The first season of the WECL is coming to an end with the finals in focus - those games will be played this week between Grenoble BDL eSports and Silver Sword Griffins.
Before getting into the substance of the matter, we would first like to thank and congratulate all the teams for this first edition. All in all, we had some learning experiences along the way but mainly the championship went very well, and without trouble. for that we'd like for all participants to give themselves a pat on the back and extend yet another warm thank you to the competitors beside you!
It would be a lie to say that it is a surprise to find Grenoble and the Silver Sword Griffins in the finals. These two teams, although battered at times, kept their ranks of favorites and made it to the finals without too much problems in the end.
An observation seemed acquired around the middle of the regular season, as Group 1 seemed to be closer than Group 2. With both the Griffins and Grenoble in this group, added with a strong squad like Latvian Warriors in particular, there was only one playoff spot really up for grabs - a tough situation for all the other clubs fighting over that last spot. Eventually, it was the Spanish formation Hoko Gang that ended up grabbing the last playoff spot in Group 1, just in front of Remparts de Tours eSport 2.
In Group 2, we expected Remparts de Tours eSport and Dynamo Dragons at the forefront with, the remaining seven squads going to battle over the final two playoff spots. In the end, it was the Latvians from Latvian eSports and the Frenchmen from Epinal HC Esport who did the best and managed to punch their tickets to the postseason. The Spaniards in Granada Grizzlies have for a long time seemed able to join the playoffs but a tumultuous end of the season did not allow them to do so this time.
The final under the microscope
It's very difficult to identify the favorite of this final. On one hand, we have the experience of many Griffins players and on the other hand the very good season put forth in ECL 11 Lite by Grenoble which could put the wind in their sails.
The two teams are also statistically very close. 109 goals scored against 22 conceded by the french guys and 120 scored and 20 conceded by the Latvians. In terms of goaltending, the two stand together also. @Trollstivegen (Grenoble) has a save percentage of 81% and 1.64 with two shutouts. The Griffins goaltenders are a bit below that level but @Janikka, who played all six playoff games so far has done great in the postseason being below a goal per game in GAA.
As often at this level of competition, the difference could be made in special teams. 37.5% efficiency in numerical superiority converted for Grenoble against 26% for the Griffins, and in contrast, 90% penalties killed by the Griffins against 83% for Grenoble - an interesting matchup on that front.
Their road to the finals:
Grenoble BDL eSports - Group 1
Regular season: 1st / 16-2-0 / 109 GF/29 GA
Playoffs: 1st round vs Epinal HC Esport 3-0 / 2nd round vs Latvian Warriors 3-0
Silver Sword Griffins - Group 1
Regular season: 3rd / 15-2-1 / 120 GF/22 GA
Playoffs: 1st round vs Remparts de Tours eSport 2 3-0 / 2nd round vs Dynamo Dragons 3-0
Individual trophies (based on regular season)
MVP: AdRi1_ScP (BDL) 41+50=91
Best forward(s): AdRi1_ScP (BDL) 41+50=91 and PSchibra (SSG) 31+59=90
Best defenseman: Method4 (RDT) 9+15=24
Best goalkeeper: badsanta35 (DDR) 89.53SV% / 1.23GAA / 4SO
On behalf of NHLGamer, we wish a very good finals to both teams. May the best team win.
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