Aarons

SportsGamers, We're in for an unusually tight season in the Lite division and a quick look at the groups show that very few teams manage to really stand out from the pack this time. As the season progresses, there will naturally be some outliers but this time around, that will mainly come from finding form along they way and running with it. It's truly going to be anyone's game this Spring season. This season preview will aim to highlight three interesting teams and three interesting players from each of the four groups in the division. We'll be revisiting the preview in our mid-season report, where we'll be able to see if any of our predictions have held up to the test of time. ECL '23 Spring Lite Schedule Regular Season: 25.4.-24.5. RO32: 30.5.-4.6. RO16: 6.-11.6. Quarterfinals: 13.-18.6. Semifinals: 20.-25.6. Finals: 27.-29.6. Group 1 Written by @OGjahajaha Duesseldorfer EG eSports The former DEG eSports are entering their eighth straight season in the Lite division and while they’ve been grinding away for such a long time already, success has managed to avoid them. Last season, they were eliminated by the top seed Six Sticks Misfits in the second round of the Playoffs, but things are looking on the up for DEG, and this might be the season they thrive. NOSTREETSPORTS This highly experienced team holds lots of individual talent and looks very balanced on every position. They should be able to dominate competition in possession, which will most likely translate to scoring if they are able to convert on their opportunities. Should be right up there with the best of them in terms of title contention. Dark Wild This is a roster that took the ice for the first time in the eHockey Finnish Championships and had some struggles early on, but could be an interesting story to follow if they’re able to develop along the season. Dark Wild also has a very deep roster with some ability to rotate positions and players in the starting lineup if required. Players to watch: @Fire_019, Duesseldorfer EG eSports @Kaapo13, Technical Disaster @lordkomar91, HC KOROBKA Group 2 Written by @OGjahajaha Lions Academy After making the Lite Playoffs last season and being a dangerous squad to be on the lookout for, Lions Academy lost their top scorer SnipeLVCelly among quite a few other players in the offseason and are now entering their next campaign with yet another deep roster with several possibilities. Quite notably, they’ve added Burban and FightLocke3 from the Elite squad ZSC Lions to mind the net, which certainly gives the entire team a big boost. Could be a sneaky squad that makes it really hard for their opponents to score. Sodertalje SK An experienced squad that could be a fringe Pro team when they’re on their game. Sodertalje SK have had tremendous difficulty scoring in the SCL, and they’ll definitely be hoping that those troubles would be in the rearview heading into the ECL. The leadership group needs to get the team going and forwards need to produce. Cheeky Grinders A sneaky Championship contender, maybe? Cheeky Grinders finished ECL ‘23 Winter by claiming the ECL Core title and are coming into the Lite division off of an eHSM campaign they’ll definitely want to improve on. The Grinders struggled greatly on special teams on both ends of the ice and were a bit too undisciplined for their own good. This team has the potential to be great if they put their minds to it and get down to the grind, as their name would suggest. Players to watch: @Fightlocke3, Lions Academy @Hockeyulle, Sodertalje SK @vepdsssss (Werppi), Ultimatum Group 3 Supernatural Definitely one of the favorites coming up for this season. Team with a lot of experience from the higher divisions and the expectations are high for this team to make it far in the playoffs. Team is well balanced on all fronts and the experience of players should be a weapon for this team moving forward. They should be able to control the play in most of their matchups and if they can perform they should win the group. Strong contender. Mustaa Kultaa Dark horse of this division. Team with lots of individual skill and potential that needs to perform well as a team to succeed. Young and hungry would be the best words to describe this team. A lack of experience could be the thing that haunts this team moving forward. If they can get their teamplay going and find the right playstyle for them, they could be a solid contender. This could be a story to follow this season. Ghost After not making the playoffs last season, the team has made some new exciting additions to their roster on the attacking front. This team has potential to do good in this division, but if the new additions do not perform the team could easily do the same as last season and miss the playoffs. These things will make this team interesting to watch next season. Players to watch: @Eiteam, Supernatural @Valosaari92, Rahinage @Velttola, Mustaa Kultaa Group 4 Skelleftea AIK After an unfortunate end to last season losing in the first round against Herforder Ice Dragons they have a chance to redeem themselves this season and go far. Since last season they have lost some key players so we will have to see if the new players can perform on the level needed for the team to make it to the playoffs once again. Skelleftea is known for their fast counterattacks and have been effective on the scoring chances they get. If they get their game going with the new lineup they could be a solid contender PunaKala Punakala has been a solid team in Lite for quite many seasons in a row and this season could be their chance to finally make it far in the playoffs. They have a solid defense, but the offense has to really step it up this season if they wish to be successful. If the team is able to develop during the season this could prove to be a great season for the team. xBOTS This team has a lot of individual talent and after a successful eHockey Finnish Championships, the team looks to be very balanced and well built together. This is definitely a puck possession team, but they have to be more efficient with their scoring chances. Especially the addition of IOLL1 could be a factor that makes the offence more efficient and therefore could make the team a force to be reckoned with. This team has a quite passive play style and has struggled against teams that play a solid trap. If they can improve on their zone entries they truly have potential to be great. Solid defense and having a lot of possession are keys for this team to succeed. A solid contender. Players to watch: @I0LL1, xBOTS @Clumpyindiana79, Armada Hockey @andreaskakan, Mora IK