RCL 8: Season Recap

NHLGamers,

Already eight seasons have passed in the Russian Championship League, each year is special for fans of the EA Sports NHL series and this season was no exception. We watched truly emotional virtual hockey, not lacking in entertainment at any point, there was everything, pain of disappointment from defeats, loud victories, and new records.

A lot of controversy and conflicts were in the air before the start of the RCL 8 season. Each team wanted to declare themselves with the loudest victories. Many were prepared for this moment, the moment of glory, and maybe recording their club into the history of NHLGamer. And believe me, history was truly made, but more on that later.

This season there was a record number of organizations from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), our esports men reached a new level for themselves and many became representatives of these high-profile teams. I am sure that only progress in this direction awaits us in the future, and the new season will add even more representatives of new organizations.

KHL clubs of the RCL 8 Pro season:

METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK (Former Nova)
EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk
EHC TATNEFT AK BARS
Barys eSports (FormerRusty Bulls)

KHL clubs of the RCL 8 Lite season:

EHC Avtomobilist
EHC ZAURALYE KURGAN (of the Supreme Hockey League)
BARYS CYBER TEAM (Associate of Barys eSports)
HC TRAKTOR 2 (Associate of EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk)

Regular season

The regular season showed excellent quality of matches, many teams clashed in very tight bouts. Each club tried to replenish its piggy bank of points, and better their position in the championship, eventually successfully making it into the top 8. There were some surprises, some teams had to leave the top division for now, and others will be in for a struggle in qualifying to be able to stay in RCL Pro at the end of the season.

At the start of the season there was a lot of talk in the community about the favorites and rather quickly they singled out the four clubs Blackdawgs, Barys eSports, METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK, and Nearbird Fighters. A state of intrigue was created, and until the semifinals it was definitely not clear who would take the cup. The teams EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk and EHC TATNEFT AK BARS also fought bravely and posed a serious challenge. These teams had players who could single-handedly change the outcome of the matches, but virtual hockey is primarily a team sport. This, however will not take away the merits of these players, and I can assure you many can be seen among our top players of the season and this is absolutely deserved.

Here's the eventual final standings of the regular season and as you can see, it is evident that the fight was intense for every point available.

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At the end of the regular season, HC Yaroslavl BEARS got relegated to RCL Lite. The club played their first season at the Pro level and unfortunately did not match the skill needed yet - with one victory throughout the season they've managed to make questionable history in the RCL divisions era. Despite the tough season, we're sure this team will be back stronger than before and hopefully we'll see a more successful return to the Pro division in the future.

Clubs Virtuoso, Seventy Sixers, and VHC NEVA will fight to retain their divisional spots in the RCL 8 relegation battles.

Playoffs

The most interesting stage of the tournament gave us a lot of excitement because the top 8 were in for a test in their quarterfinals series. No one wanted to give up easily. Even the favorites of the season had to sweat and dig deep in order not to falter. You can give out a tirade of beautiful speech turns how the process of these confrontations went, but why complicate everything when you can show the results of matches, and give your brain food for imagination, unless of course you personally watched these battles. So look, and if you have something to say on this occasion, the comments are open, we are happy to read it.

Lainaa

Quarterfinals

(8) HC KOROBKA (0-4) METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK (1)

Series results:

Game 1 HCK 3:4 MGN

Game 2 MGN 3:0 HCK

Game 3 HCK 3:4 MGN

Game 4 MGN 3:2 OT HCK

(2) Blackdawgs  (4-1) Russian Lightning (7)

Series results:

Game 1 BD 1:2 RL

Game 2 RL 2:5 BD

Game 3 BD 3:1 RL

Game 4 RL 1:6 BD

Game 5 BD 6:1 RL

(3) Barys eSports  (4-1) EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk (6)

Series results:

Game 1 TRK 3:2 BRS

Game 2 BRS 2:1 OT TRK

Game 3 TRK 1:4 BRS

Game 4 BRS 3:2 TRK

Game 5 TRK 1:3 BRS

(4) Nearbird Fighters  (4-1) EHC TATNEFT AK BARS (5)

Series results:

Game 1 AKB 1:2 NBF

Game 2 NBF 3:2 AKB

Game 3 AKB 2:3 NBF

Game 4 NBF 2:3 AKB

Game 5 AKB 2:3 OT NBF

Semifinals

(1) METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK (4-3) Nearbird Fighters (4)

Series results:

Game 1 MGN 0:4 NBF

Game 2 NBF 0:1 MGN

Game 3 MGN 3:0 NBF

Game 4 NBF 1:0 OT MGN

Game 5 MGN 1:0 NBF

Game 6 NBF 3:1 MGN

Game 7 MGN 2:1 NBF

(2) Blackdawgs (1-4) Barys eSports (3)

Series results:

Game 1 BD 2:3 OT BRS

Game 2 BRS 4:3 OT BD

Game 3 BD 4:1 BRS

Game 4 BRS 4:3 OT BD

Game 5 BD 0:1 BRS

Finals

(1) METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK (4-0) Barys eSports (3)

Series results:

Game 1 MGN 2:1 BRS

Game 2 BRS 0:1 MRG

Game 3 MRG 2:0 BRS

Game 4 BRS 0:1 OT MGN

RCL 8 Pro Champions of the Season

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METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK, has done the unthinkable and reached the milestone of a three-time RCL championship. Returning to the record talk, METALLURG is the only club to have won three championships in a row, and history unfolds before our very eyes. What is hidden behind this story, you ask, and I will answer you. Since the formation of the Nova club, under the leadership of Maxim @Haiissey Trukhanov, a course was taken of clear understanding of the team game, and the selection of players took place exclusively and strictly based on skills. The captain was able to compose an impressive selection of players, and ran his club as a massive battleship on an undeniable course to championship. Yes, over the course of three seasons the roster had changes, but every year the METALLURG club demonstrated an exceptional balance of attacking hockey and flawless defense, and also their impressive ability to squeeze by opponents in the finishing moments of the game - demonstrated throughout the RCL playoffs. Each player of this club just clicked and the end product was a team that worked like clockwork. This is not just a team, but a real hockey family, because it is impossible to achieve such success without next level mutual understanding and support for each other. Congratulations to METALLURG MAGNITOGORSK and every player of this club, with such a resounding victory, the season was not an easy walk, it was a war on every inch of the ice!

List of players who have contributed to the championship:

Goalkeepers:
#90 Artur "Thai4ik" Boos
#99 Aleksey "zZzvezZzda" Zvezdin
#46 Nikita "Poistin" Penttinen /

Defenders:
#22 Alex "SPB_AlexZver_22" Zverev
#23 Evgeniy "mons3223" Mons
#39 Ilya "Cefurturinen" Elchaninov
#7 Aleksandr "AleksZava" Zavgorodniy

Forwards:
#19 Ilkka "ilikkaa" Rekila
#38 Maxim "Haiissey" Trukhanov
#43 Artem "VSO_Nester_43" Nesterov
#77 Daniels "CMB-wf-" Magonis

RCL 8 Lite Champions of the Season

HC LEGION crushed its rival in the final without giving a chance and hope of success. At the end, they punched their ticket to RCL 9 Pro by quite a margin. We sincerely congratulate the team on such a success. There is a very serious challenge ahead, RCL Pro does not forgive mistakes.

List of players who contributed to the championship:

Goalkeepers:
#21 Slava "Sinoo126" Sigal
#5 Jere "Jerexu" Aho

Defenders:
#77 Taras "XxProAavexX" Nosulko
#11 Daniel "Dasplund_" Asplund
#7 Alexey "AlexeyK78" Kudryavtsev
#73 Felix "Kotofell" Paznikov
#89 Juris "ROCKY-X89-LV" Cvetkovs

Forwards:
#10 Ivan "XxIGizmolxX" Golubyatnikov
#17 Yuri "PEROV76RUS" Perov
#48 Maxim "MadMax-48ru" TUTOB
#69 Mikhail "ForgotwoW" Kupriyanov
#81 Vladimir "Bear201081" Burkin

RCL Pro Players of the Season

It's time to list the best players of the season. My applause to all the players in the league for your hard work and dedication in this challenging and skilful game, you have all come a long way and have shown an impressive will to win, as your statistics show.

Top players of the season. 🏆

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Forwards points leaders (Points):

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Forwards goals leaders:

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Forwards assists leaders:

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Forwards hits leader:

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Defenders points leaders:
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Defender goals leaders:

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Defender assists leaders:

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Defender hits leaders:

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Goalie goals against average leaders (GAA):

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Goalie leaders in the save percentage (SV%):

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Goalie leaders in shutouts (Shutout):

Thanks to everyone who follows the Russian Championship League, we are happy to give all we have on ice and are ready to showcase new content, because your attention and feedback motivates us. Follow the league news on NHLGamer, live hockey, love hockey, play hockey!