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Hey Gamers, I'm sure many of you are aware already, but we want to make sure nobody misses the fact that tomorrow, Saturday, October 19th, is the last chance to purchase the ECL '25 licenses at the Early Bird pricing. This is the final reminder for those who have not had a chance to purchase the Early Bird Licenses yet. Grab your Early Bird ECL '25: Winter Team license and ECL '25 Player License (Winter + Spring) at special pricing until midnight. After that, regular pricing applies, so get yours now!   More information: If you're wondering "What is the ECL?", read this article. If you want to sign up for the ECL, read this article. If you're looking for information about the new ECL season and the NHL 25 competitive year, read this article.

Hey Gamers, We are ready to drop the puck for the ECL '25 Pre-Season! As a reminder, the ECL Pre-Season Tournament is a friendly tournament with three tiers for teams to get into the competitive mindset, without the heavy structure that comes with the actual ECL divisions framework. The tournaments include playoffs for each tier and the lowest tier allows new interested teams to try out the competitive games in a relaxed environment. ECL Pre-Season Below you'll find the key information about the different levels of play. Elite & Pro Only ECL Elite & ECL Pro teams, and by special request wildcard & qualifier teams This is a friendly warmup tournament, no need to argue (=no League Admin cases) Two groups of 9 teams. Top 3 per group make it to round 2 #4 & #5 will play against each other in the wildcard round and the winners will make it to round 2 Double-header gamedays Regular season 17.10-28.10 Playoffs (BO3) 30-31.10 (Wildcard 4vs5) 3.-4.11 (Quarterfinals) 6.-7.11 (Semifinals) 10.-11.11 (Finals) Click here to see the standings & schedule Lite & Core ECL Lite & ECL Core teams and teams that the League Administration has determined are too experienced for Neo & Newcomers This is a friendly warmup tournament, no need to argue (=no League Admin cases) Qualifier teams can participate, but the final rounds of the playoffs may coincide with the qualifiers 8 groups of 8-9 teams 4 teams per group make the playoffs Double-header gamedays Regular season 17.10-28.10 Playoffs (BO3) 30-31.10 (RO32) 3.-4.11 (RO16) 6.-7.11 (Quarterfinals) 10.-11.11 (Semifinals) 13-14.11 (Finals) Click here to see the standings & schedule Neo & Newcomers Only ECL Neo & Newcomer teams This is a friendly warmup tournament, no need to argue (=no League Admin cases) 4 groups of 8-9 teams 4 teams per group make the playoffs Double-header gamedays Regular season 17.10-28.10 Playoffs (BO3) 30-31.10 (RO16) 3.-4.11 (Quarterfinals) 6.-7.11 (Semifinals) 10.-11.11 (Finals) Click here to see the standings & schedule Rules We hope you all enjoy and remember to play by the ECL rules! Although the Pre-Season Tournament will not be under as strict scrutiny as the ECL, we want to remind you to respect your opponents and go about the games just as you would when playing real ECL league matchups. If teams are tied in points after the group stage, we will utilize these usual tie-breakers: Wins (including OT-wins) Head-to-head record (points in mutual games) Goal difference (across all games played) Scored goals (across all games played) Edit: When searching, leave the Grudge Match setting off. Regarding traits and abilities About a month ago we announced that we would approach NHL 25 as a new game and that the starting point for conversation would be that there are no bans on traits or abilities. As this didn't seem to generate much of a conversation, we announced that we are sticking to this decision. Thus, all traits and abilities are available until further notice. That being said, our announcement stirred up a lot of conversation with players who had missed the original announcement and invitation to discuss. Please use the below link to join the conversation and voice your opinion. Player Ability Bans - ECL '25 Season Discussion Uniform and logo unlocks for organizations This form is intended for organizations associated with SportsGamer to request primarily uniform and logo unlocks in order to represent their team appropriately. Here is a link for the unlocks form: https://forms.gle/TRy9PkVwh13gqMGs5 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: Winter 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: Winter Player License before taking the ice. Players in ECL Neo require only an ECL '25: Winter Neo Player License. The ECL '25 Pre-Season tournament does not require the license, but purchasing the license early on is recommended for faster processing. Rules: The ECL '25 rulebook will be published closer to the season, you can check out last season's rules here. For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story released a few weeks back. We hope you're as excited as we are to get back into the action - good luck out there, and have fun!

ENCE and Eki are organizing the world’s largest NHL 2v2 tournament on SportsGamer this November. Led by Eki, ENCE addresses the previously unmet demand for a 2v2 mode in the NHL game series. The Voittamattomat Änäris (=Undefeated in NHL) tournament begins in early November. The competition includes two online qualifiers (Nov 3 & 10) and a final event held at ENCE’s new office in Helsinki on Sunday, November 17th. Registration starts today, October 16th, and closes the day before the qualifiers. The tournament is primarily created for a Finnish audience, but participation is additionally available to the following countries: Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland. The tournament will be played here on SportsGamer, and you can sign up using the links below: Sign up for Qualifier 1 Sign up for Qualifier 2 "During spring we came up with the idea that this kind of tournament would certainly be in demand among the players, and something like this has never really been organised before. So we decided to put on our gloves and get to work," says ENCE's NHL star and content producer Erik @Eki Tammenpää. Qualifier Details The qualifiers for the tournament will be held on Sunday, November 3, and Sunday, November 10. The top two teams from each qualifier will advance to the finals, where they will be joined by Eki’s team and three invited guest teams. A total of eight duos will compete in the finals. Prize Pool The tournament features a prize pool of 5 000 euros, with the winner taking home 3 000 euros. Prizes can be won simply by participating in the qualifiers—a raffle among all Finnish tournament participants will award three (3) product prizes: two (2) sets of two tickets to a Liiga game of choice two (2) ENCE product packages More Information Rulebook (in Finnish) Sign up for Qualifier 1 Sign up for Qualifier 2 The tournament is made possible by Red Bull and Astro A50.

As we gear up for another thrilling season of the European Championship League, it’s crucial that you’re aware of the upcoming sign-up deadlines for ECL ’25. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a newcomer eager to make your mark, make sure you register by these key dates: ECL ’25 Pre-Season: Sign-up by October 15, 2024. Kick off the season with a bang and get some early practice against some of the best teams around! ECL Pro Wildcard Battle: Deadline is October 25, 2024. A chance for new and rising teams to secure a spot in the Pro division. ECL Lite and Pro Qualifiers: Finalize your team’s entry by October 28, 2024. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to climb the ranks in the thrilling qualifiers. ECL Elite, Pro & Elite: All entries must be in by October 28, 2024. The stakes are high, and so is the competition. ECL Neo & Core: The last call for registration is on November 13, 2024. Perfect for teams looking to make their debut or gain more experience.   For more details on each of these events and to sign up, visit our dedicated news articles:  ECL ’25 Winter Sign-Ups  and Pre-Season Tournament Information. Don’t let the deadlines pass you by — secure your spot today and be a part of the action!

Are you and your team ready to take center stage? For the upcoming ECL ’25: Winter season, we’re offering teams and select players from all divisions the chance to be a Featured Team & Player. This opportunity is perfect for teams passionate about content creation, who love interacting with the community, and who aren’t afraid to put themselves out there! As a Featured Team, you may: • Stream regularly on the SportsGamer Twitch channel every few weeks, showcasing your journey through the season. • Get highlighted in interviews and special features across our platforms. • Work closely with us to promote the content you create, whether it’s gameplay highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, or anything that captures your team's spirit. We’re looking for teams who aren’t afraid to dive in, have fun, and embrace the spotlight—those willing to fully commit, throw themselves into the experience, and create memorable moments for our community. The more creative and engaging, the better! If this sounds like your team, apply now, and let’s make this season unforgettable together! We’re looking to develop this new concept together with you. The teams and players participating will shape the exact direction and outcome, making it a truly collaborative effort. Your creativity and commitment will help define what it means to be a Featured Team or Featured Player this season. While we’re excited to collaborate with as many teams and players as possible, there is limited availability in how many we can feature at the same time. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not selected right away! We encourage everyone to apply, as there will be more opportunities in the future, and we’d love to see your passion and creativity in action. Apply to Be a Featured Team in ECL ’25: Winter! Apply to Be a Featured Player in ECL ’25: Winter!

Today marks the launch of NHL 25 for those with the Deluxe Edition, giving you a full 7 days of early access to experience everything the game has to offer! Whether you’re a fan of Franchise Mode, HUT, or diving into 6v6 online, the excitement is real. With all-new features, gameplay improvements, and a fresh season ahead, we’re thrilled to hear your thoughts on the full version of NHL 25. As always, there will be plenty to discuss as we explore the game together, and your feedback will play a vital role in shaping future updates. As one of the largest NHL gaming communities in the world, we’re here to gather your feedback and submit it directly to EA SPORTS in Vancouver.   What are we looking for? We want to hear your thoughts—whether you’ve encountered something amazing or found an area that could use a little work. We encourage you to share both positive and constructive feedback on everything from gameplay mechanics and features to any potential issues you’ve come across. Remember, even if you’ve spotted the same issue as someone else, feel free to share it anyway! Different perspectives help provide EA SPORTS with the clearest picture possible. If you run into any bugs or glitches, providing screenshots or short video clips will be a huge help in detailing the issue. The more thorough the report, the better we can communicate it to the developers.   How to share your feedback: We’ll be collecting feedback across our forums and social platforms. When submitting, consider these questions: What aspects of NHL 25 have you enjoyed the most? Have you encountered any bugs or performance issues? Are there any gameplay elements or features that need fine-tuning? What improvements would you like to see before the next update?   Let’s make NHL 25 the best version yet. With your help, we can create a comprehensive feedback package to send to EA SPORTS, so dive in and share your thoughts! We can’t wait to hear from you.

We’re excited to share a first-hand look at NHL 25, featuring raw, unedited gameplay footage from various modes of the game. Whether you’re a veteran HUT player or just curious about what’s new this year, these videos give you a clear sense of how the game plays. All footage was captured on the Xbox Series S in 1080p, and while the visual quality may not represent the full experience on more powerful consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X, the focus here is on gameplay, not graphical fidelity. From creating my first HUT team to exploring the Wildcard mode, you’re getting an unfiltered, commentary-free look at NHL 25. The gameplay was recorded on Superstar difficulty, and it’s worth noting that some of these games were played in the early hours of the morning, so my performance might not be top-notch! Regardless, it’s a great chance to get an authentic first look at what NHL 25 has to offer. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to play World of Chel, nor games against any human players in Europe, so it's hard to judge that part of the game yet at this stage. Thank you to EA Sports for granting early access to the game. Stay tuned for more videos, including additional game modes and pack openings!      

ECL ’25: Winter Sign-Ups Open – The Stage is Set for Europe’s Finest With the start of another thrilling season in European NHL esports fast approaching, the ECL ’25: Winter season opens its doors to a new wave of competitors. Since its inception in 2015, the European Championship League (ECL) has established itself as the pinnacle of eHockey, where top 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 even the goalies—is controlled by human players, creating a uniquely competitive environment. With divisions ranging from elite to entry-level, the ECL provides a platform for all skill levels to prove themselves. This winter, the stakes are higher than ever. As teams finalize their rosters and strategies, the countdown begins: who will rise to the challenge and who will fall short? With registration now open, the road to eHockey glory starts here. With a total prize pool of 24,000 EUR on the line—spread across both 6v6 and 1v1 formats—the stage is set for the most competitive season yet 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: Winter 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: Winter Player License before taking the ice. Players in ECL Neo require only an ECL '25: Winter Neo Player License. The ECL '25 Pre-Season tournament does not require the license, but purchasing the license early on is recommended for faster processing. Rules: The ECL '25 rulebook will be published closer to the season, you can check out last season's rules here. For a more extensive overview of the ECL as a whole, check out our “What is the ECL?” news story released a few weeks back. ECL '25 Competitive Year For a more comprehensive read about the European NHL 25 year, please see the ECL '25: Season Presentation and NHL 25 Annual Calendar article The sign-ups close on the below-mentioned dates: ECL '25 Pre-Season: 15.10.2024 (Click to read more) Pro Wildcard Battle: 25.10.2024 ECL Lite Qualifier: 28.10.2024 ECL Pro Qualifier: 28.10.2024 ECL Neo: 13.11.2024 ECL Core: 13.11.2024 ECL Lite: 28.10.2024 ECL Pro: 28.10.2024 ECL Elite: 28.10.2024 * Signups will close at 23:59 CET on the day mentioned unless otherwise specified. Schedule 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. Lite Qualifier start: 1.11 Pro Wildcard Battle: 30.-31.10 (if necessary) Pro Qualifier start 3.11. Elite Qualifier start: 2.11. (if necessary) The exact details will be shared once the number of teams is known. Regular Season duration: 17.11-19.12.2024 Estimated finals dates: Below are estimated dates for the Finals to be approximately played. We reserve the right to changes in schedule. All ECL Neo Finals 9.2. ECL Core Finals 31.1.-1.2. ECL Lite Finals 4.-5.2.2025 ECL Pro Finals 29.-30.1.2025 ECL Elite Finals, Thursday 20.2.2025 @ Assembly Winter 2025, Helsinki PLEASE NOTE: ECL '25: WINTER 1v1 SIGNUPS WILL LAUNCH LATER 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 Player and Team Licenses Below you’ll find the pricing of the team and player licenses for ECL ‘25. You can pick up the ECL ‘25: Winter Team license and the ECL ‘25: Player License (Winter + Spring) for the Early Bird pricing listed below. After that, we will offer a slightly elevated regular pricing from October 20th 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: Winter 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 Lite division, purchase the Super Early Bird Lite license. If your team doesn’t qualify for the Lite division, you will play in the Core division and we will refund you the difference - in this example: 100 EUR. The ECL Neo division does not require a team license, however, we are introducing an ECL Neo Player license at the cost of 10 EUR per season. This will enable us to improve our coverage of the division, cover the finals broadcast and offer access to the two formats: the ECL Cup & the 4v4 tournament. Read more about them below. Please refer to this ECL Ranking in order to understand which teams are eligible to sign up for each division. Introducing two new formats - ECL Cup & ECL 4v4 We've been cooking up some extra fun to be had during the season and we can't take all the credit, as there have definitely been suggestions coming in from the community. ECL Cup is a knock-out type tournament that is played with your ECL 6v6 team. The Cup is played as a single elimination bracket populated by ECL teams from all divisions. The bracket is played at a slower pace and the action will go on for weeks, but if you lose - you're out! A bit dramatic perhaps, but oh boy are we expecting some drama! ECL 4v4 is exactly what it sounds like - a tournament played in the 4v4 mode of the game. All positions are to be filled with human-controlled players. We understand this game mode might not be for everyone, so the 4v4 tournament will not be a requirement for anyone to enter. ECL 1v1 is also back and we're excited to announce that we will be seeing some structural changes for the upcoming season, which we'll tell you more about in the near future. We'll have more info about all of these fun events in the coming weeks, but you may absolutely feel free to speculate and come with your wishes in the comments below, as there could still be time for adjustments! New License perks We're excited to share that we will be able to offer the following perks to ECL '25 license owners: Assembly Winter 2025 Tickets Limited Time Offer: Get a free ticket to Assembly Winter 2025 for Thursday, February 20th! Come and enjoy the ECL ‘25: Winter - Elite Finals and hang out with the community. Once you’ve purchased your license, fill out this form to apply for your free ticket. Act fast—tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We would also love to see attendees from outside of Finland join us for the Finals event. If you’re interested, please fill out this form so we can assist you with travel advice and answer any questions you may have. Stay tuned for more news about Assembly Winter 2025 and read more about the event itself at https://assembly.org/en/events/winter25. SportsGamer Health & Performance Program Get premium access to the SportsGamer Health & Performance Program, free for an extended period to help you reach your peak performance. Introducing the SportsGamer Health Program, a cutting-edge wellness platform with content specifically designed for gamers. While the platform offers a comprehensive range of workouts, home exercises, and courses, it also includes specialized content to boost your gaming performance. All materials are crafted by leading fitness professionals, ensuring you get the best in physical training. The program features gamification elements, making it fun and engaging to stay active on the platform. Additionally, it includes a dedicated section of short lectures from professional mental coaches, helping you dive deeper into individual and team-based approaches to gaming. This blend of physical and mental training ensures that you can stay healthy and sharp, both in and out of the game We’re excited to share more details with you as we approach the start of the new season. In the meantime, we’re seeking volunteers to test out the platform and its content as we continue to develop it. We’re looking for a small, diverse group of people of all ages, nationalities, and physical conditions. So, whatever your situation, if this sounds interesting to you, please fill out this form to apply. New Initiative - Social Program We’re committed to growing NHL gaming and esports! As part of a new initiative, we want to inspire teams and players to focus on their social media presence. We’re excited to showcase the best goals, biggest hits, and epic fails, and highlight them across SportsGamer broadcasts, programs, and social platforms. Introducing the ECL Social Program – designed to spotlight the best content from around the league and reward those who go the extra mile. While we’ll be focusing on video content, exceptional overall social media coverage is also appreciated. Stay tuned for more details and specifics on how you can get involved! Rule Changes & Community Opinion We would like to raise two items up for a community vote and open up the floor for discussion. Zone & Superstar Abilities - Yay or nay? For the ECL ‘24: Spring season we decided to ban a selection of Zone & Superstar Abilities. As NHL 25 is a new release, and we haven't had a chance to test it out yet, our initial instinct is to start with a clean slate and not ban any abilities until the community gets to know the new game and has a chance to make up its mind about whether the abilities are working or not. While we have preliminarily set our minds on not banning any abilities for the first season, we welcome the discussion and would love to hear your opinion. You can discuss player abilities here. Are there some rule-related changes we’ve missed? Now is your chance to discuss and suggest what type of changes you would like to see in the rulebook. PLEASE NOTE: ECL '25: WINTER 1v1 SIGNUPS WILL LAUNCH LATER Sign up NOW for the ECL '25: Pre-season tournament and stay tuned for the official kick-off of the ECL ’25: Winter Signups, launching mid-September!