With the upcoming ECL '22 Spring Finals, we thought it would be suitable to take a look at what has gone down throughout ECL history before. Join us for a short recap of some monumental ECL events.
So, this show has been running for 14 seasons now and we've gone from 50 teams signed up in ECL 1 to almost 250 at this point. The first ever ECL season on this platform started in mid-December of 2015 and at the end of the inaugural season, we crowned Nordic Blizzard the Champions. A lot of players who were on that first ever championship team are still around and competing at a high level today, and while we appreciate to an endless extent all the hard work they've put in over the years, we're also glad to have all of you newer players join us over the course of the years.
As we're counting down the days to the ECL '22 Spring Elite Finals, we thought it'd only be right to take a trip down memory lane and go through some of the monumental events in ECL history.
List of ECL Champions
ECL 1: Nordic Blizzard 🏆
ECL 2: MUKIMIEHET 🏆
ECL 3: X Factor 🏆
---DIVISIONS FRAMEWORK APPLIED---
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 Winter: hREDS 🏆🏆
ECL '22 Spring: -
As signified in the list above, Frölunda HC (formerly known as FILADELPHIA or Linköping HC) are the winningest team in ECL history, but none other than hREDS have been able to pull off the historical feat of a back-to-back. Obviously one of the turning points for the entire league was when the divisions framework was introduced in early December of 2016. The introduction of the divisions framework was certainly a hot topic back then and while everyone wasn't on the same page about things, we worked out in the end and partially as a result of that, we've been able to grow as a community to the point we are at today.
The divisions framework was proven in practice as in ECL 4, Carlsberg HC were able to gain promotion by winning the Pro division, followed by Evolution in ECL 5. Both of these squads performed well in their inaugural Elite campaigns and Carlsberg HC managed to hoist the cup at the end of ECL 6 Elite, becoming the first promoted team ever to work their way to a championship, a feat that only hREDS has managed to repeat.
ECL 7 marked the start of an era in ECL competition where two teams seemed to be far above the rest. The battle raged hard between FILADELPHIA (Linköping HC/Frölunda HC) and Written In The Stars (HAVU Gaming), as the two seemed to go head-to-head in almost any finals we were hosting, be it the ECL, FCL or the IS CUP. The two also clashed at the first ever live ECL Finals, that were hosted at the end of the ECL 8 season at LanTrek '19 in Tampere, Finland. ECL 8 was a big season in general as the European Championship had a major partner joining the Championship as sponsor and the Finals were available for betting.
(Photo from the ECL 8 Elite Finals at LanTrek '19 in Tampere, Finland - taken by Samuli Seila)
The reign of FILADELPHIA and HAVU Gaming would continue for quite some time and ECL 9 was no different. The season itself was one of the more eventful we've seen from an organizers standpoint and we also introduced a new division to the mix with the entry level ECL Neo. The season started in late 2019 and carried over to the next year. This was also a time where several leagues were running side-by-side and while some of these may have been in direct competition with our product, SportsGamer has always strived towards bringing the best possible experience for the gamers. Scheduling and the start of the pandemic not only postponed the Finals, but also led to the Finals event being taken off the table, reverting us to the online experience. As you'd have it, also these finals were a clash between the big two of this era.
The big two, they continued their dominance for quite some time. You guessed it - also the ECL 10 Elite Finals featured HAVU Gaming and the team then known as Linköping HC! As stated, these two teams seemed unbeatable at the time and they really proved it any chance they got. The pandemic was still running rampant and while it seemed like no Finals event was going to happen, HAVU Gaming had taken things into their own hands, gathering their players at Game Cave in Espoo for the finals - a move which seemed to pay off for them!
ECL 12 saw the addition of ECL Core as the largest division in our competitive divisions framework and also a very controversial new qualifier system due to the transition period. While the change was difficult to accept, it was inevitable in order to continue growing the community and the competitiveness of the game. As we've seen now a few seasons later, the few added divisions and the expanded qualifier system has allowed teams like Stargazing this past season to test their wings at the highest level despite not having a lot of history behind the team.
The ECL 12 Elite Finals were the time for hREDS to pull through and shine. The young guns were stepping up against FILADELPHIA, who had won almost everything you could imagine at that point. In late July of 2021, hREDS hoisted the cup for the first time with the lead of captain Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen and started what would become a new kind of dynasty in ECL history.
(From left to right Tuukka @Tuukka.R (KingOfApes_) Röpelinen, Niklas @NikkeDangles (NikkeNHL) Tukiainen, Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen, Vili @Vilupoika Häkkinen and Aaro @xDoumi Ruuhinen. Missing from the picture is goaltender Filip @Faze91- Azri)
To start the '22 Winter season, we announced the new two part season system with the all new Grand Finals and a Grand Champion to be crowned. hREDS have already made history by clinching the back-to-back when taking home the Winter season championship, but now could be their time to go both for the triple and becoming the first ever ECL Grand Champions, etching their names into the history books forever. Will that happen though, we'll have to wait until the weekend to find out!
What?
The ECL '22 Spring Finals and The ECL '22 Grand Finals (If needed)
#3 
SAWO ESPORTS vs hREDS 
#1
When?
Friday, June 17th 19:30 CEST (Games 1-2)
Saturday, June 18th 18:45 CEST (Games 3-7)
Sunday, June 19th 20:30 CEST (ECL '22 Grand Finals)*
Where?
Helsinki, Finland - Narinkkatori
www.twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG
You'll find us at the SportsGamer truck parked at Narinkkatori, the event is hosted in cooperation with St Hockey and besides their St Hockey Tour opening weekend event. Entry is free.
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