This article was co-written by @Pekedipeks & @Pensasmies:

As we have reached the second round of the ECL ‘24 Spring in Core it's time to take a look at the matchups we have coming up! 

 Prowlers (1) vs Huskies eSports (29)

Prowlers showed us why they deserved that #1 seed with a convincing 4-0 Round 1 series win with a goal differential of 12-4. It is worth noting though that it wasn't a continuous blast of fireworks all series long for them since they had to take two of those wins after playing overtime. Prowlers did a solid job defensively in all 4 games, but big credit also has to be given to @Tizjeflen who has currently best save percentage of playoffs with an insane 91.18%.

There is definitely no debate about who made the biggest upset of Round 1. After a series that was full of drama and controversy, the Huskies managed to win one of the biggest favorites in game 6. They lost the first two games kind of clearly, but then they made their Cinderella story happen or at least the first chapter towards that by winning four 1 goal games in a row, three of them being overtime wins. Grit from this experience could serve the Huskies' favor if this series goes too far from what Prowlers are hoping. 

Prediction:

Armeijan Kuri (2) vs Taskubilis (24) 

I pointed out in Round 1 previews that Armeijan Kuri had the best faceoff win% of the regular season and the same trend is still going on. Both of their centers have been top dogs on the dot. @SemiWasted has been cooking as Taskubilis' top-scorer with 6GP 10G+4A=14P but the safe pick for this series MVP is definitely @hefezuk85 with 6G+3A=9P in the first three games (series currently 3-0). If Taskubilis can't stop hefezuk and the rest of their ice forces, i can't see how this series would take many more games.

Prediction:

Capetown Kings got tested out hard by their Round 1 opponent after an intense series with 7 tight games. Their powerplay was the best of Core regular season, but so far after many tries they have only 1 powerplay goal in playoffs. EV Duisburg had 30 penalty minutes in their Round 1 matchup, so that needs to be changed if they don't want to give the Kings' special teams a chance to be reborn. Duisburg also had to struggle in the previous matchup when they had to take 3 out of 4 wins in overtime. I expect a tight series where the winner might be decided by penalties and simple things like puck possession. Players to watch: @GreatOne139 6GP 8G+8A=16P and @sambleri 7GP 6G+8A=14P

Prediction:

 Wida (6) vs HC Lugano Academy (16)

Score at the time of writing: 2-1 Wida

When taking a look at playoff player stats, this series stands out from the crowd with interesting facts: 4 players from the current top 5 scorers and top-scoring defensemen are playing in this series. Even though Wida won one game 0-6, every game has been relatively even stat-wise so I believe this will be decided by the firepower ability of these teams biggest names so far: @Palawatsch 9GP 15G+18A=33P and @nikitikitin 8GP 7G+22A=29P
 

Prediction: 

• Start on ‘home’ server
• Check in-game connection (note: not the lobby screen before the game begins, as that can sometimes give unreliable ping that turns out to be fine in game)
• If substantially higher than expected ping or packet loss is present, the player impacted should record evidence of this
• Please record video clearly showing the problem is in the game you are supposed to play to remove any doubt of tampering
• The player should then restart their router and console in an attempt to see if the issue is their own connection, or the server itself
• Both teams should change lobby host / captain 
• Attempt to restart the game, taking video evidence of the ping and / or packet loss
• If the issue is still present, then the team affected should start a support ticket detailing the issue and attach the aforementioned video clips as evidence
• At which point LA will decide whether the server switch should go ahead or not

While eight teams made their way into the playoffs to fight for the ECL '24: Spring - Elite championship, eight other teams have seen their season come to an end, each wondering what went wrong and what could have been. We will take a look at each of these eight teams, why they missed the playoffs and where things stand as they each look towards the future. We will begin with the 16th ranked team in the standings and then work our way up.
 

16.  Gotham Knights (25pts)

Why They Missed: Lack of Form All Season

After winning the ECL Pro Division championship over Renascor last season, Gotham Knights' time in the Elite Division has come to a quick close, finishing last in the standings and now likely being relegated back down to the Pro Division. Unfortunately, this team just never really found their footing in Elite this season. In their 30 games played, they only managed to collect standings points in 11 of those games and their longest win streak of the season was 2 games. That simply isn't a recipe for success. They did show some glimpses of potential this season, as out of their 9 total wins this season (including OT wins), four of them came against playoff teams. However, this league is all about being able to win consistently and unfortunately, Gotham Knights were never able to find their way there. We'll see what the future holds for this club and if they can find their way back into Elite in the future.

15.  Renascor (31pts)

Why They Missed: Offensive Woes

Last season's Pro Division runner-ups earned promotion to Elite after making it through the qualifiers in April. Not many people expected much of this group in its first Elite season and unfortunately, they finished right around where many had predicted them to before the season. Though Rensacor did seem to find a little bit of rhythm later on in the season, they only won 4 of their first 19 games (including OT wins). This pretty much did them in when it came to being able to secure a Top 8 finish. The biggest reason for this was Renascor's offensive struggles this season. For starters, they had the lowest goals for per game of any team in the Elite Division at 1.67. They also had the fourth-lowest shots per game in the division at 12.1. The Elite division is a big step from the Pro Division and it's not easy to adjust. Now this team will get ready for their relegation series in a few weeks against the Pro Division runner-up, hoping to stay up in the ECL's top division next season.

14.  Heimo (34pts)

Why They Missed: Not Being Able to String Together Wins

After finishing in no man's land last season at the 11th spot, Heimo unfortunately found themselves further down the Elite table and now have to go to a relegation series. What's wild is that last season they had 36 points, so it goes to show that the Division as a whole performed better this season when it came to accumulating points in the standings. Something that Heimo may have suffered from more than any other team this season in terms of their place in the standings. As for where this team fell short, they never really found that consistent form of winning that they needed. This Heimo team would get a win and then follow that up with two or three straight losses. In fact, this team only had two win streaks all season, and their longest winning streak lasted the minimum amount of games to be considered a streak, 2 games. It's just tough to make it in when you aren't able to find a consistent stretch of winning. Add that in with increased performance from the other teams that were outside the cutline and Heimo just happened to find themselves where they are. If they can keep their place in the division for next season, hopefully, they can take that same next step that their competitors did this season.

13.  GOONS (34pts)

Why They Missed: Allowing Far Too Many Goals

It's unfortunate to see how things have trended for this team over the last few seasons. As weird as it seems, GOONS haven't qualified for the Elite Division playoffs since ECL '22: Spring, a season in which they made it to the semifinals. That was two years ago. Since that season, this team lost multiple critical pieces to that core due to transfers and has been trying to rebuild themselves since. And now, they are going to have to win a relegation series just to keep their spot in the division. The biggest reason GOONS find themselves outside of the playoffs again is due to the high amount of goals that they allowed, which ironically is the same thing that plagued this team last season. During the Winter season, GOONS allowed 3.5 goals per game, which ranked third-worst in the Division. This season they allowed 3.1 per game, which though an improvement, still ranked them as the second-worst in the league, only finishing ahead of Gotham Knights. Not only this, but just 8 of their 19 total losses this season were by one goal, and this includes overtime games. On a positive note, they were one of the division's better teams offensively this season with an average of 2.53 goals for per game, which ranked 6th in Elite. They also broke the ECL's record for hits in a regular season with 1163 (across all divisions), so they were also able to make some history despite missing the postseason. However, I have the feeling that this summer could be one with a lot of soul-searching for this GOONS team; especially with their future in the division now being uncertain.

12.  Polski Boys (36pts)

Why They Missed: Not Improving Offensively From Last Season

Polski Boys find themselves in no man's land for a second straight season and the biggest reason for this was their struggles on offense. Interestingly enough, this was exactly what held this team back last season. During their Winter campaign last season, which was their first in Elite, Polski Boys averaged just 2.03 goals for per game, which ranked as the 5th lowest in the division. They also struggled mightily on the power play last season, only converting on the man advantage 14.29% of the time, which was the lowest in the division. Despite having a season of Elite division experience under their belt and returning all six starters from last season's team, the Polski Boys' offense saw minimal improvements in the Spring. They averaged just 2.07 goals for per game which ranked 2nd lowest in the league, only ahead of Renascor. Their power play was also a weakness for them again this season, as their 16.22% on the power play was 4th lowest in the league. One positive thing to note is that they did seem to find some form late in the season, as they collected points in the standings in 8 of their last 10 games of the regular season, though they only surpassed the two-goal mark in 2 of those 10 games. As someone who has had the pleasure of covering this team's rise through the ECL ranks over a few seasons, the potential is there for Polski Boys to be a genuine threat in the Elite division, but that won't happen until they find a way to improve their play offensively. They have yet to find success there at this level, and until they do they're bound to be stuck in the middle of the pack.

11.  Vesa Pompa (37pts)

Why They Missed: Losing Close in Regulation Games and Not Putting Together A Winning Run

Of the teams that didn't get into the Top 8, Vesa Pompa was probably the most surprising. After making the playoffs as a #6 seed and making it to the Elite semifinals last season, missing out on the playoffs altogether this season is a disappointing result for this group. Unfortunately, they just never really found the same form that they had in the Winter season and it ended up costing them dearly in the playoff race. For starters, Vesa Pompa lost valuable points in the standings in close games, as 8 of their 14 regulation losses were decided by one goal. Not only this, but they never were able to find a consistent winning run the way that they did last season. In their Winter campaign, they were able to make the playoffs off of the back of a 12-game points streak, a streak that saw them win 10 of those 12 games. This season, Vesa Pompa's longest points streak lasted just four games. It's unfortunate that this team will have to watch the playoffs from the sidelines this time around, as we've seen this group be able to make some magic happen in the postseason before. On the bright side, they didn't see themselves eliminated from playoff contention until the final day of the regular season, so this team was in the hunt throughout. Unfortunately, the factors that we've mentioned were just too much for Vesa Pompa to overcome in the end. A tough result for a high-quality squad.

10.  Roots Gaming (42pts)

Why They Missed: Too Many Regulation Losses, Struggling Against Playoff Teams, and Not Finding Enough Offense

Before we talk about why Roots Gaming didn't make the playoffs, I want to spend some time talking about the vast improvements that this team made this season. I'll be honest, I think that this season could be considered a success for Roots Gaming, as they arguably improved more than any team in the league this season. Last season they finished 15th in the standings with just 24 points and had to win a relegation series just to maintain their place in the Elite Division. This season however saw a complete turnaround for this team. And the most impressive part about it? All six starters this season were on this team last season; with five of them starting 20+ games during that Winter campaign. Now that we've talked about the good though, we have to talk about why they missed out, and unfortunately, I couldn't pick just one reason to tell the full story. For starters, 14 of Roots Gaming's losses this season came in regulation, meaning that they lost out on potential points that they could've gained by pushing more games to overtime (they went 7-7 in regulation games this season). Second, they had a record of 3-13 against playoff teams and 11 of those losses were in regulation. Lastly, their offense just never really seemed to find itself. They tied with Heimo for the fourth-lowest goals for per game at 2.07. They also took the least amount of shots of any Elite division team at 353 (that's an average of just 11.8 shots per game). I promise you that I don't mean to pile on. This group has a ton to be proud of considering where they were in the standings just a season ago. However considering that they missed the playoff cutline by only 4 points, it feels like they could've made the postseason if they had been able to correct even just one of those three factors. Regardless, Roots Gaming should go into the offseason feeling good about their efforts. The question now is, can they build on it?

9.  Purification (42pts)

Why They Missed: Their Second Half of the Season 

Every team has aspirations of making it into the postseason before the season begins, which makes it even more crushing for the group that ends up finishing as the first team outside of the playoff cut line. However, let's give Purification their due credit. This was an impressive debut season in the Elite Division for this group and I don't doubt that they will be back in the playoff conversation in the future. After earning promotion by defeating POGGERS in its relegation series last season, Purification was a group that many people were interested in seeing make the jump to Elite, as they were dominant in the Pro Division and fell one win short of making it to the Finals. Early in the season, they looked like a team that would be well on their way to the playoffs and potentially even a Top 4 seed, winning 10 of their first 13 games this season. After this, things unfortunately fell apart. In their last 17 games of the season, Purification earned just 15 points in the standings. That stretch included a 7-game losing streak that saw them earn just 2 points and a 5-game losing streak that saw them earn zero points. During this stretch, they lost 10 games by one goal (including overtime losses) and had a 1-5 record against non-playoff teams, including two regulation losses to Gotham Knights and a regulation loss to Renascor on May 16 that eliminated them from playoff contention. I know that Purification is going to be disappointed that they aren't playing playoff hockey this season, especially considering that they looked like a lock during the first half of the season. However, I think that they also have a lot to look back on positively, as they've proven that they can truly compete at the Elite division level. This season will be valuable for them to learn from and will be something good to build on for the future. I'm excited to see where they go from here.

If you have any feedback or if there is anything that you feel that I missed, make sure to let me know in the comments!

If you want to learn more about the teams that did qualify for Elite division playoffs, you can check out my Quarterfinals playoff preview below.

SportsGamers,

The last ECL '24: Spring - 1v1 Qualifiers are played on Wednesday, May 22nd, and Friday, May 24th! What this means in practice is that the registration for Qualifier 3 ends today (May 21) at 20:00 and the registration for Qualifier 4 ends Thursday (May 23rd) 20:00 CEST.

For more information about what the ECL '24 - 1v1 competition as a whole is about, please read more about ECL 1v1 here.
 

Prizes
In the Spring season, the champion will skate away with 300 €, while the runner-up and the semi-finalists will claim 150 € and 75 €, respectively. It's the Grand Finals that hold the golden puck in the form of an additional 1800 € up for grabs - 700 € for the grand champion, decreasing incrementally down to €75 for those placing fifth to eighth.

Note: The top 4 from the Winter season have already secured their Grand Finals spots and will not participate in the Spring qualifiers.

ECL '24: Winter 1v1 - Season TOP 4:
🥇 Erik @Eki Tammenpää
🥈Teemu @temppanen Karvonen
🥉 Henrik @Eken45jr Eklund
🥉 Sisu @sisu33_ Nurminen

With registration closing precisely at 23:59:59 CET the day before each qualifier, the countdown has begun. Participants are reminded to lace up their skates and register in time to secure their spot on the virtual ice.

Will you be the one to hoist the ECL '24: 1v1 Championship trophy this year? Only time, talent, and the spirit of competition will tell. Get ready for the puck to drop!

Note: Taking part in the ECL 1v1 seasons requires the purchase of the ECL '24 Player License.

Alternatively, you may purchase the ECL '24: Winter Season Player License, however, please note that only covers the Winter season.
 

ECL '23 Winter: 1v1 Schedule & Sign-up

Please note that you should sign up for all qualifiers individually, meaning if you want to take part in both remaining qualifiers, please sign up for both using the buttons below.

Should you make the TOP 8 during a qualifier, you unlock your spot in the TOP 32 stage and thus should not play in the remaining qualifiers.

Qualifier 3 - Wednesday 22.5

Quote

• Sign up period
  • 28.4-20.5.2024
• Qualifier (BO1)
  • Wednesday 22.5
    • Upper Bracket ⬆️
      • Upper Bracket Round 1 (64): 18:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 2 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 4 (8): 19:30 CEST
    • Lower Bracket 🔽
      • Lower Bracket Round 1 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 2 (32): 19:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 4 (16): 20:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 5 (8): 20:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 6 (8): 21:00 CEST

Qualifier 4 - Friday 24.5

Quote

• Sign up period
  • 28.4-22.5.2024
• Qualifier (BO1)
  • Friday 24.5
    • Upper Bracket ⬆️
      • Upper Bracket Round 1 (64): 18:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 2 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 4 (8): 19:30 CEST
    • Lower Bracket 🔽
      • Lower Bracket Round 1 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 2 (32): 19:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 4 (16): 20:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 5 (8): 20:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 6 (8): 21:00 CEST

TOP 32 Group Play

Group Play will be played in four (4) groups of eight (8) players. 

• Monday 27.5
  • R1: 18:00 CEST
  • R2: 18:30 CEST
  • R3: 19:00 CEST
  • R4: 19:30 CEST
• Wednesday 29.5 
  • R5: 18:00 CEST
  • R6: 18:30 CEST
  • R7: 19:00 CEST
  • R8: 19:30 CEST

Playoffs (BO3)

• Monday 3.6
  • RO16: 18:00 CEST
• Wednesday 5.6
  • Quarterfinals: 18:00 CEST
• Sunday 9.6 - Online TOP 4 Finals Broadcast
  • Semifinals: 18:00 CEST
  • Finals: 20:00 CEST

SportsGamers,

It's time for the ECL '24: Spring - Neo Playoffs, where the TOP 32 teams of ECL Neo battle for their chance to be the Neo Champions!

Schedule

• Playoffs (BO5)
  • Round of 32: 
    • Wednesday 29.5
    • Sunday 2.6
  • Round of 16: 
    • Wednesday 5.6
    • Sunday 9.6
  • Quarterfinals: 
    • Wednesday 12.6
    • Sunday 16.6
  • Semifinals: 
    • Wednesday 19.6
    • Sunday 23.6 (we realize this is close to midsummer, so rescheduling as needed is recommended)
  • Finals:
    • 26.-30.6*

* Dates are subject to change as broadcast productions are confirmed.

Round of 32 matchups:

Taifun (1) vs Fallen Rangers Academy (32) 
 Davemiehet (2) vs RAUTANE REMMI (31) 
 Dynamo Hc (3) vs Eishockeynet Yetis (30) 
 Oljefondet (4) vs Beastie Boys (29) 
 UEL TEAM (5) vs Hc Total Chaos (28) 
 MANCAVExGG (6) vs Ice Predators (27) 
DEAD EVIL (7) vs Kiitaman Kasanovat (26) 
 Chiefs hockey club (8) vs Rorvik HC (25) 
RAIDERS HC (9) vs BACKCHECK BOYS (24) 
Brothers In Gaming (10) vs LumberJackss HC (23) 
 Nelosketju (11) vs Academy Hockey (22) 
 Bigrus (12) vs Forgett Team (21) 
HC Armata (13) vs Gleumes Hockey Krefeld II (20) 
  Lassen Lampaat  (14) vs Hannover Indians Esports (19) 
Coventry Vikings (15) vs The Worn Out Wisemen (18) 
 Karhukissat (16) vs LOENGREENCREW (17) 

Follow the Playoff streams:

Please post dates, times and links for streams in the comments of this news story and social media, to help everyone find your team streams.

Social media:

Twitter:

When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtags when possible: 

@SportsGamerGG
#ECL24Spring
#eHockey
#NHL24
#esports
#kouvolanlakritsi

Instagram:

When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtags when possible: 

@SportsGamerGG
#ECL24Spring
#eHockey
#NHL24
#esports
#kouvolanlakritsi

We wish all teams the best of luck!

The ECL '24: Spring - Core regular season has concluded and we are entering the most exciting time of the year. In this article, we’ll go through all the matchups in round 1, see what the teams have accomplished so far and then get into the predictions of each series. 

 ECL '24: Spring - Core Playoffs Round 1 schedule:

• Tuesday 21.5
• Thursday 23.5
• Sunday 26.5

Prowlers (1) vs Free from Rodents (32) 

1st seed vs 32nd seed matchup. It would be bold to say an upset could happen here, right? The Prowlers have been a quality squad and definitely deserve their seed. As is often the case with top teams, they had the regular season’s top scorer, @RHannu, with an impressive 20GP 43G+23A=63P, and goalie @Tizjeflen with the 2nd best save percentage at 89.29%.

On the opposing team, Free from Rodents, there are no players dominating individual stats with flashy numbers, but they clearly have team spirit and defensive structure in their playstyle. Evidence of this is their penalty kill, one of the best in Core, at 93.94%. The Prowlers definitely need to sort that out, but Free from Rodents’ biggest problem might be their ability to score. Among the teams that qualified for the playoffs, they were the lowest-scoring team with 45 goals (compared to the Prowlers’ 78 GF). Since these teams were in the same group, let’s look at how the points were shared: 4-2 in favor of Free from Rodents. It will be interesting to see what happens in this Swedish matchup!

Prediction: Prowlers 4-3

Armeijan Kuri (2) vs Hunters (31) 

Hunters started their season struggling with a 6-game losing streak but managed to battle their way into the playoffs. Armeijan Kuri maintained a stable performance all season long, which was enough for a pretty safe top seed in their group. When they lost, it was by a maximum of 2 goals. The most interesting stat about Armeijan Kuri is their faceoff wins, leading Core with 57.06%. Hunters can expect a lot of puck possession and maybe many set plays from faceoffs by their opponent if they can't handle that. Individual talent is pretty even between these teams, with Armeijan Kuri’s top scorer @MutainenMalik(18GP 23G+31A=54P) and Hunters’ @MyLittleTomi(20GP 29G+22A=51P).

Prediction: Armeijan Kuri 4-2

Capetown Kings (3) vs Spartans eSport (30) 

These are two teams that are pretty recognizable from competing actively in recent seasons! A key point for this series is the best power play of the Core regular season: Capetown Kings with 32.65%. Spartans definitely can’t let them score on every third PP if they want to cause trouble. A big thanks for the Kings' efficient power play goes to @sambleri, who was not far from the division’s top scorer title, ranking 4th with 18GP 27G+31A=58P. Spartans didn’t have anyone close to that, so it will be interesting to see if anyone steps up to put the puck where they want it to be. Probably not an easy task when the opponent has @Acedi- between the pipes, who has been solid as a rock with the best GAA of the regular season at 1.5.

Prediction: Capetown Kings 4-1

 PANIC ON ICE (4) vs Huskies eSports (29)

Our last pair of group winner vs 8th seed. Again, there's something too significant not to mention first: power plays and penalty kills. PANIC's crazy 91.43% PK vs Huskies' 7.14% PP. I know Huskies in the cold are like fish in water, but hey, looking at those numbers, I would expect nothing but North Pole level cold. The obvious choice for the most interesting player of this series is the top-scoring defenseman of the regular season, @Wpaanane, with 18GP 3G+31A=34P. Playing his second season in a row in Core after plenty of ECL Elite experience, he brings a lot of achievements from higher divisions. However, if the top guy has one bad game, how will the rest of the team react, and how would that affect their winning mentality? Regarding Huskies, the big question is the goalie situation. Three goalies have played an almost identical number of games with similar stats. So, who will play? This series is a Finnish team vs a German team, so with PANIC's home server advantage, there should be no surprises.

Prediction: PANIC ON ICE 4-1

 Darra Stars (5) vs Clowns On Ice (28) 

Another cross-server matchup, and in this series, I think it could play a bigger role than in others. These teams were also in the same group, so let’s look at their games: Darra Stars lead 5-1 in points with a 7-4 goal differential. Stars' top scorer @Aika_Suklaata was 3rd in points with 58. Darra Stars were the only team to have a perfect last 10 games in the regular season with a 10-0-0 record. Their top 3 scorers had more points than Clowns’ top scorer. I believe the server disadvantage for this Central server team is too big a mountain to climb.

Prediction: Darra Stars 4-0

 Wida (6) vs Knogmackers HC (27) 

In order for Knogmackers HC to solve Wida, they have to figure out the great defense and goaltending duo in @Mise13 (88.00%, 1.80 GAA, 1 shutout) and @P3ppu116 (86.44%, 1.60 GAA, 3 shutouts). Wida is going to have a hard time choosing who to put between the pipes!

Players to watch:

@nikitikitin 20GP 29G+30A=50 P

@Molander13 20GP 23G+30A=53 P
 

Prediction: 4-1

Lutunilkat (7) vs Wildcats Esport I (26) 

A team with maybe the most entertaining streams of ECL vs a classic French organization. And another cross-server series. I always consider that worth mentioning because, for example, if we take one random matchup vs another Finnish team from Wildcats: home game 2-3W, away game 0-8L. This shows that maintaining consistent effort between servers is one of the hardest things to do in this video game. When playing best of 7, this usually shows up even more. Lutunilkat’s top scorer @Pyssyh really lived up to his name and was top 5 in scoring for the regular season with 31G+27A=58P, while nobody from Wildcats was in the top 50. Wildcats' PP and PK are slightly better, but if Lutunilkat's captain stays out of the box, I don’t see that as a problem. Lutunilkat has produced consistently throughout their lineup, and Wildcats are having a tough time finding answers for that.

Prediction: Lutunilkat 4-1

 Saucer Hockey (8) vs Bare Knuckles Hockey (25) 

Saucer is bloodthirsty for these playoffs after last season’s disappointment. Their opponent, Bare Knuckles, is maybe the most physical team in Core this season with over 600 hits. Probably because of that playstyle, they had the most penalty minutes in their group, so they have to be careful. Top scorers @taikatomi and @Miggohell had almost the same amount of points, both scoring a little over 40 points.

Prediction: Saucer Hockey 4-3

 Koppibuutti (9) vs Taskubilis (24) 

Players to watch:

@Adelyn10 87.61%, 1.91GAA, 5 shutouts

@Jalitmane10 20GP 14G+20A=34P

Prediction: Koppibuutti 4-0

Silver Sword Griffins (10) vs IceVikings (23) 

Silver Sword Griffins’ hearts were broken last Core season after they were the 1st seed in the playoffs but got swept in Round 2. So, I believe they are very bloodthirsty and motivated to show what they can do. SSG has a solid PK at 87.18% against IceVikings' 10.42% PP, which could mean SSG will play with high-risk, high-reward stick defense and hits because they trust they can shut down the opponent's ineffective power play. Players to watch are IceVikings' @bnkoXD (22GP 23G+16A=39P) and SSG's @martinssilins (20GP 23G+16A=39P).

Prediction: Silver Sword Griffins 4-3

 NAM3LESS (11) vs Pulp Odyssey (22) 

A matchup between two Finnish teams. On paper, Nam3less would be the clear favorite to win, but looking at the top 12 seeded teams, they have the worst power play at 11.63% against Pulp Odyssey’s solid PK at 89.74%, which raises some questions.

Prediction: NAM3LESS 4-2

Calippo HC (12) vs EV Duisburg (21)

A series of goalies. Player to watch in this series from Calippo: @SweMelle5041 with the best save% in the regular season (90.3%). From Duisburg: @MarvinJVfL1848 with the 4th best save% (88.47%).

Prediction: Calippo 4-2

 Koskenlaskijat (13) vs Nürnberg Nidhoggr (20) 

Out of all the series, this one might have the closest goal differential with Koskenlaskijat 67GF 53GA and Nürnberg 56GF 58GA. Top scorers and also picks for players to watch are @Duracellii (20GP 29G+16A=45P) and @ITA-Pizzabaecker (18GP 16G+14A=30P).

Prediction: Koskenlaskijat 4-3

 KohKae Esports (14) vs TRAINING GROUND (19) 

A high-shooting Czech team with over 400 shots taken in the regular season and an impressive 91.89% PK (now against KohKae’s 17.39% PP) are looking to have a great battle even with the server disadvantage. I feel like Training Ground has the typical Czech & Slovakian team-first mentality, especially in their own end. Expecting them to play high-risk in this series because of their great PK and a lot of shooting. But it could be that KohKae's greater ECL experience as a team could turn this series for them.

Players to watch: @Joona41 (22GP 19G+32A=51P)

51P) and @MikyGBRo (22GP 25G+28A=53P).

Prediction: TRAINING GROUND 4-3

Update: At the time of releasing the article, it turns out KohKae swept the series 4-0!

Crazy Capricorns (15) vs Moscow Capitals (18) 

Players to watch:
@Schuster060796 (20GP 22G+24A=46P)
@AkimkaRUS (22GP 7G+27A=34P)

Prediction: Crazy Capricorns 4-2

 HC Lugano Academy (16) vs Aake Kallialan Laituri (18) 

Players to watch:
@Tykylevits(20GP 16G+39A=55P)
@I-THE_EAGLE-I (18GP 17G+27A=44P)

Prediction: Aake Kallialan Laituri 4-3

Who do you think will win each series? Are there any key points or factors that we may have not covered? Let us know in the comments!

Once again the regular season comes to an end and the most exciting time of the year is upon us. I couldn't be more than happy with the teams that pushed through to the playoffs and once again proved this writer wrong. In this article, we’ll go through all the matchups in round 1, see what the teams have accomplished so far and then get into the predictions of each series. 
 

 ECL Pro - Round 1 official scheduled dates*:

• Monday 27.5
• Tuesday 28.5
• Thursday 30.5

^{*Teams can agree to play games earlier, many series are expected to start early.}
 

Falun Coal Miners (1) vs Vizio (8)

With the number one seed always comes big expectations. This year is no exception with Falun beating Deadly Phantoms and TIKI TALK for that number one seed and the “Presidents' trophy”, thus gaining home advantage for the entirety of the playoffs. With a record of 20-4-1-5 and 69 points, spearheading the Falun offense this season was @STRANDMANNEN11, relatively new to the scene and scoring 32 goals in his first season is impressive, to say the least. But with the bright playoffs lights, can he do it against a team that has played together for a long time, can @Artuzio and @Jetsu28 carry this team to round 2 after barely making the playoffs? Only time will tell.

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 4-0 Falun 

@yrjoo: 2-4 Vizio

Deadly Phantoms (1) vs Cheeky Grinders (8) 

Phantoms boast quite a long history of making the playoffs, everybody knows how frustrating it is to play against this team, right? Many of us Nordic players blame the Central European servers for that, but the Phantoms' style of play has once again proven effective: they won their group and proved that server choice does not matter as much as some think, edging out a few teams who could have taken that spot.

For the Phantoms their excellent defensive play stood out this season, boasting 1.67 goals allowed per game, with the goalie @RPH_31 taking a stand (SV% 84.38 and 1.79 GAA). This will be a good test for a Cheeky Grinders team that plays well against teams who are higher in the standings - they did indeed steal some points this season from difficult opponents, which is why they are in the playoffs right now. Let’s see how they match against an incredibly experienced playoff team.

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 4-2 DPH 

@yrjoo: 4-1 DPH 

TIKI TALK (2) vs Herlev Eagles (7) 

Someone could have maybe predicted this series at the start of the season, but maybe the other way? Herlev had a lot of ups and downs, and TIKI TALK had an impressive regular season. This should be an interesting series - both have lots of individual talent, @itspardytime, @NuariJamal, @vibholm10, and @Spearzz_, just to name a few. But as both teams look to advance to the next round, the team who can play the more compact defense will surely advance?

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 3-4 Herlev 

@yrjoo: 3-4 Herlev 

 Finnish Roosters (2) vs Golden Sticks (7) 

The Finnish Roosters was definitely on my personal list of teams who deserved a mention in that “could’ve been” ECL Pro mid-season report that sadly never came to fruition. The team boasts a lot of players who have been around the scene for a while, and now they are entering the playoffs with momentum against a team that was assembled not long ago. This will be an interesting series to follow for a number of reasons, but the number one thing to look out for should definitely be the offense of Golden Sticks vs the defense of Finnish Roosters.

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 4-0 Roosters 

@yrjoo: 4-2 Roosters.

POGGERS (3) vs NOVA (6) 

It's been an interesting story for both teams this season, with POGGERS having a slightly disappointing Pro regular season after being relegated and NOVA building on last season, improving their record. NOVA can only hope to beat a strong POGGERS team, who have played for a long time together and they certainly know how to win hockey games. As always the creative center @JaKurrii is a hard player to contain, with 67 points (23+44), playing with @Ghettomasi who had a great season, scoring an impressive 37 goals. Can NOVA's defense and recently acquired @PyroNiko cause an upset?

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 2-4 Nova 

@yrjoo: 4-2 Poggers 

RYHTIC (3) vs Södertälje SK (6) 

Both teams have had their fair share of games played in the Pro division, and now we’ll see who has more ice in their veins. With a tough season, Södertälje is looking to prove to everyone and themselves that they are better than most in this division. With the help of a couple of really great players, @amadee21 can really step up in the playoffs - a player to watch for this series!

RYHTIC can surprise a lot of teams with their style of play, taking down far more skilled teams with great defense and @yrjoo always steps up in the playoffs. @JussinSisko has to be a top 3 goalie in Pro this season, with absolute monster saves, and keeping RYHTIC alive in a lot of games. Can Södertälje beat the defense of RYHTIC?

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 4-1 Ryhtic 

@yrjoo: Plays for Ryhtic

Otukset (4) vs Mustaa Kultaa (5) 

For the first round of these playoffs, this matchup has to be the one to watch. Both teams have exceptional talent in their roster, and know the game in and out. This will be a battle of Offense vs Offense - expect a lot of goals to be scored.

Mustaa Kultaa couldn't quite make Elite, and didn’t really have the regular season everyone expected, but playoffs are always a different beast. Can the king of the Lite division @Allupekkaz step up and show everyone he belongs in the Pro division - or even higher? Shoutout goes to the best goalie in the regular season @LatveX boasting a save percentage of 90%! Who knew you could even do that in an NHL video game

It seems Otukset have always had roller-coaster-type seasons. Their game varies from day to day, which can be a dangerous thing in the playoffs. Will we see an improved Otukset in this series? You can always rely on @Hazard-laser when the games get tough, but will it be enough?

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 2-4 Mustaa Kultaa 

@yrjoo: 3-4 Mustaa Kultaa 

 Almost Famous (4) vs Supernatural (5) 

This series could go either way - both teams have the ability to beat the other. Supernatural showed us that they know how to take faceoffs, with an impressive 55,63% faceoff percentage in the regular season, which could give them the edge in this series with @TackleControl in the faceoff circle.

Making an impressive run in the Lite playoffs last ECL, Almost Famous now immediately made the playoffs in Pro with a good record. They can build on this momentum in these playoffs and go on a similar run this year. @Ikavalko will surely be the center of attention of the Supernatural defense. if you enjoy tight games, this will be the series for you.

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: 4-2 Almost Famous 

@yrjoo: 2-4 Supernatural 

Who do you think will win each series? Are there any key points or factors that we may have not covered? Let us know in the comments!

FOLLOW THE ECL PRO PLAYOFFS LIVE

You can watch live coverage of the Pro Division playoffs on Twitch, YouTube and X. Coverage starts on Tuesday, May 28th.

MATCHUP 1

 Valokuitunen Esports (1) vs (8) The Black Jacks 

Regular Season Results:

• 3-2 The Black Jacks W
• 3-2 Valokuitunen Esports OTW

Valokuitunen: Another dominant regular season from the defending champions (formerly known as hREDS) as they clinched the top seed in their finale against Straikers. The group has been truly elite in all phases of the game so far this season. They finished as the top team in the Division in goals for per game, goals against per game and shot attempts. They also saw each of their three forwards finish Top 10 in points. This includes Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen and Roope @pikkuroger Bergström, who shared the points title this season with 68. Speaking of @pikkuroger, he has filled the void left by Vili @Vilupoika Häkkinen admirably this season after transferring from Straikers, posting a career-best season that will likely see him get consideration for both Forward of the Season and Transfer of The Season. 

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the stellar season that Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes has had in net for the group, posting an 88.24% save percentage, 1.4 GAA and 10 shutouts while starting all 30 games this season. His save percentage increased by nearly 8 percentage points from last season (80.25%).

This could very well be considered one of the most impressive regular season campaigns that we've seen in the Elite Division, but this team cares about winning championships more than seedings and flashy numbers. Now is when their true season starts. 

Stat of The Series: Valokuitunen Esports have yet to lose a game this season by more than one goal. 

The Black Jacks: Another season, another playoff appearance for The Black Jacks. It feels like this group always manages to find their way into the Top 8 despite the league getting deeper. This marks their fourth straight playoff appearance, as they have not missed the postseason since the ECL '22: Spring season. Though this team returned much of its lineup, they did have a major question mark down the middle after losing its captain and Center in Sven @Original-SnuS Julmi, who departed from the team after being with them since ECL 6 (2018). They filled his place in the lineup with another experienced Center in André @Foppatofflan Liljegren who has been solid for them this season with 35 points in 30 games. The biggest addition for this team however was Johan @McSavid Rundqvist; who after taking a break last season has proven to still be one of the top goalies in the game. 

The way that this team has been able to find success this season has been through its defensive play. The Black Jacks took massive strides in their defensive play this season, going from allowing 2.3 goals per game last season (which ranked 7th in Elite) to allowing just 2.07 this season (4th best in the league).

This number was even lower before their last four games of the regular season, which saw them allow 3.75 per game during that stretch. If they can get back to the defensive play that we saw during the first 26 games, this series should be low-scoring and rightly contested. 

Stat of The Series: The Black Jacks' played in 17 games during the regular season that were decided by one goal; they had a 9-8 record in these games (this includes overtime games).

Bonus Stat: The Black Jacks are 12-3 in home games this season (including OT games). This is important because The Black Jacks are known to play on the Central European server, and it appears they have been able to use that to their advantage in those games this season.
 

Prediction: I truly do like this Black Jacks side. They are experienced, talented and are one of the best defensive teams in the entire ECL. Unfortunately, they are just running into an outright juggernaut in Valokuitunen Esports. I respect them enough to predict them to steal a game and feel like they have had about as much success against this group as any team in ECL, but it would probably be the biggest upset in league history if they were to pull off a series win. I just don't see it happening. 

 Valokuitunen Esports in 5

MATCHUP 2

 (2) Straikers vs (7) Unwanted 

Regular Season Results:

• 2-1 Unwanted W
• 5-2 Straikers W

Straikers: For the second straight season, Straikers find themselves at the #2 seed after another stellar regular season. The group was balanced and showed their elite form in every way, as they finished Top 3 in the Division in goals for per game, goals against per game, shots, power play percentage and face-off percentage. They also finished 4th in penalty kill percentage. Much of this group's core remains the same from the past season, with the lone addition to their regular season lineup being Teemu @temppanen Karvonen, who scored a career-high 23 goals in his first season with the club. 

Someone else to look out for will be Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen. The veteran netminder put together another spectacular season with strikers, starting in 20 games and posting an 84.95% save percentage and a 1.55 GAA. Straikers are 14-5-1 in games in which he started in the regular season. As a matter of fact, the last time that @Hansulinho had a save percentage below 80% was in an ECL regular season was in ECL 4 when he played for Laser HT. That was in 2017. if that's not dominance, I don't know what is. 

Overall, this Straikers team has had plenty of regular season success over the year and even some playoff success, but the reality is that this team is starved for a title. Ever since combining the cores of FILADELPHIA and HAVU before NHL 23, this group has made it to the finals twice, but fell short both times to Tunnel Vision. Last season they were knocked out a round earlier in the semifinals after being swept against hREDS (now Valokuitunen Esports). The last time anyone in their lineup won an ECL Championship was in ECL 11 when FILADELPHIA did it in early 2021. It's been far too long since this group has held gold and they're going to come in with a chip on the shoulder. They'll have a tough path no doubt, but they were the league hottest team down the stretch with an 8-2 record in their final 10 regular season games. This is one of the last teams you'd want to see in a playoff bracket.

Stat of the Series: Straikers played in just one overtime game all season, which was 2-1 loss against Purification on April 18. They have an overall record of 8-4 in one goal games this season (including OT games). 

Unwanted: Though I'm sure Unwanted are happy to be back in the playoffs for a second straight season, they have to feel like they left some meat on the bone during the later stages of the regular season. The wolves wound up as the 7th seed after finishing the season with a 4-5-1 record in its last 10 games. This includes a 7-1 loss to the now-relegated Gotham Knights and a 4-3 loss against Purification in their last game of the season, a game in which they held both a 2-0 and a 3-1 lead in the second half of the game. If Unwanted wins just one of those two games, they would've finished in 5th. if they had won both? They would've been 3rd. Despite the disappointing end though, Unwanted still had a lot to be happy with this season. 

A nine game win streak from April 24 to May 5 is what pushed this team into the Top 8, as they collected a whopping 25 points in the standings during that time. That streak makes up for 49% of their points all season. Not only this, but Unwanted are the only team in the entire league that can say that they swept Valokuitunen Esports, as they won both games against them in the regular season (4-3 W and 5-4 OTW on April 29).

Where this team can be most dangerous is in the offensive zone and that shows in their 2.73 goals for per game, which ranks 4th in the Elite Division. They've seen multiple players step up, as four of their five skaters finished this season with 30+ points. Eetu @Launonexx Launonen was quietly one of the division's top playmakers this season with 33 assists (3rd for all skaters), while Steffen @Suth98_ Sutherland was one of the division's best finishers, finishing tied for 5th in the league goals with 27. Some else to keep a close eye on is Adam @karlssonadam_ Karlsson. In his rookie campaign, @karlssonadam_ had an 85.57% save percentage while making the third most saves of any goalie in the Elite division this season with 350. He also had more desperation saves than any other goalie in Elite with 28. Look out for him in this series.

Stat of the Series: Despite finishing with the second lowest shot total (354) and shots per game (11.8) in the Elite Division, Unwanted had the highest shot percentage in the league at 23.16%. They were the only team in Elite to finish over the 20% mark. 

Prediction: These two team met in the Quarterfinals last season as the exact same seedings. 5 of the 6 games were decided by one goal. Four of these games went to overtime. Straikers would eventually prevail to win the series in thrilling fashion, coming back from two goals down with 15 seconds left in Game 6 to take the series later in overtime. Unwanted was a few plays away from potentially winning this series and they have every reason to feel confident. However, this team has been mired by inconsistencies all season and their recent form is reason for concern in my opinion. I think that we'll see many close games again where the goaltenders will shine and it'll come down to who is able to make plays when their team needs them most. Considering all of this, I'll give the advantage to a Straikers team that has a chip on their shoulder and are hot at the right time winning 8 of their last 10 games.

 Straikers in 6

MATCHUP 3

 (3) Tunnel Vision vs (6) Bjorkloven Esport 

Regular Season Meetings:

• 4-3 Bjorkloven Esport W
• 3-2 Tunnel Vision OTW 

Tunnel Vision: After failing to win their third-straight Elite Championship last season, Tunnel Vision are back in the playoffs in hopes of recapturing their crown. However, their quest has not come as smoothly as we have seen it in past seasons. Despite still being amongst the best offensive teams in the division, Tunnel Vision's play in its own zone has taken an alarming step back. Don't believe me? Let's look at the numbers: Last season Tunnel Vision allowed just 1.57 goals per game during the regular season, which was the lowest in the league. This season, that number has jumped all the way up to 2.7 goals allowed per game, which is the third worst in the league. The only two teams that allowed more were GOONS - who will have to play in a relegation series to stay in the Elite division - and Gotham Knights who will be relegated down to the Pro Division after finishing last in the standings with just five wins. Not great company to be in.

On the more positive side of things though, Tunnel Vision are still a team that can score with the best of them. The group averaged 3.03 goals for per game during the regular season, second-best in the league. Additionally, Tunnel Vision saw all five skaters in their main lineup end the season with 30+ points. They even have the league's leading goal scorer in Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen, who scored a ECL career-high 42 goals during the regular season. He also had the second most points of anyone in the division with 62, just six points shy of his career-high 68 points from last season. Someone that everyone will have to keep their eye on especially for this team will be Tomi @tomboo- Laitinen. The captain and star defender had the most time with the puck of any skater in the Elite Division, controlling the puck for 198:51 in his 30 games played. He also ranked 6th for all Elite division skaters in passing percentage (85.1%) and pass attempts (1052). He is the quarterback of this Tunnel Vision team offensively and specifically on the breakout. He should be busy again in these playoffs.

This team has mastered the art of winning tight games and they've made the finals in each of the last four seasons, so you can never count them out. However, this Tunnel Vision team seems to have more holes in the armor than they did in those past seasons. You can blame it on some key pieces departing over the years or you can just chalk it up to a few off performances in the regular season. Either way, it doesn't matter. Tunnel Vision is going to be a title threat, there is no question about it. But they are going to have to find away to stifle opposing offenses better than they did in the regular season if they want to make it back to the top of the Elite division mountain.

Stat of the Series: 11 of Tunnel Vision's 15 wins were by just one goal (include OT wins). That equates to 73.3% of their wins this season. For comparison, last season 13 of their 21 wins were by one goal (61.9%). They have a 4-3 record in overtime games.

Bjorkloven: A team that many felt would be in the playoff conversation at the beginning of the season, Bjorkloven Esport made a statement by locking in the 6th seed in the Division and posting 52 standings points in the process. The part that is even more impressive? This team was in the Pro Division last season and made the jump to Elite through the qualifier before this season.

This group also underwent a significant roster overhaul, as only two playoff starters from last season's team have played a game for the team this season. Not only this but multiple players in their lineup hadn't even played in the Elite division prior to this season. Before the start of this season, the most Elite experience on this team came from Miikka @koleslaav_ Kolehmainen, who had played 64 games across two seasons, Miika @zMikkeez Kauppila, who had played 62 games over three seasons, and Arttu @Thewix93 Harju with 34 games in his lone Elite season in ECL 9. Everyone else on this roster was a rookie other than Oskar @x-_-BoBi-_-x Hautala, who played in eight games with Reality Check in this division during the ECL '23: Spring season. 

@koleslaav_ (49pts) and @x-_-BoBi-_-x (46pts) were the team's two top point producers this season. Interestingly enough, no one on this team scored 20 goals this season, but five different skaters scored at least nine goals and their 2.33 goals for per game, ranked 9th in the division. What makes this team special is their ability to slow down opposing offenses, as Bjorkloven Esport allowed just 2 goals per game this season, which ranked third in the league. Juspe @Ricco Laakso has also been a big reason for this, flexing his ability as a rookie with a 83.85sv% and a 2.04 GAA, both in which ranked in the Top 10 in the division. This team is balanced, defensively strong and have a goaltender that has proven to have game-stealing ability. All of the qualities that make for a potential upset pick in the playoffs.

State of the Series: Bjorkloven Esport tied with Renascor for the least penalized team in the Elite Division this season, only committing 60 penalty minutes. 

Bonus Stat: Bjorkloven Esport had an 8-10 record in one-goal games this season (including overtime games)

Prediction: I'll be honest, I could see this being a popular upset pick. Bjorkloven are a strong squad that are good enough defensively to compete with Tunnel Vision's high-octane offense. However, I have concerns about Bjorkloven's lack of experience, as not a single player on their roster has played a playoff game at the Elite level (not including relegation series games). I know that it's a cliche thing to say, but it means something. There is something to be said about a team that has yet to play in the postseason at this level, going up against a team that has made the Finals each of the past four seasons and are two-time Elite Division champions. As for Tunnel Vision, I'd be lying if I said that they've been playing to their standard. I wouldn't go as far as to say that this team is vulnerable right now, but I would definitely say that they are susceptible. They've just looked off-kilter this season and have yet to find that next level in their game that we have seen from them in the past. However, I think they'll step up and get the job done in what should be a tightly contested series. If they don't, it could be a long offseason with a lot of soul-searching ahead of them.

 Tunnel Vision in 6

MATCHUP 4

 (4) Tohtorit vs (5) EXEN 

Regular Season Series:

• 5-4 EXEN W
• 2-0 EXEN W

Tohtorit: The last time we saw Tohtorit in Elite was in the Spring '23 season, where they went 11-15-4 and finished 13th in the league. They beat Deadly Phantoms in 5 games in their relegation series to stay up in Elite, but didn’t participate last season, taking a one season hiatus. This season Tohtorit came back, replacing the Mayhems brand and bringing back multiple players from that Tohtorit team from last year. Considering this, not many people picked this team to make the playoffs, but they did, and now they have a chance to add another chapter to what has been a storybook season for the club. They will feel as if they missed an opportunity to earn a better seeding, as they lost each of their last 4 games in regulation and wound up just two points behind Tunnel Vision for the #3 seed, but a Top 4 finish is still extremely impressive, especially from a team that many didn't even have making the playoffs at all.

This team is the perfect example of a group that isn't elite at anything specifically, but they do a lot of different things well and rely on playing a balanced game in all three phases. Their 2.01 goals allowed per game was 5th best in the division and they also had the division's third-best power play at 31.43%. They also averaged 2.43 goals for per game, which ranked right around the middle of the division in 7th. Tohtorit started the same six player for all 30 games this season. Some impact players for the group include Jere @Harlowi- Paloranta, who racked up a team-high 52 points (ranks Top 10 amongst all Elite division skaters), Tuomas @Ojala16 Ojala who tied @Harlowi- for the team lead in assists with 31 (ranks Top 10 amongst all Elite division skaters), and Jere @profiilipakki Kangasniemi who led the team in goals with 26 (ranks Top 10 amongst all Elite division skaters).

Another player that you can expect to be active in this series will be Timi @Kkarkass Kärkäs, who compiled 28 points this season with 25 assists. He also had the second-most time with the puck of any player in the Elite division this season with 187:48 of possession time, so expect to hear his name often in this series. Lastly, I wanted to mention Stan @Stammer70 Adamus and the stellar season that he has had, as he's backstopped his Tohtorit team all season with an 83.76 SV% and 2.10 GAA. These numbers are actually very similar to his Spring '23 season with this team and he's truly emerged as arguably one of the more underrated goalies in a division that is stacked with elite goaltending talent. Overall, this team does a lot of things well. The question is whether they can replicate their success in the postseason. 

Stat of the Series: Tohtorit went 6-8 against playoff teams in the regular season, including 1-7 against teams that finished in the Top 5 of the standings. None of these games went to overtime, and 6 of the 8 losses were by more than one goal.

Bonus Stat: @Kkarkass played for JYP Jyväskyla last season and was one of their most impactful players, playing in all 30 games and putting up 30 points in his lone season with them. He was on Tohtorit during the two seasons prior to their hiatus. 

EXEN: It's hard to not feel like the team has to have a chip on their shoulder, right? You'd be hard-pressed to find another team in the ECL that have gone through as many ups and downs as this EXEN side has over the past three years. Formerly JYP Jyväskyla before rebranding to the EXEN name this season, this group has seen the following things happen since the Summer of 2020.

• ECL 10 - Earned #1 seed in the playoffs, were later upset by #8 seed Farjested BK in 5 games 
• ECL 11 - Made the semifinals as #4 seed before losing to eventual champion FILADELPHIA
• ECL 12 - Went 10-17-3 in the regular season and were relegated to Pro Division after losing the relegation series in 5 games
• ECL '22: Winter - Went 23-5-2 in the regular season and won the Pro Division championship to earn promotion back into Elite
• ECL '22: Spring - Went 12-14-4 and finished 11th in Elite standings with 28pts, avoiding the relegation series zone by 1 point
• ECL '23: Winter - Made the semifinals as #5 seed before losing eventual champion to Tunnel Vision in 6 games
• ECL '23: Spring - Push #2 seed Tunnel Vision to 7 games in Quarterfinals, but lose in game 7.
• ECL '24: Winter - Earn #3 seed in playoffs, lose to #6 seed Vesa Pompa in 6 games

See what I mean? Sure, many of the players from that time have come and gone since, but the history of this team still is there and it deserves a deep playoff run. Turning the focus now to this season, things have been up and down for this EXEN group. The expectation for this team was to make the playoffs, which they did, but it feels like they could've been a little higher in the standings than where they ended up (5th). EXEN ranks in the Top 5 in the league in goals for per game (2.63) and shots per game (15.5). They also sport the Elite division's best penalty kill at 91.87%.

Similarly to Tohtorit, EXEN has played the same six players in all of their games this season. 4 of their 6 starters returned from last season's group, but EXEN's two additions have both proven to be great adds for their squad that they are hoping can take them to new heights in the postseason. Aaro @xAaro89x Aarvala returned to the group after spending last season with Heimo. He led EXEN with 55 points (which ranks Top 5 in the division), 24 goals and 31 assists (both rank Top 10 in the division) during the regular season. The addition of Aleksi @Mozjayh Kähkönen on defense as also proven to be a critical one. After helping hREDS win the league last year and helping Tunnel Vision win the title in the two seasons prior, @Mozjayh posted 25 points with 19 assists in his debut season with EXEN this season. He and Aapeli @Lxndstrom Landström have become one of the division's best defensive pairings this season and their impact has been immense. In terms of goaltending, Kasper @Kaz_zu Ramstedt has been stellar once again for this team with an 83.09sv% and a 2.30 GAA. The backend has proven to be the backbone of this team, so these three players will be major factors for EXEN in this series. EXEN has a ton of experience in this league and plenty of skill and chemistry to go with it. The perfect combination for a deep playoff run.

Stat of the Series: @Lxndstrom(184:11) and @Mozjayh (171:52) rank 3rd and 5th amongst all Elite division skaters in time with the puck. These two are the straw that stirs the drink for EXEN's offense and much of the team's offensive success will likely involve them in some form.

Bonus Stat: Though EXEN went 4-7 in their last 11 games of the regular season, two of those wins came against Tohtorit, who they swept in their regular season finale on May 16.

Prediction: This series is so tough to call because these are two teams that do a lot of things well. They are both balanced and have players on both ends of the that can impact the game at any time. However, EXEN went 7-7 against playoff teams and five of those losses were by one goal (this includes overtime games). They also went 5-3 against teams that finished Top 5 in the league. Meanwhile Tohtorit, as impressive as they have been, have yet to  prove that they can beat the teams of this caliber consistently, something that is extremely important in a playoff series. They also just lost twice to EXEN on Thursday. None of this is particularly inspiring for them, and when you combine with EXEN's experience, I just don't think that it's a favorable matchup for them. The one thing that I will say though is that this team has been used to being doubted. Just like I am doubting them right now, they have been doubted since the before the season started. Yet every time they have prove these doubted wrong. They are playing against an EXEN team that has disappointed in these Quarterfinals in the past, including just last season. I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if I was wrong, but I think EXEN will just be a little too much for this tough Tohorit team to overcome. 

Prediction:  EXEN in 5

Who do you think will win each series? Are there any key points or factors that I may have not covered? Let me know in the comments!

FOLLOW THE ECL ELITE PLAYOFFS LIVE

You can watch live coverage of EVERY GAME of the Elite Division playoffs on Twitch, YouTube and X.

Week 1:

• Monday 20.5 - 19:45 CEST | #4 Tohtorit vs #5 EXEN & #1  Valokuitunen Esports vs #8 The Black Jacks | Games 1-2
   
• Wednesday 22.5 - 19:15 CEST | #1  Valokuitunen Esports vs #8 The Black Jacks | Games 3-7 
   
• Thursday 23.5 - 20:45 CEST | #4 Tohtorit vs #5 EXEN | Games 3-7
   

Week 2:

• Monday 27.5 - 19:45 CEST | #3 Tunnel Vision vs #6 Björklöven Esport & #2 Straikers vs #7 Unwanted | Games 1-2 
• Tuesday 28.5 - 19:15 CEST | #3 Tunnel Vision vs #6 Björklöven Esport |Games 3-7*
• Wednesday 29.5 - 19:15 CEST | #2 Straikers vs #7 Unwanted | Games 3-7*

^{*These dates may be reverse}

As of the mid-point of the ECL '24 Spring season, this milestone has been reached. This article is written on May 5, 2024 In the middle of the day. Due to variations in the number of games played between teams, I am using Points per Game (P/G) results when discussing regular season rankings. The teams leading the pack include Valokuitunen Esports, Straikers, Unwanted, and Tohtorit. I won't cover all teams, as time does not permit and frankly, there isn't much to say about many teams.

Here are a few highlights that I find either unusual or particularly interesting from the season so far:

Purification is doing well, and their 1.81 P/G is somewhat surprising to me. In reviewing the stats, @Skumboo's impressive save percentage in his rookie season stands out. If the team can improve slightly, we might see them in the playoffs in their first season, which would be an impressive feat for this young Swedish squad.

Vesa Pompa – what's going on with your team? The team's stats are as follows: 5 wins and 9 losses. Vesa Pompa, having recently won the Swedish championship, should not be counted out of the playoffs yet; I believe the team will improve once they've played more games. It seems they might be missing @SebbeLarsen86, as the team’s goalkeeper has faced the most breakaways according to EA's stats. The team is also among the top four for goals allowed, with a statistic of 2.86 GA/GP. Nearly 3 goals per game is not a great performance for a top Elite team.

EXEN has struggled to perform consistently at the top of the rankings, which could be attributed to their challenging schedule, facing top teams like Valokuitunen and Tunnel Vision. Additionally, they have experienced unexpected losses to teams like Goons and Heimo. These struggles might be explained by the team's adaptation period or "growing pains," especially considering that V-V @cTunkeilija Lampela is potentially playing his first season as a center, and Aleksi @Mozjayh Kähkönen is on defense. Triple-champion Mozjayh has not yet shown the same impact as seen from his time as a center, with a stats of 16gp 4+10. High on the team's internal points leaderboard is Aapeli @Lxndstrom Landström, who also won last season's Defender of the Season award. This skilled defenseman has often been high up in the points during the regular season, but personal errors cost them in the last playoffs when Vesa Pompa capitalized on these mistakes. We will soon see if lessons have been learned from last season or if similar errors continue at the same scale.

Heimo – excuses or improvements? I hope this veteran squad gets their game going, and we see them in the playoffs after a long absence. @Akunkku has made a successful comeback to the scene with a performance of 16gp 14+9p, 23 points.

Roots is close to making the playoffs after a long time. The return of Santeri @xleksa_ Levänen has clearly made the team more cohesive and victorious. Perhaps this is the famous Sokkelo SZN, as Mr. Eemil @sokkelo__ Soikkeli scores goals and carries the team to higher standings.

Polski Boys' early season has been terrible, with 18 games and 7 wins. Star player @jm98II promised me before the season that Polski would be seen in the playoffs. If so, the team needs to step up soon. Last season showed promise, so it would be a disappointment if they regressed.

Goons, I'm not even sure what to say about you. Well, you got Kristian @kriketski17 Veijola back, and 7 different guys have been rotating on the ice. Their positions have also varied. The interesting part was when we, Unwanted, played against Goons, and Teemu @tkantola Kantola only passed to Krike. It was incredibly easy to defend this, and Goons had trouble keeping the mid of the ice closed. Even though last season's top defenseman in the points leaderboard,  Tuukka @KingOfApes_ Ropelinen, has been acquired, the team’s gameplay hasn't improved. Maybe it's time for Goons to call it quits and for the players to seek fortune in other teams—or leagues?

Gotham Knights got Joni @ReDMisTi Kaikkonen back on the field, and the team has started to improve a bit from this. However, everyone following Elite surely expects Gotham and Renascor to be facing relegation at the end of the season. Renascor found @riegeez in Free Agents as a starter.

In my view (which might be a bit biased towards Unwanted), the top Rookie of the Season candidates are Adam @karlssonadam_ Karlsson, who despite his young age has performed excellently in goal, leading in save percentage across the entire Elite at 87.69%. It would be a significant achievement to win Rookie as well as Goalie of the Season. Another Unwanted player worth mentioning in this context is Eetu @Launonexx Launonen with a stats of 18gp and 14+33, 36 points. He is also currently fifth in the points leaderboard. @R1cco, who is also not old, is part of the discussion with a save percentage of 84%. From Purification, previously mentioned Marcus @Skumboo Erevik or Max @LaxenHD Söderström could also emerge. I am not entirely sure if Oskar @x-_-BoBi-_-x Hautala can be classified as a Rookie, since he previously played 8 games in the Elite with Reality Check.

Keep your eyes on the field as strategies evolve and teams battle it out for a spot in the playoffs. Stay tuned for more action, unexpected turns, and stellar performances as we continue to bring you all the developments from the ECL '24 Spring season.

SportsGamers,

The ice heats up once again with the ECL '24: Spring - 1v1 season, the exhilarating continuation of our 1v1 two-parter. After the chilling duels of the Winter season, we're back for the Spring segment, inviting you to sharpen your skates for more high-stakes competition. The action takes place in the Online Versus game mode on PlayStation 5, with battles scheduled on the 14th, 17th, 22nd, and 24th of May.

The competition's format is as thrilling as a sudden-death overtime, with each qualifier following a merciless double-elimination bracket. The stakes are high, as only the top 8 players from each qualifier will advance to the coveted TOP 32 group stage. The seeding is meticulously planned, ensuring a dynamic and suspense-filled progression through the tournament ranks.

The first seeds (1-4) will be the victors from the upper bracket of Qualifier 1, with the subsequent seeds (5-8) coming from the lower bracket's best. This pattern continues through the qualifiers, with each set of eight seeds alternating between the upper and lower bracket survivors, culminating in seeds 29-32 from the lower bracket of Qualifier 4.

This Spring season is not just a standalone event; it's a crucial part of the ECL '24: 1v1 year, which includes both the Winter and Spring seasons. The heat will truly turn up for the top 4 from each season, who will clash in the Grand Finals for an even larger slice of the prize pool.

Speaking of rewards, a glance at the attached prize pool graphic reveals a treasure chest waiting to be unlocked. In the Winter season, the champion will skate away with 300 €, while the runner-up and the semi-finalists will claim 150 € and 75 €, respectively. The Spring season echoes the same tune, but it's the Grand Finals that hold the golden puck in the form of an additional 1800 € up for grabs - 700 € for the grand champion, decreasing incrementally down to €75 for those placing fifth to eighth.

Note: The top 4 from the Winter season have already secured their Grand Finals spots and will not participate in the Spring qualifiers.

ECL '24: Winter 1v1 - Season TOP 4:
🥇 Erik @Eki Tammenpää
🥈Teemu @temppanen Karvonen
🥉 Henrik @Eken45jr Eklund
🥉 Sisu @sisu33_ Nurminen

With registration closing precisely at 23:59:59 CET two days before each qualifier, the countdown has begun. Participants are reminded to lace up their skates and register in time to secure their spot on the virtual ice.

Will you be the one to hoist the ECL '24: 1v1 Championship trophy this year? Only time, talent, and the spirit of competition will tell. Get ready for the puck to drop!

Note: Taking part in the ECL '24: Spring Spring season requires the purchase of the ECL '24: Spring Season Player License, or owning the ECL '24: Player License.

ECL '24: Spring 1v1 Schedule & Sign-up

Please note that you should sign up for all qualifiers individually, meaning if you want to take part in all four qualifiers, please sign up for all four using the buttons below.

Should you make the TOP 8 during a qualifier, you unlock your spot in the TOP 32 stage and thus should not play in the remaining qualifiers.
 

Qualifier 1 - Tuesday 14.5

Quote

•  Sign up period
  • 28.4-12.5.2024
• Qualifier (BO1)
  • Tuesday 14.5
    • Upper Bracket ⬆️
      • Upper Bracket Round 1 (128): 18:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 2 (64): 18:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 3 (32): 19:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 4 (16): 19:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 5 (8): 20:00 CEST
    • Lower Bracket 🔽
      • Lower Bracket Round 1 (64): 18:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 2 (64): 19:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 3 (32): 19:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 4 (32): 20:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 5 (16): 20:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 6 (16): 21:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 7 (8): 21:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 8 (8): 22:00 CEST

Qualifier 2 - Friday 17.5

Quote

• Sign up period
  • 28.4-15.5.2024
• Qualifier (BO1)
  • Friday 17.5
    • Upper Bracket ⬆️
      • Upper Bracket Round 1 (64): 18:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 2 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 4 (8): 19:30 CEST
    • Lower Bracket 🔽
      • Lower Bracket Round 1 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 2 (32): 19:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 4 (16): 20:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 5 (8): 20:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 6 (8): 21:00 CEST

Qualifier 3 - Wednesday 22.5

Quote

• Sign up period
  • 28.4-20.5.2024
• Qualifier (BO1)
  • Wednesday 22.5
    • Upper Bracket ⬆️
      • Upper Bracket Round 1 (64): 18:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 2 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 4 (8): 19:30 CEST
    • Lower Bracket 🔽
      • Lower Bracket Round 1 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 2 (32): 19:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 4 (16): 20:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 5 (8): 20:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 6 (8): 21:00 CEST

Qualifier 4 - Friday 24.5

Quote

• Sign up period
  • 28.4-22.5.2024
• Qualifier (BO1)
  • Friday 24.5
    • Upper Bracket ⬆️
      • Upper Bracket Round 1 (64): 18:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 2 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:00 CEST
      • Upper Bracket Round 4 (8): 19:30 CEST
    • Lower Bracket 🔽
      • Lower Bracket Round 1 (32): 18:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 2 (32): 19:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 3 (16): 19:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 4 (16): 20:00 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 5 (8): 20:30 CEST
      • Lower Bracket Round 6 (8): 21:00 CEST

TOP 32 Group Play

Group Play will be played in four (4) groups of eight (8) players. 

• Monday 27.5
  • R1: 18:00 CEST
  • R2: 18:30 CEST
  • R3: 19:00 CEST
  • R4: 19:30 CEST
• Wednesday 29.5 
  • R5: 18:00 CEST
  • R6: 18:30 CEST
  • R7: 19:00 CEST
  • R8: 19:30 CEST

Playoffs (BO3)

• Monday 3.6
  • RO16: 18:00 CEST
• Wednesday 5.6
  • Quarterfinals: 18:00 CEST
• Sunday 9.6 - Online TOP 4 Finals Broadcast
  • Semifinals: 18:00 CEST
  • Finals: 20:00 CEST

SportsGamers,

1) We would like to remind every team that the transfer window for all ECL '24: Spring divisions expires this week, on Thursday, May 2nd at 23:59:59 CEST. 

Quote

14. 1 Transfer Deadline
The deadline for transfers across all divisions is set to the 2nd of May at 23:59 CEST.
A player cannot leave a team after the deadline has passed in one division, and then join a team in
another division where the deadline has not. 

Please remember to make sure your trades are in line with the rulebook before making them and check with support if you aren't sure. Remember, only one transfer per player is allowed per season - unless the player has played 0 games (overall, for any team) the entire season, which is covered in rule 14.6.

If you're a player still looking for a team or a team still looking to add to your roster, please head to the Free Agents section or the Clubs Looking For Players section on our forum.

Please post any last-minute transfers in the comments section below so everyone can enjoy them. 

2) We have made some minor adjustments to the rulebook

• The most important adjustment is recovering the header numbering that was accidentally lost during our last update. This made the rulebook harder to browse and we hope the return of the numbers will make things easier again.
• Both the Elite & Pro Captain Poll and then the Lite & Core public poll have closed and the majority in both cases has voted to keep/put the ability polls in action. See below for the result screenshots.
• Updated link to the ECL ’24: Spring – Information & Key Dates for easy and quick access to the important season details. 
• Please note that the server caches the linked rulebook and it may take some time for the updated version to appear.

Hey Gamers,

With the poll closing tonight regarding the ECL Lite and Core ability bans, we can now (practically) confirm that we will be moving forward with the bans as previously communicated.

Here's a recap of the ability bans:

Elite & Pro: Truculence, Big Tipper, and Unstoppable Force are banned. Captains from these divisions have, however, been sent a message asking for the team's opinion on whether they want these traits to be unbanned for later weeks. The deadline for voting on this is 23.4.

Lite & Core: Truculence, Big Tipper, and Unstoppable Force will be banned from 22.4 for the ongoing ECL season.

Neo: No trait bans

This week we've launched the newest season of the biggest eHockey tournament in all of Europe. A lot of you (and us!) have been waiting for the season to start and now the wait is over, so fire up those smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles and start playing and watching the action! In this preview we’ll take a look at a few teams and of course, a few individuals who will be playing in the second-highest tier of the European Championship League ladder, which is the highly coveted ECL Pro.

Group 1

Teams to challenge for the title:
 

 Herlev Eagles

This team has taken large strides from a few years back when they scraped to make the playoffs in the Pro division, after playing Elite qualifiers just a few days ago and not quite making it must be a bitter feeling, but the Eagles are back and ready to challenge for the title with Danish superstar Vibholm leading the way in offense! 

Player to watch: @vibholm10

 Mustaa Kultaa

Another team that almost made it to Elite. This should come as no surprise as former Lite Champions are making a push for the title. With a good mix of young talent and long-time Pro veterans in their team, this squad can make some noise this season.

Player to watch: @LatveX

Team to make the playoffs:

RYHTIC

With a change in scenery for this team it parts ways with its long-time sponsor RCTIC, the team stays together for another year, always seems to make the playoffs, and challenges those top teams in Pro and Elite.

Player to watch: @Limbe65

Team on the line:

 NOVA

This Russian lead team made some noise last season with the number 8 seed and playing well in the 1st round of the playoffs. With big praise from last year's winning team Gotham, this team needs this push to get a better seed than last year.

Player to watch: @Nester4343

Relegation battle:

 Neptune Hockey

This team seems to find a new division from time to time, hopefully they can stick it to this washed up writer, and make a push for the playoffs. Neptune has struggled in the Pro division most years and this year is no exception, this team can not seem to string together enough wins to push for playoffs.

Player to watch: @Zeikmaar

Dark Horse:

Vizio

With a good-looking run in the eHockey SM (Finnish Championships) this year, Vizio has made some noise with beating some good teams this offseason and not solely relying on their captain to win them some games, but if they can't find that eHockey SM form, it can be a long season for them.

Player to watch: @Jetsu28


Group 2

Teams to challenge for the title:

 POGGERS

With a few seasons surviving in Elite, they couldnt battle Björklöven for a spot this year, former Pro champions can make a lot of teams unhappy with their veteran players still shining. Look for this team to want to make it back next season.

Player to watch: @JaKurrii

 Södertälje SK

With a new roster formed, they have that something, that flair you look for in teams that go far in the playoffs, with captain @svetidaje getting busy in the offseason and recruiting far and wide, this could be their year if they can find chemistry on the ice.

Player to watch: @amadee21

Team to make the playoffs:

 Supernatural

A team with an interesting past, saying this team has had its ups and downs is an understatement. But now they seem to have found a nice-looking roster with good players in all positions, they can surprise a lot of teams with how they approach this new season.

Player to watch: @MrNipsuli

Team on the line:

TikiTalk

With a team as legendary as this, it’s going to be a coin toss if this team makes the playoffs this season. A difficult group with a lot of experience, and their reliance on a guy that everyone knows, can make it difficult to get those important wins they need.

Player to watch: @NuariJamal

Relegation battle:

Ice Scream

While looking at a lot of talent in group 2, this team will find it very difficult to scrap together points this season, with not a lot of experience in the Pro division they will be looking to make some magic happen to avoid relegation.
Player to watch: @TeemuUnderdawg

Dark Horse:

Otukset

One might say this team has all the talent in the world to make it to the playoffs, even make a run for the title, some might say this team has a tendency to choke when games get tough, this experienced team will have to avoid a rollercoaster season, but look for them to steal some points from the top teams.

Player to watch: @Roisto999

Do you agree with the predictions, or did the writer miss the net?

What are your predictions for how the season will go? Let us know in the comments!

In the previous Elite '24: Winter season, we witnessed a mix of triumphs, setbacks, and surprises. Ultimately, the deserving champion was hREDS (now known as Valokuitunen Esports). Tunnel Vision pushed hREDS to the limit, extending the series to a thrilling game seven. One of the most unexpected developments was Goons maintaining their status in "no man's land," avoiding relegation matches against Pro teams and thus securing their Elite spot.

Now, let's shift our focus from the past to the upcoming season. Here are some notable highlights and predictions:

EXEN (formerly JYP) has made strategic replacements, recruiting @xAaro89x from Heimo and @Mozjayh from the hREDS bench. This season marks Mozjayh's debut as a right defenseman, an interesting transition for a player from a triple back-to-back ECL-winning background. xAaro89x has long been hailed as a potential star capable of carrying his team deep into the playoffs, though previous seasons have fallen short of expectations. This season, EXEN must advance further than the first round, which will require significantly more impact from team captain @indi969 than last season's six playoff games of no points.

 Tunnel Vision faces what might be their 'last dance' as rumors suggest the team might disband with a player joining the military. They enter ECL '24 Spring with a slightly altered lineup, featuring attackers @Vattuyy, @Laiitinen, and @Pikkardz. The trio is undoubtedly talented, yet concerns linger about their defensive dedication, particularly with the introduction of a new center. However, defensemen @tomboo- and @Wengeri are exceptionally solid in their own end, perhaps compensating for any lapses up front.

 Valokuitunen Esports (ex-hREDS) are the favorites to win the ECL again, with star players @Beniittto and @NikkeDangles ready to dazzle. Newcomer @pikkuroger might fill @Vilupoika's shoes or possibly end up alongside @KingOfApes_ on the bench.

 Straikers have consistently ranked high but have yet to claim the ECL title since their last win under the FILADELPHIA banner in 2021.. New addition @temppanen, proven in 1vs1 battles but untested in 6vs6, could be the final piece they need. He joins from Mayhems, bringing a new dynamic to the team that includes strong defense and excellent goaltenders @Hansulinho and @uhNikke.

 Vesa Pompa – often overlooked despite consecutive semifinal appearances in the ECL. Why aren't they considered a top-four team? The issue seems to be a lack of standout individual skill, with exceptions like @antoniomannen004, who blends skill with game intelligence. Questions also surround the defense, though rookie standout @pappeen- made an impressive debut last season. Despite occasional lapses, goalie @kkostiiii remains one of the best at stopping breakaways.

Having just covered my expectations for the top teams in Elite, let's now quickly explore some other intriguing teams and their acquisitions. First up,  Björklöven, where @Kallmanius has really invested in building a highly competitive team. This season, the squad includes @x-_-BoBi-_-x, @vilppijoona, and @koleslaav_, with @zMikkeez and @WeDuX_ anchoring the defense. On paper, this is a skilled team. The big question mark will be how vilppijoona and @WeDuX_ manage defensively against the top teams.

As a member of Unwanted, I can report that @xLeikku will not be playing next season, with @Launonexx stepping in to fill his role. Leikku has left big shoes to fill, but impressive performances are expected from the former Mustaa Kultaa captain in his standout rookie Elite season. The same goes for @karlssonadam_, who has been recruited from Purification and is gearing up for his first season in the Elite.
 Polski Boys’ lineup has remained unchanged. The team is counting on significant contributions from last season's Comeback Player of the Year, @jm98II, who is a key offensive force. It would be a major disappointment if they didn’t make the playoffs. Russian player @W1nchester_62 has stepped up as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Purification is filled with young, hungry Swedish players, brimming with skill and the drive to grind. There have been some positional shifts from last season, with @bystrom___ moving from center to defense. The team plays fearlessly and on their best days, can challenge many of the Elite teams.

This season promises intense competition and potential new champions in the Elite '24: Spring season. Keep an eye on these teams and players as they battle for supremacy in the ECL. 
 

What are your predictions for how the season will go? Let us know in the comments!

SportsGamers,

The newest update to the ECL '24: Spring rulebook is now live and can be accessed through the league pages. Generally speaking, the rulebook is a revised and improved version of the rulebook used in ECL '24 Winter. Find the new rulebook here.

Here's a snapshot of some of the major adjustments / additions compared to ECL ‘24: Winter: 

• 11.7.: Player ability bans have been added and are being continuously evaluated. 
• 9.2.1: Timeouts are now allowed under the right circumstances. 
• 11.1: Period length clarified as 4 minutes, now that it is adjustable in the game. 
   

We ask every team and it's members to familiarize themselves with the rulebook before taking the ice for the ECL '23 Spring season. Please refer to the rulebook in case of any issues that may arise throughout the season. In case of any questions, please be in touch with support.

An update regarding player ability bans

As an update regarding the information released yesterday, we can confirm that after internal discussion and examination of the poll results, we will be tweaking the trait ban list - unless the poll completely turns around in the coming days, of course. There's still time to contribute - so get your votes in!

Elite & Pro: Truculence, Big Tipper, and Unstoppable Force will be banned for the first week of the season. Captains from these divisions will however be sent a message asking for the team's opinion on whether they want these traits to be unbanned for later weeks.

Lite & Core: Truculence, Big Tipper, and Unstoppable Force will be banned from week two onwards for the ongoing ECL season.

Neo: No trait bans

While we appreciate that players from differing divisions would prefer rules to be applied evenly, we believe that offering the opportunity for Elite & Pro players to make their voices heard (just as Lite & Core players have been able to) is the right thing to do – even if that means enacting a different trait ban list.

Ultimately however, this situation was not handled up to the standard expected and as such we will investigate how we can improve upon our communication and ability to get information out to you the players in a timely fashion.

Get ready to dive into the exciting world of the European Championship League (ECL) as we bring you the highly anticipated ECL Wraparound, hosted by the one and only Cody @Tougie24 Tougas!

In this episode Tougie wraps up the ECL '24: Winter season and looks at the Elite Award winners.

Get Ready for the Ultimate eHockey Showdown: ECL '24 Spring Season Sign-Ups Are Now Open!

Hey there, SportsGamers! It's time to sharpen those skates and get ready for the most electrifying season yet! The ECL '24: Spring season is upon us, and if you thought last season was intense, you haven't seen anything yet. With an eye-watering total prize pool of 25 220 EUR up for grabs, this season is shaping up to be a blockbuster.

The European Championship League (ECL) stands at the zenith of European NHL esports, bringing together the best talent in a 6v6 format that has been thrilling fans since 2015. Whether you're a goalie, a forward, or a defender, every position is controlled by human talent, promising a competition that's as real as it gets. And with divisions catering to all skill levels, everyone has a shot at glory. Plus, don't miss out on our 1v1 tournament for those who love the thrill of the solo battle.

Please note that the time to sign up is very short, especially for the qualifiers and higher divisions (Elite-Lite) so don't hesitate to sign up right away!

After the intense fights we saw go down at the finish lines of all five divisions last season, the ECL '24: Spring 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 we have an even better season coming up! The total prize pool of the ECL '24: Spring season will be 25 220 EUR.

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 18th. 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: Spring team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘24: Player License or  ECL '24: Spring Player License before taking the ice. Purchase your license in the Store.
   
• Rules: The updated ECL '24: Spring rulebook will be published closer to the season, but there won't be too many changes rolling out, so 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 while back. 

Pro Wildcard Battle: 23.3-26.3.2024
ECL Lite Qualifier: 23.3-29.3.2024  
ECL Pro Qualifier: 23.3-28.3.2024  
ECL Neo: 23.3-11.4.2024 ⚠️
ECL Core: 23.3-11.4.2024 ⚠️
ECL Lite: 23.3-29.3.2024  
ECL Pro: 23.3-28.3.2024  
ECL Elite: 23.3-28.3.2024  

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

Schedule
Qualifiers:
The schedule for the qualifiers will be tight, so please prepare to play almost every day during the qualifiers stage.
The exact details will be shared once the number of teams is known.

Lite: 1.-11.4
Pro Wildcard: 27.-28.3 (if necessary)
Pro: 31.3-11.4
Elite 7.4-11.4
 

Regular Season duration:
14.4.-16.5.2024

Estimated finals dates:
Below are estimated dates for the Finals to be approximately played. We reserve the right to changes in schedule.

Neo 26.-30.6
Core 26.-27.6.
Lite 24.-25.6.
Pro 17.-18.6.
Elite 14.-15.6.

PLEASE NOTE: ECL '24: SPRING 1V1 SIGNUPS WILL LAUNCH SOON

Early Bird Offer on Player and Team Licenses

Below you’ll find the pricing of the team and player licenses for ECL ‘24. For the next ten days (until April 1st), you can pick up the ECL ‘24 Spring Team license 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: Spring 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.

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.

Need more help, check out the below article!
 

SportsGamers,

The ECL '24: Winter 1v1 Season winner is Erik @Eki Tammenpää! Eki was unstoppable, winning all his games from the TOP 16 knockout stage and forward.

EkiOriginal's road to the Championship:
Qualified through the 1st Qualifier
TOP 32 Group stage: 4-1-2-0 (#4 seed into the Playoffs)
Round 1: vs @Jerettaja13 2-0 (4-2, 7-5)
Quarterfinals 2: vs @WeDuX_ 2-0 (7-1, 5-0)
Semifinals: vs @sisu33_ 2-0 (4-3OT, 4-1)
Finals: vs @temppanen 2-0 (6-2, 7-2)
 

ECL '24: Winter 1v1 - Season TOP 4:
 🥇 Erik @Eki Tammenpää
🥈Teemu @temppanen Karvonen
🥉 Henrik @Eken45jr Eklund
🥉 Sisu @sisu33_ Nurminen

The TOP 4 players of the Winter season secured themselves not only some cash, but the spot in the ECL '24: 1v1 Grand Finals, which features the TOP 8 players in Europe.

This Winter season is not just a standalone event; it's a crucial part of the ECL '24: 1v1 year, which includes both Winter and Spring seasons. Competitors can net themselves not only glory but also cold, hard cash from both seasons. The heat will truly turn up for the top 4 from each season, who will clash in the Grand Finals for an even larger slice of the prize pool.

The ECL '24: 1v1 Season is played in the Online Versus game mode on PlayStation 5. The competition's format is as thrilling as a sudden-death overtime, starting with four qualifiers following a merciless double-elimination bracket. The stakes are high, as only the top 8 players from each qualifier will advance to the coveted TOP 32 group stage.

Stay tuned for the ECL '24: Spring 1v1 Signups!

RELIVE THE TOP 4 FINALS

ECL '24: Winter - 1v1 Top 4 Semifinal: eken45jr vs. temppanen (BO3):

ECL '24: Winter - 1v1 Top 4 Semifinal: EkiOriginal vs. Sisu33 (BO3):

ECL '24: Winter - 1v1 Top 4 Final: EkiOriginal vs. temppanen (BO3)

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

SportsGamers,

A few weeks ago we wrapped up the ECL Elite season as we got to enjoy the Finals series between hREDS and Tunnel Vision turn into yet another seven-game spectacle to be decided by only one goal, as @NikkeDangles secured his and hREDS' fourth ECL Elite Championship, solidifying them as the all-time winningest ECL team. This also marks only the second time someone outside of the TOP 3 finishers in the regular season wins the championship, with hREDS going into the Playoffs as the #4 seed (the first time was Laser HT, who finished the regular season with seed #7 and yet managed to win the championship in the ECL 4 season back in 2017).
 

Image: The ECL '24: Winter - Elite Champions - hREDS. From the left: FinSere, Mozjay, xDoumi, NikkeDangles, Vilupoika, Beniittto, Teemuyy

Now that the dust has settled, we took some time and spoke to captain Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen and goalie Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes about their thoughts about the season.

Interview: Captain Perttu "Beniiittto" Kemppainen

Now that it's been a few weeks since your win - how would you reflect on the season?

"Before the season I had high expectations for us as always, because I knew that if we were in good form no one could beat us and before this season our only problem was inconsistency. Although we still had those issues during the regular season and some games in the playoffs, we were able to keep our form good and stable enough in the playoffs, and that led us to the championship."

Take us through the finals - it looked like the series was going to be over in 5 games, but in the end, we got to enjoy a full seven-game series and a G7 decided by one goal

"Our start of the 1st game was bad but towards the end of the 1st game we were able to find our form and even though we lost game 1 we were able to improve our game for games 2,3 and 4.
Games 5 and 6 were bad defensively and we made a lot of mistakes that you can't make in the playoffs if you want to win and we picked up our form again for game 7."

How have you been preparing for the ECL '24: Spring season?

"We took some time off the game to enjoy the championship and relax. After that, we have just been playing FCL regular season and when we get to the playoffs we will start practicing more."

Interview: Sebastian "FINSeRe" Remes
 

How would you describe the season as a whole?

"I think we had a bit slow start to the regular season but started to gain momentum after NikkeDangles came back from the army. We carried that momentum to the playoffs and there we were playing extremely good hockey pretty much every game in every series.

Beniittto was playing like MacKinnon and deservedly won the Best Forward of the Season award. I think he really carried us when we were having difficult moments. I also think that Teemuyy got snubbed as for me he was the best defender of the season by looking at gameplay and not points.

You always expect a team like this to be up there fighting for the championship, and I think there was never any doubt among us during the season that we couldn't win it all if we just played on our level. Obviously, it's not that simple especially when you had to face both Straikers and Tunnel Vision in the playoffs but I think it just made our championship sweeter that way.

And for me, it's just nice to be in the right place at the right time and get the trust of my team."

What about the finals - it was looking like the Series might be over in 5 - but you found yourself in game 7 with a one-goal win. How were the finals from your perspective?

"I remember saying in our group chat after the 3rd win that now comes the hardest challenge - winning the 4th time. The 5th game could have gone either way, but Tunnel Vision tying the game in the 2nd period when there was 1s left in the clock was probably something that turned the tides for them. Also, benuh_ was giving them a chance and was making extremely important saves in games 5 and 6.

After game 6, heading to the 7th I didn't feel that anyone was nervous or anything, even after dropping 2 games. On the contrary, I got this feeling that we were more focused on our task and I think it really showed in game 7.

Game 7 was the best game we had all season in my opinion and honestly, it was the best game defensively I've ever been part of in any team. Yeah, I got shutout but I honestly felt like I didn't have to do anything because our 5 man defending was so unbelievably good."

This was your second ECL championship. Your first championship was in ECL Season 1 in 2016, which was before the divisions were introduced to the ECL. If you remember - how would you describe the experience of winning then vs now?

"I remember those days very well. To be honest I don't think that the skill level at the top was any lower back then than it is now. You got fewer players but you still had these same guys on the top. For example in the finals we had to face players like Patzlaf, PleeMaker, Joukkiii, and loimmu. Of course, there were lots of teams that had no chance so it worked pretty much like FCL works nowadays where the real games start in play-offs.

Also back then there were more teams that could win it all. I think this was because talent was more dispersed between the teams compared to now. But back then it was also normal to create a new team for every season so there wasn't as much stability as there is now.

Personally winning the championship now felt so much sweeter for me than it did then since I had to prove I belong to this level. The older you get, less people believe you still got it and honestly I've worked hard to prove them wrong."
 

hREDS' road to the championship:

• #4 seed with the record 18-5-1-6
• Quarterfinals: vs Radical (5) 4-1
• Semifinals: vs Straikers (1) 4-0
• Finals: vs Tunnel Vision (2) 4-3

The winning roster:

GOALTENDERS

 🇫🇮 #8 Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes
 

DEFENSEMEN

 🇫🇮 #3 Teemu @Teemuyy Polttila

  🇫🇮 #27 Aaro @xDoumi Ruuhinen

FORWARDS

🇫🇮 #23 Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen

 🇫🇮 #67 Aleksi @Mozjayh Kähkönen

  🇫🇮 #89 Vili @Vilupoika Häkkinen

   🇫🇮 #96 Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen

RELIVE THE FINALS

On behalf of the entire SportsGamer community, we congratulate the ECL '24: Winter - Elite Champions and extend a warm thank you to all participants!

SportsGamers,

Having entered the ECL '24: Winter season through the ECL Lite Qualifiers, Bone Breakers continued their dominant display throughout the season and eventually won the ECL '24: Winter - Lite Championship, and with that a direct promotion to the Pro division. While quite a few teams in the playoffs were able to keep the games close, they only lost a total of three games in their championship run. This is definitely a team to follow in the upcoming ECL '24: Spring - Pro Season!

Bone Breakers' road to the championship:

• #2 seed from Group 2 with the record 24-2-1-5
• Round 1: vs Armada Hockey (31) 4-0
• Round 2: vs Shameful Knights (17) 4-1
• Quarterfinals: vs Finnish Roosters (11) 4-1
• Semifinals: vs Almost Famous (12) 4-0
• Finals: vs HEXA Esports (1) 4-1

The winning roster:
GOALTENDERS
#57 @rransu (A)
#78 @Sgt Pallihiki
#90 @IleKaa

DEFENSEMEN
#4 @BoBcapitano (C)
#24 @Thewix93 (A)
#65 @Jonetzky
#88 @Klonkku

FORWARDS
#9 @MappeThePlayer
#61 @Allupekkaz
#71 @x-_-BoBi-_-x
#79 @Valee__

RELIVE THE FINALS

Games 1-3:

Games 4-5

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

SportsGamers,

A long season and hard-fought Finals series saw us crown an ECL '24: Winter - Core Champion a while back, and we are happily announcing that the ones to hoist the cup were Belissimo! The Finals series was a spectacular reverse sweep: after the first three games it looked like Sack Brothers were going to run away with the win, but day two of the finals was all Belissimo and despite two one-goal games, there was simply no stopping them!
 

Belissimo's road to the Championship:

• #9 seed from Group 2 with the record 18-1-1-6
• Round 1: vs Nordic Nosebleed (24) 4-0
• Round 2: vs NAM3LESS (8) 4-2
• Quarterfinals: vs MoDo Hockey (16) 4-3
• Semifinals: vs Mights (4) 4-2
• Finals: vs Sack Brothers (2) 4-3

The championship roster:

GOALIES
#76 @Odexm

DEFENSEMEN
#19 @SirSamul1 (A)
#62 @Pyllyhaiseva

FORWARDS

#1 @Hauhtonen (C)
#7 @Suxmani
#88 @NokanKane
#91 @MrMikkiL (A)

On behalf of the whole community we want to thank all participants and congratulate our ECL '24: Winter - Spring Champions: Belissimo!

RELIVE THE FINALS

Finals games 1-3:

Finals games 4-7:

SportsGamers,

As we wrap up the ECL '24: Winter season and turn our looks towards the Spring season, it's time to spotlight our winners this season. 

In an exhilarating journey through the Neo season, Turun Gasellit rose from bit of an underd...uh undergazelle position as the #8 total seed after having finished second in Group 6. While the road wasn't easy, with the most nailbiting series requiring the full 5 games both against #25 Norland in Round 1 and #3 Old Hogs in the semifinals, Turun Gasellit showed up when it counted and are deserving of the title ECL '24: Winter - Neo Champions!

Turun Gasellit's road to the championship:

• #8 seed from Group 6 with the record 13-0-4-1
• Round 1: vs #25 Nordland 3-2
• Round 2: vs #12 HC Wild Hogs 3-0
• Quarterfinals: vs #7 Torspot 3-0
• Semifinals: vs #3 Old Hogs 3-2
• Finals: vs #11 Overping Threshers 3-1

The championship roster:

• #4 @Kostea2nen
• #7 @alluboi5
• #18 @koskinen18
• #23 @Veekkari85
• #66 @johtaja_lebi
• #77 @SirRaitanen
• #81 @pohjarzinho 

On behalf of the whole community we want to thank all participants and congratulations to the Turun Gasellit!

SportsGamers,

It's time to recap the ECL Elite Player Awards for the Winter '24 season!

In a testament to the spirit of inclusivity and fairness that defines our community, the nominees for this season's awards were chosen through a democratic process, involving a vote among the Elite division captains, after which it was up to the community to vote among the top 5 nominees in each category. The thought behind this was to ensure that those recognized have not only showcased outstanding skill and dedication on the field but have also earned the respect and admiration of their peers.

With six coveted categories and five remarkable nominees in each, the stage was set for an intense and exciting selection process. The winners were announced on the ECL '24: Winter Elite Finals broadcast and in this article we want to recap the winners for easy access to the history books in the future. For the full list of nominees, see our previous article.

These individuals have not only excelled in their respective roles but have also contributed significantly to the vibrancy and competitive spirit of our league. Their achievements are a reflection of hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

So, without further ado, let's celebrate the winners of the ECL '24: Winter - Elite Player Awards. Congratulations to all the nominees and a special round of applause for our outstanding winners. 

Below you'll find a list of winners in each category:

Forward of The Season

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

Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen, hREDS
 

Defender of The Season

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

Aapeli @Lxndstrom Landström, JYP Jyväskylä
 

Goalie of The Season

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

Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes, 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.

Leevi @xLeikku Kauppila, Unwanted


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.

Kristian @kriketski17 Veijola, Tunnel Vision

Comeback Player of The Season

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

Joona @jm98II Muona, Polski Boys

There you have it folks - your ECL '24: Winter - Elite Player Award winners!

Who do you think should have won? Should the current voting system be changed in some way? Let us know in the comments!

SportsGamers,

This news story is intended to help understand the ECL Ranking for teams at the end of the ECL '24 Winter season. This ranking determines the eligibility for teams entering various divisions this upcoming ECL '24: Spring 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.

As a small amendment to the ECL '24: Winter rules, we have decided to increase the number of Pro Qualifier teams from twenty to twenty-four. The intention has been to make the rule clearer and to ensure that every team that qualifies for the Quarterfinal round of the Lite is on equal footing. In addition, a fifth wildcard spot has been added to even out the number of teams.

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 '24 Winter season, or 20 or more games in the ECL '23 Spring season
• If there are more players from the same team that were relegated out of the division Pro (in the same season) in the team applying for a wildcard, they may be counted as one player. The League Administration reserves the right to interpretations of this depending on the specific circumstances of the situation.

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
  • Wildcard teams
  • 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.

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: Spring team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘24: Player License or ECL ‘24: Spring Player License before taking the ice. 
• Rules: The ECL '24: Spring rulebook will be practically the same as for the Winter season, 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 '24: Winter Champion: hREDS

ECL 1v1:

• ECL '23: Winter: Sisu "sisu33_" Nurminen
• ECL '23: Spring: Väinö "Pikkarii" Pikkarainen
• ECL '24: Winter: Erik "EkiOriginal" Tammenpää

SportsGamers,

Get ready for an electrifying matchup as two NHL esports powerhouses collide once again in the highly anticipated ECL '24 Winter Elite Finals. The stage is set for an epic showdown between Tunnel Vision and hREDS, reigniting the intense rivalry that captivated fans during ECL '22 Spring Finals series at Narinkkatori a few years back. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions, jaw-dropping plays, and nail-biting moments as these Elite teams battle it out for supremacy.

(1)  Tunnel Vision vs (4)  hREDS

TOP SCORER (Playoffs)
Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen 10 GP, 7+20=27 vs Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen 9 GP, 7+14=21

GOALTENDER (Playoffs)
Benjamin @benuh_ Rinnet 6 GP, 5 W, 88,57 SV%, 1.33 GAA, 2 SO vs Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes 9 GP, 8 W, 87,8 SV%, 1.11 GAA, 2 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
21-3-2-3 vs 18-5-1-6

Tonight's Finals will feature two teams who, as stated, lack no familiarity with each other. Through countless battles between the two contenders, both have been able to claim a respectable amount of titles to their name and solidify themselves as true giants of the virtual ice. A notable mention from this season is that both regular season bouts went Tunnel Vision's way, as they've been in dominant form, really ever since claiming the throne back in the ECL '23 Spring Elite Finals. Now in an attempt to defend their title, they'll have to make sure to bring their best once again, as hREDS will look to take back what's theirs in reclaiming the throne.

Having followed both of these teams over the years, their development has been tremendous, and this will surely be a fight for supremacy you won't want to miss. Tune in tonight at 19:00 CET over at www.twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG. Be sure to tune in from the start, as our favorite segments, such as THE RE-WIND and another epic series opening film will be presented before puck drop!