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Meet the ECL '25: Spring Cover Gamer: Lauri "sopulii_" Enström The ECL '25: Spring season is here, and leading the way as the Cover Gamer is none other than Lauri @sopulii_ Enström of Blackbirds. A Pro division champion, competitive floorball player, content creator, and a driving force behind Blackbirds' esports project, Enström embodies what it means to be an ECL athlete both on and off the ice. We caught up with him to talk about his journey, his team's rise through the divisions, the connection between virtual hockey and floorball, and what it means to represent Blackbirds on two fronts.   List of previous ECL cover gamers: ECL 8: Erik @Eki Tammenpää  🇫🇮  ECL 9: Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen  🇫🇮  ECL 10: Casper @ICappeI Lundgren 🇸🇪  ECL 11: Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha  🇫🇮  ECL 12: Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen  🇫🇮  ECL '22: Winter: Johan @Lehmannens Lehmann  🇸🇪 & Hampus @l-Furyan-l Duvefelt 🇸🇪 ECL '23: Spring: Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen 🇫🇮 ECL '23: Winter: Erik @Eki Tammenpää 🇫🇮 ECL '23: Spring: Tomi @tomboo- Laitinen 🇫🇮 ECL ‘24: Winter: Adam @dzouvi Menšík 🇨🇿 ECL ‘24: Spring: Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen 🇫🇮   Interview with Lauri "sopulii_" Enström Congrats on becoming the ECL '25: Spring Cover Gamer! What does this recognition mean to you personally and as part of the Blackbirds organization? Thank you, being named cover gamer is of course a great honour considering the cover gamers in the past. It is very cool to be able to represent the league as a team that was just promoted to Elite for this season. The journey we've had with this team has been unbelievable and finally, after so many seasons in lower divisions, we have our chance to give it all we have at the highest level.   Your journey in the ECL has been steadily rising season by season—how did it all start for you, and what motivated you to keep pushing to this level? I personally started in ECL 11 during NHL 21, but the story of the modern-day Blackbirds really began in the ECL'23 Winter season with xBots. Finally, we were able to build a team around the Xbox community since this was the time cross-play was added to the game. We were also the first and only Xbox team to compete that season, and we managed to push into the Lite division in the qualifiers. Our group has always been pretty close, so I think over the years that has been our strength - being able to really stick together as a group even through the tough times.   Blackbirds had a dominant Winter season and capped it off with the Pro title. What do you think made the difference this time compared to earlier seasons? This is a pretty simple one to answer - we played much more together than any previous season. And we played with this exact roster a lot. Most seasons during our club's existence have seen sometimes even up to 10+ players playing throughout the season. But this past season it was really the first time we were able to play a stable season without a huge amount of roster variance between games. The current roster was mainly 1v1 oriented players in the past meaning the motivation to play a lot of 6s wasn't really there.   You’ve been part of the team’s core through multiple seasons and changes. How has the chemistry evolved, and how important is that off-the-ice connection to your success? I think the off-the-ice chemistry is a huge strength of ours - and has always been. The core of our team has been friends ever since around 2020, so the club was created much after we knew each other. What separates the current lineup from the ones in the past is probably the way we're all more or less on the same page about how we want to play and what our expectations/goals are. It's a young team but I think the past 2 seasons have given us so much growth as a team - both on the ice and off it.   Are there any teams or players in Elite you’re especially looking forward to matching up against? The floorball derby - Blackbirds vs Heimo. Both teams are representatives of Finnish floorball clubs (Blackbirds, Kerava & Westend Indians). Funny enough we have a player playing for Heimo in real life, so this is a matchup I'm looking forward to. SportsGamer was even kind enough to schedule this matchup as a broadcast game.   You’re not just a top-tier NHL player—you also compete in floorball at a high level. How do the two sports complement each other for you, if at all? I've said this for years and I still believe it's true - the virtual hockey gameplay resembles floorball much more than real hockey. So I really think they do complement each other in a lot of ways. The principles of the games are very similar - a good play in one is very likely a good play in the other. The gameplay allows for much more control than real-life hockey does, meaning it's possible to make for example passing plays the same way it can be done on the field in floorball.   What does it mean to represent Blackbirds in both physical and digital arenas? That’s a pretty unique position to be in. Haha, yeah. I've represented Blackbirds in real life for almost 10 years now and it is always a cool feeling to step on the field or virtual ice at "Kurkela Garden". Tune in to the Season Opening Broadcast Tonight! Stay tuned as Lauri and Blackbirds take on their biggest challenge yet in the Elite division. Watch them live this season on twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG and twitch.tv/BlackbirdsUnited follow their journey across both the esports and floorball arenas. Both Blackbirds and ONSE Esports kick off their maiden ECL Elite broadcast matchup together, starting tonight at 19:45 CEST, followed by NOVA taking on Polski Boys - be sure to tune in!  

SportsGamers, The newest update to the ECL '25: Spring rulebook is now live and can be accessed through the league pages. Generally speaking, the rulebook is a revised and improved version of the rulebook used in ECL '25: Winter. Find the new rulebook here. Here's a snapshot of some of the major adjustments / additions compared to ECL ‘25: Spring: 11.7.: Player ability bans and their enforcement have been updated Fair Play has been updated to include not spamming empty net as a goalie Updated qualifier transfer rules Handing out WO wins during the qualifiers is no longer allowed We ask every team and it's members to familiarize themselves with the rulebook before taking the ice for the ECL '25: Spring season. Please refer to the rulebook in case of any issues that may arise throughout the season. If you have any questions, please get in touch with support. Statement on the ECL Division placement of team BLEGI Background: The League Administration raised concerns regarding BLEGI, a team initially signed up for the Lite division for ECL '25 Spring. Their roster consists of two former Elite Starters and four former Pro starters, which led to worries that they might be too strong for the Lite division, potentially disrupting the competitive balance. This concern stems from a similar situation in ECL '24 Spring, where Nordic Stars dominated the Lite division with a highly accomplished roster. Upon inquiring, BLEGI explained that they had originally intended to compete in the Pro Qualifiers. However, due to a tight schedule with the FCL and late roster changes, they were unable to complete a full roster in time for the qualifiers. Decision: To maintain the integrity of the divisions, BLEGI will be placed directly into the Pro Division as the 33rd team. This decision should be treated as a one-time exception. Moving forward, the rulebook will be reviewed to provide clearer guidelines for handling such situations in the future. Additionally, the League Administration retains the right to make final decisions regarding team placements, seedings, and potential refusals of entry, ensuring that the competitive balance of the league is upheld.

🏆 It’s Finals Night in the FCL – Who Will Be Crowned Champion? 🔥 The stage is set for a thrilling night of top-tier eHockey action as the Finnish Championship League 2025 Finals go live this evening! Fans are in for a double treat with both the 1v1 and 6v6 Finals taking place during a special broadcast, beginning at 19:30 EEST (18:30 CEST). The night will kick off with the BO3 1v1 Finals between #2 seed @sisu33_ and the winner of the semifinal series between @WeDuX_ and @temppanen. In the 6v6 Grand Final, we’ve got a true clash of styles and stories: #4 seed, reigning European Champions in Parasite take on the regular season juggernaut, #1 seed Mythix, who have dominated the season with flair and consistency. 🎙️ The action will be covered live from the studio by Arttu "Olvari" Hämäläinen and Simeon @Simbanho Vorselman, bringing you expert analysis and commentary throughout the night. 🎁 Plus, Finnish viewers can win exclusive prizes thanks to our partners at GAME CHANGER! 📺 Don’t miss a moment – catch the Finals LIVE at: 👉 twitch.tv/SportsGamerGG

ECL ’25: Spring Sign-Ups Close Tonight – Welcome to Season 20 and the League’s 10-Year Anniversary! It's hard to believe it’s been 10 years since we kicked off the ECL! Now, as we enter Season 20, what started as a one-division journey with around 50 teams has grown into a 200+ team, five-division experience. It’s incredible to see so many players who have been with us since the beginning—there’s been a lot of eHockey played over the years! You can browse some of these legendary player profiles on the SportsGamer All-time Stats page. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the players who have joined us on this journey and continue to compete in the league we all live and breathe. Since its inception in 2015, the European Championship League (ECL) has established itself as the pinnacle of eHockey. It’s where the best players from across the continent face off in a 6v6 format that leaves no margin for error. Every position on the ice—forward, defense, and goalie—is controlled by a human player, creating a uniquely competitive and authentic environment. With divisions ranging from the elite to entry-level, the ECL provides a platform for players of all skill levels to make their mark. With a total prize pool of 24 000 EUR on the line—spread across both 6v6 and 1v1 formats—the stage is set for yet another amazing competitive season in European NHL esports.     The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports. The abbreviation stands for the European Championship League and it features NHL 6v6 esports in five divisions aimed at various skill levels. Every player, including the goalies, is controlled by a human. League games are played in the EASHL mode and the platform is PlayStation and Xbox. ECL has been played since 2015, so the upcoming season is already the 17th. The latest addition to the ECL product family is a 1v1 tournament, where Europe's best solo players fight for the championship. ECL 1v1 has been played since the ECL '23 Winter season. Basic information/requirements of ECL: Regional restrictions: ECL is a European tournament format, however, we do not necessarily exclude players located in North America or Asia. A European server will always be used. We reserve the right to exclude teams or players in case of severe connection issues.   Individual requirements: Each player needs to have an account at SportsGamer.GG and create their personal player card.   ECL licenses: Teams in ECL Elite & ECL Pro, ECL Lite, and ECL Core will require their respective ECL ‘25: Spring team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘25: Player License or ECL ‘25: Spring Player License before taking the ice. Players in ECL Neo require only an ECL '25: Spring Neo Player License.   For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story.     The sign-ups close on the below-mentioned dates: Pro Wildcard Battle: 18.3.2025  ECL Pro Qualifier: 21.3.2025  ECL Neo:  4.4.2025 ⚠️ ECL Core: 4.4.2025 ⚠️ ECL Lite: 4.4.2025 ⚠️ ECL Pro: 21.3.2025  ECL Elite: 21.3.2025  * Signups will close at 23:59 CET on the day mentioned unless otherwise specified.       For more detailed information on the different divisions and their schedules, see this article. Regular Season duration: 7.4-8.5.2025 Estimated finals dates: Below are estimated dates for the Finals to be approximately played. We reserve the right to changes in schedule. ECL Neo Finals 29.6 ECL Core Finals 25.6. - 26.6 ECL Lite Finals 23.6. - 24.6 ECL Pro Finals 16.6. - 17.6 ECL Elite Finals 14.6     Free Agents & Teams Looking for Players Don't have a team yet? Team looking for additions to your roster? If you are a free agent looking to be picked up, please head over here. If you are representing a team looking for players, please head over here. Need more help, check out the below article!     The ECL Neo division does not require a team license, however, you do need the ECL Neo Player license at the cost of 10 EUR per season. All other divisions require the ECL '25 Spring or Full Year Player License and Spring Team License.   PURCHASE YOUR ECL '25 LICENSES HERE    Please refer to this ECL Ranking in order to understand which teams are eligible to sign up for each division.   Rule Changes: Ability Bans All Gold abilities and the silver abilities Truculence, Big Tipper, and Stick 'Em Up are banned for the ECL '25: Spring season. Read the full League Administration statement here. The full updated ECL '25 rulebook will be published on Saturday, you can check out last season's rules here.  

As we gear up for ECL ’25: Spring, we’re highlighting a set of valuable perks available to the members of the SportsGamer community. These benefits are designed to support players on their journey toward better performance, well-being, and team unity – both in and out of the game. These are companies that have made the commitment to support our community and hope to grow with us, so we hope you check them out and like what they have to offer!   Free 3-Month Membership to the SportsGamer Health & Performance Program All SportsGamer community members are eligible for a free 3-month membership to the Health & Performance Program, developed in partnership with Wellnet. The platform offers a variety of training content and recovery-focused resources tailored to the needs of competitive players and esports athletes. It’s suitable for all fitness levels and is accessible worldwide. To activate your free membership: 🔗 Visit health.sportsgamer.gg 🔓 Use code GAMER3     The platform includes: • Exclusive content produced for SportsGamer users • A large selection of English-language material • Extensive content available in Finnish • Select material also offered in Swedish You'll also be happy to hear that there is no credit card required.     10 € Off Game Changer Supplements (Finland Only) Players based in Finland can redeem a €10 gift card on Game Changer supplements using the code SPORTSGAMER10 at checkout. Choose the formula that suits your needs: Level Up – For sharper concentration and mental clarity 🧠 Level Down – To help relax and recover after intense gaming or workouts 🌙 Immunity Boost – To support overall wellness and daily defense 🛡️ Performance – For lasting energy and improved endurance ⚡   Please note: Game Changer currently ships within Finland only, but let's show them our support and hope for internal shipping options soon.   Instagram Giveaway (Finland Only)   Finnish players can also participate in our Instagram giveaway for a chance to win a Game Changer supplement package containing all four Game Changer products. Enter by April 3rd. How to enter: Visit the IG giveaway post Tag two friends in the comments Follow the Game Changer Instagram account That’s it – you’re in! Winners will be announced April 4th.   ECL ’25: Spring – 6v6 - Registration Still Open   Spots are still available for the upcoming ECL ’25: Spring season, but registration is closing soon. Make sure your team is signed up and ready to compete. 🔗 Read more and register for ECL ’25: Spring   Stay Connected   Whether you’re here to improve your health, elevate your gameplay, or compete at the highest level – we’re glad to have you as part of the SportsGamer community. More perks and performance-focused features are in the works, so stay tuned.   Follow us on: Discord Facebook Instagram Threads TikTok Twitch Twitter/X YouTube

⏳ Last Call: ECL '25: Spring Registration Closes Tonight for the ECL Elite and ECL Pro divisions, and the ECL Pro Qualifiers! ⏳   Time is running out! Tonight is the absolute deadline to sign up for the ECL '25: Spring Season across Elite, Pro, and Pro Qualifier divisions. If your team hasn’t registered yet, this is your final chance to secure your spot in Europe’s premier competitive NHL tournament series!   🔹 Registration Closes: 🗓️ Tonight, Friday 21st of March ⏰ 23:59 CET   ✅ Who needs to sign up? • Elite teams looking to confirm their place in the top division. • Pro teams ready for another shot at glory. • Pro Qualifier teams eager to climb the ladder.   If you haven’t signed up, you risk missing out on this season entirely! 👇 Register now:   Let’s make ECL '25: Spring another unforgettable season on the ice! 🏒🔥

Are you ready to take your team to the next level? Today is your final chance to sign up for the ECL '25: Spring - Pro Wildcard, and secure your shot at joining the ECL Pro Division this season! Sign-ups close at midnight tonight—don’t miss out! What Is the Pro Wildcard? The Pro Wildcard is an exclusive opportunity for teams who believe they have what it takes to compete at the Pro level of ECL but weren’t placed there directly through ranking eligibility. By signing up for the Pro Wildcard, your team requests an opportunity to enter a qualifying stage where you’ll compete against other ambitious squads for a place in ECL Pro this Spring. It’s your pathway to fast-track your club to the higher levels of European NHL esports! Who Can Sign Up? Not every team can jump straight to Pro. Teams are invited to apply for the Pro Wildcard if they: ✅ Believe they have the skill and experience to compete at Pro ✅ Want to prove themselves on the ice ✅ Meet the eligibility requirements outlined below Pro Wildcard Eligibility Requirements Pro Qualifier Wildcard requirements: Three former Elite starters or four former Pro starters A starter is defined as having played 16 or more games in the ECL '25: Winter season, or 16 or more games in the ECL '24: Spring season If there are more players from the same team that were relegated out of the division Pro (in the same season) in the team applying for a wildcard, they may be counted as one player. The League Administration reserves the right to interpretations of this depending on the specific circumstances of the situation. It is possible to apply even if your team doesn't quite meet the requirements, however, teams that do will be prioritized. Applying does not guarantee a spot in the Wildcard qualifier. Key Dates to Remember 📝 Pro Wildcard Sign-ups Close: Tonight! Monday, March 18th, 23:59 CET Sign up before midnight to take part in the Wildcard process! ⚔️ Pro Wildcard Battle: Wednesday, March 19th – Thursday, March 20th Teams accepted into the Wildcard process will face off (if necessary) to earn a place in the Pro Qualifier. 🎯 Pro Qualifier: Sign up by Friday, March 21st. Round 1: Sunday, March 23rd – Thursday, March 27th Round 2: Sunday, March 30th – Tuesday, April 1st (If needed) Round 3: Thursday, April 3rd (If needed) Winners from the Wildcard Battle will advance to the Pro Qualifier and compete for the final spots in ECL Pro. Don’t Forget! Elite and Pro Sign-ups Are Open Too Even if your team is already ranked for Elite or Pro, you still need to complete your registration to secure your place! 📝 Elite & Pro Team Registration Deadline: Friday, March 21st, 23:59 CET All teams in Elite and Pro must be fully registered by this date, or risk losing their spot. 👉 Read more about the ECL 25 Spring season and sign up here: 🔗 ECL 25 Spring Sign-ups Are Open Please refer to this ECL Ranking in order to understand which teams are eligible to sign up for each division. Don’t wait—register your team now and claim your chance to rise to Pro!

ECL ’25: Spring Sign-Ups Are Open – Welcome to Season 20 and the League’s 10-Year Anniversary! Can you believe it’s been 10 years since we kicked off the ECL? Now, as we enter Season 20, what started as a one-division journey with around 50 teams has grown into a 200+ team, five-division experience. It’s incredible to see so many players who have been with us since the beginning—there’s been a lot of eHockey played over the years! You can browse some of these legendary player profiles on the SportsGamer All-time Stats page. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the players who have joined us on this journey and continue to compete in the league we all live and breathe. Since its inception in 2015, the European Championship League (ECL) has established itself as the pinnacle of eHockey. It’s where the best players from across the continent face off in a 6v6 format that leaves no margin for error. Every position on the ice—forward, defense, and goalie—is controlled by a human player, creating a uniquely competitive and authentic environment. With divisions ranging from the elite to entry-level, the ECL provides a platform for players of all skill levels to make their mark. With a total prize pool of 24 000 EUR on the line—spread across both 6v6 and 1v1 formats—the stage is set for yet another amazing competitive season in European NHL esports. The ECL is the pinnacle of European NHL esports. The abbreviation stands for the European Championship League and it features NHL 6v6 esports in five divisions aimed at various skill levels. Every player, including the goalies, is controlled by a human. League games are played in the EASHL mode and the platform is PlayStation and Xbox. ECL has been played since 2015, so the upcoming season is already the 17th. The latest addition to the ECL product family is a 1v1 tournament, where Europe's best solo players fight for the championship. ECL 1v1 has been played since the ECL '23 Winter season. Basic information/requirements of ECL: Regional restrictions: ECL is a European tournament format, however, we do not necessarily exclude players located in North America or Asia. A European server will always be used. We reserve the right to exclude teams or players in case of severe connection issues. Individual requirements: Each player needs to have an account at SportsGamer.GG and create their personal player card. ECL licenses: Teams in ECL Elite & ECL Pro, ECL Lite, and ECL Core will require their respective ECL ‘25: Spring team licenses in order to play. In addition, every player in the above-mentioned divisions needs to have a valid ECL ‘25: Player License or ECL ‘25: Spring Player License before taking the ice. Players in ECL Neo require only an ECL '25: Spring Neo Player License. For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story. Please note that the sign-up window for the Pro Wild Card Battle, the Pro Qualifier and the Pro and Elite divisions is quite short, so don't miss out and please don't hesitate to reach out to support if you have any questions. The sign-ups close on the below-mentioned dates: Pro Wildcard Battle: 18.3.2025 ⚠️ ECL Pro Qualifier: 21.3.2025 ⚠️ ECL Neo: 4.4.2025 ECL Core: 4.4.2025 ECL Lite: 4.4.2025 ECL Pro: 21.3.2025 ⚠️ ECL Elite: 21.3.2025 ⚠️ * Signups will close at 23:59 CET on the day mentioned unless otherwise specified. For more detailed information on the different divisions and their schedules, see this article. Qualifiers: The schedule for the qualifiers will be tight - as usual, to allow the maximum time for sign-ups - so please prepare to play quite intensely during the qualifiers stage. Pro Wildcard Battle: 19.-20.3 (if necessary) Pro Qualifier starts 23.3 Elite Qualifier start: 30.3 (if necessary) The exact details will be shared once the number of teams is known. Regular Season duration: 7.4-8.5.2025 Estimated finals dates: Below are estimated dates for the Finals to be approximately played. We reserve the right to changes in schedule. ECL Neo Finals 29.6 ECL Core Finals 25.6. - 26.6 ECL Lite Finals 23.6. - 24.6 ECL Pro Finals 16.6. - 17.6 ECL Elite Finals 14.6 Free Agents & Teams Looking for Players Don't have a team yet? Team looking for additions to your roster? If you are a free agent looking to be picked up, please head over here. If you are representing a team looking for players, please head over here. Need more help, check out the below article! Early Bird Offer on Team Licenses Below you’ll find the pricing of the team for ECL ‘25: Spring. You can pick up the ECL ‘25: Spring Team license for the Super Early Bird and Early Bird pricing listed below. After that, we will offer a slightly elevated regular pricing from March 27th onward. PURCHASE YOUR ECL '25 LICENSES HERE For those of you participating in the qualifiers and unsure which division your team will play in for the ECL ‘25: Spring season, you can still take advantage of this offer; Purchase the Super Early Bird license for the division you are qualifying for and if your team is unsuccessful in the mission, we will refund you the difference to the Super Early Bird price for the division your team ends up in. For example, if you enter the qualifiers for the Pro division, purchase the Super Early Bird Pro license. If your team doesn’t qualify for the Pro division, you will play in the Lite division and we will refund you the difference - in this example: 100 EUR. The ECL Neo division does not require a team license, however, you do need the ECL Neo Player license at the cost of 10 EUR per season. Please refer to this ECL Ranking in order to understand which teams are eligible to sign up for each division. Rule Changes: Ability Bans All Gold abilities and the silver abilities Truculence, Big Tipper, and Stick 'Em Up are banned for the ECL '25: Spring season. Read the full League Administration statement here. The full updated ECL '25 rulebook will be published closer to the season, you can check out last season's rules here.