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An exciting ECL 12 Lite regular season is about to reach the midway point. It is an appropriate time to review the season so far with all it's phenomenon and highlights. (The report was written on Sunday, May 23rd and reflects the situation at that point) Group 1 The favorite teams of this group were definitely Royal HT and TuTo Esports have not been directly dominant but have played more or less as expected. Royal HT hasn't lost any games in regular time and is looking to continue on that hot streak. However, some teams could be expected to be higher on in the standings, such as TIKI TALK, Murohoki and Ducktales BK. These squads are all at the moment below the playoff line looking up. There are plenty of matches left and TIKI TALK have fewer games played than most teams at the moment so anything still can happen. TTK is leading the group at this point but with lower PPG than some of their rivals which indicates that teams like TuTo and Royal HT will pass them at some point. A notable feature in terms of performances is TIKI TALK - the team used to play in Elite back in the ECL 9 season but they've been sent in a downwards spiral in the past few seasons. There is quite a simple explanation to that  since although there are still quality players in TIKI TALK, they've seen major roster changes since the ECL 9 season and their prime. They've ended up in a vicious cycle of changing things and not having time to find chemistry, leading to poor performance and yet more changes. TIKI TALK is likely to improve but the question is will it happen in this season or in future seasons. There is a tight playoff battle between several teams in positions 6-10. One interesting match in that battle is Ducktales BK vs DEG esports scheduled on May 30th. There is likely to be a lot on the line on this game, keep your eyes peeled! Group 2 Södertälje SK has quite unexpectedly stuck below the playoff line and need to improve moving forward. Reality Check HC is high in the standings as they should and are battling for the top spots in the group and the entire division. IK Oskarsham is a minor surprise alike TTK in Group 1, but due to their quality acquisitions they have managed to improve drastically. On June 1st, Södertälje SK and EHC Biel Bienne Esports are scheduled to take on each other, which might be one of the crucial games in the fight for the last playoff spots. TuTo Esports vs TTK scheduled on Tue, May 25th is an important match for the race of the group title.   Group 3 FILADELPHIA Academy as new exciting team is on pace for playoff but as for their potential, they have definitely underachieved so far - could have performed better. Project X and UNI Gaming are currently leading the group, which might come to some as a bit of a surprise.  Wednesday, June 2nd features a big match between these teams that could most likely lead to be decisive in the race for the group title if both teams are performing at their current level as they are both seeing great play from their skaters and goaltenders. GIFU Hockey is another success story, who are looking to keep their streak of being unbeaten in regular time alive. Group 4 Tic Tac Toes and noRex Gaming are at the top positions in this group as expected - both have seen great play with few blunders to talk about. RoKi Esports and Barys Esports are also currently in playoff positions but you might have expected Barys Esports a bit higher than their current position 8 in the group - look for them to improve moving forward. One of the interesting games among others in the last rounds is Tic Tac Toes vs RoKi Esports on May 30th. In that match the group title could be on the line for Tic Tac Toes and also in for RoKi Esports the race for the final playoff spot could be in full swing.   Players to watch There are dozens of players who have already made impressive contributions to their teams and it's impossible for us to highlight everyone. Here are just few of those players:  Royal HT @keranee with 11 GP and 26+23=49 is the current leader in scoring across the league. Another Royal HT player in @Ikavalko has also managed to climb into the top 10. There are two IK Oskarsham and TTK players in the same top 10 - @Gson996 (16 GP, 22+27=49) and @norre1337 (16 GP 21+18=39) from IKO @Valtter1111 (18 GP, 21+17=38) and @Unrealhave (18 GP, 14+24=38) from TTK have all performed outstandingly and all of them have been massive reasons for their teams performing at the level they currently are. As for goalies, Reality Check HC goalie @Kauppias4 has maintained an impressive 90,16 for SV% and other stats  9 W, 1,2 GAA in 16 GP, which are telling of both the skill of the team in front of him and the level of his own play. UNI Gaming goalie @Vamoux boasts with stats 10W, 86,3 SV% and an 1,67 GAA that are just about equally as impressive. Project X goalie @Easygame20 (Torvelajr__) is the winningest goalie in the division so far, with 14 wins to his name. As for defenders, you should mention the likes of @Tumpp1A from Royal HT, who has a +36 in +/- stats and 4+13=17 in his 12 games played. The top scoring defenseman is currently @juusoskari from TTK with 15+15=30 in 18 games played and @Taunomaister1 from Project X trailing with 1+20=21 in 16 games played.   Some interesting upcoming matchups The original scheduled date in in brackets, please note that teams have the option of rescheduling. TuTo Esports vs TTK (Tue 25th May) Barys Esports vs Armada Hockey (Tue 25th May) Ducktales BK vs DEG Esports (Sun 30th May) Royal HT vs AiKnown (Tue 25th May) IK Oskarsham vs Reality Check HC (Sun 30th May) IK Oskarsham vs Afrodunk (Sun 6th June) Södertälje SK vs EHC Biel Bienne Esports (Tue 1st June) Project X vs UNI Gaming (Wed 2nd June) Tic Tac Toes vs RoKi Esports (Sun 30th May)  

ECL 11 Lite ended with some huge drama in the final series between Björklöven Esports and Exerceo that quite epically concluded in a game 7. Björklöven Esports won the series 4-3 after a phenomenal comeback from being 1-3 down. Both squads now compete in the Pro division, opening the place in the spotlight for new contenders and all new hero tales to be written. In addition to the finalists, the other two ECL 11 Lite semifinalists Grenoble BDL Esport and Hotbox are playing in Pro so quite extraordinarily the top 4 teams will be completely new in ECL 12 Lite this season. There are several teams relegated from Pro and also players in rosters with experience from upper levels so we can expect to see a season unlike any other in ECL Lite. The team cap is now 64 so the margins between the teams is smaller than ever before which makes battles from playoffs positions and also the regular season title way tougher. Hokurit reached Round 2 in the playoffs last season and is expected to play well again this time. Teams like TIKI TALK, Ducktales BK, NoRex Gaming and Södertälje SK played in Pro last season and with that experience are favorites bounce back and perform well in Lite. Royal HT has managed to gather an impressive roster that for some reason underperformed in their qualifier run, but they should find their form in the regular season. I think it is safe to predict that the top 8 includes at least a few of these teams I have mentioned. We're happy to also expect several dark horses to emerge and gladly welcome those squads to prove everyone wrong! Season information The default gamedays for ECL 12 Lite will be Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 20:00 CEST and teams are required to contact each other prior to the scheduled date as per ECL rules. Please get acquainted with the rulebook and refer to it in case of any problems over the course of the season. If any questions arise, please contact support. Notable dates for the ECL 12 Lite season: Regular season: 9.5 – 9.6 Transfer deadline: 25.5. 23:59 CEST Playoffs Round 1: 15.6 – 20.6 (BO7) Playoffs Round 2: 22.6 – 1.7 (BO7) Quarterfinals: 4.7 – 8.7 (BO7) Semifinals: 11.7 – 15.7 (BO7) Finals: 19.7 – 21.7 (BO7) In the first of four groups, we have several contenders for the group title and playoffs spots. Murohoki and TuTo Esports were eliminated early last season after a promising regular season, so they surely have something to prove this time. TIKI TALK were relegated from Pro and are one of the favorites due to their experience from Pro and their resilience and willingness to bounce back. Royal HT has as stated gathered an impressive roster that should be able to use their individual skill to find wins and contend. Ducktales BK also played in Pro last season. On Sunday evening - the very first matchday - they are scheduled play against TIKI TALK which could serve as a measuring of power between these two squads. That is also one of the highlights of the first matchday. In Group 2, Syndrome reached playoffs Round 2 last season which was kind of a disappointment for them, so they are expected to perform better this season. Reality Check HC has played even in the Elite qualifiers in past seasons and participated in the Pro qualifiers, which did not go their way. With that experience however, they are one of the teams to follow this season in Lite. Södertälje SK played in Pro last season and are one of the big favorites in this group and also one of the squads that could be taking the division title. This is a relatively even group and no big favorites stand out of the pack. I expect to see many tight games and fierce battle for the playoff spots. Nordic Nosebleed knocked out a strong Armada Hockey last season in Round 1 of the playoffs, proving that they are a team that could win any given matchup. FILADELPHIA Academy is a team to follow already because of their affiliation, but it is a delight to see how their reserves are performing in their first competitive season together. If the players in this academy team are anywhere near as talented as the players in the first team I expect FILADELPHIA Academy to finish high in the regular season and in a top 8 overall at least. Probably the tightest group in advance. There are 4-5 teams who performed well last season or have exceptional potential for succeeding such as Hokurit, Armada Hockey, NoRex Gaming, The Last Line and RoKi Esports to mention a few. RoKi Esports have increased their potential with experience and is one of the teams to watch this season. Tic Tac Toes is also a tremendously skilled ensemble that I expect to finish high. Barys eSports is a new team in ECL that has done well in the RCL. They are scheduled to go up against RoKi Esports on Sunday which is one of the highlights of the first matchday. The Barys eSports roster also includes some players with experience from Elite and Pro so the team is going to be a serious contender in their first ECL outing. Notable players to watch Across all 64 teams this season in Lite, there are dozens of interesting players you might want to follow during the season. It's impossible for us to include everyone and when picking some of them, some will be left out. On the following list are just few of the players that are expected to stand out this season. @L4nnisto ( Tic Tac Toes) ECL 11 Regular season 26 GP 6+33=39 Playoffs 11 GP 4+3=7 @Artuzio ( Tic Tac Toes) ECL 11 Regular season 26 GP 35+44=79 Playoffs 11 GP 5+15=20 @jubex0r ( Spirit) ECL 11 Regular season 28 GP 80,74 SV % 2,04 GAA 3 SO Playoffs 5 GP 73,44 SV % 3,4 GAA 0 SO @Rosvo_Joel (Zei_Tsei) ( Saucer Hockey) ECL 11 Regular season (Night Shift Hockey) 30 GP 5+35=40 Playoffs 4 GP 2+4=6 @Crisu_rottis ( Royal HT) ECL 11 Regular season (Frosty Kiekko-Vantaa) 30 GP 5+31=36 Playoffs 5 GP 1+1=2 @JanneK. (JANURI98) ( Royal HT) ECL 11 Regular season (Dark Horse) 24 GP 75,88 SV % 3,42 GAA 1 SO (Tunnel Vision) 12 GP 76,27 SV% 2,33 GAA 1 SO @topikeranen ( Royal HT) ECL 11 Regular season (TuTo Esports) 18 GP 19+28=47 Playoffs 6 7+4=11 @keranee ( Royal HT) ECL 11 Regular season (Gotham Knights) 30 GP 18+23=41 Playoffs 5 GP 2+1=3 @rize1988 ( Södertälje SK) ECL 11 Regular season (Almtuna Esports) 24 GP 15+41=56 Playoffs 7 GP 4+4=7 @Ollizhki ( Barys eSports) ECL 11 Regular season (Dark Horse) 24 GP 10+5=15 @Awptim ( Barys eSports) ECL 11 Regular season (Alliance HT) 28 GP 15+17=32 @itspardytime ( TIKI TALK) ECL 11 Regular season 30 GP 26+22=48 With that, we wish all participating ECL 12 Lite teams good luck in their respective campaigns! Remember to post about your games on various social media platforms using the tags #NHLGamer, #NHL21 and #ECL12 in order to get noticed and for other community members to find your posts.

NHLGamers, The ECL 11 Lite season ended Bjorkloven's title run in a riveting final series where the fabled game 7 was eventually required to solve our champion. In this recap I briefly go through the finals and also the Lite season as an entirety - as a notion we can state that Bjorkloven Esport were quite an expected champion after an excellent regular season. However, the season also offered some surprises like the other big favorite MUKIMIEHET being eliminated in Round 1. Finals game by game: Game 1: 4-0 to Exerceo Exerceo started strong by robbing the advantage. Powerplay goals were decisive. Bjorkloven was unable to get to their standard level of playing. On the other hand Exerceo was clinical in capitalizing on their opportunities. Game 2 2-1 to Exerceo Bjorkloven improved from Game 1 but Exerceo continued with their clinical finishing. In general, the game followed a similar formula as the previous game. Game 3 5-1 to Bjorkloven Esports Bjorkloven stayed on the right path, improving even more. Tremendous goaltending and converting on their opportunities led to their first and crucial win in this series. Game 4 2-1 OT to Exerceo Bjorkloven took the lead and the game eventually went to OT where Exerceo scored the decisive marker. At this point Exerceo looked very strong and was going for the gold but consequently their season ended in a very different way. Game 5 2-0 to Bjorkloven With Exerceo having a stranglehold on the series, every game from now on could be the end for Bjorkloven. Their resilience really showed and a big defensive and goaltender effort secured a shutout win. Game 6 5-3 to Bjorkloven Goaltending was predicted to be a key aspect of the fina series and in game 6, we could say that Exerceo was cought slipping in that department. Although Exerceo came back from down 5-1 to 5-3 there was no doubts of the winner in this game 6. The turning point of the entire series. Bjorkloven capitalized on their momentum in the series. Game 7 4-2 to Bjorkloven 🏆 Evidently Bjorkloven got the crucial edge from coming back to tie the series. In Game 7 they were clearly one step ahead in every aspect of the game. Although Exerceo scored two goals there was really no beating Bjorkloven at this point. In this decisive game, Bjorkloven's leading scorers @olgaaa71 and @Tacterz played a big role and led their team by example. In the finals preview, goaltending was stated to be an important factor - a statement which proved to be very true in the end. Bjorkloven saw some top level netminging to secure the crucial wins in games 4-7, whereas Exerceo in turn didn't get those decisive gamesavers in these games. There were of course other reasons for Bjorklovens remarkable comeback from down 3-1. For example one of the key elements in these comebacks are the mental side of things. Bjorkloven had their back against the wall and remarkably often the team in those situations have a more relaxed feel in playing than the team who probably are already thinking of the championship celebrations taking place. We can only wonder how much of an impact a merited player such as @Tacterz had on his team in those moments. It should not be like that but surprisingly often it seems like the team close to the clinching win are losing their focus or the approach to the game and are living in the future rather than in the moment. Either way - we warmly congratulate both finalists for their efforts this season! To start the season, MUKIMIEHET were one of the definite favorites to win the title with their incredibly strong roster and vast experience both from playing together and from playing at higher levels. They managed to play a strong regular season but were eventually knocked out already in the first round by Tic Tac Toes causing one of the biggest upsets of the season early on in the playoffs. Several teams found the way to make phenomenal runs throughout the season and examples of these are Hotbox, BoxinElite, Golden Nights and Oton Letkutemppu. Some teams that were expected to perform a bit better than they eventually ended up doing are the experienced Murohoki, RoKi Esports and TuTo Esports. All of these teams look really good on paper and possess remarkable potential - resources that should be able to carry teams far in the Lite division but all of those teams faltered in the first playoff round. That just proves how tough the Lite division really is despite being the third tier of competition! An interesting notion this season was the fact that all semifinalists ended up being from the same regular season group. Notable players Throughout the season, some players made great impacts and managed to push their teams to the trajectory they eventually ended up on. A long stretch back in time, these were referred to as heart-and-soul players in a season preview. We'll be taking a short look back at some of the players that performed exceptionally well over the course of ECL 11 Lite. Obviously, this is a very subjective category and where some could make other picks, here are mine: Eventual champion Bjorkloven Esports played a great season as a five man unit and saw great goaltending, but power duo @olgaaa71 and @Tacterz eventually elevated the teams play above others. Goaltender @Mrantonn also ended up being a difference maker in the finals against his counterpart on the Exerceo side. @olgaaa71 26GP 42+53=95 (Regular season), 33GP 41+27=68 (Playoffs) @Tacterz 24GP 39+55=94 (Regular season), 33GP 26+41=67 (Playoffs) @Mrantonn 14GP, 13W, 83.65 SV%, 1.21 GAA, 4 SO (Regular season), 16GP, 12W, 79.37 SV%, 1.63 GAA, 4 SO (Playoffs) Exerceo ended up having a very similar formula as Bjorkloven, where a very strong duo up front carried their game very far. @Sagee95 and @Limbe65 were their main weapons all season, which shows in their numbers. @Sagee95 26GP, 45+53=98 (Regular season), 30GP, 26+44=70 (Playoffs) @Limbe65 26GP, 52+45=97 (Regular season), 30GP, 32+39=71 (Playoffs)(Playoffs) A third team that ended up pushing way further than expected (despite consistently being at the losing end of predictions) were Hotbox, who faltered only in the semifinals at the hands of the eventual champion. You could say they had three go-to guys that were their drivers all season long: @Frans-Fin 26GP, 30+57=87 (Regular season), 34GP, 24+41=65 (Playoffs) @Jann3_67_ 26GP, 30+36=66 (Regular season), 34GP, 30+22=52 (Playoffs) @Randomjanne 26GP, 16W, 77.12 SV%, 2.38 GAA, 4 SO (Regular season), 34GP, 23W, 82,69 SV%, 1.85 GAA, 2 SO (Playoffs) The french connection was strong in a team from - you guessed it - France. Grenoble BDL Esport had a sensational season led by a few players: @Adri1_SCP 26GP, 40+30=70 (Regular season), 34GP, 37+33=70 (Playoffs) @Winci 20GP, 30+35=65 (Regular season), 31GP, 19+33=52 (Playoffs) @Trollstivegen 26GP, 19W, 78.1 SV%, 2.04 GAA, 3 SO (Regular season), 34GP, 18W, 76,62 SV%, 2.44 GAA, 5 SO (Playoffs) Although MUKIMIEHET was one of the biggest disappointments of the season, two of their stars played a big role in their overall performance. For example, @PCJP had great stats as a goalie and was one of the best players in his team despite them being eliminated early. The same applies to @hpkfani as forward who was dominant in the offensive zone, just as we're used to. @hpkfani 28GP, 25+49=74 (Regular season), 5GP, 0+4=4 (Playoffs) @PCJP 28GP, 23W, 83.41 SV%, 1.32 GAA, 8 SO (Regular season), 5GP, 1W, 77,55 SV%, 2.2 GAA, 0 SO (Playoffs) The ones who eliminated the big, bad MUKIMIEHET were Tic Tac Toes and they had three main guys dominating their stats department. @L4nnisto was a great secondary scorer from the defense while @Artuzio and @Wpaanane lit it up as forwards. @maatti64 did a good job in the playoffs with the added responsibility, showcasing the potential he has. @Wpaanane 22GP, 41+43=84 (Regular season), 11GP, 13+6=19 (Playoffs) @Artuzio 26GP, 35+44=79 (Regular season), 11GP, 5+15=20 (Playoffs) @L4nnisto 26GP, 6+33 =39 (Regular season), 11GP, 4+3=7 (Playoffs) One of the biggest surprises of the season was Golden Nights. Although their defence backed up very well, their dominant attacking line Naappi, Saskipoeka00 and JJimbo stood for almost 75% of their production throughout the season. @Naaappi 26GP, 26+27=53 (Regular season) 16GP, 10+6=16 (Playoffs) @Sasuttaja00 26GP, 30+22=52 (Regular season) 16GP, 11+9=20 (Playoffs) @JJimbo- 26GP, 19+32=51 (Regular season) 16GP, 7+14=21 (Playoffs) Concluding words of the season It was really entertaining to follow the Lite division throughout the season. There were loads of exciting games with all the ingredients of great hockey. We all know the pinnacle of virtual hockey to be ECL Elite, but the Lite division should by no means sell itself short - it is high level. Teams have a very professional attitude and the entire ECL framework has a bright future ahead. The journey to mainstream entertainment has only just begun. All people involved should feel proud to be a part of the community and to be among the pioneers pushing this sport forward. Thanks to all - now let's look forward to next season in the ECL.

NHLGamers, The ECL 11 Lite season is on it's way to the Grand Final stage and with that, Bjorkloven Esport and Exerceo are the two best teams in the Lite division this season. In the finals, these two are playing a best-of-7 series expected to be full of excitement, tension and hard hitting hockey but most of all top tier goal scoring, passing and incredible gamesavers. Here is the full playoff schedule for ECL 11 Lite: (1) Bjorkloven Esport Regular season record: 22-2-2 Top scorer (Playoffs): @olgaaa71 26 GP, 34+22=56 Goaltender(s) (Playoffs): @Kallmanius 14 GP, 85.09 SV%, 1.21 GAA, 5 SO - @Mrantonn 12 GP, 80.21 SV%, 1.58 GAA, 3 SO Road to final: Round 1: Baby Goons 4-1 Round 2: Taavetin Starat 4-1 Round 3: Golden Nights 4-1 Quarterfinals: Oton Letkutemppu 4-0 Semifinals: Hotbox 4-3 (8) Exerceo Regular season record: 20-3-3 Top scorer (Playoffs): @Limbe65 23GP, 26+36=62 Goaltender(s) (Playoffs): @Pettersson12 12 GP, 84.06 SV%, 1.83 GAA, 1 SO - @Jjmakkeli 11 GP, 81.37 SV%, 1.73 GAA, 2 SO Road to final: Round 1: Handu Pumpulla 4-1 Round 2: Grilli Tulille 4-0 Round 3: Beast Hockey 4-2 Quarterfinals: BoxinElite 4-0 Semifinals: Grenoble BDL Esport 4-0 Bjorkloven has advanced with great stability to the finals after a consistent season throughout. They are a very balanced team in all the areas of the game and are currently in good form from having faced their toughest opposition of the season yet in the semifinals. Exerceo is also a very strong team and cannot be underestimated as they have convincingly mowed down opponent after opponent throughout the playoffs. The area that might be crucial and decisive in this final series is goaltending and I'd state that Bjorkloven has a slight advantage in that area. Whereas both teams are able to run a great goalie tandem, @Kallmanius has at times proven to be a wall for his Bjorkloven and has the ability to give the edge needed for his team. Now as the pressure is higher than ever, the team needs that strong backbone and therefore it is beneficial for both squads to have two capable netminders. As stated, minor edge for Bjorkloven in that department. Both squads have the offensive firepower to blow each other out of the water if a game starts going that way and despite playoff and high-stakes games usually being low-scoring battles I can see some games in this series being unusually high in scoring too. The first few games should be a feeling out process but after that we can expect the teams to relax a bit and let the play flow. On the other hand, teams of this caliber know how to defend and enforce that shutdown strategy when required so it certainly won't be easy to get those high quality chances. Bjorkloven has been dominant throughout the playoffs but were recently put to the test by Hotbox. Exerceo has been equally dominant and haven't yet been in that much trouble, so you could argue they haven't yet been properly tested. The comeback story that Bjorkloven pulled from a 1-2 deficit against Hotbox is a true show of mental strength and awards some points that way too. Prediction: Series score 4-2 - Bjorkloven Esports will be the ECL 11 Champion Make sure to tune in to games 1-3 of the ECL 11 Lite Finals tonight at 20:00 CET @ www.twitch.tv/NHLGamer!

NHLGamers, The ECL 11 Lite season has now reached its semifinal stage and as usual, by now we know the four best Lite teams this season. Most of the favorites are still in the race for the ECL Lite title and therefore I predict extremely tight semifinal series that could very well be extended to a 7th bout in either one of the matchups. Before the quarterfinals, I predicted all "surprise teams" to be eliminated from the competition but Hotbox is only one of those left as they have consistently overturned predictions. Hotbox surely is having a season to remember going on but Bjorkloven Esport - the biggest candidate at the moment for the ECL Lite title - is their biggest challenge yet. One of the most interesting points in the semifinals is that all semifinalists are from the same regular season group - a feat for which the odds are very slim. Go group 3! Here is the full playoff schedule for ECL 11 Lite: (1) Bjorkloven Esport vsHotbox (42) Bjorkloven Esport has advanced convincingly to this stage and is in my books the biggest favorite to win the ECL Lite title. Hotbox is one of the phenomenons of the seasons and the sole remaining clear underdog at this stage. They are now facing their biggest obstacle yet, but Hotbox sure are ready for this huge challenge. Bjorkloven's goalies are bit ahead of Hotbox's counterparts and their biggest scoring stars have a similar edge so this might be the end of the Hotbox success story in this semifinal series. However, Hotbox has progressed this far against all odds so there is of course a place for an upset this time too. @olgaaa71 and @Tacterz combining for nearly 200 points between the two of them in the regular season is outright ridiculous, which just shows the scoring prowess that the Bjorkloven team possesses in this division. The Hotbox dynamic duo @Frans-Fin & @Jann3_67_ isn't far behind, but a combined 150 markers is far less. Bjorkloven will be facing the interesting decision of which goaltender to play in this series as both of their netminders have been solid throughout. Players to watch in this series: Bjorkloven Esport - playoff statistics @olgaaa71 19GP, 27+45=45 @Tacterz 19GP, 15+29 =44 @Kallmanius 10GP, 8W, 85.71 SV%, 1.2 GAA, 3 SO @Mrantonn 9GP, 8W, 85.51 SV%, 1.11 GAA, 3 SO Hotbox - playoff statistics @Frans-Fin 21GP, 13+31= 42 @Jann3_67_ 21GP, 25+14=38 @Randomjanne 21GP, 16W, 83.41 SV%, 1.71 GAA, 1 SO Prediction: Hotbox makes this series an unforgettable event and does all they can to battle back. Bjorkloven Esport can't be stopped and advances to the finals by winning 4-2. (8) Exerceo vs Grenoble BDL Esport (22) While the clear star power individuals aren't as bright for Grenoble BDL Esport, the 'I' in that team has been compensated with extremely disciplined team play. By being one of the most well oiled units in the league they've reached this far and are currently the torchbearers for French virtual hockey. When it comes to individual skill, Exerceo in turn possesses these key components better while simultaneously being able to generate disciplined approach to play. This is why they are a minor favorite in this series for me. While Exerceo has the edge individually, the scoring differential in the playoffs hasn't been so large and in fact the clear leader here is @Adri1_SCP for Grenoble. Adri will be the x-factor for the French team but they will require to find secondary alternatives if and when Exerceo shut him down. Players to watch in this series: Exerceo @Limbe65 19GP, 24+33=57 @Sagee95 19GP, 18+34=52 @Pettersson12 9GP, 8W, 82.47 SV%, 1.89 GAA, 1 SO @Jjmakkeli 10GP, 8W, 79.12 SV%, 1.9 GAA, 1 SO Grenoble BDL Esport @Adri1_SCP 24GP, 33+29=61 @Winci 23GP, 17+29=46 @Trollstivegen 24GP, 16W, 77.25 SV%, 2.21 GAA, 4 SO Prediction: Game 7 is needed. Exerceo's individual skill and goalies are decisive factors as they will be advancing advancing to the finals with 4-3 in wins. As always, play hard - have fun!

NHLGamers, The ECL 11 Lite season has progressed to the quarterfinal stage and the stakes are higher than ever. There are four tremendously exciting matchups to be played and all of these teams are hungry for the chance to compete for possible promotion spots. the eight best teams are left to battle it out in best-of-seven series. Last round, several predictions failed but the most fascinating thing is that in a top tier league like the ECL, there are so many great players and teams that you can see many good teams losing despite a great campaign simply because their opponents are even better or just happen to have a great day. However, the lightning rarely strikes the same target twice so I won't necessarily flip the table entirely by predicting some of the phenomenons of the season ending in this round. Here is the full playoff schedule for ECL 11 Lite: (1) Bjorkloven Esport vs Oton Letkutemppu (51) Oton Letkutemppu is no noubt one of the phenomenons of the ECL 11 Lite season. Last round, they knocked out 2nd seed ECDC Memmingen Esports so reaching this far is by no means an accident and there could be more to come. Bjorkloven Esports has been a dominant team so far and eliminated another surprise team - the Golden Nights - in quite impressive fashion. Oton Letkutemppu is now in for their biggest challenge yet but has all the means to continue their success story in these playoffs. Bjorkloven Esports is the favorite but like we have already seen, just about anything can happen in these games. Prediction: Oton Letkutemppu has played their best so far but this time the challenge is likely to be a little too tough and this teams quite phenomenal playoff journey is likely to end. Bjorkloven Esports faces a great team in the series but advances with the score 4-2. (6) Ringette HC vs Hotbox (42) Similar to the cases of Oton Letkutemppu and Golden Nights this season, Hotbox has managed to pave their way into the top eight against all odd and are running an outstanding playoff campaign. Ringette HC is, however, their biggest challenge so far with a bunch of individual skill and the ability to move the puck quicker than most teams in the division. Hotbox must maintain their current level and boost it just a little bit. Maintaining the level might not be the problem, but boosting it enough to beat Ringette HC four times in this series looks like it could be too much even for this team. Prediction: Hotbox puts forth great opposition but Ringette HC ends this campaign convincingly 4-1. (8) Exerceo vs BoxinElite (24) In this series an underdog playing at the limits of their potential faces a marginally but probably decisively stronger opponent. BoxinElite is also one of the highlights of this season and I greatly underestimated their potential in the last round against Lekstugan HC. Exerceo on the other hand is a slight favorite in this matchup but there is no reason that BoxinElite couldn't cause an upset and after reaching this far it is probably not too surprising anymore. This time, BoxinElite will not go underestimated and will at the very least go down swinging. Prediction: BoxinElite beat favorite Lekstugan HC last round and might do that again. However, Exerceo knows that and sure are more ready than Lekstugan HC for what's to come. Exerceo disrupts BoxinElites run this time by winning 4-2. (18) Sjukstugan vs Grenoble BDL Esport (22) Grenoble BDL Esports eliminated Sinister in an exciting seven game series. Sjukstugan eliminated Old Farts quite unexpectedly in four straight games. They have the advantage of being able to prepare for longer but Grenoble BDL Esports sure have a massive boost from their recent game seven victory and they also must have a high confidence after defeating a strong Sinister team. I would not be surprised if we end up fighting our way to a game seven again in this series and Sjukstugan will definitely be the biggest test for Grenoble so far. Sjukstugan is their biggest test so far. This is arguably the series to watch this round. Prediction: Game seven needed. Grenoble BDL Esports has the strength to battle through the series but Sjukstugan is too strong. Sjukstugan advances 4-3. As always, play hard - have fun!

NHLGamers, The ECL 11 Lite season has progressed to Round 3 and eight exciting matchups are to be played in Best-of-seven series. Most of the series look very even and in at least a few of them the chance for game 7 action is likely. None of the series should be lopsided in the sense that we'd be seeing a sweep. There are some surprising teams in round 3, which begs the question: have they already reached their full potential or will we continue to see upsets moving forward? Here is the full playoff schedule for ECL 11 Lite: (1) Bjorkloven Esport - Golden Nights (52) First seed Bjorkloven has in impressive fashion marched on to Round 3. Golden Nights have - against all odds - reached this far as an underdog. They eliminated GIFU Hockey and Hokurit, which ate two very strong teams and sure are ready to eliminate a third team of an even higher caliber. One of the most interesting series in Round 3. Bjorkloven has a material edge but Golden Nights have earned their great underdog boosted confidence. Prediction: Golden Nights have played two outstanding rounds but in Round 3 their brave fight will not be enough to beat one of the biggest title favorites. Bjorkloven progresses to the quarterfinals 4-2. (2) ECDC Memmingen eSports vs Oton Letkutemppu (51) We're going in with a similar outlook as to the Bjorkloven - Golden Nights series. Memmingen is the favorite by a landslide, but Letkutemppu can surely surprise, as they have shown already by outmaneuvering Calzone HC and Central Hockey Canucks. As usual, anything can happen but it's doubtful that we'd see yet another upset by Letkutemppu. Prediction: ECDC Memmingen eSports advances 4-1. (3) Nearbird Fighters vs Hotbox (42) Nearbird Fighters had a relatively easy first round but got to properly test their form in the second against Tic Tac Toes, which undoubtedly makes them prepared for any challenge moving forward. Hotbox is coming in with the clear underdog status and will need to elevate even further if they are looking to take down the Russian powerhouse. Prediction: Nearbird Fighters advances 4-1. (6) Ringette HC vs NOVA (29) Ringette HC has gone undefeated through this seasons playoffs but are in for their toughest challenge yet when clashing with recent RCL champions NOVA, who also have a decent record suffering only two losses in the playoffs so far. This series will most likely extend a bit longer than these teams are used to this far into the playoffs. The recent RCL title will boost NOVA but perhaps there's some exhaustion from that series? Prediction: Game 7 is needed. Ringette HC with their high standard performance level will advance to the quarterfinals 4-3. (8) Exerceo vs Beast Hockey (28) Beast Hockey eliminated a strong team in RoKi Esports in an exciting series to start their playoff run and had an easier task beating AfroDunk by a sweep in the second round. Exerceo has a convincing 8-1 record from the previous rounds and have the material to go far in these playoffs if they can stay consistent. Prediction: Exerceo is simply too strong although Beast Hockey continues their good performances. Exerceo advances 4-1. (15) Lekstugan HC vs BoxinElite (24) BoxinElite were forced to a seventh game in round 2 against Tequila Sunrise, which might have caused some exhaustion but on the other hand gave them time to hone their play in a competitive environment. Lekstugan has cleared their series a little easier but of course is a strong team and has beaten two good teams quite easily so far, and with that claims a favorite staple in this matchup too. The depth of Lekstugans roster overpowers that of BoxinElite, who seemed to be at the edge of their potential already last round. Despite having the chance to overcome that obstacle, it would be miraculous if Lekstugan would not be the one to move on from this series. Prediction: Lekstugan HC wins 4-2 (16) Sinister vs Grenoble BDL Esport (22) Sinister eliminated Lulea Hockey in the first round and Birka Vikings in the second, thus moving on with a record of 8-3, whereas their opponents Grenoble BDL Esport have done exactly the same - against different opposition of course. Grenoble BDL Esport eliminated TuTo Esports in the first round which was a minor upset. This is series definitely has minimal margins and a game 7 is a serious possibility. Sinister is just a slight favorite but like we have seen in this seasons playoffs, the predictions have failed us more than once. Prediction: Sinister 4-2 (18) Sjukstugan vs Old Farts (19) Both teams have continued their strong rising form where they left off in the regular season. This is an extremely even series with microscopically narrow margins, between two of the most experienced teams in the league. Sjukstugan probably gains the slight favorite position because they have kept a higher level throughout the season in general, but Old Farts is nearly in as good form as Sjukstugan and can outperform if they find their groove. Prediction: Game 7 needed. Old Farts advances 4-3. As always, play hard - have fun!

NHLGamers, The regular season has concluded and the playoff matchups are finally seeded. Due to the fact that there are so many matchups at this stage, I decided to pick some of the most interesting ones to analyze and predict the outcome of. Please check the full matchup list here: https://nhlgamer.com/leagues/96/playoffs The views presented in this article are purely speculative and based on the writers own opinions. Some others would highlight different fixtures in this round but I have decided on these because most of these games have minor or barely any favorites and some has teams with tremendously long winning streaks going, which of course adds a bit of spice to the action. However, for the sake of the preview some matchups have a highlighted favorite in the prediction, but a game seven finish is by no means out of the question in most of these matchups. Here's your ECL 11 Lite Playoff schedule: Let's go on with the previews: (2) ECDC Memmingen eSports vs Clowns On Ice (63) ECDC Memmingen eSports won their Group 1 quite convincingly with the record 26-3-1. Clowns on Ice narrowly reached the playoffs but they are not a team to be underestimated. Tight games can be expected although Memmingen is a slight favorite - they only beat Clowns on Ice narrowly in their regular season matches by 1-0 OT and 4-2. Clowns on Ice is a strong challenger but ECDC Memmingen Esports power on attack will be the factor that tips the scales in their favor, as it's doubtful if the Clowns have anything to match that in their arsenal. Players to watch: ECDC Memmingen Esports @Wowa_1995 (42+59), @DaMan (52+48), @Darcam (80,95 SV%) Clowns On Ice @PaddyD1412 (34+24) @SniperCrusader (21+21) Prediction: ECDC Memmingen advances 4-2 (4) Spirit vs Taavetin Starat (61) In this series Taavetin Starat has nearly as good of a record in their last 10 games as Spirit: 7-3-0 vs 7-2-1. Spirit won their group and Taavetin Starat took the last playoff-place, which without a doubt puts Spirit in the drivers seat in this series, but it is right there for the taking for Starat. The standrad level of Spirit is above that of their competition, but there is tremendous amounts of undiscovered potential with Starat and they can sway the series their way, although it might look unlikely at the moment. Players to watch: Spirit @Toivonen_ (28+56), @jubex0r (80,74 %), @Jesse Puljujärvi (49+24) Taavetin Starat @theMaddias (16+19), @Nkilae (16+18), @rNe92 (14+16) Prediction: Spirit advances 4-1 (5) Dynastia vs Syndrome (60) Dynastia was very impressive in the regular season with a 25-4-1 record while Syndrome barely reached the playoffs but are still good team showed by them challenging top teams in their group in the regular season rather consistently, such as a 4-3 OT win and a slight 3-1 loss against Spirit, who performed well and is quite comparable to Dynastia as a team. @sam in the Syndrome net is one of the key factors for in challenging Dynastia´s top attacking players and will determine their chances of actually advancing in this series. A shootout will definitely turn in the favor of Dynastia but if the score is kept low, this series can be a coin toss. Players to watch: Dynastia @Majuri20 (41+69), @makichuk (69+37) Syndrome @topetsi (19+20), @sam (82,04 SV%) Prediction: Dynastia advances 4-2 (6) Ringette HC vs Sticklifters (59) Ringette HC are on an impressive 12 win streak and there seems to be no stopping them, but it remains to be seen if Sticklifters could be up to the task - maybe Santa has brought the guys new controllers to boost that x-button spam in time for playoffs? with the high confidence and offense clicking, Ringette will be a tough team to beat and they could be going far this season. Their unbeaten streak can be broken in this series, but Sticklifters will not be able to take four wins. Players to watch: Ringette HC @Santtu (34+45), @kim_johan (30+43) Sticklifters @Juha Yletyinen (24+28), @Andjovis (22+12) Prediction: Ringette HC advances 4-1 (7) MUKIMIEHET vs Tic Tac Toes (58) Last seasons´s phenomenon Tic Tac Toes barely managed to reach the playoffs, which might serve as a wake up call for the team - or not. They had a bad run of form at the end of the regular season. MUKIMIEHET as a reborn superteam has redeemed their huge expectations with a convincing 23-5-0 record and winning their group. They had a consistent form throughout the regular season and are a strong favorite in this series if they play true to their level. If Tic Tac Toes can redeem more of their potential and get back in their winning ways and possibly the form of the early season, there is a small change for an upset. Players to watch: MUKIMIEHET @hpkfani (25+49) and @PCJP (83,41 SV%) Tic Tac Toes @Wpaanane (41+43), @Artuzio (35+44), @L4nnisto (6+33) Prediction: MUKIMIEHET advances 4-1 (9) Armada Hockey vs Nordic Nosebleed (56) Armada Hockey, alike many other top teams are running into the playoffs on a winning streak, 10 games and counting, but Nordic Nosebleed if anyone are the ones to stop Armada. The two teams met in the regular season in two really tight battles on the scoreboard, but Armada being in control of the game flow almost entirely. It is expected that the series will follow that same script and if the scoring can be kept minimal Nosebleed stands a chance, but if we end up seeing a scoring race, Armada marches on. Players to watch: Armada Hockey @Kenu (43+37), @meiha (24+50) Nordic Nosebleed @Patflex (24+19), @Kribba (22+16) Prediction: Armada Hockey advances 4-0 (13) GIFU Hockey vs Golden Nights (52) We'll be in for a treat between GIFU Hockey and Golden Nights as both teams are in a winning streak to end their regular season. GIFU has a longer streak, but it's all about peaking at the right times in the playoffs and that seems to be what Golden Nights are in for going into the postseason. Despite being an underdog, Golden Nights have challenged several good teams in the regular season and in fact won tough opponents like Ringette HC and Tic Tac Toes. Seven games is what I expect from this matchup. Players to watch: GIFU Hockey @Duracellii (21+32), @Jobeyz (21+39), @krospi (29+30) Golden Nights @Naaappi (26+27), @Sasuttaja00 (30+22), @Patadevils (3+22), @Vrnoo (80,25 SV%) Prediction: GIFU Hockey advances 4-3 (18) Sjukstugan vs The Last Line (47) Both were in great form recently to cap off the regular season. Sjukstugan finished third in their group and The Last Line came in 7th place. I would like to state that the series will be a fierce back and forth battle, but Sjukstugan can hold a bit of a higher standard level. Ultimately the more disciplined team will advance and Sjukstugan´s higher standard will help them through IF they are able to reach it. The Last Line is expected to put up a decent fight and will be able to clinch a few wins, but I can't see them taking down Sjukstugan. Players to watch: Sjukstugan @Tiltsson (31+32), @Bjono (21+42), @Panserhagen (84,03 SV%) The Last Line @Jnmxxx (36+35), @Selezny (14+22) Prediction: Sjukstugan advances 4-2 (19) Old Farts vs Murohoki (46) Murohoki was expected to be one of the teams that could break the bank this season, but their campaign took a left turn and hasn't gone without struggles. However, it is still possible and the same applies to Old Farts. Both teams know that they have a great opportunity and possesses the skill to advance far into the postseason. At the same time, one team will disappoint here as another gets eliminated. This is probably one of the tightest series in advance in this round and a game 7 finish isn't out of the question. Old Farts with a bit more firepower and an edge in goalies is a slight favorite to me in this series. Players to watch: Old Farts @Ankkalasvegas (35+37), @Liukq (29+42), @Dick Weener (81,43 SV%) Murohoki @Ubula (35+19), @vilperi90 (15+27), @Jerexu (80,58 SV%) Prediction: Old Farts 4-2 (22) Grenoble BDL Esport vs TuTo Esports (43) Grenoble BDL Esports is one of the teams that have an outstanding 10 win streak going on. TuTo Esports have giant obstacle to climb with that but is definitely a team that has the skill and will to overcome. TuTo Esports finished 7th in their group and had good games in the regular season against groups top teams like GIFU Hockey and Sjukstugan winning both of them. TuTo Esports also has a good 7-3-0 record in their last 10. Grenoble BDL Esports is a favorite but TuTo Esports most likely will offer a great series with a good battle for the four wins needed. Having an ace like @topikeranen, who is arguably one of the most skilled players in the division could be a gamechanger for TuTo but he cannot win the series alone. Players to watch: Grenoble BDL Esport @Adri1_SCP (40+30), @Winci (30+35), @Tromi13 (25+40) TuTo Esports @Tumpp1A (53+39) @topikeranen Prediction: Grenoble advances 4-1 (28) Beast Hockey vs RoKI Esports (37) The “pride of Lapland” RoKi Esports finished 7th in their group and played well in games against top teams like Sjukstugan and GIFU Hockey. Beast Hockey finished 4th in their group and also challenged top teams MUKIMIEHET and Calzone HC extremely well. They have also collected 4 wins out of 5 games in their latest matches. This first round matchup is wide open and can very well come down to which team has a better night whenever games are to be played. Despite being a rarity in the Lite playoffs at this stage, a game 7 isn't out of the question and I recommend to keep an eye on this battle specifically. RoKi Esports has had a great ECL debut and has all the tools to cause a minor upset from the slight underdog position. Players to watch: Beast Hockey @Mjukiiz (23+53), @Jaks_10 (26+39) RoKi Esports @egetelli_ (20+23), @Lefa27 (22+19) Prediction: RoKi Esports advances 4-2 (30) Rogle BK vs ASM Hockey (35) Both finished 5th in their group and played well against top teams in their groups so ultimately this comes down to a clash between two capable teams out of which one has to be eliminated. In this series - like in a few others too - there is a realistic possibility for a game 7. Rogle BK is the minor favorite in this clash but ASM Hockey has proven themselves against top teams and they are ready for success. With wider firepower in attack I believe Rogle BK will go advance although one could state that ASM Hockey has edge in goalies which is important if they were to turn the series in their favor. Players to watch: Rogle BK @JF1891 (41+35), @Ultras_tkg (28+29) ASM Hockey @PerfectGorilla (81,62 SV%), @Chara33 (36+35) Prediction: Rogle BK advances 4-2 Congratulations on qualification and best of luck to all Lite teams! See you in round 2, as always - have fun, play hard!

NHLGamers, The ECL 11 Lite season has now progressed far enough that it's time for your Mid-season report. In this report we will be going through some of the groups, but taking a look at teams that have impressed and some that should have showed us a bit more. The style of this report might change a bit this time due to the fact that the Lite division has an increased number of teams. For this reason, I decided to attempt writing as widely as possible about the Lite season while keeping it brief in order to keep this report as readable as possible. So with readability and clarity in mind and with the objective of including as many teams as possible, some aspects might be covered at a glance. Who's hot, who's not? Fist off, some star teams and some teams which had not played so well when reflecting on the expectations these teams should have had before the season. Top performers ECDC Memmingen Esports As predicted in the season preview, this strong team has taken their place in the TOP 3 of the standings and has scored a huge number of goals - averaging 6,1 per game in fact. Attacker @Wowa_1995 (36+46) is currently at 3rd position in the league scoring race. Tic Tac Toes Prior to the season Tic Tac Toes was predicted to be one of the better teams of the season. Last season went well and their form has continued from where it left off. @Wpaanane (39+46) and @Artuzio (35+41) are among their stars of the season so far. @L4nnisto was initially expected to start as goalie but has played as a skater (6+36) and seen zero action in net so far. MUKIMIEHET The legendary team that has been reunited and was one of the strongest contenders in the preview of the season. They haven't been as dominantly strong as they could have been but still played more or less like you might expect. @hpkfani has had a great season so far in terms of points (19+36) and @PCJP as a goalie (84,43 SV%) has performed outstandingly. Hokurit Same applies as for Tic Tac Toes. One of the success stories of last season continues their good form. In Group 5, Hokurit is one of the teams playing for the group win together with Dynastia. @Somerjoki as one of the best goalies (81,6 %) in Lite so far has been one of the teams key players contributing to their success. @jouni29 is Hokurit´s best in scoring currently (33+27). The team spent last weekend in bonding terms at a cabin somewhere in the Finnish wilderness - by the looks of it, the guys could have some shaky thumbs on Sunday evening, but all in all the team should come away a stronger unit. Dynastia Two of their players @Majuri20 (31+54) and @makichuk (57+27) are leading in scoring and assist stats which has had a tremendous impact on the whole teams performance. Dynastia is currently at the top of the table in group 5. They have some very experienced players and should be able to handle an upcoming playoff run well. Bjorkloven Esport Outstanding 100% win rate so far in 14 games at the writing time of this report. Scoring an average of 5,5 goals per game. Tremendous season at the group stage so far and has the potential to go undefeated but it remains to be seen if this form will continue in the playoffs. Strong finalist contender if they can even somehow keep up their level of play. @Tacterz(23+36) and @olgaaa71 (21+36) are the leading players of Bjorkloven Esports so far this season. SPIRIT SPIRIT is a squad in group 7 that has managed to go 17-0-0 so far into the season. Having a group of players from former Me Carvoset makes for a strong foundation and adding some well rounded pieces to that has seemed to work for the club. Currently @Toivonen_ at the right wing is their go-to-guy with a nice lead in the points department. Improvement expected TuTo Esports Expected a whole lot more than struggling to reach to play-off positions. Recently improved their playing a little bit potentially at the point of acquiring @topikeranen and results have followed. Has risen above the playoff line but still needs more points to remain in such a position. Has the potential to do better and have lost many games with only a 1 or 2 goal margin or in OT. If they reach playoffs they might still be a tough task for most opponents at the later stages of the season. Sjukstugan Last season was a success as along with teams like Tic Tac Toes and Hokurit that have proven most of their potential so far unlike Sjukstugan. The quality team Sjukstugan is you should and can expect a whole lot of more from them. At the moment in an 8 win streak but still needs to win more games to secure their place in the playoffs. Has some crucial games in last rounds of the regular series against TuTo Esports and EISFORCE Hockey. Has the experience to be a really tough playoff opponent. Group overview We are also going to take a short look at the groups in general and speculate a bit on playoff positions and the potential outcomes in the groups. The speculation is based on the time of writing which is Sunday, 6th of December and situations might have changed since. In some groups the top two places are quite clear already but all the other positions in the table are still wide open. Group 1 ECDC Memmingen Esports is a strong contender for winning the group. Almtuna and Hammarby Hockey are challengers but are more likely playing for positions 2 and 3. Positions 7-13 in the table are still open and most likely the last playoff places will be determined in the very last rounds of the regular season. One of the highlights in the playoff race is KohKae Esports vs Virtuoso towards the end of the season. KohKae Esports also has high stakes in their matches against Clowns on Ice who are also still in the pursuit playoffs so it will be a tough battle for sure. Some upcoming matchups to watch: Almtuna Esports vs Juggernauts (top 4 positions ) Remparts de tour Esports vs Almtuna Esports (top positions) Hammarby Hockey vs Blackjacks (top 4 positions) ECDC Memmingen vs Almtuna Esports (title-race) KohKae Esports vs Virtuoso (Playoff-race) KohKae Esports vs Clowns on Ice (Playoff-race) Group 2 Tic Tac Toes still have chances for the title. Pahat Pommittajat and Golden Nights are the two fiercest rivals to fight for the top spot. Ringette HC is not out of the battle yet either. Verket and Northern Legacy Esports are most likely to play for the last playoff place. The Last Line still needs more points to secure their place and DEG Esports are not yet completely out. Some teams have more games at the moment than others so that can give the edge to the team that has more games in pushing the pressure to the team that has some catching up to do. Some upcoming matchups to watch: The Last Line vs Golden Nights (Both fighting for crucial points) DEG Esports vs Pahat Pommittajat (Both fighting for crucial points) Tic Tac Toes vs Ringette HC (playing for top 4 places) Group 3 Bjorkloven Esports are convincingly going on towards winning the group. There are still teams in short distance who can still challenge like Exerceo and Sinister. In the playoff race the situation is as close as can be: nearly all teams between positions 5-13 can still reach playoffs and also drop out if they go on a cold run. Only the bottom team Mighty Stixxx is out of the playoffs for sure. Some upcoming matchups to watch: Bjorkloven Esports vs Sinister (top spot on the table) Grenoble BDL Esports vs Teutons (playoff race) Grenoble BDL vs Lulea Hockey (playoff race) Group 4 MUKIMIEHET have returned to ECL in convincing fashion. However the fight for the group #1 spot is still wide open. Teams like Sopranos and ASM Hockey are among the contenders racing for the last playoff spots with their matchup being one of the key battles determining the playoff race. In addition to that, ASM Hockey particularly still has some games against other teams in that mid-table range which are really important. Sopranos also has many important matches later in the regular season like the game against Northern Falcons which is important to both teams for different reasons: Northern Falcons is playing for a top 4 position whereas Sopranos fights for that last playoff spot. Some upcoming matchups to watch: MUKIMIEHET vs Calzone HC (top spot on the table) Sopranos vs ASM Hockey (playoff race) ASM Hockey vs Saucer Hockey (playoff race) Oton Letkutemppu vs Baby Goons (playoff race) Oton Letkutemppu vs ASM Hockey (playoff race) Group 5 Dynastia is leading quite clearly at the moment but Hokurit is trailing close behind. Arguably THE match of the regular season in the group - and probably in the entire division so far - is Dynastia vs Hokurit at the very last round of the regular season. Close to the playoff line the most interesting teams are the teams in positions 5-12. The point differences are very small and the last playoff spots will most likely be solidified in the very last games. Illumination, Handu Pumpulla, Night Shift Hockey and Bare Knuckles Hockey are the ones to watch going forward. Some upcoming matchups to watch: Dynastia vs Hokurit (top spot on the table) Illumination vs Handu Pumpulla (playoff race) Illumination vs Bare Knuckles Hockey (playoff race) Group 6 Group 6 is wide open and nearly all spots are open to contest. Therefore, many games are crucial towards the end of the season. It is very probable that all the positions in 1-8 range will not be solidified until the very last rounds. One of the most important matches are Burning Goats games against Rogle BK and Helter Skelter since the results of those matches play a major role in determining the last playoff spots. Old Farts against Armada Hockey and Black Sharks are some of the games that will decide the group winner. Black sharks and Old Farts will also be battling for #1 between the two of them. Some upcoming matchups to watch: Old Farts vs Armada Hockey (top spot on the table) Rogle BK vs Helter Skelter (playoff race) Helter Skelter vs Burning Goats (playoff race) Old Farts vs Black Sharks (top spot on the table) Rogle BK vs Burning Goats (playoff race) Group 7 Arguably the most notable race for the top spot is between Spirit and Tequila Sunrise who have matches to play against each other. TuTo Esports are finding themselves in the playoff race although they would have the potential to fight for the top spot. Their games against Syndrome and Sjukstugan will be tremendously important in deciding where they end up in the group. GIFU Hockey is another contender for winning the group and is currently in second place based on point average. Some upcoming matchups to watch: TuTo Esports vs Syndrome (playoff-race) Spirit vs Tequila Sunrise (title-battle) TuTo Esports vs Sjukstugan (playoff-race) Sjukstugan vs EISFORCE HOCKEY (playoff-race)

NHLGamers, The third tier of ECL competition - ECL 11 Lite - is about to launch its new season and we're excited as ever! Let's kick off this season preview by revealing the groups, whereafter we'll continue with highlighting a few teams to keep an eye on this season. Here are the groups for ECL 11 Lite: Teams to watch in ECL 11 Lite Season 10 ended with Sack Brothers winning the title and gaining promotion to the Pro division. Ducktales BK played a tremendous season but ultimately faltered 4-1 to the eventual champions. In the regular season teams like HV71 and ECDC Memmingen Esports both played a great season and might be extremely dangerous opponents in starting season (HV71 promoted to Pro based on previous performance). In fact HV71 lost to Ducktales - the finalists - in a quarter-final series and ECDC Memmingen played a huge second round series against Ducktales losing in Game 7 so both teams have showcased potential going into ECL 11. Two interesting teams that made huge contributions last season are missing from ECL 11 Lite and those are GENESIS and HUIPPUPASSI. GENESIS reached the quarterfinals after finishing 18th in the regular season whereas HUIPPUPASSI went even further to the semifinals from 10th place in the regular season. In the quarterfinals, HUIPPUPASSI beat EBR Esports Official and in the semifinals gave an admirable opposition to the eventual champions Sack Brothers. Both GENESIS and HUIPPUPASSI are playing Pro in this season under new names and colors - GENESIS as RCTIC and HUIPPUPASSI as GOONS. However, the fact that last seasons top performers are out opens up exciting opportunities for newcomers and other contender teams in Lite. HOKURIT is one of the teams expected to really shine in season 11. They finished 6th in the regular season and reached the quarterfinals in ECL 10, where HOKURIT eventually lost to Angry Cats who unfortunately doesn't make a return but would have been one of the teams to follow. As stated, notably many of last seasons top performers are missing. There might be numerous of reasons and most probable reason is that enough players that stood for those success stories last season either moved on to other teams or were unable to participate in ECL 11. That leaves a wide open space for many other teams to fill the gap like. Potential prospects are definitely Old Farts and Tic Tac Toes, who have some experience mixed with great talent on their rosters. Tic Tac Toes had a difficult regular season of ECL 10 but played well in the postseason and was eliminated by the eventual champions, whereas Old Farts had a similar season and saw a second round exit against EBR Esports Official. Powerhouse HC is also one of the candidates to see success this season in Lite as they finished 4th in the regular season of ECL 10 and reached round 2 in the playoffs. An exciting new ensemble for the Lite division is also Exerceo with several skilled players that have been seen at higher levels before. The club saw fair success in the FCL but suffered a first round playoff exit. Last but not least, MUKIMIEHET is an interesting team with several former Elite players in their roster. Players such as defenseman Janne @Janzuh Nyqvist or scoring machine and captain Ville @hpkfani Luukkonen who has been a top scorer at the Elite level for a long time are surely still in their own class at the Lite level. The team has also added Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen who represented Reality Check in the FCL and Black Horse last season in ECL while Petri-Christian @PCJP Pelkonen takes the reigns in net. MUKIMIEHET is reborn and while they have a long way to go, they will for sure be a contender in the Lite division this season. Players to watch in ECL 11 Lite Due to so many teams and players moving on to new challenges, the stage is also set for new stars to shine individually. We'll do our best to pick out some interesting prospects to fill those gaps. As stated before, we're expected ECDC Memmingen Esports to have a big season, which will be helped by players such as @Wowa_1995 stepping up. He is of the most prominent players from last season that can still be seen in the Lite division as he scored 30+46 in the regular season and added 12+11 in the playoffs. Also the very experienced @Bjono from Sjukstugan should be expected to thrive at the Lite level after a good performance last season, where the Swede put up 16+66 in the regular season and added 7+21 in the playoffs. On the topic of skilled Swedes, Bjorkloven Esport recently announced the acquisition of former Farjestad BK winger @Tacterz who should be a force at the Lite level depending on how much ice time he will see. To pick out a player with the potential to surprise is hard out of the massive pack, but @kim_johan dominated Neo last season by putting up 112 points and is looking to continue on that same path at the Lite level, it'll be interesting to see if he can keep it up. It's safe to say that the 112 teams in Lite will have their work cut out for them this season! Despite there being some strong teams to look out for, the title is up for grabs for anyone. With that being said, we wish all teams good luck with the upcoming seasons and remember to keep your eyes peeled for updates about upcoming matchups on social media, teams are getting active and will keep you updated.

NHLGamers, The season in our ECL 10 Pro Division ended recently as Black Horse managed to win the Pro Division title and with that gain direct promotion to Elite for next season. With all of the skill level and excitement involved, the finals were the best possible PR for console hockey and our beloved 6v6 game mode and most of all - the ECL and it's players. The ECL 10 Pro finals had a bit of everything: tight games, great goals, great defending, tactical and disciplined play and a very dramatic game seven conclusion. All in all a very worthy series to conclude our 10th season. The winner overcame tough phases during the series and Enigma´s title would not have been a major injustice. Black Horse held up against the opponents momentum in critical phases of the games and at the most important moment, scored the winner in overtime. Regular season The best team definitely won the Pro title although there were several good teams in contention throughout the season. Over the course of the regular season, Enigma was obviously one of them and the youngsters of Riven Johdolla also made an impressive run in their first Pro season. Växjö Lakers HC had a slow start but improved their record as the season progressed. Another great showing by a newcomer was seen from HanaaHC, who also played well in the regular season and eventually continued their form into the postseason. In the regular season, Kaupallinen Yhteistyö had to fight hard for their playoff position, it's a bit surprising for a team that after all participated in the Elite Qualification series before the ECL. Also, Blackdawgs was a minor surprise for finishing 6th in their regular season group. The team is generally strong but improved the longer the season progressed. Exen Esports (former Alliance HT) I would have expected to finish a little higher at the end of the regular season, due to the sheer amount of experience in the team. Leksands IF won Group 1 with a tight margin but faced immediate elimination in a major upset against HanaaHC in the first round. The Swedes have to go back to the drawing board after an impressive eSHL run that did not continue in the ECL. Playoffs In the playoffs the most impressive contribution was made by Enigma and HanaaHC, who also left off where they ended their regular season - top form. Växjö Lakers HC improved from below average to their high standard level just in time for the playoffs but ended up running into Enigma in the second round whereas Reality Check also was a team that seemed to peak at the end of the regular season, in time for the playoffs. Riven Johdolla played a tremendous regular season but faced quick elimination and disappointment in the playoffs. Blackdawgs caused a minor surprise by knocking TIKI TALK out in the first round. The bigger surprise was Hanaa HC knocking out the Group 1 winner Leksands IF - rumbling heard throughout the division as the newcomers were gunning for bigger opponents now. Kaupallinen Yhteistyö played against Black Horse in the first round - the future champion to be - and fought bravely taking the series into a seventh game. Notable players in the regular season The forward trio of Riven Johdolla were one of the most dominant collectives in recent Pro history throughout the regular season, continuing into the playoffs. Their playoff performance was slightly weaker than in the regular season but still significant - one of the biggest reasons for the newcomers faring well in their first Pro season. @Nieppii transferred to Enigma for this season and instantly made a great contribution to his new team. He was one of the most impactful players in the regular season and a big factor to Enigma´s great performance in the playoffs and that fact they were able to challenge Black Horse as well as they did in the finals. Notable Players in the playoffs As previously mentioned, @Nieppii was arguably one of the most visible individual players that made a huge performance in the playoffs and had a major effect in Enigma´s journey to the finals. Black Horses @Tapparafan and @PCJP were also other great names in the playoffs and there's no doubt about the fact that both of them had an instrumental role in the fact that their team eventually won the championship. The solid star players combined with competent backup led to the victory of BH. Especially in Game 7 @PCJP kept the team alive saving the crucial penalty shot at the later part of the third period. Vaxjö Lakers HC star @EDHOLMINHO also deserves a shoutout for being one of the key factors in elevating his teams play. @EDHOLMINHO boosted his own standard of play significantly and helped his team to upgrade their level. The top 6 of ECL 10 Pro @Tapparafan (Black Horse) - @Pasi Modry (Black Horse) - @laitineen64 (Black Horse) @Crisu_rottis (Enigma) - @Raikkoneeh (HanaaHC) @PCJP (Black Horse) These "top 6"-lists are always controversial and that's something to love in itself. Playoff performances and consistency was valued highly in these selections and that's why you'll see many finalists among the selections, but also a player like @Raikkoneeh was selected due to a high level of play throughout the season. This season it seemed like the competition at the LW spot was extremely tough, players such as @Nieppii and @EDHOLMINHO were left out due to the extreme scoring power of @Tapparafan. Which players would our NHLGamers pick? Please comment below.

NHLGamers, Tonight we're a starting the final series of the season in our Pro division and it's going to be a fierce fight between two capable teams that will give their all in order to rise to the top. Black Horse finished the regular season as the #1 seed in group two and the top team overall, whereas Enigma has had to cause an upset or two as they didn't have a cakewalk through the regular season, but have risen tot he occasion during the playoffs. Road to the finals Black Horse Round 1: vs Kaupallinen Yhteistyö 4-3 Round 2: vs Children of Ice 4-0 Semi-finals: vs Hanaa HC 4-0 Enigma Round 1: vs ZSC Esports 4-2 Round 2: vs Vaxjö Lakers HC 4-2 Semi-finals: vs Reality Check 4-3 The road to the finals has been very different for both of these teams. Black Horse had a tight first round against Kaupallinen Yhteistyo after which they have gone on an unbeaten streak and swept a bunch of skilled teams such as HanaaHC in the process. The key players of Black Horse have not been surprising. @Tapparafan as their top player in scoring stats and excellent goaltending by @PCJP has been the x-factor for this team without dismissing the contribution of the rest of the team. Especially the magnificient goaltending Black Horse have seen from @PCJP might provide an edge in the closing games of the season. As said, Enigma didn't run through the regular season without cough-ups, as expected from a newly formed team. The skilled guys went into the playoffs as 10th seed in total, which means they had to go up against better seeded teams in a few series - handled with ease. Enigma also has a very reliable goalie in @Jaakkomusta, who has been great for them in previous rounds. It is certain that the battle between the pipes will be one to keep an eye on throughout the finals. Enigmas offensive trio led by @Nieppii packs an impressive punch, but Black Horse is arguably a tighter unit. Despite having a tougher run to the finals, Enigma is no slouch and will put up an impressive showing which might very well grab them a handful of victories in this series. It's also impressive how Black Horse has managed to disassemble very skilled teams with ease. This is a series you won't want to miss. Prediction of the series The superb class of Black Horse will eventually be too much for Enigma who as experienced players with Elite experience under their belt could be exhausted by the season and not have the hunger that their opponents do. Although Enigma battled greatly in all rounds to the finals Black Horse is on a different level than Enigmas past opponents in terms of overall strength. Black Horse will win in 5-6 games. Watch games 1-3 TONIGHT at www.twitch.tv/nhlgamer starting 20 CEST!

NHLGamers, The exciting regular season of our Pro division is over for now and heads are turning towards the postseason. For some teams that might mean shifting focus towards coming tournaments, but we'll be taking a look at the ones continuing into the playoffs. It's time to take a look at the round 1 matchups and examine some key points in each one of them. As always, all series are played in best-of-7 fashion, meaning that four wins will grant access to the next round. A general impression of the first round matchups show a bunch of really evenly matched teams. One of two clear favorites can be found but overall, it's a free-for-all. Predicting eventual winners could be an impossible task, but as per usual, speculation is what we will provide. Let's see how we fare this time around and start getting ready for the playoffs of ECL 10 Pro! Leksands IF (1) vs HanaaHC (8) Leksands IF played an incredibly strong regular season throughout. HanaaHC also had a great showing but had 3 consecutive defeats at the end, which pushed them down in the standings. Maybe they jumped the gun a bit and were concentrated on the playoffs? HanaaHC has been playing very disciplined and had enough scoring power to win the tight games. The youngsters certainly do have what it takes to be successful, but it'll be exciting to see whether the sheer experience that Leksands IF has will prevail. As stated, an upset isn't out of the question and HanaaHC might steal a couple, but in the end Leksand should advance. Players to watch: @Isindar (33+33=66) Leksands IF @Hazard-laser (27+23=50) HanaaHC @Mikka (16+32=48) HanaaHC Prediction: Leksands IF in 6 Black Horse (1) vs Kaupallinen Yhteistyo (8) Both teams had good regular seasons, although KY had some interesting player turnover which might have had an effect. Neither one went on longer losing streaks. Kaupallinen Yhteistyö got a major boost since acquiring JANURI98. They are a strong team and the 8th seed can give the wrong impression about their true capabilities. In this series, we've got all the ingredients for fierce battle and I predict we can be up for an upset and see KY win the needed tight games. Black Horse has had a major weapon in their attack with experienced Wirtsuuu. It'll come down to the battle between attack and defense, but also which team will have a stronger supporting cast. Players to watch: @Tapparafan (49+29=78) Black Horse @JanneK. (11 W, 75,79 SV%, 2,8 GAA, 2 SO) Kaupallinen Yhteistyo @Krisutus (22+37=59) Kaupallinen Yhteistyo Prediction: Kaupallinen Yhteistyo in 7 Team Frosty (2) vs Sulkavan Sudet (7) Team Frosty is known for their good disciplined teamplay and great defending with the ability to win tight games. They are a big favorite in this series against Sulkavan Sudet, who had a pretty good regular season that finished with three consecutive wins. Perhaps Sudet are peaking to start the playoffs and can challenge Frosty? As said, Team Frosty gave an impression in the regular season to be able to win the low scoring games but playoffs are a different beast. On the other hand, it is a similar situation for Sulkavan Sudet. By playing a bunch of tight games and coming away on top, I'd say that Frosty are already in playoff mode and by finding that same focus, they will come out on top. Players to watch: @Naikou88 (25+26=51) Team Frosty @SpiderRoyal (22 W, 77,82 SV%, 1,9 GAA, 1 SO) Team Frosty @Oxdoggi (25+31=56) Sulkavan Sudet Prediction: Team Frosty in 7 Nordic Stars (2) vs Children of Ice (7) Both team have a high average level. Children of Ice have had a weaker season than expected whereas Nordic Stars probably performed a little better than expected. NS is one of those teams that seems to practice almost every night which could give them an advantage. Then again, Children of Ice consist of some of the most experienced players out there. I predict this series to be tighter than you might expect if you look only at the finishing positions in the regular season. Although NS is a major favorite, Children of Ice have the ability to extend this series. Players to watch: @Jerax13 (37+26=63) Nordic Stars @Jorma Parola (23+29=52) Children of Ice Prediction: Nordic Stars in 5 RPEAT Esports (3) vs Vaxjö Lakers (6) Vaxjö Lakers had a slow start to the season. However, since then they have improved their game and results tremendously. Despite their struggles, the Swedes are a high-quality team that know how to play when going into a playoff series against a viable opponent such as RPEAT Esports. Most likely, both teams will find that next gear and we'll see an all-out battle on the ice. Vaxjö Lakers HC has EDHOLMINHO as their main weapon on attack which might turn the series in their favor even if RPEAT Esports have the advantage based on regular season performances. The key players for RPEAT are Aze and Magizam, who will do all they can to stop VLH. Players to watch: @EDHOLMINHO (32+45=77) Vaxjö Lakers HC @Aze (21+25=46) RPEAT Esports @Magizam (17 W, 83,73 SV%, 1,71 GAA, 5 SO) RPEAT Esports Prediction: Vaxjö Lakers HC in 6 TIKI TALK (3) vs Blackdawgs (6) To cap off the regular season, TIKI TALK took the giant leap from 6th to 3rd place. They are in good form and a slight favorite in this series. Blackdawgs aren´t by any means without a chance in this series. They managed to win group 1 1st seed Leksands IF twice in the regular season, which shows that they have the ability to win big teams. TIKI has one of the best goalies in the Pro Division with Petterson12, who is a giant obstacle for Blackdawgs to overcome. Pettersson is the determining factor which will push TIKI to a win in this series. TIKI TALK must be aware of Blackdawgs' two top players responsible for over a total of 100 points combined: XxProArskaxX and ItzYung_Dzouvi. Players to watch: @itspardytime (39+30=69) TIKI TALK @Pettersson12 (21 W, 83,47 SV%, 2,07 GAA, 4 SO) TIKI TALK @TheArska (30+30=60) Blackdawgs @dzouvi (24+23=47) Blackdawgs Prediction: TIKI TALK in 5 Riven Johdolla (4) vs Reality Check (5) For me, this is without a doubt the series to watch in round 1. Riven Johdolla has a tremendously skilled line of attackers who all dominated the regular season in scoring statistics. They also have a very balanced team with reliable defense and a goalie that is capable of stealing games. Reality Check is a very similarily built team with equal scoring power and a capable defense. I predict a very tight series with few goals and a high likelihood of a game 7 finish. Playoffs are a different world compared to the regular season so can Riven Johdolla maintain their tremendous level in playoffs? Riven has all the chances to go through to the next round but I see Reality Check as a minor favorite in this series. The key to this series will be which offensive powerhouse can eliminate their counterpart. Players to watch: @Vattu__ (35+39=74) Riven Johdolla @BensaPoju (30+44=74) Riven Johdolla @ilikkaa (35+37=72) Riven Johdolla @jorma2001 (28+33=61) Reality Check @James (29+26=55) Reality Check @Pursuitti (20+31=51) Reality Check Prediction: Reality Check in 7 ZSC Esports (4) vs Enigma (5) In the regular season Enigmas performances were notable, having former Symphony player Nieppii lead the way for them. Although Enigma has some star players, I don't see the skill gap between these two teams as too large. Enigma left a very positive impression on me in the regular season and I wouldn't be surprised to see them advance. ZSC Esports have a special weapon in their defense. Their two go-to guys are high-scoring Bille1009 and Haldeem, who know how to quarterback plays but can also shut down the opposition. On the other hand, Enigma also has firepower in the defense with Crisu_Rottis at the forefront. We'll see if ZSC can match what Enigma throws at them in this exciting series. Players to watch: @Bille1990 (4+20=24) ZSC Esports @Haldeem (4+20=24) ZSC Esports @Nieppii (25+45=70) Enigma @Crisu_rottis (7+22=29) Enigma Prediction: Enigma in 6 As always, have fun - play hard!

NHLGamers, With the Pro season past the halfway point, it's time to take a look at the action that's been going on in our second highest division. The competition is fiercer than ever and as we're closing in on the playoffs, the stakes will only get higher. Let's get on with our midseason report: Top Teams Riven Johdolla has had a tremendous season so far. They were leading Group 1 and have successfully taken command of the top three positions in the point totals department. Also, their defenders are the leading players in the defenders point totals and +/- statistics. The success of young and hungry Riven Johdolla isn't a big surprise at all. The fact that they have several players leading the statistics of their positions isn´t a coincidence and has a significant connection to the overall performance of the team success like you may expect. In the last few days, Riven Johdolla has experienced some minor fluctuations in their positioning, but looks to be heading towards the playoffs with a high group stage finish. Team Frosty has also had a strong start in Group 1. In the games I have seen from them, their overall teamplay has been very well organized. Most of Team Frosty's games have seen very minimal scoring - both scored for and conceded. RPEAT Esports and Leksands IF recently made an incredible climb to the top positions in the standings after having the youngsters of Riven Johdolla lead the Group 1 earlier last week. In Group 2 Black Horse and HanaaHC are leading the pack - as they have been doing for a while now. HanaaHC I saw last week against Shooting Stars and the strong team spirit of Hanaa was apparent as the joy those guys play with was visible through their performances. Nordic Stars and ZSC Esports are also determined to fight for the leading positions in Group 2 as we are proceeding to the second half of the regular season. Playoff Battles Recently I saw the games of two teams battling for playoff positions: Exen esports (Group 1) and Shooting Stars (Group 2). Both were good in their games and still have chances in their near future, but utilizing their scoring opportunities must be way more clinical than before. Differences between the teams in contention of the last playoff spots are minimal in both groups, so none of the teams around those positions can afford to drop points. Another interesting team is Vaxjö Lakers, who are also battling for playoffs in Group 2, which is quite surprising after an exciting campaign in the eSHL. Kaupallinen Yhteistyo lost several key players recently, which has sent the team into something of a whirlwind. However, newly acquired goalie @JanneK. has been off to a hot start with the team and is a crucial component as they are battling for playoff position in Group 1. In the same group, Enigma is in pursuit of a place in the playoffs. Enigma should have been a title candidate but has surprisingly found that Pro competition wouldn't be a cakewalk for the skilled team. Notable players Some of the most notable players during the first half of the season has been without a doubt the attackers of Riven Johdolla, including @Vattu__, who has represented the white and blue for the last two seasons in the Lite Division. In Riven Johdolla, vattu_ seems to have found the right group of guys around him that have helped him to elevate his game to the next step. So far he has combined for nearly as many points as last season and there are still games left to go. There have been goalies in good form in several teams including Team Frosty, Exen Esports, Riven Johdolla, and Shooting Stars. We've seen many low scoring games and despite none of few goals - there have been opportunities to score a whole bunch. One of the key goalies has been @JanneK. from Kaupallinen Yhteistyo as mentioned earlier. He is a really important player as the team is battling for a their place in the postseason in Group 1. @Nieppii from Enigma has also showed his Elite-proven skill this season. He previously represented Symphony, but has recently moved to Enigma. The team is still battling for a playoff spot and Nieppii has been a key player in that push. In Group 2, Vaxjo Lakers LW @EDHOLMINHO has been in great form and is his teams leading scorer by a wide margin. In a somewhat underperforming team, he has been a glimpse of hope. Edholminho has maintained his level regardless of his teams performance. Matchups to watch going forward In the second half of the season, the battles for top seed will be interesting in both groups. In Group 1, Rpeat Esports and Leksands IF are scheduled to play each other on April 30th in a heated battle. On the same day there is a game between Kaupallinen Yhteistyö and Exen esports in which some important points in the battle for the last playoff spot are to be determined. we should see a low-scoring game with two teams showing a disciplined approach to the game, and on KY's side, we'll see one of the best goalies in the division. On the other hand, if we end up seeing either team in a desperate position, we might be in for a scoring explosion - you never know! In Group 2, Nordic Stars and Black Horse are scheduled for a battle on May 4th. That is a heated rivalry, which might be deciding someone's fate in the top 3 of the group. These teams are likely to make the postseason and therefore also have a chance to force their game on their opponents a bit more. That's going to be it for this snapshot into the action of the Pro season so far. What do you expect going forward? Let us know in the comments! As always, play hard - have fun!

NHLGamers, The ECL 9 Pro season is in the books with the last games in the finals having been played at the end of January. At the end of the line we got to see arguably the most talent packed final series ever on our second highest tier of competition. Both Delusion and Vesa Pompa HC consists players possessing tremendous personal skill. Both teams have also seen previous success, as Vesa Pompa are the reigning SCL champions and Delusion recently paved their way into the finals (and almost won!) of IS Cup 4. We've decided to take a closer look back at the final series between these two teams. Here's the road to the finals for both teams: Delusion 🏆 Vesa Pompa HC 🥈 Group stage record: 29-0-1 (1st) Group stage record: 26-2-2 (2nd) Round 1: vs Pata Hellalla (8) 4-0 Round 1: vs ZSC Lions (8) 4-0 Quarterfinals: vs Black Horse (8) 4-0 Quarterfinals: vs Reality Check (7) 4-2 Semifinals: vs GHETTO FIREBIRDS (4) 4-1 Semifinals: vs Gotham Knights (3) 4-3 Vesa Pompa HC had two tough series against both Reality Check and Gotham Knights. On the other side of the finals, Delusion had easier series in the first two rounds but somewhat tougher in the semifinals against the ever so strong GHETTO FIREBIRDS. The main question before the finals was which one of these teams were in better form, since Vesa Pompa had truly been battle tested whereas Delusion has been able to cruise through the season quite casually - granted this might be due to their overpowering skill compared to their competition. Games 1 & 2 - Tuesday, 28th of January, 2020 Game 1 - 4-1 Delusion W The first period was a rather tight ordeal but eventually Delusion led 1-0. In the second period Delusion was the more dominant part and with that widened their lead to 1-3 even though Vesa Pompa HC managed to score a lone goal. Throughout the remainder of the game, we did not see a comeback from the Swedes and Delusion takes game 1 in a convincing fashion. Game 2 - 3-4 Vesa Pompa HC W The second game of the series was certainly an outstanding bounce back by Vesa Pompa after getting embarrassed a bit to start the series. They were determined to even up the score and did so in a shootout. Delusion took a quick lead but the skilled Swedes countered with two of their own. All in all, the first night was a great indicator of the kind of action we were to see throughout the rest of the series. Games 3-6 - Wednesday, 29th of January, 2020 Game 3 - 5-1 Delusion W In game three, Delusion scores two nearly identical goals at the end of the first period - @Beniittto finds a breakaway opportunity twice and tickles twine with a great backhand shot on both chances. The second period was no different, but Delusion only netted one goal. We finish with an equally dominant third and chalk up another victory for the Finnish team. Delusion was simply the more efficient team and took advantage of the momentum in the game. Game 4 - 3-4 OT Vesa Pompa HC W We see a very similar storyline to the second game in the series, where Delusion opens the scoring, but Vesa Pompa quickly manages to gather themselves and get back in the game, this time with three quick unanswered markers. Once again, Delusion mounted a comeback and we entered overtime, in which Vesa Pompa's Finnish star @Nampa77 steps up and becomes the hero that ties up the series. Game 5 - 2-0 Delusion W To our surprise, the fifth game of the series was the one game where strict defensive play and patience finally was the key. The score was kept low due to the high stakes of the game - the winner would be merely one win away from the title. Delusion is the only team to get some scoring going, as they manage to net two whereas Vesa Pompa isn't as effective and gets shut down completely by a stellar defensive effort and strong play by @uhNikke in net for Delusion. Game 6 - 4-2 Delusion W Delusion had the series in a stranglehold and therefore Vesa Pompa needed their best game of the series in order to keep the games going. It has definitely not been a matter of playing bad for the Swedes, but Delusion is simply such a difficult team to beat. The major difference between the two teams has been capitalising on scoring opportunities.Once again, fans are treated to a defensive battle in which Delusion finds the back of the net twice until Vesa Pompa got their first marker. We saw some drama as Delusion had an opportunity to close out the series with a penalty shot by @Joukki at the end of the second period, but @Thunborg5 in net for Vesa Pompa draws the longer straw this time. Eventually, Delusion finds a way to stay ahead and finishes the game with a victory - we're ready to crown a new champion! The entire series was a very exciting bout between two tremendously skilled teams. Personally, I thought the play was very tight at even strength and the series could have gone either way was it not for the deadly efficiency that Delusion had in their scoring chances. Vesa Pompa put forth a great challenge to the eventual champions, but in the later games of the series a difference was evident and Delusion is a rightful champion of ECL 9 Pro. Congratulations!

NHLGamers, Playoffs in all our divisions are rolling on nicely and we're only starting to get into the really exciting games where the best of the best match up against each other. The Pro division this season has been as exciting as ever and as usual, we've seen some real powerhouses among the group. Without further ado, let's get into some previews about the upcoming series: Here's how the playoffs of ECL 9 Pro will be played from this point on: Quarterfinals: 9.1 - 15.1 Semifinals: 17.1 - 24.1 Finals: 26.1 - 2.2 All series are played in best-of-7 manner, meaning that the first team to amass four victories advances to the next round. Here are the matchups for the Quarterfinals of the ECL 9 Pro Playoffs: (1) Delusion vs Black Horse (8) To no surprise, Delusion had no difficulties in their first round series against Pata Hellalla. Advancing 4-0 and now meeting a slightly tougher opponent is not going to faze them either and their true test will come in the later stages of this tournament. Black Horse has a mountain to climb if they want to advance against a major favorite in this matchup. (2) Vesa Pompa HC vs Reality Check (7) Vesa Pompa HC played well in IS Cup 4 some months back and advanced with a comfortable 4-0 win over ZSC Lions in the first round of the ECL 9 playoffs. The team is expected to continue their good form, but beating a very skilled opponent in Reality Check won't be easy. Reality Check might challenge Vesa Pompa HC well and I would not be surprised if Game 7 is needed in this series. (3) Gotham Knights vs Vaxjo Lakers HC (6) This might be the one to watch in the quarterfinal round. Gotham might very well be the most long lived team in the NHLGamer era and they have eexperienced their fair share of ups and downs. After a fairly successful regular season campaign, they are looking to build on that foundation and overcome any obstacle they might face. Captain @ReDMisTi for Gotham is the biggest individual player in this series due to the x-factor that he possesses. Vaxjo on the other hand, I have some mixed feeling about. They are just about ready to get into their eSHL campaign which surely must be exciting but there is a risk that it takes away from their focus on this series. They are a solid team every step of the way and their performance will be determined by their level of focus. (4) GHETTO FIREBIRDS vs Kaupallinen Yhteistyo (5) I see GHETTO FIREBIRDS advancing from the first round as a minor surprise. They faced Sandstorm, who are a team stacked with talent, but this time it seems like the experience and teamplay of the FIREBIRDS prevailed. Kaupallinen Yhteistyo has a skilled roster lead by their high-powered offensive trio @Jooonasaurus, @Katuhessu (KrisutusB) and @Limbe65, who need to be shut down in the series. Overall I expect this matchup to be a tight one. The games ere expected to be rather low scoring and in the end the more disciplined team will come out on top. Good luck out there, as always - play hard and have fun!

NHLGamers, The ongoing season of our ECL Pro Division has progressed to somewhere around its midway point and with that it is appropriate to look back on what has happened so far. As far as I'm concerned there has been some tight games, some not so tight but all of the action has definitely been up to standards and tremendously enjoyable for a spectator. Rakish has been one very positive team to me that I've taken a liking to. Despite not performing too well and struggling to find consistent winning, they have recently managed to win the likes of Växjö Lakers, which is showing better waters ahead for that group. Group 1 1. Vesa Pompa HC 2. Children of Ice 3. Virtual Horizons eSports In group 1, Children of Ice and Vesa Pompa HC are at the top and it seems like it's going to be between the two of those to compete for the first position in the final standings. Vesa Pompa have some impressive performances as of late in the rearview mirror, a hard-fought IS Cup playoff series against the Elite table topping FILADELPHIA to mention one and that surely shows that they are one of the stronger teams in this division. The middle of the pack in this group is extremely tight and there's really no telling at this point which teams will be securing the last playoff spots. This upcoming week will be important for all teams. One of the most important games of this group is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10th as the top two in Children of Ice and Vesa Pompa HC will battle it out in a so called eight point matchup. Apart from the group title, there's a psychological edge at stake here, since it is almost inevitable that these teams will meet again down the line. Another very important bout in this group is the one between Horror Hockey and Shooting Stars, since both teams are currently below the playoff line but look to better their standing by acquiring some wins in this tight matchup. Group 2 1. Delusion 2. Reality Check HC 3. Kaupallinen Yhteistyo Group 2 is showing some more separation mostly due to the fact that Delusion a bit less surprisingly is wading through the pack with a clean record and the rest of the teams seem to have split points quite a lot. Rakish is probably the biggest upset in this group as they have a rather accomplished roster but have struggled mightily for the opening half of the season. Sandstorm, who fought well in IS Cup haven't found their stride yet in ECL and as a result are struggling to secure a spot in the playoffs. Växjö were expected to do a bit better, but will definitely be going to the playoffs if they keep up their current level of play. Kaupallinen Yhteistyo will be clashing with Växjö for a tough matchup preliminarily scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday. Sandstorm and Cowabunga Hockey will also be facing in an important matchup which determines an advantage near the playoff line. In this group, we will also be looking forward to the meeting between top two teams Delusion and Reality Check HC, Delusion will be going into that battle as a heavy favorite and Reality Check is looking to spoil the party. When taking a look at the point totals, it's clearly visible that Delusion has been the highest scoring team by a wide margin. Their dynamic duo @Joukki and @Beniittto reigns supreme with both of them being almost 20 points ahead of Reality Check duo @jorma2001 and @Pursuitti who are in... well... pursuit. It'll quite clearly be a battle within Delusion of who will be the top scorer this season. That'll be it for my short and sweet insight into what's been going on in our Pro division this season. The playoffs are right around the corner and we are as excited as ever to see who prevails when the big games start. Who would you guys pick out as a dark horse in the playoff race?

NHLGamers, Round 2 of the IS Cup 4 playoffs saw an interesting matchup rivalry as the 2018 Finnish champions FILADELPHIA faced the Swedish champions of this year - Vesa Pompa HC. The stacked rosters are led by good friends Eki and eken45jr respectively. Expectations for this series were through the roof even though FILA was widely considered the favourite heading into the games. Head-to-head (Regular season stats) TOP SCORER I_Eki_I (12GP, 12+38=50) vs eken45jr (12GP, 9+13=22) GOALTENDER FinKonna (6GP, 6W, 85.10 SV%, 1.16 GAA) vs Thunboorg (12GP, 9W, 84.80 SV%, 1.58 GAA) Game 1 Like a typical opening game in a series, we saw a tight game with a disciplined tactical approach on both sides, as a result very few goals. FILADELPHIA took the lead and in the third period Vesa Pompa equalized. Both sides defended well but we also saw a couple of stellar scoring chances in both ends of the rink. In overtime FILADEPHIA scored in an instant, just like they must have determined during the short period break. FILADELPHIA - Vesa Pompa HC 2-1 OT Game 2 FILADELPHIA took the lead by putting up two goals relatively early in the first period. Their play seemed superior to what felt like most of the game but just before the end of the second period Vesa Pompa scored to make it 2-1. After their disastrous beginning, Vesa Pompa managed to compose themselves and really deserved their first goal. The start of the third period was a cold shower to say the least, as FILA managed to get an early goal increasing the differential to two goals again. Vesa Pompa didn´t give up and about five minutes before the buzzer they notch another one. There were some chances for the Swedes at the end but overall FILADELPHIA was the better team and deserved their win. Looking at the big picture I think the differences between the two teams became clearer in this game despite the tight score and Vesa Pompas good performance. The series score is 2-0 and at this point it's hard to see Vesa Pompa mounting a comeback with how convincing FILA's game is looking. Vesa Pompa HC - FILADELPHIA 2-3 Game 3 It is commonly quite typical that the third win is hard to take in these best of 5 or best of 7 playoff series and that is exactly what happened this time around too. Vesa Pompa took the lead in the first period and they went for broke to get the their vital first win in this series. It was refreshing to see a new found confidence and a true balls to the wall effort by the Swedes but FILADELPHIA weathered the storm and knew that losing this game could end up being costly. FILADELPHIA dominated the game in terms of the shot statistics and did by no means resort to merely playing defense. Vesa Pompa was also in good form and kept the lead until the third period. FILADELPHIA managed to equalize on the powerplay when @PleeMaker acted as the closer at the end of a beautiful passing play. We had overtime and lots of it to ensue. These teams played well past the halfway mark of the second overtime period when finally FILA managed to strike gold. This time @Juunas finished a one-timer from close range. FILADELPHIA moves on by a sweep. FILADELPHIA - Vesa Pompa HC 2-1 OT Above: FILA OT goal in Game 3 to win the series All the games in this series were tight and two went to overtime. FILADELPHIA showed their strength and experience by managing to win games after being down by a goal twice. It was not result of coincidence but a result of determination and experience in playing together and a strong team spirit. Vesa Pompa put forth an enormous effort in challenging this top team and gave their best but this time, that wasn't enough. FILA was the better team in all areas and deservingly moves on to the quarterfinals. Which series should we cover next?

NHLGamers, The expectations were high both in the stands and on the ice as two Swedish top-tier teams clashed in a round 1 playoff series in IS Cup 4. On one side we have Växjö Lakers, a newly established team stacked with unrealized potential, full with youth and energy - on the other we have Synergy, who are now the juggernauts of Swedish virtual hockey. These teams competed in the same division in the group stage, where Växjö was the challenger and Synergy managed to win both games 4-1 and 3-0. That and the fact that we saw two outstanding Swedish teams go up against each other created a good hype for the matchup. Head-to-head (Regular season stats) TOP SCORER F_Normark (8GP, 10+21=31) vs EDHOLMINHO (12GP, 16+27=43) GOALTENDER Hullued (12GP, 8W, 76.52 SV%, 2.25 GAA) vs Rundqviiist (10GP, 9W, 90.90 SV%, 0.8 GAA) Game 1 Game 1 was quite the traditional affair in the sense that both teams started off with a tight set defensive scheme. The first period was scoreless but in the second Växjö took the lead only to see Synergy level the score minutes later. Växjö brought their young gun energy into game one and showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with. Both teams had their chances but at the 60-minute mark no additional goals had been scored. In overtime we saw a similar pattern continue, but eventually Växjö and @EDHOLMINHO managed to net a decisive goal. Synergy Hockey - Växjö Lakers HC 1-2 OT Game 2 The second game seemed to follow a very familiar agenda as both teams came out with a defense first mindset. In playoff hockey things change fast, however. Växjö seemed to be able to relax a bit more and find their stride offensively, which rather quickly led to them opening the scoring. Five goals for and a solid defense often wins you games as was the case with this one. Växjö puts a stranglehold on the series 2-0. Synergy is desperate to find new angles with their gameplan. Växjö Lakers HC - Synergy Hockey 5-1 Game 3 With Växjö being ahead 2-0 this third game was truly a do or die-situation for Synergy. A quite typical one at that too. This game was all about very disciplined and tactical play, few shots and even fewer scoring chances. Synergy managed to take the drivers seat with a goal late in the first. The meticulous trap game and solid team defense prevailed for what seemed to be an eternity until Växjö managed to break through and equalize. The goal came to start the third period and it was what you'd expect from these types of games - point shot with traffic at the net. Disciplined defensive battle ensued. It seemed the game was heading to overtime - like we saw in the first game - but Vaxjö executed a great playing pattern with quick passing and finished off a one-timer to score the decisive 2-1 goal with just 25 seconds to spare. The minor upset was reality. Synergy Hockey - Växjö Lakers HC 1-2 Synergy was a mild favorite to go through, but Vaxjö came to play and ultimately swept their opponents. With youthful energy, discipline and commitment to their gameplan they were clearly the better team in this series. Game two and the 5-1 win was surely the last straw that gave them the edge to take the whole series. Växjö also showed that they were the better team in the tight games. Good luck in the second round, boys! Which series should we follow closer in the next round?