Quest for the Cup: Tunnel Vision

16 became eight. Eight has become four. Four is about to become two. Ahead of the ECL ’24: Winter – Elite Semifinals, SportsGamer Guest Writer Hampus @l-Furyan-l Duvefelt goes in-depth with each of the Final Four teams in their Quest for the Cup… 

A TARGET ON YOUR BACK 

Being the best at what you do means having a target on your back. It means others will want to take you down, either to prove themselves or to install themselves in your place. This happens to every champion, of every sport, in all forms of competition. The ECL Elite is no different. The skaters of Straikers – made up of parts from former powerhouses HAVU and FILA/Frölunda – experienced it for a number of tournaments. hREDS experienced it for years once they dethroned the former champions. 

And now, no target is bigger than the one on the backs of two-time reigning champions Tunnel Vision.

While the team is currently still the apex predator of the competitive scene, other predators are circling – probing for weaknesses and waiting for the chance to strike. Like great white sharks, waiting for that first drop of blood to appear before initiating their attack. 

Some would say that the first drop of blood has already been drawn; that it was in the water even before this season began.

Indeed, deciding to replace a (potentially) vital cog in the machine that brought you two straight championships is no small thing. Yet, that is what Tunnel Vision decided to do when they recruited outspoken star forward Kristian @kriketski17 Veijola to man the center spot that had previously been occupied by Aleksi @MozjaTG Kähkönen.

But if you thought 23-year-old Veijola would feel any additional pressure to perform under such circumstances, you’d be wrong. 

“To be honest, (the pressure) does not affect me personally”, says Veijola. “I have played with many of these players before and I know how they like to go about things.” 

Around the same time Veijola was brought on to replace Kähkönen, goaltending stalwart and former ECL cover athlete Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen left the team for Straikers, leaving Tunnel Vision with the unenviable task of trying to replace a championship-winning goalie. The choice fell on Ben @benu Rinnet, a long-time Elite netminder who had already caught the eye of several top teams over the years during his extended run as the number one for the Unlucky Boys/YMCA Esports franchise.

At this point of the story, it is important to note that the ECL ’24: Winter edition of Tunnel Vision has thus far been successful in fending off any and all attackers brave enough to challenge them. The team finished first overall in the standings during the regular season and managed to defeat the #8 seed The Black Jacks by a 4-2 margin in the playoff quarterfinals. 

Furthermore, both of the new recruits have fared well with the team; Veijola by matching his career-best in Elite with 65 points (30+35) in 30 games and Rinnet by notching an 85,19 save percentage, 1,75 GAA and two shutouts over 16 games, amongst shared goaltending duties with long-time Tunnel Vision back-up – and former ECL champion himself – Oskari @SibeIius Grönroos (14GP, 88,13%, 1,36 GAA, 4 SO). 

“The thing is… because of these roster changes we know there are a couple of teams out there that think they are stronger than Tunnel”, says Veijola. “We are here to find out if that is true or not.” 

Well, so far, so good. 

Both Veijola and Rinnet seem to have handled the newfound target on their backs quite well, adequately adapting to everyday life on a championship team. A life which the Core Four of Veeti @Wenger Paloneva, Tomi @tombo_02 Laitinen, Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen and Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen have grown accustomed to.

But as far as the recruits themselves… well, they couldn’t be more different. Where Rinnet is ice – displaying unshakable calmness between the pipes, rarely taking a wrong step in the crease – Veijola is fire. 

Image: The Tunnel Vision roster, from left to right: Kriketsi, Tomboo-_-, @Pikkardz, wengerii,Laiitinen, benuh_, Vattuyy, SibeIius

The former GOONS captain and general manager utilizes the same passion and fervor on the ice – lining up massive hits, dangling his way through crowds and firing the puck with malicious intent – that he uses to handle his opponents off the ice. As for who his opponents off the ice are… well, judging by the centers’ social media feed over the past few months, it could be pretty much anyone. Upcoming semifinal opponent Vesa Pompa was one of the teams to take a good lick as Tunnel Vision scored two convincing wins over the team during the regular season.
 

As this writer can personally attest to, it is not always fun being on ‘krikes’ bad side. And yet, hidden beneath the steely exterior, there is a fun-loving personality who simply enjoys a bit of smack talk.

“Honestly, most of it is just me having a bit of fun”, Veijola explains. “I do enjoy making things a bit spicy. Having conflicts between players and teams makes the games more special… suddenly, there is a story to it. Naturally I am going to try and knock my opponents’ teeth in when they talk smack at me, and I know that they would love to do the same to me. To me, that is good."

"These days, it seems everybody just plays – there is not enough emotion involved in the game.”

For Tunnel Vision, a team that was already hunted, the addition of one of the communities’ strongest personalities certainly hasn’t made the target on their backs any smaller. Then again, perhaps that “us against the world”-mentality is exactly what this squad needed – a well-placed shot in the arm, if you will – as they pursue their third straight championship.

An ECL championship win, by the way, that if it happens would be Veijolas first. As one of the best players in Elite yet to have win a championship, you’d think that would be on his mind going into the next round of the playoffs.

Turns out, you’d be wrong again. 

“I don’t really think about it. It will come when the time is right.” 

Is it now?

Watch the ECL Elite Semifinals at twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG