UNI Gaming is a dream come true for founder and long-time NHL gamer - "We want to pursue success in many games"

A brand new esports organization UNI Gaming takes part in the ongoing ECL 11 Pro and doing quite well at it so far, going 3-1-0 through their first games in group 2. UNI Gaming founder and owner Tommi  @Dominik Uni Ranta-Eskola has played many seasons in the ECL but now the man between the pipes has become the man behind the desk.
 

Ranta-Eskola has been working full time on the esports scene for a couple years. UNI Gaming is the founder’s dream come to reality. The organization’s CS:GO team has been competing in the ESEA league. Now its’s time for some competitive NHL.

"The competitiveness of the NHL scene brought UNI to the ECL. We want to pursue success in many games. The first NHL game in 93-94 was also one the first games I had on a floppy disk", says Ranta-Eskola.

The NHL team of UNI Gaming has their roots in the former Cheers Hockey. The captain of Cheers Hockey Harri @Black1Eagle1 Tervonen has taken his captaincy and Pro league spot to UNI. Ranta-Eskola and Tervonen have known each other for a long time and have played along each other in previous teams.

The team leader in hands on matters is Markus @Maki-san2 Leskinen who has also taken the jump from playing to managing the team. He was the backup goalie when Cheers Hockey got their ECL Pro spot. Another piece from the Cheers roster is assistant captain Samuli @samblenegger Repola.

"We played about two years with the same roster as Cheers Hockey, but now we’ve got a new group put together around me and Samuli. It goes without saying, that we have challenges ahead this season. But I have full confidence in our team and organization. Every challenge that comes our way, we take as an opportunity, not as a threat", says the team captain.

The starting lineup of UNI has some familiar faces from past ECL seasons and some possess more experience than others. Many players also have a background in traditional sports, even on a semi-professional level.

"I believe that our strength will be in playing a balanced game in unison. We’ll proudly stand for UNI Gaming and we’ll respect any opponent we play against", says Tervonen.

Sustainability is a key value to the newly formed organization on the way to success.

"Developing a competitive and flexible team is a goal in the long run. Our ultimate objective would be gaining promotion to ECL Elite in our first year, but not maybe in this first ECL. For now, we need to learn and get some experience", states founder Ranta-Eskola.