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    FILADELPHIA is now Linköping HC

    NHLGamers,

    We’re closing in on the eSHL season and are about one month away from puckdrop and with that the time has come to announce yet another participating team. Linköping HC hails from the south of Sweden and has signed the very prestigious roster of FILADELPHIA. The team is regarded mostly as a Finnish group but their roster actually holds two Swedes as Joel @jtorro1233 Tourunen and the newest acquisition Casper @ICappeI Lundgren are sporting their colors.

    Linkoping_HC_Cover.jpg


    This acquisition raises the stakes significantly and is a great boost to the competitiveness of the entire league, as the former FILADELPHIA dominated the game in several ways during NHL 19 and has continued staying at the top in NHL 20 despite not quite reaching similar levels of success. Their star studded offense certainly needs no introductions with multi-champion Erik @Eki Tammenpää flanking the right side, “Mr. Selke” Joonas @Juunas Paatiala centering and the prodigal son turned seasoned and decorated veteran Paul @PleeMaker Arontie on the left. This trio will look to continue wreaking havoc now in the fresh colors of Linköping HC.

    "This acquisition shows that we mean business when entering the esports scene. We truly want our team to compete at the top level and show up when the brightest trophies are being dealt. There's no doubt that Casper together with his team will represent the LHC lion with pride and lead the way for our entry into esports", says Michael Sturehed, marketing manager at Linköping Hockey Club.

    Linköping Hockey Club roster:

    GOALTENDER
    #72 Casper @ICappeI Lundgren 🇸🇪

    DEFENSEMEN
    #27 Aleksi @loimmu Loimuvirta 🇫🇮
    #40 Joel @jtorro1233 Tourunen 🇸🇪
    #88 Joonas @SUPERVIRTA Virta 🇫🇮

    FORWARDS
    #25 Erik @Eki Tammenpää 🇫🇮
    #44 Paul @PleeMaker Arontie 🇫🇮
    #86 Joonas @Juunas Paatiala 🇫🇮
     

     

    Linkoping_HC_Roster.jpg
    The newest face in the team is also a very experienced player and is one of the most highly regarded Swedish talents playing the game currently. Goaltender Cappe joined the team on September 17th and has been as solid as ever in his new jersey since the transfer. Cappe was also one of the main facilitators in signing with Linköping, so we caught up with him for a chat about the situation:

    What was it about Linköping that enticed you the most?

    Ever since our first contact, Linköping impressed us with their attitude towards esports and their ambitions with this project. They sold the idea that this project will be a big part of the club and the LHC family going forward. We're also very honored to be representing a club with a great history of developing talented players and outstanding individuals.

    Despite you and Torro representing the club, FILADELPHIA is generelly regarded as a Finnish team. Were you set on participating in eSHL right froom the get go?

    Most definitely. As soon as information about the eSHL reached us, we made a decision to reach out to some teams and enquire about their interests. Sweden isn't that heavily represented at the top of the European standings, so we felt that we are in a great spot going into the negotiations. In my opinion it's interesting to see teams like for example Luleå, with varying nationalities competing at the top. 

    You recently assumed the role as the number one goalkeeper of FILADELPHIA after a long watch under the duo @sibeelius & @FinKonna. How has playing for you new team felt and was the transfer something that was planned long ahead?

    The transfer discussions happened rather quickly after our run in IS Cup 4. Sibe and Konna surely left me some big boots to fill, but I feel we've been doing great and the boys are making it comfortable to play behind them. Since day one, I've felt very welcome and a part of the team. It's not hard to feel right at home with a captain like @Juunas, what a great guy he is!

    The new league must be something of a dream come true for a Swedish competitive player. How does it feel to be one of the very best domestic talents in the league and what kind of goals have you set personally for the upcoming season?

    It's something we've been dreaming about for sure. Personally, I'm going to do everything in my power to win every game I play. I've got a winning mentality and losing is the absolute worst thing I know. As a team we're incredibly hyped about eSHL and will obviously be looking to put a trophy on the shelf at the end of the season.


    Currently the team stands second in the regular season of ECL 9 Elite and will be playing their last two games tonight against Luleå Hockey. Linköping has a chance to overtake their sweet rival HAVU Gaming for a number one seed going into the playoffs whereas Luleå is looking to secure a favorable matchup for their first round opponent. At the time of posting this article, you can head over to twitch.tv/I_Eki_I or twitch.tv/luleahockeyto watch the game.

     




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    Swedish hockey league

     

    Edit: Can't see the point of having a swedish league without the rules that only allows 1-2 foreign players on the ice, as in the german and russian league and as we had in the earlier swedish league? Isn't this just going to give us a another european league with fewer teams?

    Edit 2.0 (since I am not allowed to comment on this site any more) Edit by Admin: Sorry, accidentally had you assigned to the wrong user group! Should be fixed now!

    22 hours ago, Isindar said:

    100% agree. For me that’s a problem, now just watch other teams follow suit or fill their squads with Finnish players to bolster their chances. It all equals to another tournament similar to ECL, a blow to player growth in Sweden and my guess would be a less exciting product for the local Swedish viewers. 

    To be perfectly honest i can’t get my head around to as why you would even want to participate in a Swedish league with a fully fledged finnish team, absurd. 

    Exactly. The swedish community, and some others, was very excited when the word about a swedish league came out. The disappointment when we realized that this is just another european league just killed the hype. I know many people outside this community that thougt it would be fun to follow a swedish league with the swedish teams. Ridiculous many say..

    Most of this comes from the side that not belongs to the top-swedish teams. The side that was supposed to growth and bring new audience(?).

    19 hours ago, Egyptologen said:

    The biggest problem is that it kills the hype for the league. 
    If audience etc want to just watch skilled players there is ECL etc. The hype is surrounding the opportunity to watch SHL teams battle on virtual ice. Imo the Swedish Community need to grow. We need new talent and the best way to do so is creating interest around the teams and league. 
    Why even bother with a swedish league if it’s just about having the best teams? 

    Agree.

     

    14 hours ago, Boqvist3 said:

    I think it great when they sign top talent team. If you check elite there is top 3 teams how dominate and delusion is coming to.   Grattis boys👊

     

    14 hours ago, Janikka said:

    The influx of Finnish players was a given at the outset where, based on the description in the original announcement, this league will apparently have the most professional setting we've seen yet in competitive EASHL. Many players will naturally be drawn to that.

     

    I imagine SHL at the very least had a say in the rules for this league? I suppose they didn't request a restriction on the number of non-Swedish players.

    Why have different leagues as rcl gcl shl and ecl if they all will look the same? Pointless..

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    Linköping do as they always have done, trying to buy their first SHL title 😂 This time I have to admit that their chances are better than ever. GL!

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    1 timme sedan, Tauri säger:

    Swedish hockey league

     

    Edit: Can't see the point of having a swedish league without the rules that only allows 1-2 foreign players on the ice, as in the german and russian league and as we had in the earlier swedish league? Isn't this just going to give us a another european league with fewer teams?

    100% agree. For me that’s a problem, now just watch other teams follow suit or fill their squads with Finnish players to bolster their chances. It all equals to another tournament similar to ECL, a blow to player growth in Sweden and my guess would be a less exciting product for the local Swedish viewers. 

    To be perfectly honest i can’t get my head around to as why you would even want to participate in a Swedish league with a fully fledged finnish team, absurd. 

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    What is this it was a Swedish leauge. Now there Will just be way to many finnish like FILADELPHIA take a Swedish team. Now others team Will have to take in more finnish players too this is crazy. No new Swedish player Will be Able to come no new talents no more. And what about the Fans they wont like to watch this no passion no heart at all. How Will it be for the fans when the Most doesent can Swedish in the teams? Why no rules about that you can just have 1-2 foreign players why is this diffrent from the other leauges? ESHL I Think Will not go so Good not so many locals and swedes Will watch it,s just not in intrest because of all this. But maybe alot of Finnish guys Will watch what do I know but I thought that this leauge would be for the Swedish Community in first hand with heart and with passion! But I had wrong. 

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    I love that Linköping brings a team to eSHL! This is not the proper way to do it though, please have some honor and build your eSHL teams from Swedish talent. If you feel the need, spice it up with a Finnish star. 🏒

    I will definitely cheer for the teams that are trying to develop the Swedish EASHL scene this season, Linköping will not see my support as a fan 😈

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    2 tuntia sitten, Isindar kirjoitti:

    100% agree. For me that’s a problem, now just watch other teams follow suit or fill their squads with Finnish players to bolster their chances. It all equals to another tournament similar to ECL, a blow to player growth in Sweden and my guess would be a less exciting product for the local Swedish viewers. 

    To be perfectly honest i can’t get my head around to as why you would even want to participate in a Swedish league with a fully fledged finnish team, absurd. 

    Well I mean.. Wouldn’t any team, in any league, in any country, aim for the best players regardless of their ethnicity? I do understand your point but then again, what’s the actual problem? Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t most of the SHL teams as of now still mainly 70%~ Swedish? Like, imagine a scenario where the ”real” hockey team based in Linköping (or anywhere else) had a chance to either roster a Swedish player whose not so talented - or a player of other ethnicity whos really talented to raise their chances of success? Idk, maybe I’m wrong. 

    Edited by keranee
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    7 minuter sedan, keranee säger:

    Well I mean.. Wouldn’t any team, in any league, in any country, aim for the best players regardless of their ethnicity? I do understand your point but then again, what’s the actual problem? Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t most of the SHL teams as of now still mainly 70%~ Swedish? Like, imagine a scenario where the ”real” hockey team based in Linköping (or anywhere else) had a chance to either roster a Swedish player whose not so talented - or a player of other ethnicity whos really talented to raise their chances of success? Idk, maybe I’m wrong. 

    The biggest problem is that it kills the hype for the league. 
    If audience etc want to just watch skilled players there is ECL etc. The hype is surrounding the opportunity to watch SHL teams battle on virtual ice. Imo the Swedish Community need to grow. We need new talent and the best way to do so is creating interest around the teams and league. 
    Why even bother with a swedish league if it’s just about having the best teams? 

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    In my opinion... there have to be some "rule" about this "loaning" thing. Maybe something like u cant go back to next tournament same team where u left off for one tournament. This would prevent "top players" jumping on these tournaments, when they cant play with their real team in next tournament. And this would keeping these leagues on the right track.

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    Now that i think of it... I have to agree with many. Locality would be a strength for eSHL also on player list.

    2 tuntia sitten, keranee kirjoitti:

    Well I mean.. Wouldn’t any team, in any league, in any country, aim for the best players regardless of their ethnicity? I do understand your point but then again, what’s the actual problem? Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t most of the SHL teams as of now still mainly 70%~ Swedish? Like, imagine a scenario where the ”real” hockey team based in Linköping (or anywhere else) had a chance to either roster a Swedish player whose not so talented - or a player of other ethnicity whos really talented to raise their chances of success? Idk, maybe I’m wrong. 

    Doesnt many leagues have limits in the number of foreign players? Like KHL and NLA for excample.

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    Funny to see that it wasnt problem with Luleå.. They are 3/8 Swedish. 

     

    But we are very happy and excited to represent Linköping and bring more organizations in to this scene! Lets go boys! 

    Edited by loimmu
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    Well, yes FILA will probably win the first season. However to have such a clear winner might also be good for the Swedish nhl community. They will probably set a standard that Swedish teams will have to strive for.

    Might actually be good for development. To have a good team in a league usually makes other teams better as well. 

    Since there is no restrictions for other nationalities in the IS-cup I do believe it would be rather embarrassing for the swedes to have restrictions against other nationalities in eSHL. 

     

     

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    I think it great when they sign top talent team. If you check elite there is top 3 teams how dominate and delusion is coming to.   Grattis boys👊

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    The influx of Finnish players was a given at the outset where, based on the description in the original announcement, this league will apparently have the most professional setting we've seen yet in competitive EASHL. Many players will naturally be drawn to that.

     

    I imagine SHL at the very least had a say in the rules for this league? I suppose they didn't request a restriction on the number of non-Swedish players.

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    Still have to remember that this is a business too. This isn’t some charity project... FILA will give Linköping the best possible way to work with esport and that’s something that was important to the club. 

    As Loimmu said - We’re so excited to get this going with Linköping and to represent them in upcoming international tournaments. It feels great 💪🏻

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    Congratz boys! 

    (I'm too lazy to read) but for how long? 

    Kenu told us that swedish based organizations can't participate in eSM, FCL and IS - so what's the plan about that? 

    Will Bert Robertsson be there at the live-event? 

    Have they tested Surströmming yet?! 

    Cloetta choklad till man of the match?

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    10 hours ago, Tauri said:

    Swedish hockey league

     

    Edit: Can't see the point of having a swedish league without the rules that only allows 1-2 foreign players on the ice, as in the german and russian league and as we had in the earlier swedish league? Isn't this just going to give us a another european league with fewer teams?

    eECL 2.0 without this rule👀

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    12 tuntia sitten, Tauri kirjoitti:

    Swedish hockey league

     

    Edit: Can't see the point of having a swedish league without the rules that only allows 1-2 foreign players on the ice, as in the german and russian league and as we had in the earlier swedish league? Isn't this just going to give us a another european league with fewer teams?

    Edit 2.0 (since I am not allowed to comment on this site any more)

    Exactly. The swedish community, and some others, was very excited when the word about a swedish league came out. The disappointment when we realized that this is just another european league just killed the hype. I know many people outside this community that thougt it would be fun to follow a swedish league with the swedish teams. Ridiculous many say..

    Most of this comes from the side that not belongs to the top-swedish teams. The side that was supposed to growth and bring new audience(?).

    Agree.

     

     

    Why have different leagues as rcl gcl shl and ecl if they all will look the same? Pointless..

    Iagree your point. I know what you mean. My point was that its not filas fault if they get sign. We need rules for this and i hope it will pleases as all

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    I still think It's competive SHL season, in SHL (the real hockey) is also playing players from different nations. Neither some team has 2 swedes or 2 finns in their starting lineup doesnt matter imo. It just tells me that this is competive season and I think every team wants to win right?:D so why not pull to best roster. 

    If the same season would be for finland I wouldn't care at all if some team had team full of swedes, the point is to play (in this case) against different  finnish league teams.

    Dont mind my rallyenglish

    Edited by ramseyy2
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    2 hours ago, iSvamp said:

    Kenu told us that swedish based organizations can't participate in eSM, FCL and IS - so what's the plan about that? 

    Just for clarification, the eSM rules (written by the Finnish Esports Federation - SEUL)  in 2019 said that an organization would have to be based in Finland in order to be represented. I haven't seen the 2020 rules, so I can't comment on that, but wouldn't find it surprising if it was written in the same fashion.

    FCL was under the eSM license in 2019 and I believe that will be the case in 2020. However, the licensing hasn't been announced for the eSM 2020-2021 applications yet.

    No current announcements about any upcoming IS Cup, but unless it is operated under the eSM license, it is up to IS to decide what kind of tournament setting they want. IS Cup 4 was open to all of EU.

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    Regardless of this debate, I feel like there is huge untapped potential in the Swedish pool of console hockey fans. It would be healthy for the competition at the top to expand. We have some fantastic Swedish players as it is, but the elite playership is more Finn-heavy than I imagine it would be if we got more Swedes to notice the competitive scene. I know hockey is up against football in Sweden and football is more popular, but I'm not sure the current situation is an accurate reflection of the ratio between Swedish and Finnish virtual hockey players. I don't have the numbers to back up this hunch, though. Maybe I'm wrong and playing these games is truly an overwhelmingly Finnish phenomenon.

     

    I have no idea which way the high number of Finns in the eSHL will take the league's popularity in Sweden. @keranee said that around 70% of players in the league are still Swedish. That doesn't sound too bad.

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    14 minuter sedan, Janikka säger:

    Regardless of this debate, I feel like there is huge untapped potential in the Swedish pool of console hockey fans.

    Agreed. NHL12 saw more thriving Swedish teams than NHL 20. I think that eSHL could have helped the community grow. 

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     First reaction is the same as many others had - why is there no rules on how many users from other nations can join?

    Lets not forget that in real hockey there is line changes, some lines might have couple foreign players, but I´m willing to bet that if multiple Swedish teams in the real league has close to 3 lines of Finnish/other nationality players in the team while the Swedish players take a back seat, Swedish hockey association is not going to be too pleased.

    I don´t truly get why do you need to have SHL, as in another league where everybody can join? Basically the same product as ECL, but with different team names?Maybe other teams are building with Swedish players mostly and have couple other nationalities in there?

    Entertainment value for neutral viewers is not that high in my opinion, ECL elite teams fighting in different league to see who is the best - again. Same players, same lines - nothing changes? Icing on the cake, Linköping goes and gets FILA - perhaps the early favorites to win it and brings them over. Yes, great that there is top teams and players in the league, but who is going to watch? Who is this for?

    With my quick math only two Swedish players can be seen playing for Linköping. Perhaps Swedish players learn better by watching? Nothing says lets bring Swedish hockey into bigger window than getting a Finnish team steamroll the league, lets go! 

     

    Spoiler

    Djr7Y7vXgAEaZGx.jpg

     

     

     

     

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    Honestly I thought eSHL was going to be long term national league that would help Swedish NHL community to grow and bring more Swedish teams to other tournaments aswell, maybe to ’’chase the dream to play in your favourite club someday’’… Well I quess it’s still possible, most likely not in Linköping so soon tho :D.

    The nature of true eSports is to get the best players to make maximum money for the organization (business). Like Manchester City eSports getting every Chinese magic finger they can find. But it’s pretty clear money involved in this isn’t so much that it can be the reason.

    Hockey is one of the traditional sports that is loosing viewers to eSports. This ofc is a great way for SHL to market their teams and league to new audience. Linköping has chosen to do it through success. I’ve seen some eSHL teams recruiting players through tryouts which is nice and different. Maybe some local heroes will take them to success (romance). Hope the league will be well balanced and long lasting. 

    Anyway, it’s forward for the community. Let’s see how it developes.

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    5 tuntia sitten, loimmu kirjoitti:

    Funny to see that it wasnt problem with Luleå.. They are 3/8 Swedish. 

     

    But we are very happy and excited to represent Linköping and bring more organizations in to this scene! Lets go boys! 

    My comment was not really for Fila... but as a general thought. Good luck to you guys and i totally understand this decision by you guys.

    eSHL is now taking its first steps and format of the league is probably not exactly same that it will be after few seasons. And if some day we get to see other European real hockey leagues to jump in on eHockey with NHL Gamer, then we will see the final format of this show :) 

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    Can people stop being butthurt, this is a good thing for the scene as whole. There are still plenty of teams to those talents to rise, thats just a poor excuse. No matter is it sport or esport teams goal is to win and nationalism has only place when its world cup or representing your country. 

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