, @jm98II:

How did @kkostiiii have such a good save percentage?

Opponent shot from everywhere & prayed for lucky bounces.

Opponent’s forwards are in top 5 positions in points. Will they continue the scoring or what do you have in mind?

The “makuupaikat” are already reserved.
 

Polski Boys  (5) vs Renascor  (6)

Polski had a tough time in the first round against Prestige. Parked bus in the front of the net, combined with the outstanding saves by @karlsson_adam11 and quick counter-attacks, clearly exposed Polski Boys' weaknesses. While they dominated in terms of puck possession in every match, they struggled to convert their chances into goals. It will be exciting to see also what kind of tweets we will be seeing from Polski’s funniest guy, @kungenkurwa before and after the games. The author wonders why @vote_10 has had the most puck possession in the team. It's possible that there may be an error in the statistics.

Renascor delivered a decisive blow to Be a Bro and won the series 4-1. Three out of the 5 games went into overtime, indicating a closely contested battle. However, Renascor managed to come out on top most of the time. Russia's Top Center, also known as @Virusactive, led by example and scored an impressive 6 goals and 10 assists in 5 games. This performance currently places him in third position in the points. @TeikDaun, the goalkeeper for Renascor, deserves recognition with an 86% save percentage. However, his level of play can vary from day to day. @maximkrinitsyn88 (fire_cats88), who played in the previous season in Neo and now in the Pro quarterfinals, might be considered Russia's most promising talent at the moment.

The upcoming series is expected to be an exciting battle. Russia's two highly skilled players, @Motov and Virusactive, can pose a significant challenge for Polski’s defenders. However, Polski also has their own weapons in the form of @Brockela22 and @xSaski_. The series could go either way, and the author is interested to see if Polski’s Winchester will make an appearance in the games. If so, it would mean that the Russian team has a Finnish goalkeeper and the Finnish team has a Russian goalkeeper.

Random facts/opinions/notes/questions section from round 1:

@Jondeezz last FIVE playoff appearances have been first round exists (ECL 10 (Lite SOPPAJENGI) lost to HC Skull Town, ECL 22 Winter (Hokurit) lost to reality check, ECL 22 Spring (Hokurit) lost to AHJO, ECL 23 Winter (HanaaHC) lost to Nemesis, ECL 23 Spring (SIKA) lost to RCTIC), this might be some kind of record?

Be a Bro, what is happening? Change your name and bring back @rakkauspakkaus- and @Janikka with his +200e controller, don’t recruit these washed up players.

Gunners lead the G6 2-0, but @Zupancic_King424 (Zuppe_29) scored 2 goals 59:00 and 59:52 (on penalty kill) so I think it’s the choke of the playoffs this far.

@wickmanwOw leads the penalty minutes section, 16 pim 7gp, his teammate @eBasstian close second with 13 pim.

These Central Server players always reply back to you after the games, come on boys lets get some pre-game hype going, not this weak stuff. @Keuschemisch @ProfaneKiss

Stay-at-home defender @vote_10 with most interceptions, 44.

@Adri1_SCP with an impressive total of 8 penalties drawn.

@Deathstrokeris (DeathcoreFace) wouldn’t even catch a beach ball, 67% save percentage.

RCTIC has been playing better ever since SupremeJay started to cast their games. I kinda miss MANAGERI tho.

SportsGamers,

An exciting first round of Playoff action is over in the Elite division and while we've seen several extremely tight series already, more can be expected in the Semifinals! We've got two highly competitive series coming up, where the dominant Frölunda HC will face one of the hottest teams at the moment in Färjestad BK and in the second series, Tunnel Vision and hREDS will go at it in a rematch of their ECL '22 Spring Finals clash.

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring: Elite Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 24.4.-24.5.
• Quarterfinals: 29.5.-1.6.
• Semifinals: 4.-7.6.
• Finals: 16.-17.6.*
• Relegation: 26.-29.6. **

* TBC

** Series can be started as soon as pairs are known

(1)  Frölunda HC vs (5)  Färjestad BK

TOP SCORER (Playoffs)
Erik @Eki Tammenpää 6 GP, 3+8=11 vs Anton @antoniomannen004 Svensander 5 GP, 5+4=9

GOALTENDER (Playoffs)
Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen 6 GP, 4 W, 73,53 SV%, 1.5 GAA, 1 SO vs Johan @McSavid Rundqvist 3 GP, 2 W, 84,38 SV%, 1.67 GAA, 1 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
24-3-3 vs 16-9-5

The dominance of Frölunda HC has been impressive this season, but we can't go without mentioning the sweaty battles that Redhawks Esport put them through in the Quarterfinals. It's very rare for an 8th seed to be able to challenge the top team in the Playoffs, but the 4-2 series shows just how tight the Elite division has been this season. Statistically, Frölunda HC were able to limit the possession time of their opponents and we expect them to continue on the same path against their next Swedish rival Färjestad BK. FBK are one of the hottest teams in the league at the moment, which might spell trouble ahead, though. These teams clashed early in the season while Färjestad hadn't really found their groove yet, but the games were tight regardless. Expect a tough back and forth throughout the series. 

Färjestad BK is a team we cannot count out of the title fight this season. They are on a legendary run over the course of the past month or so, and after a catastrophic start to the season, this team has went 20-2-5 including the Playoffs since their initial losing streak. The team also has an interesting choice to make in terms of which goaltender to play, as both captain Johan @McSavid Rundqvist and Filip @Faze91- Azri have been in excellent form - Faze's outstanding 94,74 SV% and 0.5 GAA thru two games can't be missed though.

Prediction: Frölunda HC in 6. 
 

(2)  Tunnel Vision vs (3)  hREDS

TOP SCORER (Playoffs)
Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen 7 GP, 4+10=14 vs Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen 4 GP, 7+1=8

GOALTENDER (Playoffs)
Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen 26 GP, 4 W, 81,82 SV%, 1.19 GAA, 0 SO vs Teemu @ITemeI Laukkanen 4 GP, 4 W, 87,88 SV%, 1.00 GAA, 1 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
24-4-2 vs 20-7-3

Tunnel Vision went a full seven games in their series against JYP in the Quarterfinals, which is somewhat of a surprise taking into account the sheer firepower Tunnel Vision displayed in the regular season. The experience and ability of JYP to match and at times even control the pace of play caused some trouble, but eventually Tunnel Vision came out victorious and are certainly very aware of what they need to do in order to take on hREDS in the Semifinals. Powerplay efficiency (62,5%) and excellent discipline were decisive factors in the Quarters, and the same weapons could end up working well for Tunnel this time around too. 

As expected, hREDS managed to pave their way through to the Semifinals, this time with a sweep against Leksands IF, who put up a valiant fight. The Quarterfinals series was a hard fought battle, and we could envision Leksands referencing Rod Brind'amour: “We didn’t lose four games. We got beat but…we were right there”. Regardless, hREDS are now moving on to a big rivalry series against Tunnel Vision, a team they're very familiar with and whom they've played in several legendary matchups over the years, but in fact only once in the Playoffs back in the ECL '22 Spring Finals. Quite interestingly, all but one game in their matchups over the past four ECL seasons have been one goal games, which goes to show just how tight of a battle we could be expecting in this one. Historically, hREDS have had Tunnel Vision's number, but could we see a shift of power creeping in?

Prediction:  Tunnel Vision in 7. 

Action kicks off already tonight at Twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG, so make sure to join us at 19:45 CEST!

SportsGamers,

It is now time to turn to the final stages of this ECL '23 Spring Core Season and in this preview we'll try to highlight some key factors in each series to come.

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Core Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-20.4.2023
• Regular Season: 25.4.- 24.5.
• RO16: 30.5.-4.6.
• Quarterfinals: 6.-11.6.
• Semifinals: 13.-18.6.
• Finals: 20.-25.6. *

French Eagles  (1) vs WarHeads  (16)

• Both teams are absolutely horrendous on the powerplay- don't expect special teams to be the decisive factor.
• As one of the highest scoring outfits in the league, French Eagles have a big advantage up front. Keep an eye on @Coco on the right wing.
• @Trollstivegen is an experienced goalie who is miles above the competition in this division.

Tampere Taisto  (2) vs Ambri eSports  (15)

• If the French Eagles or WarHeads struggle with powerplay, there's no words to describe the performance of Tampere Taisto on the man advantage. Their efficiency is a measly 6%.
• Ambri eSports have struggled defensively and a 3.46 GAA won't cut it in the Playoffs. 
• Ambri eSports are also highly undisciplined, with a total of 128 penalty minutes in the regular season.

KohKae Esports  (3) vs Nelos kentta  (14)

• @Joona41 was the #2 scorer in the regular season, a big weapon for KohKae.
• KohKae are also the hottest team heading into the Playoffs with a 9-1-0 record in their last ten games.
• @Ylijumala96 for Nelos kentta has the most puck possession in the entire division, expect him to control the pace for his team.

Black Sharks  (4) vs Latvian Warriors  (13)

• Black Sharks cycle most of their play through RD @MSK-89-91 and LW @Brazone91.
• The Latvian Warriors have put on a clinic on the special teams - a combined number of 128,07%. @Kekava is a force on the man advantage with 6 tucks.

Dompa HC  (5) vs Nordic Nosebleed  (12)

• Dompa are an offensively skilled unit with @STRANDMANNEN11 as their top gun.
• The experienced Nordic Nosebleed are the lowest scoring team to make the Playoffs, expect them to employ a shutdown game. 
• Nordic Nosebleed have been in tough Playoff situations many times before and can utilize that experience to gain an advantage.

Ismon Valinta  (6) vs Koskenlaskijat  (11)

• Ismon Valinta have a deep roster and have rotated positions a bit over the course of the season, defenseman @rpxjoona can be seen jumping up to the winger spot at times.
• @Puosu_ has an impressive 45,6% shooting percentage for Ismon Valinta.
• Koskenlaskijat like to shoot the puck a lot and centerman @laketson (RHM_Lake) is a deflection machine in front of the net.

Taskubilis  (7) vs EV Duisburg  (10)

• EV Duisburg were by far the most physical team to make the Playoffs - 500 hits in 28 games played.
• Taskubilis can hang with the best in the division in terms of scoring, thay could run away with a few games if they find their groove.

Lutunilkat  (8) vs North Sawo Lions  (9)

• Lutunilkat are in poor form, with a bad 4-5-1 record in their last ten.
• @Medu14 will be the key for North Sawo Lions to succees, as he is the catalyst for their play.

SportsGamers,

It's time to get the Playoff summer started also in the Lite division and a total of 32 teams have made the cut for the most important games of the season! We've still got lots of virtual hockey left to play before a Champion is crowned and at this point, none of the previous performances mean a thing - only the form on any given gameday will decide.

In this Playoff preview we'll be taking a look at a few interesting series that we expect could end up being quite close, and highlight a lot of interesting statistical anomalies and facts from the regular season, join us for the ride!

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring Lite Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 25.4.-24.5.
• RO32: 30.5.-4.6.
• RO16: 6.-11.6.
• Quarterfinals: 13.-18.6.
• Semifinals: 20.-25.6.
• Finals: 27.-29.6.

To see all of the RO32 series, head over to the League page!
 

Dark Wild  (4) vs HC Lugano eSports  (19)

Dark Wild have earned their #4 seed by playing a very well balanced game throughout the regular season and winning tight games at a high rate. They don't play a flashy game, but are able to do what it takes to close out any game. Quite interestingly, they are the worst powerplay team in the Playoffs with a low 12,9% success rate on the man advantage. Most of Dark Wild's play runs through winger @Juhaniz-, who is also the teams leading scorer. He likes to backskate.

Don't discount HC Lugano despite their lower seed, the fact is that they have one of the stronger forward cores in the division, consisting of former Elite players @Krinke & @Freeman7187 and the very skilled @DangledYouOut (TIUINIA). Krinke is the teams most important player as the play driver, but in general Lugano is expected to play a bit more of a fast paced game in comparison to their opponents. Lugano aren't quite as sound defensively, which could end up being their demise. 

Prediction: Dark Wild in 6. 
 

Ultimatum  (7) vs Lions Academy  (26)

We can expect a surprisingly tight battle here between the 7th seed and the 26th seed. While Ultimatum are one of the strongest offensive teams in the league and will rely heavily on @vepdsssss (Werppi) and @tirbbi to continue their explosive production in the Playoffs, they can’t expect to be running through Lions Academy all that easily. The Academy team of the Swiss Elite squad ZSC Esports have several experienced players in their ranks and they excel at keeping games tight, which is evidenced by the fact that a third of their games in the regular season required overtime to be decided. In the regular season these teams clashed in a double-header in which ultimatum came away with four points and left Lions Academy with only one. 

Prediction: Ultimatum in 6. 
 

Cheeky Grinders  (10) vs Chiefzz HC  (23)

The ECL ‘23 Spring Winter Champions Cheeky Grinders were expected to be able to make an impact in the Lite division right away, and that’s exactly what they did. They are an exciting squad to follow and if they can keep on grinding - according to their name - they could end up making another jump to the Pro division sooner rather than later. Before even thinking about that, they’ll need to go through Chiefzz HC, who very well could have the most experienced roster in the division, both in terms of ECL seasons under their belts and in terms of average age in their team - perhaps an advantage in those decisive Playoff moments? 

Prediction: Cheeky Grinders in 7. 
 

Nurnberg IceTigers eSport  (13) vs Armada Hockey  (20)

The IceTigers are a team that has emerged seemingly out of nowhere and really put themselves on the map as a solid contender in the Lite division this season. Some high profile offseason acquisitions in the form of Akin and Komir90 bolstered the core that has played together for a long time already and the team seems to have grown nicely over the course of the season. The IceTigers are excellent offensively, but need to tighten up on defense in the Playoffs. Armada Hockey, on the other hand have made a habit out of making the Playoffs as a lower seed and taking down a few strong teams from an underdog position. This squad is highly experienced and very tough to beat in tight scoring games. Armada has a deep roster with a very balanced playstyle, they pose a threat from all areas of the ice at their very best. 

Prediction: IceTigers in 6. 

xBOTS  (15) vs Sodertalje SK  (18)

We’ve hyped up the exciting roster of xBOTS already in the season preview, and as you’d have it, we get to do that again in this Playoff piece. As expected, young talent IOLL1 led the team in scoring in the regular season and received excellent backup from ONN1231853 and Kibeeex on his flanks. In addition, xBOTS also established themselves as an excellent defensive team, who are able to hang in there with the best in the division in tight battles, which is exactly what they’re in for against Södertälje SK. SSK is a team we’re used to seeing in the Playoffs and they’ve even managed to be a fringe Pro team at their best. Based on both teams’ defensive stats, we’re expecting to see a low scoring series in which goaltending could end up being the decisive factor. Statistically, both DanDan919413 and Kussan82 have played very similar seasons, so that’s going to be an interesting battle to follow!

Prediction: Sodertalje SK in 6.

Interesting stats or anomalies from the regular season:

• Mustaa Kultaa is miles ahead of their competition in terms of firepower up front, evidence in the form of a stunning 4,4 GF/GP and winger @Allupekkaz winning the scoring title with 95 points
• Skelleftea AIK are the best defensive team in the Playoffs. Goaltender @Jonte05_ had a stunning regular season, but he is inexperienced - can he keep it together when the games get sweaty?
• Hc Replay has the best special teams number with an impressive 124,02%
• @Zaedon led the league in shorthanded goals with 4! for Chiefzz HC 
• The biggest puck hog in the Lite division is @sir_sniper for PunaKala with 175:31 TwP, a staggering 60 minutes more than his teammate @Unknownlehtis
• Most breakaways allowed - Dragons Gaming with 16 recorded defensive lapses thru 30 games in total
• @I_Manu93_I was a honey badger for Sawolanche with 224 interceptions in the regular season
• @wrlster for Technical Disaster is the most likely to shoot, with 157 shots in the regular season, that’s over 6 shots per game
• Group 1 ended up being the tightest in terms of deciding the last Playoff spot - RoKi Esports and Stadin Kingit had to go to tiebreakers in order to split the difference, and eventually RoKi earned the last spot by goal differential.

SportsGamers,

A full 30 games have been completed by all the teams in the European Top 16 and at this point we've narrowed the pack down to the eight best teams, who'll go head-to-head in the Quarterfinals. Some exciting turns of events right at the end of the regular season saw Frölunda HC taking the top seed and Redhawks Esport sneak into the Playoffs as the #8 seed. It's definitely been a regular season to remember, and we expect nothing less from the Playoffs!

We reached out to Cover Gamer Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen for some brief comments about the regular season in general:

"The top three set themselves apart as expected, but in general it feels like the top eight in the Elite division is tougher than that of previous seasons, although I believe all series have clear favorites, no one will be in for an easy series in these Playoffs. Some excellent teams like Heimo, Nordic Stars and Roots were left in no-man's land and I think any of those teams could've put up a good fight in the Quarterfinals."

Lainaa

ECL '23 Spring: Elite Schedule

• Registration period: 18.3.-13.4.2023
• Regular Season: 24.4.-24.5.
• Quarterfinals: 29.5.-1.6.
• Semifinals: 4.-7.6.
• Finals: 16.-17.6.*
• Relegation: 26.-29.6. **

* TBC

** Series can be started as soon as pairs are known

(1)  Frölunda HC vs (8)  Redhawks Esport

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala 30 GP, 28+35=63 vs Tim @Timasy Hess 28 GP, 23+26=49

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen 18 GP, 15 W, 83,13 SV%, 1.5 GAA, 2 SO vs Jonas @poliskontroll Lindström 18 GP, 7 W, 82,63 SV%, 2.28 GAA, 0 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
24-3-3 vs 13-10-7

Frölunda HC are on a great run, recent eHSM Champions and now the #1 seed in the ECL - They look like they are really enjoying themselves on the ice. The current form (8-1-1) Frölunda is in is unmatched throughout the division and the eye test really matches the stats in this case. While the experienced squad might not bolster the most overpowered offense around, they are so defensively sound that they'll be a tough team to beat in a best-of-seven series. Great defensive play all around and excellent goaltending from duo Casper @ICappeI Lundgren & Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen is their greatest asset moving forward. 

Malmö Redhawks made the Playoffs against all expectations and odds. Almost all #ECL23Prediction submissions placed this team outside of the Playoff picture, but that didn't put the Redhawks down. Their ability to clinch points in almost all of their regular season matchups came in very clutch towards the end of their campaign, and a fun notion is that in fact Redhawks only came away with zero points in one matchup throughout the season. They also won both games against hREDS, which is a testament of their danger from an underdog position. Captain Hampus @l-Furyan-l Duvefelt noted on Twitter that going into the Playoffs as the #8 seed is never easy, but Redhawks are playing with house money at this point. 

Cover Gamer Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen: "Frölunda will win the series in 4-5 games, but I don't think Redhawks will let them off the hook easy."

(2)  Tunnel Vision vs (7)  JYP Jyväskylä

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen 30 GP, 44+34=78 vs Santeri @indi969 Pendolin 30 GP, 23+26=49

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen 26 GP, 22 W, 87,5 SV%, 1.58 GAA, 8 SO vs Kasper @Kaz_zu Ramstedt 30 GP, 15 W, 80,11 SV%, 2.33 GAA, 3 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
24-4-2 vs 15-12-3

Tunnel Vision have set themselves apart as an exceptional offensive squad ever since signing winger superstar Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen ahead of last season. They didn't quite reach last season's numbers, but were in a class of their own regardless. In addition to that, the outstanding goaltending performance we've seen by Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen has got us thinking Tunnel Vision is going to be a tough team to crack once again. Tunnel Vision dropped their last games of the season against Mayhems and lost the #1 seed as a result of that. The team seemingly still hasn't found a surefire solution to their somewhat unexplained fluctuations in form, but their base level should surely be enough to make it through to the next round.

After an excellent ECL '22 Winter season and no roster changes made, we were expecting JYP to perhaps even sneak their way into the top 4, but some early season struggles and problems with consistency caused them to drop down into 7th place. Regardless of that, this squad has proven their ability to challenge top teams before, but Tunnel Vision definitely had their number this season with 3-0 and 5-3 wins. Both teams are quite similar in the sense that their defensemen carry the puck a lot and like to jump in on the offense. JYP could be in trouble if they end up on the penalty kill, with a poor 66,67% on that front in the regular season. Don't count JYP out, though, but Tunnel Vision's class and quality might end up being too much in their current form. 

Cover Gamer Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen: "I think this should be a tough series, but if we're able to play our best game, we should get it done in 5-6 games."

(3)  hREDS vs (6)  Leksands IF

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen 30 GP, 39+22=61 vs Robert @Robban kaudern Kaudern (I-Kaudo-I) 28 GP, 30+30=60

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Teemu @ITemeI Laukkanen 24 GP, 16 W, 78,71 SV%, 2.21 GAA, 2 SO vs Jesper @I-Lillebror-I Nidalen 30 GP, 15 W, 80,45 SV%, 2.6 GAA, 1 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
20-7-3 vs 15-9-6

hREDS were very far from the usual dominant form we're used to seeing from that team and at the end, they fell behind from the top two by a surprisingly wide margin. They had a few very rare off-nights and have struggled to some extent to really shut down that own end in their usual way. It'll be interesting to see hREDS sport a rather young talent in Teemu @ITemeI Laukkanen in net these Playoffs. He has proven himself with IQUE already back in ECL '22 Winter and with Tunnel Vision in the 2022 eHockey SM, but hasn't quite been able to rock with the top goalies in the division this season in that low- to mid-eighties SV% category. One thing hREDS have excelled at this season is their powerplay, which has clicked at a 39,39% success rate in the regular season. Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen has been excellent on the man advantage with five tucks to his name, and leads the league with 37 deflections, so keep an eye on his net-front presence.

Leksands IF is another kind of surprise, a rookie team that I personally expected to struggle in the Elite division due to the better level of defense, but they did just the opposite. Leksands IF thrived throughout the season and in fact were one of the highest scoring squads in the division. Especially Robert @Robban kaudern Kaudern made a strong case for himself as rookie of the season with an impressive 60 points - good for 6th place throughout the league. Expect Leksand to throw their trademark speed up the wings at hREDS, which could end up working in the counter-attack style of play they'll have to employ against a possession team like the former European Champions. 

Cover Gamer Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen: "Leksands were a team that caught me by surprise and this is going to be an interesting series to follow. The first few games will set the tone and I think that the series could be over quick if hREDS are able to find their game early on, but Leksand have a genuine chance to upset."

(4)  Mayhems vs (5)  Färjestad BK

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Teemu @temppanen Karvonen 30 GP, 22+23=45 vs Adam @dzouvi Mensik 30 GP, 18+27=45

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Ville @Viltzup Poutiainen 30 GP, 17 W, 81,82 SV%, 2.27 GAA, 2 SO vs Johan @McSavid Rundqvist 16 GP, 7 W, 82,23 SV%, 2.19 GAA, 1 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
17-9-4 vs 16-9-5

Both of these teams have been on sensational runs as of late. Mayhems are the second hottest team in the league with 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, only behind #1 seed Frölunda HC. This rookie team almost disbanded mere days before the season and still found a way to upset the entire division and push down several established teams. Ville @Viltzup Poutiainen is one of the biggest stars of this team and is definitely a solid backstopper for somewhat of an underdog team looking to make a cinderella story of their rookie season in Elite. Another very welcome factor has been the emergence of Teemu @temppanen Karvonen as a top tier player on the 1v1 side, and he has translated that success well to the 6v6 ice. Joel @jtorro-_- Tourunen has been a great addition to the back end of Mayhems, a player that really drives their offense and is crucial for them on the breakout. Always a danger in the offensive zone too along with Timi @Kkarkass Kärkäs, in fact, over 21% of goals for Mayhems were scored by defensemen!

Färjestad BK also went on an impressive run over the past few weeks. The team slotted in towards the absolute bottom of the standings at the midway point of the season and started their campaign with an eight game losing streak. It seems like they were really able to turn things around in the third week and went 16-1-5 after that initial losing streak. One highly notable factor about their game is that Sebastian @SebbeLarsen86 Larsen on left defense is the puck-hog of the Elite division with 193:22 of puck possession time, an entire 30 minutes more than Anton @antoniomannen004 Svensander, who plays up the right flank. In general, Färjestad are a team who like to stay on the puck and will most likely try to control the pace against Mayhems. 

Cover Gamer Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen: "Although Mayhems have had a great run, I don't think they can stand up to Färjestad in the Playoffs."