Miettinen14

This report is written in the afternoon of 28.12.2022 and reflects the situation at that time. Almost every team has now played about half of their regular season games so it is about the time to start with our mid-season report. We'll have some bold predictions, a little insight, stats, a bit of everything. But first of all, happy new years to everyone! So let's take a look at the regular season standings and what's going on there. Breaking things down group by group we’ll start off from group 1. Technical Disaster and Bad to the Bone are tied up for first place at the time of writing. Same amount of games, same record and also similarities in opponents played, both teams look solid and I think they're going to continue their streak and could be fighting for that number one spot at the end of the season. Also, it looks like Resurrection has found their game. They are in a great spot to fight for a good seed for the Playoffs. The first ever Xbox team xBOTS is looking solid too at fourth in their group and fighting for a higher Playoff seed. They have some defensive issues that they'll need to iron out, but should be able to get it done soon enough. Gunners HC have only played eight games thus far so there is more to come from this strong lineup in the upcoming weeks. Lions Academy (academy of ZCS eSports) also started the season well with five wins and only one loss in overtime so they might be one of the higher seeded teams at the end of the regular season. When looking at group 2 there is one team that has dominated and went under the radar before season started. Six Sticks Misfits is the real contender to go far in this Winter season. Their two goal scoring machines @Lamsa and @el_tacobag and some solid defence has shown what good players can do together. In second place in the group is Pirati Chomutov Esports, who is also one of the favorites to battle for that first seed in this group. Only one overtime loss so far and it was against another top team in Six Sticks Misfits. This Czech team is strong and they have a long campaign ahead of them if they can keep their form throughout the season. The long standing Finnish Hockey Legends are also on the right course to a good seed for the playoffs. On the flipside, Sawolanche hasn’t quite found their game yet and is surprisingly struggling this season. Group three is one where two teams rise above the rest. Hunters and EHC Kloten eSports seem to be battling for first place between the two of them, whereas the mid-table finishes are going to come down to the fight between three or four other squads. Both Hunters and Kloten are high-scoring teams that will be able to outmuscle their opponents offensively, and we still have their head-to-head battle to look forward to in the latter part of the season. Prestige is a team with only eight games thus far, and they're lagging a bit behind the others, so they could end up making a push for top seeds still. NOSTREETSPORTS have been a pleasant surprise, even sporting some Elite experience in the form of @selänne8 (BiggestEight) in their ranks. One of the letdowns in this group has definitely been Armada Hockey, who are struggling to slot into the playoffs at the moment and could eventually end up on the outside looking in. Group 4 has been the show for mistakes. Big Mistake have came and shown they are a really offensive powered team that also has the ability to defend well when under pressure. Young star @Allupekkaz has shown great potential for a couple seasons now and is finally showing that all his hard work comes into fruition. Also Södertälje SK have had a good start to their season and they have had good poise in their games. Timrå IK also had a great start to the campaign but let' see how far they can fly. Stone Age has been struggling and has suffered a little bit of fluctuating form, but they could find that calmness and draw from their experience to eventually reach a Playoff spot. STATS TOP 5 Forwards @Lamsa, Six Sticks Misfits , 14GP 25G 29A @el_tacobag, Six Sticks Misfits , 14GP 26G 24A @punt1la98, Hunters , 12GP 26G 19A @Adri1_SCP, Pirati Chomutov Esports , 10GP 18G 27A @kibenibe, Six Sticks Misfits , 14GP 15G 25A Defensemen @SelanneFIN, Six Sticks Misfits , 14GP 2G 17A @SirLateksi, Hunters , 12GP 2G 15A @Laama777, Hunters , 12GP 1G 16A @Da1m0n, EHC Kloten eSports , 12GP 0G 17A @kiwison, EHC Kloten eSports , 12GP 1G 16A Goalies @RaNtA, Six Sticks Misfits , 14GP 83,92SV% GAA 1.64 @Miettinen14, Hunters , 12GP 88,51SV% GAA 1.42 @jjamboj, BIG Mistake , 12GP 86,86SV% GAA 1.5 @Kussan82, Södertälje SK , 12GP 81.45SV% GAA 1.92 @Deathstrokeris, Pirati Chomutov Esports , 10GP 80SV% GAA 2.5

SportsGamers, ECL Lite is the third tier of competition under the European Championship League umbrella and features several established teams that have been building their story for years, such as Nordic Nosebleed, Lutunilkat, Resurrection or Armada Hockey. In addition, we also have the first Xbox Series X|S team xBOTS in this division, so we should have some cool storylines to follow! Many old teams and even more new teams are here to fight for prizes and promotion to the higher divisions. The road isn’t always the easiest and as we've seen in the past, a good regular season doesn’t mean anything when the really big games start in the Playoffs. It's definitely going to be a season to keep your eye on with several good teams, and even better individuals. Season Information ECL '23 Winter Lite features 64 teams divided in four groups with 16 teams each. Eight teams per group will make the Playoffs, which are played in a best-of-seven manner. Head to the league page here to view the groups and game schedule. ECL '23 Winter: Lite Schedule Qualifiers: 24.11-8.12.2022 Regular Season: 13.12.2022-18.1.2023 RO32: 22.-25.1.2023 RO16: 29.1-1.2.2023 Quarterfinals: 5.-8.2.2023 Semifinals: 12.-15.2.2023 Finals: 19.-22.2.2023 Season preview Preview written by @Miettinen14 The new season brings many new teams to Lite due to many of last season's top end teams getting their place in the higher division, Pro. Big Mistake is one of the interesting new teams. 12-0 in qualifiers is rare and is really a storm warning given to the opponents in the division. The squad consists of several experienced players and young prodigy @Allupekkaz, who is expected to have a proper breakout season. Gunners HC is another club that looks great coming into their first ever ECL campaign. They've got some experienced players who played together in the eSM and got into the top 16, beating the mighty HAVU Gaming on their way there. If they'll be able to find that same form and keep their heads cool, they could end up being solid contenders this season. As mentioned before, the first ever Xbox team signed up, xBOTS is another one to keep your eyes on. Their players might not sound too familiar at this point, but on the 1v1 side of the game, the roster is stacked with talent. It's going to be interesting to see how they play and if they can match up well against some of the more established PlayStation squads. The more experienced side is really well represented too. For example Armada Hockey, Finnish Hockey Legends and Oulunsalo HT have made up the core of the Lite division for some seasons already. We are looking for them to eventually find a way to level up their game or at a minimum solidify their spots as consistent Playoff contenders. One very experienced team, that we haven't seen on the 6v6 ice earlier is Vizio, consisting of several well performing 1v1 players and led by @Artuzio. We've seen similar projects in the past, and they've never really taken off to the extent that their potential would suggest. However, it is certain that these players hold the skill required to really make their mark in this division and above. It'll also be extremely interesting to see what community sweethearts Lutunilkat will be up to this season. They're a team that certainly knows how to get a buzz going around them and have proven their skill on the social media side of things in the past, maybe now is the time to transition that onto the ice? Lite also has the Central European teams very well represented, with the likes of SCB eSports, EHC Dinamo Riga, Nurnberg IceTigers eSport, Eisbaeren Lauf Gaming, Gleumes Hockey Krefeld and many more participating. These are teams that are always tough to get a read on as they play a lot in their DACH-bubble, which is both a disadvantage and an advantage. The community has grown a great lot over the years and these teams are able to get quality practice on a regular basis, with the exception of the very top teams. However, the issue might be not seeing that much of the northern teams, but in turn, these northern teams don't see too much of the central teams either. Players to watch Lite holds a lot of interesting and highly skilled players this season. It has traditionally been one of those levels, where individual players get to shine more, before moving up to the more defensively sound Pro and Elite divisions. @Valee__, Hunters Valee will be playing for his old team Hunters this season. He took one season in Pro and is now back with his old team trying to achieve what they couldn’t do in the past. @Maexsa, Stone Age A true veteran and the heart and soul of Stone Age. The team is a lite mainstay, but missed out on playoff competition in the Spring season, warranting a comeback story. We'll see Maexsa take the lead in that push for glory. @sisu33_, Vizio The young gun for this season is sisu33_. Maybe not the most known player in the 6v6 scene but proving himself on the 1v1 side already. Maybe we see him breaking into sixes this season alongside some of the most highly skilled players around in Vizio. @Markus strandfeldt (Strandis96), Skellefteå AIK Strandis96 is an interesting player also. Has built up his resume between Core and Pro and has shown potential to become a great player, even in the near future. Changing the scenery every season may be the problem but maybe Skellefteå is the right place to grow for him. @JesseL2002, Project X Project X have gotten JesseL2002 back from Reality Check. He has proven his level and even got the Elite promotion with Reality Check. Fortunately for Project X, they are getting a very welcome familiar face to their squad! @Youtube_Azzez, Purification Azzez has great hands and vision. Showing great potential and this might be the season for him to really blossom. Has surrounded himself with likeminded players that are also looking for a spot to break out, perhaps they'll elevate each other. @sylvesterrr87 (Bafligen), Ghost Ghost has a really good center in Bafligen. Really shines with his two-way play and can help his team in both ends of the ice. A very mature player, who you can really count on. @Artuzio, Vizio A player you can never count out. Has won almost everything you can imagine on the 1v1 side of things, but success has eluded him in sixes. Maybe a couple youngsters and some of his old trustees by his side will help him turn the tide. ECL '23 Lite competition officially starts tonight, with several teams having their opening matchups scheduled! Make sure to follow the tag #ECL23Winter on social media to stay up to date on all the latest news and gameday updates. As always, Good luck, play hard and have fun!

It's been a long road for both teams in the Finals and now it's finally time to determine the champion once and for all. Valco is coming into the Finals after an incredible run, taking down some of the top seeds along the way, whereas Synergy Hockey has been on a dominant path throughout the season. Who will hoist the cup? Structure & Prize Pool A long season sees its end once again and the only games left are the Finals. These teams have all certainly earned their right to direct promotion for next season. Synergy Hockey has been a solid team throughout the season and is a less surprising team at this point, whereas Valco has trodden a more rocky path, finding their form at the best of times. Many predictions I have put them to the losing side but the experience and the whole team playing together has shown their strength. The third direct promotion spot was decided this week between IK Oskarshamn and Spirit in the Bronze games and Oskarshamn walked away with a sweep in that series. (10) Synergy Hockey vs Valco (26) Synergy came through the Lite qualifiers for the Spring season, most likely as no surprise to anyone. Synergy Hockey continued their good form throughout regular season and maintained their level in the playoffs. Winning their first two series with a clean sweep and only losing one game to Destiny is a real show of power. However, their semifinals against IK Oskarshamn was another story. IK Oskarshamn defended firmly and used their scoring chances clinically. It ended up being a seven game saga where Synergy Hockey were down for the count 3-1 and were able to “reverse sweep” to the series victory with a game seven OT winner from @J-Foppa. A seeing-eye wrister from the point with a little luck clinched the victory for Synergy Hockey. Then we've got Valco. In the mid-season report, the writer (me) didn’t believe this team could even make it to the playoffs and the doubting and naysaying continued in the playoffs. However, here they are and no one can take that away from this team. Probably one of the hardest routes to the final. Facing TTK in the first round, Arkham Asylum in the second and TadPole in the third. Even Spirit couldn’t break the tight defence and goal scorer, by god’s grace @itspardytime, pushed his forces through to the finals. Look for an exciting battle where two different game styles will clash. You can follow the entire series through Valco's Twitch-channel at www.twitch.tv/Samila87 starting on Thursday, June 16th at 20:30 CEST. On Thursday, we will see at least three games of action, stay tuned for more information through the social media channels of the teams. Socials Here's an update to the social media instructions. Our sponsors this season are Kouvolan Lakritsi, St Hockey & Wilhelm. Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Note: It is very helpful and critical for us to succeed in getting our partners tagged, so they get the necessary mentions and interaction to validate their participation in the future. That being said, it is understandable that there may be circumstances due to your other partners where you are unable to tag competition etc. Your support is appreciated. As there are quite a few hashtags by now, especially from a Twitter perspective with limited characters, we recommend using at least #ECL22Spring in the text part of the tweet and leave the sponsor tags for the end. If you need to cut out tags, remove #esports and #NHL22. For Instagram this shouldn't be an issue.

The last four teams are left and we move to the Semifinals stage of the Lite division. A long season sees it's end when the best teams face each other for a place in the Finals. Who will gain a straight Pro spot for next season? Will someone be able to find another gear or pull an ace from their sleeve? Structure & Prize Pool Schedule The teams that are left aren't that surprising after all, but especially Valco came all the way through seed #26 and won the seeds #1 Arkham Asylum and seed #2 Tadpole with the lead of goal scorer by God’s grace - captain @itspardytime, who has found a new level with the whole team. Among the goalies, @Misantti and @DUNZA have been on their own level. (6) Spirit vs Valco (26) In this one, we're looking at two pretty different teams, with some striking similarity at the same time. Both teams trust their right side like a rock. Valco plays many situations through their captain @itspardytime. Also @Toivonen_ from Spirit seems to be their main guy for attacking. So the winner of the series will probably be the team who can change their playstyle during the series because the two main guys will be marked men. Follow @NuariJamal and @VesKuLiNe. (7) IK Oskarshamn vs Synergy Hockey (10) Swedish clash. While Synergy Hockey have been marching their way to this stage of the playoffs, IK Oskarshamn have had a bit more of a bumpy road. Two game seven wins still shows that they deserve to be here and the team holds that certain resilience. IK Oskarshamn looks a bit like last season’s winner Mora IK. A strong five man unit and their wingers score at a very high rate. @snippystatue leads his teams scoring and will be battling with the experienced @Supremski throughout the series. Follow that clash, it might be the series decider. Socials Here's an update to the social media instructions. Our sponsors this season are Kouvolan Lakritsi, St Hockey & Wilhelm. Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Note: It is very helpful and critical for us to succeed in getting our partners tagged, so they get the necessary mentions and interaction to validate their participation in the future. That being said, it is understandable that there may be circumstances due to your other partners where you are unable to tag competition etc. Your support is appreciated. As there are quite a few hashtags by now, especially from a Twitter perspective with limited characters, we recommend using at least #ECL22Spring in the text part of the tweet and leave the sponsor tags for the end. If you need to cut out tags, remove #esports and #NHL22. For Instagram this shouldn't be an issue.

In Round 2 of the ECL '22 Spring Lite Playoffs, it's time for new success stories to be made and for old start to polish up and shine again! We've got several exciting matchups on tap, and here are some comments about them to follow. Structure & Prize Pool Schedule Well, my first round predictions were kind of hit and miss. Let’s discuss those a little bit later. First congratulations to all teams who managed to advance to the second round. Some first round games were tight, whereas other not so much. Especially all matchups that went to game seven. Those nervous moments end with great celebrations or big disappointments. Eventually always the best team continues. So let’s talk about my predictions. My first round predictions were a bit short, and let's see how they went: Arkham Asylum - Frölunda HC Academy Prediction: 4-1 to Arkham Asylum Result: 4-3 to Arkham Asylum Knowing Arkham pretty well I was convinced that they had recovered from last season’s disappointing first round exit and would come back stronger, but Frölunda showed that seed doesn’t matter and put up one hell of a fight. When the seventh game had 10 minutes of play time left, Frölunda were up 3-1 and this writer had cold and sweaty hands. Arkham’s experienced squad still showed why they are the top squad. They tied the game in regulation and an overtime winner from @Hj_projekti (Jorgeniii) sealed the deal. Tadpole - Pata Hellalla Prediction: 4-0 to Tadpole Result: 4-2 to Tadpole What a series Pata Hellalla managed to turn this into. Even though Tadpole controlled the games @L1ttle_Pony93 (Supermaaario) with the great defence from Pata made the series tighter. Despite the experienced squad the former Pro team still couldn’t find the path to the next round. @Janne Hietala (Hiatala_) held his ground and @ROUHEEE scored those big goals to put them through to the next round. Destiny - Timrå IK Prediction: 4-2 to Destiny Result: 4-1 to Destiny Almost. Tight games between two good teams. Destiny was in the drivers seat for the entire series. Timrå IK defended well and was able to shut down Destiny’s scoring chances. It seems biased that I always praise goalies but @Mesimaki really played well and gave every chance for his team to win. Destiny calmed their game in game five and that calmness gave them more time to look for opportunities to score. They also held their defensive ground well and minimized Timrå's chances. Spirit - Resurrection Prediction: 4-1 to Spirit Result: 4-0 to Spirit Almost got this, but no. Spirit showed no mercy. Well the first game ended in overtime and in terms of the result, was the closest. When looking at the stats though Spirit had the control. @Jiihooo86 almost could handle the little pressure I gave him on the first preview but you cannot win alone. Spirit, on the other hand, looked like a really solid team throughout the series. Only allowing three goals shows good team defence and a solid goalie. And @Toivonen_ continued his regular season Spirit into the playoffs. Synergy Hockey - Neptune Hockey Prediction: 4-0 to Synergy Hockey Result: 4-0 to Synergy Hockey I’m never wrong. More than once. Okay let’s take a look at the only series I predicted right. Synergy Hockey is full of old Pro and Elite players so this wasn’t really a surprise. Standard to expectations, and that's not to sayNeptune Hockey isn't also a great team. It's your first season in the Lite division and getting eliminated in the first round is no shame, ask the Arkham Asylum guys how that feels. Synergy Hockey’s experienced squad walked off to the next round as expected. Round 2 Now, let’s discuss about the next round. Some very interesting teams managed to move on. Teams like the Carolus Icemen are one of them. A Swedish based team with some British reinforcements, and at the same time the British National team is on a visit in Finland to play in the Ice Hockey World Championship. But now to the part that everyone has been waiting for. Round 2 predictions. I will go through every pair this time and add some comments if I feel it's needed. Remember to discuss, argue and prove me wrong. Arkham Asylum - Valco Prediction: 4-1 to Arkham Asylum Comment: Even though Valco came through in the first round, Arkham is an opponent on an entirely different level. Tadpole - Team NGU Prediction: 4-3 to Tadpole Comment: Server advantage, but NGU could still challenge Tadpole like Pata Helalla did in the past round. Destiny - Södertälje SK Prediction: 4-2 to Södertälje SK Comment: Destiny played very well against Timrå but Södertälje is definitely a step up in the level of opponent. This is going to be an interesting watch. Fast-paced hockey against tough defense first mentality. Project X - HC SHH Prediction: 4-1 to Project X Comment: Golden close quarters may not be enough in round two. Bastu - Linköping HC Prediction: 4-3 to ? Comment: This can go either way, but I'll predict it's in a game seven. Spirit - Hyperion Prediction: 4-1 to Spirit Comment: Do your magic @Toivonen_. IK Oskarshamn - Carolus Icemen Prediction: 4-0 to IK Oskarshamn Comment: Sorry Carolus, I kinda fancy you, but I don’t see you going through this stage. Free From Rodents - Synergy Hockey Prediction: 4-1 to Synergy Hockey Comment: No comment read above Bold assumptions. Go play. Socials Here's an update to the social media instructions. Our sponsors this season are Kouvolan Lakritsi, St Hockey & Wilhelm. Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Note: It is very helpful and critical for us to succeed in getting our partners tagged, so they get the necessary mentions and interaction to validate their participation in the future. That being said, it is understandable that there may be circumstances due to your other partners where you are unable to tag competition etc. Your support is appreciated. As there are quite a few hashtags by now, especially from a Twitter perspective with limited characters, we recommend using at least #ECL22Spring in the text part of the tweet and leave the sponsor tags for the end. If you need to cut out tags, remove #esports and #NHL22. For Instagram this shouldn't be an issue.

Here we go again, the regular season has ended and it's time to turn our heads towards the playoffs. After the long winter we are now slowly also in spring time up north. Who will shine? Who will fall? Time will tell. Structure & Prize Pool Schedule Arkham Asylum topped the regular season groups. Conceding less than one goal per game in the regular season is impressive and achieved through good team defence and final lock @PCJP (Pelkonen-I92I) had been solid throughout the season. Even though hockey is a goal scoring game, defence always plays a big part especially in the playoffs. Teams that defend tight and shut down opponents' scoring chances will always go far in the postseason. Good examples of this are the aforementioned Arkham Asylum (group2), Bastu (group2), Södertalje SK (group3) and Project X (group4). In the midseason report I noted that even though Destiny was at the top of the standings, they conceded much more goals than other top teams and that continued throughout the regular season. Let’s see if they can continue scoring goals when the teams start to defend tighter. When looking into the stats there are a couple surprises to be found. @Jusa (JusaSoLow) scored 50 goals in the regular season but if you have played against his team HC Shh you'll know where those numbers stem from. The overall top scorer came from Spirit in the form of @Toivonen_, who topped the player stats. The best defenseman on the scoring sheet was @Eemil (eKoski_) from Tadpole, the strong team definitely helps, without even going into the skillset of the man himself. In terms of goaltending, @Jiihooo86 was on a level of his own - the captain of the Resurrection was a key player for them to advance to the playoffs. His impressive SV% and GAA shows that he still is one of the best goalies around. Let’s see how he will perform in the playoffs. Resurrection had a slow start to the regular season and almost didn’t make it to the playoffs as I predicted on the midseason report. They proved me wrong and showed that they belong in the playoffs with the lead of their veteran captain. The first playoff round usually is a bit slower and there's an adjustment process going on, so it doesn't always show the complete diraction of the playoffs. Some teams may have slow starts to the runs and some teams may outperform in the first round. There are interesting matchups so let’s try to predict a little and speculate who will continue from the first round. Here's a few predictions on a couple of the first round marquee matchups: Arkham Asylum - Frölunda HC Academy 4-1 Even though Frölunda have skilled individuals, Arkham’s defense is so good they shouldn't have any problems to advance. Maybe they take this series in four games but I'd like to see that Frölunda can steal one game. Tadpole - Pata Hellalla 4-0 Former Pro team Pata haven’t found their game this season. They clinched a spot in the playoffs in the last round of the regular season. I don’t want to ruin anyone's day but I don’t see them in the second round. Destiny - Timrå IK 4-2 Offensive power meets the solid fast puck movers. In terms of defense these teams are even, but Destiny has the fire power and shouldn't have any problems to advance from here. Spirit - Resurrection 4-1 If JiiHooo86 can shut the net they can make it more even. Still Spirit’s offense is the key to their success and I'd expect them to run over Resurrection. Synergy Hockey - Neptune Hockey 4-0 Synergy's former Pro and Elite players didn’t shine too much in the regular season but now playoffs are a different beast. Neptune Hockey played well in their first Lite season but the experience from Synergy Hockey will take them to the next round. Socials Here's an update to the social media instructions. Our sponsors this season are Kouvolan Lakritsi, St Hockey & Wilhelm. Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Note: It is very helpful and critical for us to succeed in getting our partners tagged, so they get the necessary mentions and interaction to validate their participation in the future. That being said, it is understandable that there may be circumstances due to your other partners where you are unable to tag competition etc. Your support is appreciated. As there are quite a few hashtags by now, especially from a Twitter perspective with limited characters, we recommend using at least #ECL22Spring in the text part of the tweet and leave the sponsor tags for the end. If you need to cut out tags, remove #esports and #NHL22. For Instagram this shouldn't be an issue.

As we're at the midway point of the ECL '22 Spring Lite season, it's time to take a look at where some teams stand at the moment, some top performers of the season and how we're expecting things to turn out in the last few weeks. Join us for the ride! About half of the season is in the rearview when almost all teams have played more than 14 games in the regular season. A couple of new teams have risen and some “old faces” have shown that they still can hold the controller. When looking at groups now it is hard to quickly see the true leader of the group due to the fact that teams have played at different pace. Of course when looking at group 1 you can see that Destiny has been very solid throughout the season and none other than then should be topping the group. However, my point is that at this point you shouldn't blindly stare at the points in the standings, since teams have played at different pace and are facing different opponents at different stages of the season. When looking at groups now and comparing it to the Winter season there are a couple similarities. Last season it was FILADELPHIA ACADEMY who were almost unstoppable during the regular season. This season it has been Destiny. However, one big difference sticks out in the comparison of these two teams. Destiny already has outscored all of FILADELPHIA ACADEMY from last season, but they've also allowed almost a goal per game more, so you'd expect them to address that defensive slack at some point in a way or another. Of course you have to remember that FILA was playing their second season together, so they had the chemistry advantage already going into their campaign. Even though Lite isn't the highest level, the characteristic of the league is very highly skilled individuals scattered across several teams. Players who score those big goals in important games, and those who will find that fifth hole in the blink of an eye when given the chance. Players to watch: @xSagwa from Destiny The top point scorer in Lite. Most goals, most assists, flawless on a few faceoffs. Perhaps this guy is playing in the wrong division? The most complete player in Lite at the moment. @juusoskari from TTK A true puck hog in the division and the fifth best defenseman in terms of scoring. Playmaker behind the lines that has an offensive upside. Solid down low with great hands and playmaking ability. @PCJP (Pelkonen-I92I) from Arkham Asylum An experienced and really skilled fast moving goalie. Reads the game like an open book and is really hard to score against. With a goalie like this, Arkham Asylum doesn’t need to worry about easy goals going in. Sometimes, these reports can be quite tricky to write. If all the teams played at exactly the same pace it could be easier to draw comparisons and judge form, but we're working with what we've got right now. Now, we know how much you guys love some good tongue-in-cheek predictions, so that's exactly what we've gone for. Let's create some controversy between writer and reader. So - Here are my predictions and assumptions for the rest of the season, unfortunately not including every team, but some out of every group. Group 1 Destiny will top their group. Lemmenvelhot will drop to the eight seed. Bellizi will claim the second spot. Rusty Bulls will drop outside the playoffs. Tequila Sunrise will sneak into the playoffs. IK Oskarshamn will be the third. Linköping HC will battle to the end to make the playoffs. Stone Age battles for the eighth seed if @Ma26one can continue being an accurate passing machine. Group 2 Arkham Asylum will top their group. Sawolanche will be a playoff team. RoKi Esports will fight to gain a playoff spot. Pirati Chomutov Esports will drop from the playoff line. Bastu will be int he top 4. Free From Rodents will not make the playoffs. United Front will fight their way into the playoffs with @Kuolio10's clapper and body checking power. Including Me has an enforcer defenceman - good or bad, you decide! Group 3 Spirit will top the group. Tadpole will be second. Södertälje SK will lose out on the playoffs. Valco will not make the playoffs. Synergy Hockey is battling for top 4 position. Luleå Hockey Is in the playoff battle. Oulunsalo HT still has a chance. Group 4 Hunters will top the group if the writer can catch some pucks. Technical Disaster will battle for that top seed. HC SHH will drop from the top four. Neptune Hockey will drop from the top four. Resurrection doesn’t make it to the playoffs. Project X will finish eighth. Lutunilkat will miss out on the playoffs. Tic Tac Toes battles for top four if @Artuzio gets the puck in front of the opponents net. Argue, discuss, and prove me wrong, show why every prediction is false. Maybe even I can admit I was wrong - someday. We're wishing all teams good luck in their final push for the season. Get out there, play hard and most importantly have fun! Socials Here's an update to the social media instructions. Our sponsors this season are Kouvolan Lakritsi, St Hockey & Wilhelm. Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Note: It is very helpful and critical for us to succeed in getting our partners tagged, so they get the necessary mentions and interaction to validate their participation in the future. That being said, it is understandable that there may be circumstances due to your other partners where you are unable to tag competition etc. Your support is appreciated. As there are quite a few hashtags by now, especially from a Twitter perspective with limited characters, we recommend using at least #ECL22Spring in the text part of the tweet and leave the sponsor tags for the end. If you need to cut out tags, remove #esports and #NHL22. For Instagram this shouldn't be an issue.

Here we go. After a short break the show must go on and a new season of virtual hockey is yet again on the horizon so let's preview the upcoming Lite division and break it down a little. Season information To find out about the prize pool specifics, check out our earlier prize pool info article. For a look at the whole ECL framework, check out the sign-ups article. Notable dates for the ECL '22: Spring Lite season: Regular season: 4.4-5.5. Playoffs Round of 32: 8.-12.5. Round of 16: 15.-25.5. Quarterfinals: 30.5.-2.6. Semifinals: 5.-8.6. Finals: 15.-16.6. (TBC) Default gamedays for the ECL '22: Spring Lite division will be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, with one scheduled double-header for each team. You can access the rulebook, schedule, standings, statistics and full rosters from the ECL ‘22: Spring Lite league page. Socials Here's an update to the social media instructions. Our sponsors this season are Kouvolan Lakritsi, St Hockey & Wilhelm. Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtag: @SportsGamerGG #ECL22Spring #NHL22 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi #MukanaWilhelm Note: It is very helpful and critical for us to succeed in getting our partners tagged, so they get the necessary mentions and interaction to validate their participation in the future. That being said, it is understandable that there may be circumstances due to your other partners where you are unable to tag competition etc. Your support is appreciated. As there are quite a few hashtags by now, especially from a Twitter perspective with limited characters, we recommend using at least #ECL22Spring in the text part of the tweet and leave the sponsor tags for the end. If you need to cut out tags, remove #esports and #NHL22. For Instagram this shouldn't be an issue. Season preview The short break was intense and the games will start already tomorrow, on Monday April 4th, we'll surely see several teams get to action right away so keep your eyes peeled on the social media channels. What teams have improved most during the offseason? Will we see new challengers? Will the likes of Arkham Asylum recover from the Playoff disappointments faced in the winter season and how will the overhauled roster of Resurrection play in front of the long time captain @Jiihooo86? We have a few interesting new teams that have surfaced from the Core division, and Sawolanche even took part in the Pro qualifiers, coming up short this time but gaining some valuable experience, they are a squad to look out for this season with a great deal of potential. Rahinage is another new team that has a few seasons worth of Core experience under their belt and they certainly look ready for a challenge at the next level. What can we expect from this season, then? At the time of writing, we are yet to see the groups, so it's tough to predict an outcome for the regular season. However, there are a couple really strong teams that will most likely top the tables regardless of the group they get put in. As mentioned earlier, Arkham Asylum had a disappointing end to their previous campaign but is looking strong as ever coming into this one. They have a very experienced roster with the likes of @ReDMisTi and @tominointi possessing experience from higher up and the skill to help others by their side become better players. Also their goalie @PCJP has a long career behind and has been really solid. Captain @Hippitukka has done a good job in building the team to this state and the team is one of the favourites no doubt. Swedish clubs Linköping HC and Luleå Hockey should also definitely be mentioned in the favorites category and their experience from higher levels will definitely help them in the postseason too. Linköping HC played in the Pro Qualifiers but didn’t find the pieces for going through, even though the team is very strong and can challenge a better squad. If they can keep their consistency throughout the regular season, it's easy to predict them playing meaningful games long into the spring. Look out for prolific veteran scorer @Lamsa. Luleå Hockey played in Pro last season and lost their top scorer @Tkautto98 to HV71 but got a couple really strong reinforcements as replacement. @Tacterz was a backup for Frölunda HC in Elite last season and has been a part of generating success for Mora IK previously, he is very experienced and by that will help his team a lot. Also with solid defenders @basseman_ and @Vesterberg89 joining, the team is looking very strong. Another very interesting Swedish team making a comeback after some absence is Synergy Hockey, who have gathered their old familiar ranks, looking very strong. Players like @Mumsi-, @Supremski and @J-Foppa are are some legendary names with lots of skill and most importantly - hockey IQ. Look for Synergy to be a contender for sure. There are also a couple of dark horses in the race. Destiny, which was created for this season played in the Pro Qualifiers but couldn’t find their game yet but we can expect them to gel more as the season progresses, the roster consists of several experienced players with the necessary skill to do very well in Lite. Also Tic Tac Toes is back. Can @Artuzio lead the team to success - their squad holds perhaps more individual and mechanical skill than any other team in Lite, but if they can't translate all that to the 6's game, they could end up flopping. Finally, you can't forget Pata Hellalla. Losing their long term captain @kungenkurwa may be a tough pill to swallow but the team has played so long together we can probably expect some kind of a comeback story. We'll get the action started tomorrow and in June we'll have a new Champion! Get ready for the season and we'll see you on the ice!