GCL 8: Season Preview - Can anyone challenge the "Goliaths"?

SportsGamers,

The 8th season of the German Championship League is just around the corner and we want to take a closer look at the most exciting teams this upcoming season. Who are the favourites for the title? Which teams could prove themselves as "David" against the expected "Goliaths" in the league? We will see many exciting teams and tight matchups in the upcoming GCL8 but we decided to take a litter closer look on the following teams. Make sure to let us know in the comments down below which teams you are most excited to see!

Previews written by @Keuschemisch and @Francoconte

 ZSC Esports:

The reigning GCL Champion seems to be the biggest favourite in the 8th season of the German Championship League! The Swiss outfit managed to add Kevin @Keuschemisch Berg and Christian @Fightlocke3 Schubert before last ECL '22 Spring to their already strong roster. Both players played a big role in their Elite debut season which eventually lead to rank 10 and missing the playoffs just by a small margin. Christian @GERxVillain Ungeheuer followed the path of his former "noRex Gaming" teammates and will reinforce the Lions after playing one season in ECL '22 Spring Pro for the Deadly Phantoms. Captain Sven @Original-SnuS Julmi, Max @Toneee9 Tonitz and Mike @burban26 Müller were able to reinforce the team once again and the roster looks stronger than ever. To secure more depth to the offensive and defensive end, Finnish loan players Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala (Frölunda HC) and Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen (hREDS) join the blue and red for the upcoming GCL. While Reto @afc_Tschitsch (eTschitsch) Ulrich will take the role as a backup goalie, we can expect Alex @IDangledYouOutWagner to show off his scoring abilities once again, after finishing as the teams top scorer in ECL '22 Spring Elite (17G + 24A - 28GP). The only Elite participant from the DACH-Community will be in favour of securing their first back-to-back GCL title. Anything else than another final appearance would be a big disappointment.

Prediction: Title favourite

 Deadly Phantoms:

The German juggernaut will be keen on getting back the title after getting swept by ZSC Esports in the finals of GCL7. Frank @Franky__2768 Münch, Niklas @xXPsykoSkillsXx Schmitz, Felix @ProfaneKiss Kiss and Patrick @RPH_31 Braun are still the foundation of the ECL Pro participant. It will be interesting to see if the two veterans Simon @PlaymakerSJ Junker and Tim @Timasy Hess will be part of the Phantoms starting six or if freshly added winger Nico @Nicoli2311 Schubert will find his place in the offense of the German outfit. After the departure of Florian @Flo_goes_grazy(flgr93) Griechbaum it will be very important to find their rhythm right from the start of the season. In our opinion it is highly possible to see the Phantoms back in the finals!

Prediction: Title challenger

 Geekz Energy Esports:

Another Pro Team of the DACH-Community is set to make it far in the playoffs! After a rather disappointing season in GCL7 (Seed #7; 0:4 in the Quarterfinals against former Team LEISURE; now Deadly Phantoms again) Captain Joshua @Hasek100 Plattner added high quality to his roster! Stephan @Krinke Krinke joined the former Inter Iceland from PENTA and had a big impact in the last ECL '22 Spring Pro but eventually fell short to Växjo Lakers (1:4) in the first round of the playoffs. Geekz Energy Esports is well-known for their quick and dangerous counter attacks. Especially Stefan @Stefan_397 Hämmerle is a nightmare for every goalie in the league. Both forwards will be glad about the arrival of the Swiss veteran Claudio @Freeman7187 Salamoni who joins on loan from ZSC Esports. It will be interesting to see what starting six we are going to see at the beginning of the regular season! As good as Geekz's offense has been in the past, the defense has been the teams weakness - especially in tight matchups and long playoff series. Nevertheless we can expect to see Geekz Energy Esports making the semifinals!

Prediction: Top 4

 Hyperion:

Another possible semifinalist could be Hyperion! The team around the SportsGamer veterans Stefan @Rayman Mieth and Maximilian @gzell60 Käsmaier has improved a lot and seemed to have taken the next step in last ECL'22 Spring Lite. Young gun Paul @Xx__PaulZz__xX (Pauner08) Weingart matured a lot - his skillset and silky hands can be dangerous to any team in the upcoming season. Dominik @CashAllGreen Bellersheim organizes the defense and is surely one of the main reasons for the success of Hyperion! The "Gladiators" have a good mixture of experienced veterans and upcoming talents that could make it very far in the postseason!

Prediction: Battle for Top 4

 Team NGU:

The former PENTA has seen quite a radical change in its squad! Captain Akin @DaMan (Akin71) Isik and Dominik @Domi_PENTA Rühl who have been teammates for several seasons now, managed to add big experience from Switzerland. After adding Bryan @CuteTerminator7 Bolliger before last ECL'22 Spring Lite to the team, we can expect to see eNLA 1v1 Back-To-Back Champion Mirco@Tron1x90 (Komir_90) Salvi and Kyle @KG12PK88 Grossen opening up the play from behind! A well balanced roster can give Team NGU the edge in tight matchups and secure a good seed for the playoffs! It will be exciting to see how NGU performs in a long playoff series and how they will position themselves in the league. Will they be able to maintain their status as a top 6 team and maybe even beat favoured teams on their postseason journey?

Prediction: Battle for Top 4

 Herforder Ice Dragons:

After getting relegated in the last GCL7, the Herforder Ice Dragons bounced back in ECL'22 Spring Core. Tobias @Hohner Hohner drew the right conclusions and managed to form a very competetive and strong squad! After falling short in the Core Quarterfinals to Finnish Outfit Etelan Vetelat, Nico @Nicoli2311 Schubert decided to part ways and join the Deadly Phantoms. They found the perfect substitute in Jürgen @DangledYouOut (TIUINIA) Kloster who brings the experience of several seasons at the Pro level and the combination with Center Christoph @IiVAPOR100iI Stotz should cause a stir offensively! One more addition made right before the start of the regular season is Arttu @laitineen64 Laiitinen, who joins on loan from ECL'22 Spring Elite semifinalist GOONS. The Finnish winger had an incredible season, scoring 56 points in 30 games. If Laiitinen will take the role as a backup player or find himself in the starting six of Herford could be a decisive factor for their game. One player the whole league should watch is Tim @LeMalkin71 Strompf who looks like one of the most exciting upcoming defenders in the German community. If the Ice Dragons can continue on their good momentum, a good seed for the postseason should be their main goal!

Prediction: Top 8

 DEG Esports:

The Esports team of the Düsseldorfer EG has become an institution in the DACH-Community. Steffen @Seibertus94 (Leucht-T) Leuchtenberger and Daniel @DangerBrooklyn Goepfert are very important pillars and the foundation of DEG Esports! After experiencing many changes to the squad in the last couple of seasons, the DEG always managed to set their roster right in time! The red and yellow outfit is well-known for simple hockey and will surely find themselves in the postseason.

Prediction: Top 16

 Central Hockey Canucks:

The Canucks are also one of the teams that experienced big changes within their roster. Once again the former "Niederrhein Canucks" managed to retrieve many familiar faces! Daniel @Daniel Thenextone Reinhardt, Dominik  @xDurchf4ll_- Mosser, Much @Much1979 Ramu, Jamie @Da1m0n Fischer and Dean @daen Zimmermann are all back at their former domain. On top of that the squad is reinforced by Michael @devilfish333 Herold and Peter @Peter Zelko (Zelkovci) Zelko between the pipes! For the Canucks it will be about building chemistry and finding their rhythm. @HerzogMagnus and @Baby Thornton (xxICEFORCERxx) can play decisive roles in the attack of the team. Qualifying for the playoffs has to be priority number one!

Prediction: Top 16

 Gleumes Hockey Krefeld:

Surely one of the teams that took one of the biggest steps in the GCL. Gleumes Hockey Krefeld is slowly but steadily taking the steps in the right direction and improving the squad on every position on the virtual ice. The team profits from continuity and a calm environment within the roster. Captain Manuel @ManU287 Engels brought Patrick @Pathen-21- Hendrix and Oliver @Red09Dragon08 Knapp to Krefeld who already proved themselves in the playoffs of GCL Division 1 aswell as in ECL Pro and Lite! We expect to see Gleumes in the playoffs. Where will their journey end?

Prediction: Top 16

 Thunder United:

After missing the last ECL '22 Spring season, the Thunder is back for GCL action. A very well-balanced team that has the potential to grab a good seed in the regular season which could pave their way to a succesful playoff run? Sandro @SanDeRolino Ryman brought familiar faces back together such as Jan @Janstetze Stetze and Kevin @Gregson91 Householder. On top of that Thunder United added a bit of Elite experience in Jim @SadaPoika Leskinen and  Juhani @Tanski87 Tanskanen (both Falun Coal Miners) to give them the edge in tight matchups. Especially in group 3 many outcomes are possible. Where will Thunder United see themselves after the season?

Prediction: Top 16

 Deggendorfer SC Esports:

Much alike Thunder United, the Esports Team from Deggendorf missed out on the last ECL '22 Spring to reset for GCL8. After winning the Divison 2 title of last years GCL7, the Bavarians are keen on proving themselves among the best teams from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Since most of the squad knows each other on and off the virtual ice we can expect a great team spirit within DSC Esports. Player to watch: Johannes @Johannes.Helmbrecht Helmbrecht. The talented defender made it to the finals of the eDEL (German 1v1 Championship) and determines the pace of Deggendorfs game.

Prediction: Top 32

 Eisbären Lauf Gaming:

Talking about teams from Bavaria: The ECL Core outfit of Eisbären Lauf is also one of the most improved teams in the community. After falling short in the second round of the ECL playoffs, Max @theburner18 Spachmüller and Thomas @newman_2909 Neumann added Marko @Nr-0847 Reza to give their team a bit more defensive calmness and experience. To decide tight matchups veteran Stefan @Toews19(BarriosLucas18) Schoierer and @Linkku60 should always be able to make the difference - especially against teams on the same level as the polar bears! Playoffs are more than feasible.

Prediction: Top 32

 Nürnberg Ice Tigers eSports:

The official Esports squad for the DEL Club from Nuremberg could prove themselves as a stumbling block for many perceived top teams of the league. Luca @cpt_dirtyDangler Knoll and Eric @AveRxDallas Polk proved themselves among the best German 1v1 players in the eDEL and steadily improved during the last ECL seasons. 1v1 eSpengler Cup 2021 champion Kevin @Kevinator-373 Würterle joined from Team NGU and is able to accompany the Ice Tigers to the next level. 

Prediction: Top 32

With that, we're now ready to get the action started! Perhaps some of these teams will prove us wrong as the season progresses, and we're happy to watch that unfold! Play hard, and have fun!