ECL '22 Winter: Wildcard team registrations are now open!

[iRSPe]

NHLGamers,

We have now opened registrations for Wildcard teams! After reading this article, you will know if your team can apply for a wildcard spot and how this will affect your team’s players.  If you haven't read our general information yet, we suggest you head over to our ECL '22 Winter season article.

What does "Wildcard team" mean?

A Wildcard team is a newly created team consisting of experienced community members with such experience and skill that could warrant playing at a higher level than the one the current team would otherwise be assigned to. Alternatively, a team that has strengthened significantly over the offseason can also be considered a Wildcard team.

How many Wildcard spots are there?

There are always four Wildcard spots up for grabs in the Pro and Lite divisions. 

How are Wildcard spots decided?

If there are more Wildcard eligible teams than spots are available, Wildcard qualifiers will be played. The final format is determined by the number of teams and the lineups of the registered teams (for example, if eight teams meet the Pro Wildcard requirements, then four of those will play in the Lite qualifiers and there is no room for those who have registered for the Lite Wildcard).

ECL '22 Pro Wildcard eligible teams

• Alliance HT
• Bastu
• Fiasko
• Nemesis
• Prima eSport
• Vaxjo Lakers
• WannaCry

Because of a total of 7 eligible teams the Wildcard Battle will be played and the four best teams will be playing in the Pro Qualifier. The format for the Pro Wildcard battle will be a group stage where each of the teams faces each other twice. The three teams that don't make the top 4 and thus don't make the Pro Qualifiers will be playing in the Lite Qualifiers.

ECL '22 Lite Wildcard eligible teams

• SEVERSTAL CHEREPOVETS

Schedule

• Sign up period: 2.- 6.12.
• Wildcard Battle: 7.- 12.12. 
• Lite Qualifiers: 13.- 22.12. 
• Pro Qualifiers: 13.- 22.12.

Team requirements

• Lite Qualifier Wildcard
  • Five former Lite starters
    • A starter is defined as having played 16 or more games in the ECL 12 season
• Pro Qualifier Wildcard
  • Three former Elite starters
  • Four former Pro starters
    • A starter is defined as having played 16 or more games in the ECL 12 season, or 20 or more games in the ECL 11 season

Special rules for wildcard teams

• To prevent teams from taking advantage, specifically recruiting players to bolster your chances in the qualifier that have no intention of remaining in the team beyond that, we have decided to enforce a soft roster lock post qualifier play.
  • If a former Elite player wants to participate in a qualifier for a Wildcard, Pro or Lite team, then they will be locked into that division at where the team ends up throughout the season
    • Transfer to a lower division is possible
  • If a former Pro player wants to participate in a qualifier for a Wildcard, Pro or Lite team, then they will be locked into that division at where the team ends up for 2 weeks (starting from the first game played in Pro that season)
    • Transfer to a lower division is possible
• Wildcard Qualifiers and Lite & Pro Qualifiers are part of the season so it is good to remember that only one transfer is allowed during the season
• Teams with a Lite division spot can apply for Wildcard status for Pro Qualifiers without losing their spot