In this document, I have done my absolute best to write about each individual rostered player as of October 29th. This includes free agent pickups done after the initial draft. Each franchise page has information about the franchise, a small paragraph about each player, a longer paragraph about their draft and overall team outlook, expectations for the franchise across Season 13, and finally predictions based on an educated guess from my experience with these players. After this section, I made small pieces about each free agent pickup as well. Please note that these are my predictions, in that I will be ultimately very wrong no matter what. None of these predictions are personal, just a few teams have to be on top and a few teams have to be on the bottom, no matter who they are. Nonetheless, enjoy reading and let me know what you think of it!

Bulls 

Historical Ranking: #1

• 2x MLE Champions (Season 11, 2’s)

• 4x Conference Champions (Season 8, 11, 12 (2s), 12 (3’s))

• 4x Division Champions (Season 8, 11, 12 (2s), 12 (3’s))

Franchise Manager: CHASER
General Manager: N/A

Legacy Player: Deluxe 

Players

BasiliskRL (20.0) 

(Round 1, Pick 9)(S12)(BUL)

After his stellar championship performance on the Bulls in Season 12, the popular streamer returns as a well-deserved  first round pickup rather than a waiver wire steal. His forte is in 3s as seen in both Premier League and 6mans, so the Bulls should have no problem building a solid roster upon his foundation. 

Lazarus (20.5)

(Round 2, Pick 2) (S11) (ECL, OUT)

This player shot his way up the leaderboards after performing well on the Outlaws. In his third season, he is looking to break his way into the top ten conversation, boasting a phenomenal 20.5 salary. His experience in other leagues with the Santa Fe Kings is sure to only help tone his skills and put the Bulls into contention. 

Mythic (18.0)

(Round 3, Pick 9) (S12) (EXP)

Serving as the third on the championship winning Philadelphia Plague in United Rogue, the Bulls aim to utilize him for the same purpose and replicate their success. Though the Express did not have the season they wanted to last season, a change of scenery and additional potential chemistry could make picking him at 29 at steal. If his activity is as good as it was last season, he will be a valuable asset.

KILT (19.5) 

(Round 4, Pick 2) (S7) (HAW, HIVE, BEA, AVI, FOX)

Rounding out this rather wholesome Bulls roster is KILT, one of the longest standing Premier League players. Having more Minor League Esports (MLE) experience than the rest of the roster combined is sure to make his team formidable and provide valuable support not only on the field but off the field for mentality. At the 32nd pick, KILT is an extremely worthwhile pick for CHASER and the rest of the franchise.

Analysis

The Bulls are placed in a tough position being in the Orange Conference. The overall winning aura of the Premier Bulls, particularly under CHASER, and the pressure of recreating the success of past seasons is definitely apparent. Without an overwhelmingly strong 2’s lineup, the Bulls’ focus will be on 3’s and creating a force out of typically solid support players. Each player on the Bulls this season theoretically played a secondary role last season (Basilisk with Deluxe, Lazarus with Lotty Lettuce, Mythic with Centurion/Jish, KILT with Zack) which is beneficial in that they are more likely to play as a team and be unselfish rather than play as three individuals. Overall, I am excited to see what the Bulls can pull off with these players and a lack of a “dominant” central player. In general, this team will be a pleasure to watch and the incredible amount of positive things I have both experienced and heard about the character of these players is unmatched across the league. Personally, I have not one bad interaction with any of these players and am certain that even while down they will still have an exceptional time. Only the best should be wished for this roster and is an excellent underdog figure for anyone not familiar to the Premier League to attach themselves to. 

Expectations

Doubles may be a tough prediction for this roster as they currently do not have any high tier players who are geared specifically to the gamemode. However, I have been wrong before and if either BasiliskRL/Lazarus work a bit to adapt their playstyles, they could make a break for a playoff appearance. While the Doubles outlook may be slightly bleak, the Standard playoff goal is highly feasible if chemistry develops between the starting three. Basilisk has been grinding on and off stream, with the potential to pop off with a surging Lazarus and fresh United Rogue champion Mythic. KILT provides a great replacement piece if fatigue arises and yet again an excellent mental presence to keep the team going.

Predictions

Doubles

16-34, 2-8 (5th in Orange Conference)

Standard

17-33, 2-8 (5th in Orange Conference)

Composite

33-67, 4-16 (9th in Premier League)

Express    

Historical Ranking: #5

• 1x Division Champions (Season 9)                 

Franchise Manager: C0P3x
General Manager: Rushy

Legacy Player: Gumbachi

Players

Lotty Lettuce (21.0)

(Round 1, Pick 3) (S9) (OUT, WOL)

At this point it is highly unlikely that anybody who has been around in the last few seasons would not understand why Lotty Lettuce went this high. In addition to being one of the best players in the last few seasons on the Outlaws, his recent success on Escape Velocity has only solidified him as a presence in the RL scene, not to mention his golden reputation as being extremely likeable. 

Zeenics (19.0)

(Round 2, Pick 10)(Rookie)

More commonly known as lxxnk in United Rogue, RLPC, and District, Zeenics could turn out to be this season’s Wovah and go on a tear with little stopping him. Impressive showings elsewhere with little MLE recognition is a recipe for an underrated team and paired with Lotty could make for a ridiculous duo. Ranked MMR means less in MLE, but 2060 in 3’s will make a few teams turn their heads.

Jolly Folly (19.5)

(Round 3, Pick 3) (S9) (ECL, EXP, SPA)

The Canadian is famous for his lengthy goodnight messages but what some may not realize is that he can be the greatest third in the entirety of PL if he meshes well with this roster. Reps with the Montreal Stags and Los Angeles Griffins in UR as well as stints in Nemesis and Frontier have prepared him for an opportunity like this, and he is fully capable of taking advantage.

Antee (18.5) 

(Round 4, Pick 8 )(S11) (SPA, ELI)

The last pickup of the draft for the Express is looking to prove himself this season. An off and on player the last few seasons, the European player is intent on establishing himself as a starting caliber player and grind through the ranks. This season he was a fourth round pick, but he could easily be taken early in the second this time next season.

Analysis

This team has something special on their hands. Lotty Lettuce serves as the apparent central player on the team, the obvious choice as an all-around workhorse and a practical guarantee to bring his team a deep playoff run as proven in his time on the Outlaws, Wolves, San Antonio Revenge, RLPC Storm, Jacksonville Pirates etc. Jolly Folly is arguably the greatest third man in the entire league and will provide great support as a playmaker for Lotty, having a keen ability in delivering the ball from nearly anywhere on the pitch no matter the situation speaking from first hand experience. Lotty and Folly are guaranteed in this situation: we know what to expect and what they are capable of giving the Express. What turns the Express from a contender to a championship favorite is Zeenics. Many MLE franchise managers and even Premier League players are unaware of his work on both the Los Angeles Orcas and Seattle Swarm, playing a do-it-all role that can take over a game whenever he feels like it. Getting a PC has led to this breakout season from Zeenics, and I believe he can fill in as a dual threat for the Express, diverting the attention from Lotty and opening a flurry of attacking opportunities to pop off and score both quickly and unexpectedly. Antee, with his up and coming determination, will be a great puzzle piece to fit in if something is not working quite as well as they would like, and provides the Express a high level perspective of what can be improved on and how the team can unlock their true potential. 

Expectations

The expectations will always be high with a team of this caliber. I believe that if Lotty Lettuce finds a Taki-esque partner in Doubles that they can put up a challenge in the Blue conference. However, their Standard capabilities to me exceed the contender level and make me view them as my favorite to represent the Blue Conference. Lotty Lettuce will not be satisfied until he has a championship and this may be the best season for it.

Predictions

Doubles

29-21, 6-4 (2nd in Blue Conference)

Standard

30-20, 7-3 (1st in Blue Conference)

Composite

59-41, 13-7 (Tied 1st in Premier League)

Hawks

Historical Ranking: #4

• 1x Conference Champions (Season 9)

• 1x Division Champions (Season 9)

Franchise Manager: Staas
General Manager: Staas

Legacy Player: TestGravity

Players

Evil (22.0)

(Round 1, Pick 7) (S12) (BUL)

Evil emerged as one of the most prominent rookies of Season 12, appearing in two finals and ultimately winning in Standard over a favored Knights squad. Evil is entering the peak of his Rocket League career, motivated to make the jump to CRL and use MLE to begin to gear up against those types of players. A player with few flaws and newfound motivation, Staas made an excellent choice.

BraidedAxe (19.5)

(Round 2, Pick 4) (S9) (BUL, SHD, BLI)

This is another great pickup for the Hawks in multiple ways. His Rocket League skill is quite obvious, finding regular season success on both the Shadow and Blizzard. In addition, his kind and fun demeanor is beneficial to the team culture, being someone who will interact with other players outside of the game. Pick 14 was about where he was expected to go with a high floor and makes for a safe selection for the Hawks.

Gumbachi (18.0)

(Round 3, Pick 7) (S9) (EXP, BUL, ELI)

Gumbachi joins the team that denied him a golden Season 9 on the Express. However, he now has a more polished cast surrounding him and Standard may be the gamemode where he can make a breakthrough to at least a championship appearance. While he has had a tougher time with the playoffs since his MVP performance, he is still in prime position to take the league by siege once again.

Sizzz (18.0)

(Round 4, Pick 4) (Rookie)

Sizzz is a little newer to the higher tier of RL leagues but has made a great effort to get accustomed to it, captaining for the Detroit Wolfpack last season and finishing it off with valuable Ramen Bowl reps on the Pittsburgh Phantoms. He would be my favorite to become a captain on this team, using his leadership skills to provide some direction and organization for this team.

Analysis

This will definitely be my favorite team to watch this season, and it is not particularly close. Staas and Evil planned their draft beautifully, scooping up multiple former first round Premier League picks in Gumbachi and BraidedAxe. They have many years of Standard experience together, playing together under Frost Esports together for a good amount of time and gaining valuable tournament experience that will make MLE look like a cakewalk. Three Supersonic Legends together with some previous chemistry will come out hot as soon as the season starts. Evil’s insight from being a coach for GamersRdy could also help give some perspective on the team and unlock their true potential. Sizzz also has a great opportunity to learn under these phenomenal players and while he may not be at starting level just yet, he will learn quickly and will be a great fill-in player when desired. My only qualm with this team may be motivation, but I trust that Staas will keep these guys on track and use the profound success of past Hawks teams to put them on pace for a great season. (If I were a free agent, this would be my team to pick.)

Expectations

High level Rocket League players are often focused on Standard, so a common thread with all of these teams will be with their Doubles. I think that all three can play well in Doubles if their heart desires, so they definitely are in contention. Their Standard ceiling is quite literally sky high. They can be the top team in Standard if they consistently play together, maintain upbeat communications, and are willing to give way a little bit for the benefit of the team. A championship appearance is within their realistic expectations. Yet again, I am excited to see what this team can do and think that Staas put together an interesting and phenomenal roster.

Predictions

Doubles

24-26, 4-6 (4th in Blue Conference)

Standard

28-22, 7-3 (2nd in Blue Conference)

Composite

52-48, 11-9 (6th in Premier League)

Hive

Historical Ranking: #9

• No Accolades

Franchise Manager: uh steve
General Manager: Paully.

Legacy Player: Squidd

Players

Nico (19.0) 

(Round 1, Pick 8) (Rookie)

Perhaps the most dominant Hoops player of all time, this was also the most easily forecasted pick of all time, being selected by uh steve. Nonetheless, it will be very interesting how Nico performs in leagues for the first time. His mechanics developed through high level extra modes may provide an advantage in Doubles but meshing well with other league members in Standard could be a new, exciting challenge.

Nate. (18.0)

(Round 2, Pick 3) (S11) (SHA, HIVE, BUL, RHI)

Nate has one of the highest growth potentials out of almost any PL player this season. Hidden in the depths of the Bulls roster last season, Nate was taken in hopes that his 1’s ability will immediately shine in Doubles and that he can translate well after adjusting to high tier Standard in the MLE. Though technically unproven in this league, he can quickly and quite easily make a name for himself on the Hive.

toxic (19.5)

(Round 3, Pick 8) (Rookie)

Another newcomer to the MLE, toxic is often seen teaming up with the likes of madmaxrk in RLPC. This league’s environment will be a big, new adjustment for him, teaming up with two solid players in Nico and Nate. If he remains motivated to work with his new teammates and willing to embrace the Hive identity, I believe he can be a star on this team and make them a triple swarm threat in Standard.

Martzy (18.5)

(Round 4, Pick 3) (Rookie)

The New Haven player makes his MLE debut as a fourth round pick, always a plus getting picked under such short notice. One of the best parts of being a rookie is having no expectations, so Martzy is sure to experience a season where he has the opportunity to prove himself and shoot up the draft boards for future seasons. That being said, Martzy is a very solid fourth option for this roster and I believe with some extra practice can make a great rotational player in Standard for this Hive roster.

Analysis

This season’s version of the Premier League Hive easily presents the most questions out of any of the ten teams. While they are all certainly highly qualified and all have the ability to compete with other rosters, three rookies and one player with little tangible MLE PL experience makes them hard, if not impossible to predict accurately long term. Each player possesses hard skills to give the ingredients for success but it is up to the motivated individuals and franchise manager, uh steve, to put it all together to make it into a great team product that the franchise will be proud to stand behind. They are one of the more mechanical teams in the league, so using the unpredictability that comes with it can create a deadly offensive attack that could be hard to defend against if not planned for.  While the team’s ability to compete against more solidified teams is a fair question to ask, the players on the team each have the ability to have breakout seasons and establish themselves as dangerous presences in the MLE, and that makes their series a must-watch event each week. 

Expectations

In all honesty, the expectations are lower for this team this season in my eyes. This is exactly the position the Hive wants to be in. With little league footage to go off of or first hand experiences against these players, game planning against the Hive will be rather difficult and could catch some teams off guard. A playoff appearance in either gamemode would be a fantastic result for them, although a true, well-informed prediction of the Hive is not in my reparateur at the moment. Doubles could be their route to the playoffs using the mechanical angle as justification. Only time will tell what we can easily expect out of the Hive. Nonetheless, they will be a fun team to watch and experience in Season 13.

Predictions

Doubles

15-35, 2-8 (5th in Blue Conference)

Standard

15-35, 2-8 (5th in Blue Conference)

Composite

30-70, 4-16 (10th in Premier League)

Hurricanes

Historical Ranking: #7

• 2x Division Champions (Season 11, 12 (2’s))

Franchise Manager: goldentornado17
General Manager: Squanchy

Legacy Player: TestGravity

Players

daffy (18.5)

(Round 1, Pick 6) (18.5) (Rookie)

It can be argued that daffy is the highest profile rookie to enter the MLE scene in Season 13. His multiple CRL appearances for UNCC and outstanding gameplay for the Baltimore Kraken and Kansas City Carnage make him an obvious choice at pick 6. If he can stay committed to MLE and make himself the next generational player of the Hurricanes, he can make deep playoff runs for seasons to come.

Kruncho (20.0)

(Round 2, Pick 5) (S12) (PIR)

After dominating in UR and RSC for so long, Kruncho made himself a staple of high tier PL gameplay after playing for the Pirates last season. His recent qualification for CRL under Brock University is just proof of his grind and willingness to improve himself season after season. Kruncho is only getting better, and I don’t see him stopping his reign anytime soon.

Anziety Killa (19.0)

(Round 3, Pick 5) (S12) (HUR)

Banx, now rebranded as Anziety Killa, returns to the Hurricanes after filling in early on a depleted roster last season. No matter the circumstances, he still found great success in both gamemodes, putting up a very respectable MVPR in both Doubles and Standard. If he can get along well with daffy and Kruncho, he will likely have high expectations for this team and hope to make it a more fulfilling season.

Devin (18.0)

(Round 4, Pick 5) (Rookie)

After bouncing around UR and RLPC teams for a bit of time, Devin makes his first appearance in the MLE. He will make a solid alternative to Anziety Killa, being malleable to whichever role he needs to fill at any time and many seasons of high level experience ensures that his arrival into MLE will be smooth. As the 35th pick, Devin is a solid choice to round out the Hurricanes.

Analysis

To me at least, this feels like a typical Hurricanes Premier League team: extremely high ceiling with a small chance of falling through the cracks. Daffy and Kruncho make two excellent core Standard players on the Hurricanes, with plenty of relevant experience to back them up (being able to compete in front of large audiences such as that in CollegeCarball and Rocket League’s main stream is massive for overall confidence). Anziety Killa is the obvious third, and if he can complete and complement the front two’s playstyles like he did last season with ChimpanJay, they have a solid chance of competing in the Blue Conference. Devin would also no doubt  be a great fit in a supporter role having played with similar players in a similar position in other leagues.  Mentioned with previous teams, long term motivation may come into question with this team. Maintaining focus for three months in a semi-pro league such as MLE can be a tough task for high tier players as they usually have more demanding needs to be met in their RL careers. However, if goldentornado17 can keep his team active and persistent, they can be hopeful for a playoff appearance at a minimum.

Expectations

The Hurricanes, along with many other teams in this analysis, are difficult to predict in Doubles. There are a lot of variables with individual skill relating to Doubles that makes it hard to see where they stand until a few series are under their belts. Daffy and Kruncho could be a devastating pair, but perhaps lack a perfectly adapted playstyle to truly excel in it. Standard is where the potential lies for this squad. I am certain none of these players would be happy with anything less than a playoff finals appearance, though tough competition may prevent that if they don’t have a perfect storm of chemistry among the starting three. Scrims are this team’s best friend in order to make their goals a reality.

Predictions

Doubles

24-26, 5-5 (3rd in Blue Conference)

Standard

26-24, 5-5 (4th in Blue Conference)

Composite

50-50, 10-10 (6th in Premier League)

Knights

Historical Ranking: #2

• 1x MLE Champions (Season 12 (2’s))

• 2x Conference Champions (Season 12 (2’s), 12 (3’s))

• 2x Division Champions (Season 10, 12 (2’s)) 

Franchise Manager: Galaxy
General Manager: KyleCornDog

Legacy Player: Comp

Players

Perma (21.5)

(Round 1, Pick 4) (S10) (PUF, KNI)

Until recently, I did not believe that Perma played the game with much consistency. Galaxy then showed me his ninety-one hours in the last two weeks. Perma was no doubt a world class key player for the championship-winning Knights last season but with newfound interest, he could turn it up a notch and be the best player in the league. An excellent, and forecasted, pick at number four.

Windle (19.5)

(Round 2, Pick 1) (S11) (JETS)

The first combination between a Jet and Knight last season is found here, and is quite the pairing to say the least. Windle was dominant in both Doubles and Standard last season, leaving his BigTwig69 shell to reveal himself as a dual threat force to be reckoned with. He is for certain ready to get redemption after falling short in the conference finals, and refuses to be denied this time around. Galaxy did not have to think very long or hard to select Windle here.

Galaxy (17.5)

(Round 4, Pick 7) (S8) (SHA, BUL, KNI)

While Galaxy did not see much action on the star-studded lineup consisting of Comp, Perma, and ryker last season, he is finally ready to step into the spotlight and provide his services as a honorable rotational player in support of his two juggernaut teammates. Being one the lowest salaries in the league, I applaud him for putting himself out there and gaining the necessary experience needed to make the jump from a backup to a fully fledged starter. In terms of franchise management, Galaxy went all out on the first two players, trading his second and third round pick to move up and select Windle. He was the only FM to make a move like this, and it may just be a genius move if himself or another third of his choosing is able to fill in the gaps.

Analysis

Once again, Galaxy has put together a fantastic roster that he can be proud of. Perma’s ability to take over a series and lift up the players around him is exactly why he was brought back, and in combination with Windle, could have his best season yet (though is it even possible to beat his gameplay from last season?) Though Perma is separated from longtime Rocket League partner ryker for the first time in forever, he should have no problem meshing well with Windle, who is active in scrims and shows zero signs of slowing down his phenomenal track starting from S11 Master League to S12 Premier League SSL and conference finalist. Galaxy, as mentioned before, can make a great glue for this team and be a dedicated third while both Perma and Windle take care of the attacking. If he can be a menace on defense, it could be a great Standard team. What the main concern for this team could be is a final hangover, in which all of their members had great success last season and may be off their guard for the beginning of the new season. However, for now, all three players on this roster and recent free agent pickup mario seem motivated to grind throughout the season and stay active on this franchise, putting the team in prime position to have another great season. 

Expectations

The expectations for this season are obviously extremely high coming off two finals appearances and a Standard MLE trophy. I think that this team has an excellent chance of winning the Doubles championship, the fourth and eleventh pick making them the highest combined two picks of the draft. Anything less than a championship for them in this gamemode would be disappointing. In Standard, it relies on how well Galaxy and mario are able to fit into their roster. Mario played with other high tier players in other leagues recently, so he may be exactly what they need to pull off at least a conference final appearance in Standard. 

Predictions

Doubles

31-19, 7-3 (1st in Blue Conference)

Standard

27-23, 6-4 (3rd in Blue Conference)

Composite

58-42, 13-7 (Tied 3rd in Premier League)

Pirates

Historical Ranking: #3

• 3x Division Champions (Season 10, 12 (2’s), 12 (3’s))

Franchise Manager: Tater
General Manager: Virt

Legacy Player: Tater

Players

Tater (21.5)

(Round 1, Pick 5) (S7) (PIR)

After over two and a half years of knowing Tater, I could probably write an entire essay on his journey throughout the league. The top 100 player is obviously one of the best players in the league, and is probably the most determined to break through and make it to the finals. He has the skills, he has the plan, and he’s been improving his mentality each season. Now it’s time for him to finish the job.

madmaxrk (18.5)

(Round 2, Pick 6)(Rookie)

The former #1 pick in RSC and RLPC champion makes his first appearance in MLE, and I am not sure if the rest of the league is ready for him. His strong performance on the Jersey Jackals last season and overall incredible mechanical ability proves that he has what it takes to succeed in the MLE and be a frontrunner for Rookie of the Season.

rickie. (18.0)

(Round 3, Pick 5)(S12) (RHI)

rickie is an incredibly solid pickup. After grinding from the beginning of last season into the Season 13 preseason, he is definitely ready to make a statement as an underrated starter on the Pirates. His mechanical ability is definitely his strongest suite, being extremely unpredictable in almost every attacking scenario.

Prosperity2K (18.0) 

(Round 4, Pick 6) (S6) (KNI, HIVE, SAB, LIT)

The legend himself is here, and after a good season on a dimmer Lightning roster, he is here to light it up on the Pirates as a very solid substitute and even potential starter in Standard. Outside of his gameplay, Prosperity2K is an incredible asset to the Pirates close-knit franchise and will make an impact on every person he meets there. No matter the season he personally has, he will make the Pirates season a lot more fun.

Analysis

This Pirates roster will be extremely exciting to watch unfold, no matter the direction it may go. Potentially the highest ceiling in the league, with also a low floor if the playstyles and personalities do not mesh in the way Tater hopes they would. Each one of these players have a loud, mechanical playstyle that can provide with them an impossibly difficult to predict offense if the trio handles responsibility properly. With really no limit to their potential, there are only two potential downfalls for this roster: attitude and defense. Mentality is a great portion of success, and this team needs to ensure they remain upbeat and execute communications well in order to right the ship in tense situations instead of forcing one another to walk the plank. In terms of defense, they definitely can pull off their three playstyles together if they are able to establish a rigid rotation. Prosperity provides a plug and chug solution if they get in the way of each other, but Tater no doubt has a game plan for everything.. I am perhaps being a bit more critical of this roster than most, but that is because I believe they can be the best if they properly acclimate to each other in due time. 

Expectations

This team has the initial look of a championship winning Doubles roster. Tater, madmaxrk, and rickie. all have skillsets geared toward the gamemode. Anything less than representing the Orange Conference in Doubles this season would create a “what if” situation to reflect on for the Pirates. In Standard, there are a lot of definite pros that are turned into questionable variables. Mechanics are important, but rotation and comms are triumphant in the big picture. I think a playoff appearance is definitely in the cards, but to guarantee anything more replay reviews are the key for the Pirates. 

Predictions

Doubles

32-18, 8-2 (1st in Orange Conference)

Standard

27-23, 6-4 (3rd in Orange Conference)

Composite

59-41, 13-7 (Tied 1st in Premier League)

Rhinos

Historical Ranking: #10

• No Accolades

Franchise Manager: R E D
General Manager: Mayhem

Legacy Player: HersheyRL

Players

Deluxe (22.0)

(Round 1, Pick 1) (S9) (FOX, BUL)

Truthfully, I have run out of things to say about Deluxe. UR Champion on the San Diego Armada, RLPC Champion on the Panthers, 2x MLE Champion on the Bulls, Odin Champion on the Maine Moose, probably some more I forgot about. He is simply a phenomenal player on the field and an obvious choice for the first overall pick. He has nothing left to prove in leagues, though he continues his reign of terror.

insanityRL (19.0)

(Round 2, Pick 9) (S12) (RHI)

Insanity has launched his way up the draft boards in the last few seasons, proving to be an excellent and probably one of, if not, best support players in the league. His success in other leagues such as with the Phoenix Thunder this season as the best performing $185 definitely caught some player’s eyes, so it’s about time he gets the respect he deserves this season and is solidified as a top 15 player in the league.

snoop (19.0)

(Round 3, Pick 1) (S11) (ELI, HUR, TYR)

At pick 21, snoop is a solid pickup for the Rhinos, rounding out the top three for this roster. A key part of the Maui Ancients, he hopes to use those skills to provide a supportive but offensively underrated role on this roster. Snoop may have not clicked as well as he wanted to with the Hurricanes and Tyrants of Season 12, but there is no doubt that he will be terrifying to play if he feels comfortable with his teammates.

R E D (18.0)

(Round 4, Pick 10) (S7) (KNI, PIR, HIVE, JETS)

R E D has had quite the interesting MLE career, bouncing around teams and finding an honestly impressive amount of success wherever he goes. However, this may be his greatest opportunity yet to find a championship as a player. He is a very solid player in Standard but perhaps needs a little bit more experience and will greatly benefit from learning from this squad of players he has assembled.

Analysis

The league screwed up. Badly. Like very badly. Letting Deluxe pick the team that he wanted to, in the fashion he wanted was a perfect plan devised by R E D, and probably the first idea that popped into head when the draft lottery gifted him with the first overall pick in the Premier League. This team has the obvious setup for a great Standard team, as previous runs with both Deluxe and insanity proved to be very fruitful. If snoop was handpicked, there is also little chance that snoop does not at least provide a great third for this squad. In terms of Doubles, it is a little conflicting. I messaged insanity the other day and asked “Do you hate 2’s?”. He responded to “Yes”. With that, let’s hope that snoop, R E D, or a free agent pickup is up to the task and can accompany the Doubles demon in Deluxe. Truthfully, I believe this will be one of the smoothest teams in the league and am struggling to come up with reasons as to why they wouldn’t be a top performing roster. Some questions in Doubles, but only confidence in their Standard capabilities in Season 13. 

Expectations 

This team in Doubles always has a great chance with Deluxe, but with questions surrounding his partner puts Deluxe’s third Doubles championship appearance in a row in jeopardy. I think a championship appearance for the Rhinos in this mode would be a great goal for them, and I am sure R E D would agree. As for Standard, not just an appearance, but a championship is what this team has in sight for themselves. They put together this squad for a reason, and they will be determined to not only meet but exceed the high expectations given to them by the rest of the community.

Predictions

Doubles

28-22, 6-4 (2nd in Orange Conference)

Standard

30-20, 7-3 (1st in Orange Conference)

Composite

58-42, 13-7 (Tied 3rd in Premier League)

Tyrants

Historical Ranking: #6

• 1x Division Champions (Season 10)

Franchise Manager: Taelo
General Manager: Tuba

Legacy Player: Zack

Players

vitali. (21.5)

(Round 1, Pick 2) (S7) (SPA, SPE, AVI, ECL, JETS)

Season 12’s first overall pick does not fall far here, getting scooped up at #2. Vitali is a very safe option, having a long history at the league’s top level while continuing to be one of the very best. His ability to mesh with almost every teammate he is paired up with is huge and is sure to have high expectations for this roster, hoping to break through to the finals for the first time this season.

Ls (19.0)

(Round 2, Pick 8) (S9) (SPE, LIT, TYR)

This player has experience in almost every single top community league, proving himself to be a great player wherever he goes. However, he is looking to have his first real success in the MLE this season, hoping to go farther in the playoffs this time around. One of my favorite players to play with in the league, he should have a great time on the Tyrants the third time around.

Atokad (18.0)

(Round 3, Pick 2) (S6) (HUR, BEA, FOX, SPA PIR, SHA, ECL, OUT)

Atokad is one of two players in PL who have played since Season 6, being the most seasoned veteran any team could ask for. His continual success each season is fantastic, making the playoffs consistently year after year. He also provides a massive community boost in PL, being one of the foundational pillars of this league dating back to his championship win with the Foxes in Season 8.

ryker (18.0)

(Round 4, Pick 9) (S10) (PUF, KNI)

If his internet gets working again, relative to draft position he is for sure the steal of this season’s draft. An MLE champion with the three-headed monster of a Knights roster, ryker is set up for success again with this squad. Although his season with Utah did not go as planned, the Forge Coaching founder is ready to go and prove why the other franchise managers made a mistake letting him slip to the last pick in the draft.

Analysis

Full disclosure, this is my own team. I will be viewing them favorably to let them know that I don’t hate them (ask Ls about my United Rogue power rankings last season). This team should be a terrifying team to go up against in both Doubles and Standard. Examining the prior chemistry, vitali and Atokad have been waiting season after season to link up once again and show the league what they can do. Ryker is also very familiar with vitali and Atokad , so there should be no off-the-field issues between these three personality wise. The real question here comes with Ls, seeing how he can fit into this roster as he technically has little to no experience with any of these players. However, Ls has been on so many teams with so many players across the years that with some practice, there should not be any problems. His reformed attitude also is a huge plus, so the process should be quite clean and smooth if all goes according to plan. This squad really has four potential starters, the other team having zero idea what is being thrown at them and solving a large issue that arises with Premier League teams: availability. If these four can figure it all out, they will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Expectations

The Doubles outlook for this team actually looks quite good, with vitali and Ls being great players for the gamemode. The potential is 100% there, but the execution through developed chemistry remains in question. If they get along in communications, they will be expecting a conference finals appearance or will be left heartbroken. In terms of Standard, if they can avoid the mistakes of last season and form a coherent roster that gets along, they can do anything and will for sure be expecting at least a conference finals appearance. Overall, a very fun and scary roster that should make meteoric waves across the league.

Predictions

Doubles

27-23, 6-4 (3rd in Orange Conference)

Standard

29-21, 6-4 (2nd in Orange Conference)

Composite

56-44, 12-8 (5th in Premier League)

Wizards

Historical Ranking: #8

• 1x Division Champions (Season 9)

Franchise Manager: Jamesy
General Manager: Jamesey

Legacy Player: Smrf.

Players

Wovah (21.5)

(Round 1, Pick 10) (S11) (JETS)

Arguably the most skilled player in the league, the Wizards made a great selection at pick #10, picking up a huge part of the Jets’ success last season with vitali and Windle. There may be reasons for why he fell this far, but I think with a newly reformed attitude and dedication Wovah will experience an excellent arc this season and become a surefire top three pick for the next season. He has the plan in place, and I have full faith that he can succeed anywhere with the right mentality.

JustTuck (19.0)

 (Round 2, Pick 7) (S8) (PAN, DOD, WIZ)

The wild-card Canadian was taken quite high after a long trip to the Yukon over the past year, but he is determined to pick up where he left off on the Wizards. Tuck was a very high level player in previous seasons and if he can regain his skills from previous seasons after an extended break, the former UR champion can be a great accompanying player for Wovah and his other teammates.

Distant (18.0)

(Round 3, Pick 4) (S10) (SPA, ELI)

Distant at this pick is a steal. He had a bit of a difficult time in Season 12 with the Elite but can rebound with a new environment and a fresh slate of teammates that could provide him with newfound motivation and a place to reinvent himself. The reason I believe he falls to the third round is a lack of name recognition, so great job by Jamesy for recognizing the talent. 

Kent (18.0)

(Round 3, Pick 10)(Rookie)

The Washington Rebellion captain jumps over to MLE for the first time, and is taken at pick #30 to be on the Wizards. While he is usually on the lower end of salaries, he can learn from some of the best here and get some valuable playing time. His leadership experience puts him in a great position to right the team at any time.

Delta (19.0)

(Round 4, Pick 1) (S10) (DOD)

Sorry Delta, you are too large to fit on one page with the rest of the team. Better luck next time. All jokes aside, Delta has one of the best attitudes and personalities in the league, making him a pleasure to whatever franchise manager drafts him. He is also a grinder, setting an example for worth ethic on his new franchise and will motivate his teammates to get into shape and hopefully have a great season.

Analysis

In my opinion, this team made a lot of interesting picks in the draft, having the most selections in the draft at five in varying positions (10, 17, 24, 30, 31). While I do think this team has capability, the core of the team’s success may have to come from one player: Wovah. If he can boost his teammates’ gameplay and provide himself as a beacon to lift up his team’s mentality, they can succeed at this level. JustTuck, Distant Kent, and Delta are also solid teammates capable of rising to a high level, they just need some motivation and drive to get there and mesh correctly. I think the one possible pitfall of this team would be mentality. There are few players on this team who need some boost in confidence and motivation when it comes down to tough moments. I would rely on Delta and Kent specifically to bring this team up and change their attitude to positive and upbeat in these certain times. The number one thing that matters in the Premier League is chemistry. It does not matter the skill or the players you have at the beginning of the season, it’s the developments they make throughout the season to be a team (see Season 9 Elite).

Expectations

The story is really the same for both gamemodes for the Wizards. They need to bond and connect well in order to get anywhere. Without it, it may be a tough and brutal season with this level of competition. Wovah has the ability to take over any game he wants, but truthfully he is only one player. It is up to the other players to step up and shine to really make this team deadly. I think their initial goal would be to make the playoffs in either mode, and then go from there.

Predictions

Doubles

24-26, 4-6 (4th in Blue Conference)

Standard

21-29, 3-7 (4th in Blue Conference)

Composite

45-55, 7-13 (8th in Premier League)

Free Agent Pickups

Hawks

Lightning (17.5)

(S8) (BUL, SHD, SHA)

This player was on my draft board, having a long history in the league and a high level of mechanical skill that makes him a great backup pickup. He will love being on the Hawks, providing a great support in either Doubles or Standard when the time comes. I think that Lightning has the opportunity to make the jump to starter on a roster this season if the time arises.

Jrdn. (18.0)

(S11) (LIT)

The new Master League rankup had a great time on the Lightning last season, enjoying a deep playoff run with AKAIceborg. His time in ML was thankfully short lived however, as he has the potential to compete at the Premier League level. If he remains active in scrims and maybe expands his experience to other leagues, he can expect to keep seeing meaningful growth each season. Again, I am very jealous of any free agent who gets to join this squad.

Hive

Krax (18.0)

(Rookie)

As soon as I saw his Hoops experience, I stereotypically predicted that he would be drafted by the Hive. While he was not drafted, I was still spot-on with his landing spot, going to uh steve’s team with fellow Hoops player Nico. Not much is known about Krax at least in community leagues, so it will be interesting to see how he does at this level and how his skills translate to tense series such as those in MLE.

Knights

peach (18.5)

Peach was actually quite high up in my list of players to draft, but as the draft does, my plans changed. His 1800+ peak and Penn State background (a notable school for CRL) piqued many teams interest and of course he was scooped up quickly by the Knights, Galaxy having a great talent for picking up unrecognized players. His interest in being a captain may also be valuable, and I think he will have a great first season.

Pirates

Mj (18.0)

(S12) (LIT)

After getting some experience on the Lightning roster last season, Mj is now opting to offer his services to the Pirates. While he may not get a ton of playing time on this roster, I still think joining this squad is an excellent idea if he is serious about developing as a player and getting real team experience. His mechanics should also become amazing if he’s watching their scrims and games.

Rhinos

SADik_CAT (18.0)

(S11) (BEA, FLA)

Activity is a huge get for any Premier League team, and SAD_ik will be a good booster for team morale as he is always willing to get involved. This is a very stacked roster so yet again participating in actual matches may be a tough get, but I have no doubt that SADik_CAT will enjoy being on this franchise under new franchise manager R E D.

Siphrry (18.0)

(Rookie)

The FDL top league finalist makes his appearance in the MLE, taking a snug spot on the Rhino’s roster. Although not a ton of players may know who he is, he may be a great fit to accompany Deluxe as a substitute and may sneak out a few series wins if given the chance. Siphrry is another great underrated pickup and the Rhinos will be glad that they picked him up.

Tyrants

Almost Magic Mike (18.5)

(Rookie)

The Major RLPC regular is a part of a long list of players transferring their way over to the MLE, hoping to find something just like it when they are having their down time. While I did sign him last season and he almost played, he is a rookie as he has not had the chance to show what he made of to the league. He will be a great fill-in for a stacked Tyrants’ Standard roster.

If you were not able to catch the Rocket League Draft for Season 13, we have you covered with some highlights! We’ll go through the first four leagues of the draft: Foundation, Academy, Champion and Master. A separate article will be recapping the Premier League exclusively. The first four leagues were three-round standard drafts inversely based on when teams were eliminated during the Season 12 playoffs with a lottery for non-playoff teams. Our Premier League has a new look this season with ten teams participating in a four-round snake draft, all based on a lottery. Before we get into the breakdown, let’s take a look at how you can aim to be a first round pick next season!

Forge Coaching

Looking to up your future draft stock? Worried more about a championship? No matter where you are on your road to Rocket League improvement, Forge Coaching has you covered! With a plethora of very experienced coaches to choose from, it is very easy to find what you are looking for. With a friendly staff and an easy to use discord server, it has never been easier to get tips from high level players with hundreds of hours of coaching. Even outside of a session, you can find easy and free help by just hanging around the server. As someone who has purchased multiple sessions, I have been very satisfied with my coaching and am always looking forward to going back. They make things really easy to understand whether you are a newer player or you have been hard stuck in your rank for a very long time. Currently there is a 20% discount when using code “MLE” at checkout, so what are you waiting for? Elevate your game and become the next MLE champion! https://discord.gg/ZEHcdHk

Foundation League

Foundation League (FL) is home to some of the biggest scrim grinders in all of Minor League Esports (MLE), and it is not particularly close. Since the scrim bot debuted back in February, there are only three people that have eclipsed 1,000 scrim games played, and Foundation League is home to all three of them. As MLE’s lowest level league, FL is usually a revolving door of up and coming talent who burst onto the scene and quickly rank up to the higher league. Like most drafts, FL is usually full of new surprises with some familiar faces sprinkled throughout.

Who’s new?

Sometimes all that’s needed are a couple of months to show us what you have. Sloppi, Nimrod623, Pakkteeya, Curlzz, and Dimensions have been active since joining the league over the summer and are being repaid by being taken in the first half of the draft. They had very high draft stock and will be looking to prove that they are here to stay and make an impact.

Who’s been here?

MLE is a community equally focused on friendships and improvement. For some, there is much to prove talent-wise, and for others, they have found a home at MLE and are looking to contribute in any way possible. With a combined more than 11.5 years here, Bachem, Ryzor, OneHandMedic, GreenGoFantastic, and Inebriated Yooper look to be foundational pieces for their team as they usher in a new generation of Rocket Leaguers looking to make an impact on the league. 

Who to look out for?

Scrimming has been a great way to get on the radar of franchise staff, but is it possible within your first month here? Well, Alvin15k, Krabb_Lad, Prestondew00, BCFluffy, and Cujo have the answer for you. They were all drafted within just 30 days of joining the server, and they’ll be out to show that their franchises were smart in picking them up en route to a championship.

FL player to watch:

Sloppi joined the server just over three months ago with the message “Ready to grind for a championship” and the Wolves took that very seriously by using their #1 overall pick on him. He’s been on an absolute tear on the scrim bot since joining, with over 650 individual games played. Despite being more of a 3s player, Sloppi has put up big numbers in both game modes. Looking across his stats, there is a lot of dark green; the darker the green, the higher they are on the leaderboard in that specific stat. While still a 9 salary, Sloppi will be looking to make a big splash in Foundation League this season. 

Academy League

If you haven’t seen much of the Academy League (AL) since Season 12, the draft might have surprised you. However, if you have paid attention to the copious amounts of scrimming that has been done over the past couple months, you might not be surprised by the majority of names on the draft board. Along with Foundation League, the Academy League is one of the top two most scrimmed leagues, and it appears that peoples’ hard work has paid off in the draft!

Who’s new? 

We have some new talent appearing in the first ten picks of the draft. Kaliber spent some time as a Free Agent last season, and this will be their first full season in MLE on a team. Joining them as top ten picks are Lucy, Poisson, Kwalk, and FlyFyre, all who have just joined the league here in the last couple months. They will be looking to make big impacts during the regular season to prove they were worth their pick.

Who’s been here?

Many other first rounders were faces we have been happy to see for years now. TeaBoneJones, cozyboy, shnozz, AptFox, and Tomez have a combined 15+ years of service in MLE, and are looking to be backbones for their teams as they look to make playoff runs. A common storyline is the rugged veteran who can stay calm and lead the newer faces to successful seasons, and all of these picks will be looking to build upon their careers.

Who to look out for?

Do you remember your first month in MLE? The adjustment time always varies, but for these particular players, they’re looking to make an immediate splash. Snowfish, swooper, iMACandCHEEZ, Crumbsss, SaltyOliveOil, SendPie, and Twilight were all drafted over the weekend within a month of joining the server. They’ll be looking to bring the new blood and make a name for themselves as they race towards that top spot in the league. 

AL player to watch:

You may have heard of him, but you have never actually heard him. The man without a mic, Purpleb0x started in FL last season with gaudy numbers before ranking out to AL, where he was not able to play much due to his limited availability. Since then, he has given up his 2015 Macbook Air and moved to a laptop much more suitable to run Rocket League. With that, he has shot up the scrim leaderboards from the last two months as he sits at #1 overall in 2s MVPR for those with more than 20 games played. I am sure the Hawks were thrilled to see him still available in the middle of the second round. At just an 11.5 salary, he will be looking to make a deep playoff run, and not saying a word about it.

Champion League

With the Champion League (CL) draft split over two days, there was much built up anticipation in the twenty something hours between. The draft was filled with many familiar names and new faces. As always, no matter your tenure in MLE, everyone is out to prove that they have what it takes to be drafted and help bring their team MLE glory!

Who’s new?

There were several names who did not have to wait for day two for their name to be called. Cranked, KauffBro, Zdog2017, JKFrost, Crossy4, and Dewbert all went in the first round in their first full season here MLE. Whether they killed it in tryouts, in scrims, or smashed their way through AL to be a first round CL pick, they are ready to show MLE what they have and take their teams to new heights with their new blood.

Who’s been here?

As always, we have some familiar faces, but now in new places. Wray, having served as the head of the Wolves Franchise for many seasons now, is jumping back into the player pool and was selected by the Flames. Deli is making a comeback to play, and longtime members WolfAlone and pav look to make a splash on their new teams. These players have combined over 13 years in the server and know what it takes to have success. 

Who to look out for? 

As we have already pointed out, there are lots of new faces around here, ready to make an impact. And when we say new, we mean it. Look out for these players who had been in the server less than a month before getting snagged very quickly in the draft! Frehgrunce, Peachy, TramplingCows, RobbyBobby, and Virtual Jesus are looking to capitalize on their quick impressions and bring trophies home. 

CL player to watch:

No one has played more CL scrims than Cranked. In the last two months, he has put up extremely consistent numbers as he sits close to the top of every tracked stats in 2s. His 3s stats are also above average, and he boasts one of the best winning percentages in 3s, with over 100 games played. This is a big reason that he landed at #7 overall to the Elite. As an all-around player, he excels on offense and defense. With a 14 salary he should be making a lot of noise on the CL scene for a majority of the season.

Master League

Many have anticipated the Master League (ML) draft since the end of last season. ML saw a lot of ups and downs as many players ranked out to the top league (PL) and up-and-coming CL rank outs wanted to show what they had to offer. With the smallest player pool out of the three leagues with 32 franchises, we are excited to see many new names with some of chiseled veterans sprinkled in as well. 

Who’s new?

Looking to inject new life are many first rounders who found just enough of a footing before the draft. As they move into their first full season as rostered players in MLE, be on the lookout for Akina, Uno Uno Seis, Algix, Renku, Pops Ryan, albinomuffin, and Jake as all of their teams found them worthy of their first round draft pick.

Who’s been here?

Whether they have been in the GC MMR range for years or they have worked their way up through the leagues throughout the seasons, ML is home to many of MLE’s longest standing members. Just a few to look out for, who make up over a combined twenty-one years in the server, are W., Haimgame,  Jdubbz, Crey2k, and Manatee. They were just a few of many who were drafted for their skill on the pitch and potential leadership on the team.

Who to look out for?

As previously mentioned, franchise staff were eager to see more ML players join the league over the offseason. These players made a very quick impact as they were all drafted within just thirty days of being in the server. Deadzie, Arju, Taiyo, Beast, Viper., and remi, have clearly already made their marks with their teams and look to make their mark on all of MLE here in season 13.

ML player to watch:

Akina is looking to prove the Hive right by using their #1 overall pick on them. They had an extremely short stint last season with the Wizards, drafted and then subsequently ranked out to PL the following Monday and remained an FA for the rest of the season. After a little bit of league distribution, they are back in ML and showing they are a top dog. Sitting at #2 and #3, in 2s and 3s respectively, on the leaderboards for MVPR over the last two months, they are ready to be the pillar of the Hive’s roster. Sitting at a 16 salary, there should be plenty of time this season for the Hive to win a lot of games.

Foxes

Franchise Manager – BigMacDan

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins
Debuting in season 3 of MLD (Minor League Doubles, MLE’s former name), the foxes were introduced with team captain MacGyver. MacGyver looked to put his team on the map. While a competitive Wolves team stopped the Foxes from taking the Division, they were still able to make it into the playoffs as a wildcard team.

Championship History
The Foxes have not been the most successful team in MLE, but they have certainly had their moments. Their crowning achievement, of course, was the season 8 PL championship. Under the leadership of GM Apollo, and stellar play of Bacon, the Foxes brought home a championship at the highest level of MLE play at the time. The Foxes have also racked up a total of 6 Divisional titles over their 9 seasons.

Team Atmosphere
Speaking with BigMacDan (formerly Fallen) about the atmosphere within the Foxes team, he said, “The atmosphere is positive right now. We’re all hyped and looking forward to Season 13 with a lot of hope and belief that we can continue where we left off last season and push on for more success.”
As BigMacDan takes over in his second full season as the Foxes FM, he has had time to develop a culture he can be happy with. When asked what type of players they’re looking for, he stated, “We’re looking for players with a lot of potential to grow, both as players on the field and people off the field. We’re also looking at players that want to become a permanent fixture on a franchise, either as a captain or an AGM, as people who can show their skills across all aspects of their person will always be wanted by franchises like ours.”
As the foxes look to build on recent success, the Foxes look to rapidly improve this season, and aim for it all. In his closing statements, BigMacDan added, “We do not have a public discord link as our server is closed to those not already a Fox or a close friend. However, for those that read this: We at the Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail.”

Puffins:

Franchise Manager – CloudFuel

Current Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins
Coming into MLD in season 5, the Puffins did not make much of an impact. Captain CloudFuel’s team failed to reach the playoffs or bring any accolades to the team. The Puffins have been much more successful recently after a lackluster start.

Championship History
Since season 7, the Puffins have sent at least 2 teams to the playoffs every season. Of these playoff appearances, 7 of them came from Divisional wins. The crown jewel of their success, however, has to be the season 11 AL championship. Led by AubreyE and CloudFuel, the Puffins dominated the playoffs, ending the run of a strong underdog Tyrants team. One more title that was imperative to the Puffins has to be the three-peat “Best Team Twitter” from seasons 9 through 11, no team came close to taking the title away.

Team Atmosphere

Speaking with CloudFuel, the Puffins FM, had this to say about the attitude of the Puffins regime: “We’ve all been on a bit of a break during the off-season, but things are starting to pick up as deadlines approach. With 20 retention requests, AubreyE and I have our hands full trying to figure out who we can keep and who we, unfortunately, have to either say goodbye to or try to pick back up through the draft / free agency.” It’s clear that the Puffins are a very tight-knit group. For FMs like CloudFuel who clearly have bonded with their team, it is sad to see some guys have to leave.
CloudFuel has had a long history with the Puffins, where he’s gotten to interact with a lot of players. When asked about the culture of the team and player’s he’s looking for, CloudFuel stated, “The Puffinry definitely emits strong family vibes. We’re all about finding folks who fit in with our group, both from a personality standpoint and a desire to build a strong team through chemistry. Winning is definitely much better than losing, but having a great group of friends that enjoy spending time together on a common goal is where it’s at.”
With the sheer amount of success the Puffins have had over the past few seasons, it’s hard to imagine we will see any less from this group. To close out my interview with CloudFuel, he was generous enough to leave me a link to the team’s discord, if you would like to get to see the puffins in their natural habitat. https://discord.gg/y3pM2JR

Sabres:

Franchise Manager – Mople

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins
The Sabres came into MLE during the most recent expansion of season 8. For the first two seasons as a franchise, K3v took the reins as the team’s GM and looked to make a splash. In their inaugural season, the Sabres sent both their FL and AL teams to the playoffs as wildcards.

Championship History
In their short span as a team, the Sabres have gathered a total of 10 playoff appearances, including 4 Division wins. Unfortunately, however, the Sabres have yet to win a Championship in MLE. Hopefully, under the leadership of Mople, the Sabres can put themselves on the map.

Team Atmosphere
Sitting down with Mople about the vibe of the Sabres, he said, “Current activity in the Sabres ‘cord is a little light as the dust is settling from the FM transition, but we have a core group of guys still hanging with the music bot and playing every night.” Unfortunately, the music bot Mople mentioned has since been disconnected. In his experience, Mople has found music as a great way to chill out with his team and get to know his guys a bit better.
Mople, no stranger to MLE management, has had a few seasons to learn the ropes of community building. When I asked him what type of players he was looking for, Mople stated, “With the draft I plan on signing a group of roughly 30 strangers, and by a couple months’ time having a close group of friends who maintain among the strongest and most active, tight-knit communities in the league. I’m building a franchise that has a sense of unity across all leagues, and quality match results derive from that. With that said; win or lose, we’ll have a good time.”
As Mople said, he values community over everything. If you’d like to be a part of this community, the man has given me a discord link for anyone to join: https://discord.gg/EMGyDz7

Wolves:

Franchise Manager – Shraxl

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Wolves were introduced to the league during the second season of MLD. Unfortunately, we could not find their original franchise leader, however the oldest record we have is HunterDaGinger as team captain during season 3. In their inaugural season, the Wolves were able to make the playoffs as a wildcard team.

Championship History

The Wolves have not been the most successful team in MLE by most measures. While they do have an impressive 13 playoff appearances with 6 Division wins, the franchise has never won a Championship. After the long control of previous FM Wray, perhaps new FM Shraxl will be able to change the franchise’s fortunes.

Team Atmosphere

Getting to speak with Shraxl about the atmosphere in the Wolves camp this season, he said, “After being announced as the new FM the community was very welcoming. The Wolves community that was built before me was built with passion. All of the Wolves franchise staff that are going to FA or FP have offered their help to me. Also all the players that are wanting to return or were a former Wolves member have shown their support for my new vision and want to see success within this pack. This truly shows what I want to carry forward inside the Wolves franchise. Wolves is not just a franchise inside MLE, it’s a pack that cares about one another no matter the situation.”
This experience has shaped Shraxl, who is relatively new to MLE management. When asked what type of players he is looking for in the upcoming draft, Shraxl said, “ I plan to continue this way of thinking by bringing more players from the MLE community to the Wolves and making them feel like they are no longer a lone wolf. As an FM I will always be community first and results based second. My passion in life is to help people and by creating a caring environment I feel will lead to strong results. I also have a strong desire to win any game I get into. I will never expect a team to win a championship. I expect them to have fun and have the desire to win a championship. That desire keeps people wanting more and is a common ground of all those lone wolves out there to find their pack. #RunwiththePACK!”
It is clear to me Shraxl is someone who cares deeply for his community. In his short time with the Wolves, he has already begun to grow a bond with the team. If you would like to get to know Shraxl and the Wolves more personally, he has generously left a link to the team’s discord: https://discord.gg/C7mKHkApBZ

Dodgers:

Franchise Manager – InanimateJ

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Dodgers are one of the six founding teams in the MLE. Their first season, they were captained by the former President of MLE, Gamingbear. The team would go on to be captained by several prominent MLE members such as longtime Wolves GM Wray, and longtime Demolition GM Dejay, before InanimateJ took over as General Manager in Season 9. The Dodgers are also one of only two teams of the original six to not go through a name change. This add up to the Dodgers having great pride in their roots and history to the league.

Championship History

Along with being founding members, the Dodgers Franchise boasts winning the second ever MLE Championship. After their starting success however, a second Championship would elude the Dodgers for 10 seasons. They took home Division titles in season 5 and 6, but it wasn’t until season 12 that their Champion League team made a heroic run and secured them a second title in the standard mode.

Team Atmosphere

Dodgers Franchise Manager InanimateJ describes his team as a, “laid-back, choose-your-own pace type of franchise, made up of closely-knit players across all the teams in the franchise. No matter how invested you want your MLE experience to be, the Dodgers will have room for you to be a part of a historic franchise dating back to the founding of the organization.” When asked what kind of players the Dodgers are looking for in season 13, J said: “In our players, we look for people who can look inward first, to find what they want to achieve and what they need to help achieve those goals. Players who put in what they want to get out of their time in MLE are ideal candidates for joining the Dodgers.”

Dodgers Discord: https://discord.gg/uaM5BQ4

Elite:

Franchise Manager – Ray Finkle

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Elite are another founding team in MLE and one of the most historic teams in the league. Along with the Dodgers, the Elite are the only other team from the original six to have kept their team name from the beginning. And with early success in the league, the Elite established themselves as a winning team from the very beginning. With 12 team leaders, the franchise has been captained or managed by more MLE members than maybe any other. But the tradition of success has continued season after season through each manager.

Championship History

The Elite have a lot to celebrate when it comes to their history. The inaugural season of MLE saw the Elite winning the first ever Championship. After only one season of missing, out the Elite returned to win a second Championship in season three. A lot of this early success for the Elite can be contributed to HalfShelledHero, the founder of Minor League Doubles (now MLE), and the Captain for the Elite from seasons 1-3. After season three, the Elite would experience a drought from even a Conference final until season 9 where the Elite became Premier League champions. Then again, in season 11, the Champion League 2s team won another championship. For those keeping count, that is a total of four championships, making the Elite the holders of the most titles in MLE history.

Team Atmosphere

The Elite try to tie their competitive spirit hand in hand with their emphasis on a friendly community. As Ray Finkle describes it, “The Elite franchise is an environment filled with non toxic players who have fun and cut up with each other. Above all, at the end of the day, we have a chemistry, trust each other, and want to win. I guess you would classify that as a fun/competitive atmosphere.” Here is what Ray had to say about the type of players they would like to draft this season: “I’d say what we are looking for in a player is one that have a sense of humor, non-toxic, dependable, and just wants to have a good time and enjoy the experience of MLE. I like to say that you can always coach skill, but it’s nearly impossible to coach attitude. We want all our players to see MLE as a place to come to unwind after a stressful day and just have some fun with friends from all over the world.”

Elite Discord: https://discord.gg/W49PqFQQvr

Bulls:

Franchise Manager – Chaser

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

The Bulls are one of four teams who are technically a founding franchise. The League, then known as Minor League Doubles, had four teams under different franchise names. Among those teams was the Bulls, then known as Aerial Attack. The Bulls have had a few leaders over the years with a GM or captain managing for 2 or 3 years and then handing off the torch.

Championship History

Though the Bulls went to a final in seasons 4, 7, and 8, it wasn’t until season 11 that this historic franchise won a Championship. Their first Championship was in Premiere League 2s. In season 12, the Bulls won a second championship in PL 3s. The team also had several teams knocking on the door in season 12 with Academy League winning both Division titles and Master League taking home a Conference title in 3s. Though the Bulls have had a quiet history, their recent success makes them a franchise to watch going forward.

Team Atmosphere

Those looking to join the Bulls will be glad to know the team treats their players like a big gaming family. Or as FM Chaser puts it, “The Bulls are a fun filled franchise with all the makings of a family feel to it. We like to joke around with each other a lot and enjoy the successes of all of our teams.” And what are the Bulls looking for in a player this season? Here is what Chaser had to say on that topic: “We’re looking for a player that wants to compete to win the division and have fun with it. We consistently find ourselves battling for the division title and want to continue the winning ways of the Bulls this season.”

Bulls Discord: https://discord.gg/3Q4Ztvq

Tyrants:

Franchise Manager – Taelo

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

The Tyrants joined the League in season 8 as part of an 8 team expansion to bring the league to its current number of 32 teams. The Tyrants started in the Topaz division before the conference realignment in season 9 set them in the historic Volcanic Division. The Tyrants have been led by only two previous GMs before Tealo took over the franchise in season 12.

Championship History

Though the Tyrants are a young franchise, they have a history of winning. In their inaugural season, the Academy League team won their division and the Champion League team took home the league title. In their second season, the Foundation League became season 9 champions. The FL team would go on to win back to back titles in season 10. This give the Tyrants 3 Championships and leaves them tied for second most titles heading into season 13.

Team Atmosphere

The Tyrants have already established a culture in their short history and FM Taelo has been helping to shape it. On the topic of their team culture they said, “The atmosphere of our franchise is very loose socially with people looking to have fun in a niche community but also organizationally rigid as we seek to maintain a professional presence for those outside looking in.” The Tyrants continue to look for players with that signature Tyrants presence this season. Taelo said he is, “looking for go-getter members , those seeking an experience that is entertaining but also are searching for a community that feels more like an coherent franchise rather than a random assortment of teams. Essentially, dedication and passion are the two traits we value the most.”

Tyrants Discord: https://discord.gg/jW87KfB

Bears:

Franchise Manager – Zack

Season 13 teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins
The Bears are proud members of the original six franchises in MLE. The team was there at the formation of the league, however, in the first two seasons the Bears played under the name of Scarlet Wings before they renamed to the Bears for season three. Much of those original six teams’ history is lost to time but we do know that the first captain on record was D-heimer in season four. In season seven, Zyta took over leadership of the team, becoming the first official manager. Zyta would lead the team for four seasons. Water and Goldentornado17 both had a short period of leadership in season 11 before Zack took over as the current Franchise Manager.

Championship History
Despite being an original six franchise, there was a looming cloud over the Bears playoff history for many seasons. In the first 11 seasons the Bears couldn’t manage to find themselves a title. While not having the lowest playoff appearance percentage, the post season seemed to be a frustrating place for the Bears for many seasons. But all that changed in season 12. The Master League 3s team went on a stellar post season run and took home the first Championship title for the historic franchise. Now, in season 13, Zack and the Bears look to continue this new form for the franchise.

Team Atmosphere
Though only in their second season as the Bears manager, Zack, has a clear and simple vision for what it means to be a Bear. “The atmosphere of the Bears is a fun and family environment. We love playing together and laughing at each other too!” We asked Zack what he is looking for in a player this season and he had this to say: “The ideal Bear is someone who is non-toxic, and is around when we need them. We also love playing various games together, so being a part of inhouses or whatever it may be is a huge plus!”

Bears Discord: https://discord.gg/DBVb2xhdP3

Rhinos:

Franchise Manager – RED

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins
The Rhinos joined the league in season 3 as part of a four team expansion that included the Pandas, Foxes, and their division rivals, the Pirates. The early seasons of the Rhinos saw a few different team captains before Kcscrag was named the first manager of the team in season seven. Kcscrag would be manager for four seasons, until season 11 when the franchise was given to longtime member Reverse Fridge. In season 13, Fridge stepped down as manager and gave the proud Rhinos franchise over to fist time FM, RED. RED joins the class of 8 new managers this season.

Championship History
The Rhinos started out slow in their postseason history with no accolades in their first two seasons. They then began to gain ground, winning a few Division titles across seasons five, six, and seven. The Rhinos fully charged through the competition in season nine, when they won the Champion League title and took home their first championship. Following this high mark, the Rhinos would continue winning a few Division titles. They are still searching for a second Championship heading into season 13.

Team Atmosphere

RED, as a new FM, has taken care to make sure their franchise is a great place players will want to play. “I would best describe the atmosphere of the Rhinos Franchise as one that is very welcoming and supportive of each other. We do our best to welcome everyone we can into our team and make sure we can do everything we can to create a fun and friendly team environment throughout the season. I also do my best to have everyone strive to be as non-toxic as possible to equally align with the MLE’s values. Throughout this coming season, we will be including more team events and game nights to allow everyone, team members and community members alike, to be involved!” We asked Red what type of players they’re looking for. “I am looking for players that are striving to not only improve themselves as players in the MLE and Rocket League but their character. I want players that will come in with a positive mentality and will be working with team members on practicing, scrimmaging, and building team chemistry in general! I understand that life can get in the way so I also want people that will communicate as it is such an important factor to a good team. Being able to talk and keep your team in the loop and plan is such a huge key to success. Most of all, I want players that want to have a great time in the MLE and to have fun!”

Rhinos Discord: https://discord.gg/TwUnTFk

Pirates:

Franchise Manager – Tater

Season 13 teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins
The Pirates are another team that joined the league in season 3 when the league expanded into 12 teams. The early seasons of the Pirates franchise seemed to be a revolving door of leadership. In season eight Franchise Manager Tater stepped up and turned the Pirates into a stable franchise with a clear identity and team atmosphere. At six seasons, Tater is among a class of some of the longest running managers in the league.

Championship History
Across their nine season history, the Pirates have achieved 10 Division titles and 11 playoff appearances. Despite being tied for second most Division titles in the league, the team is still searching for their first Championship title. The Pirates are also one of 6 teams that have yet to win a Conference title. This adds up to a team with a lot of history but still a lot to prove. Will season 13 be the season that the Pirates can finally break through their conference curse and make history?

Team Atmosphere
The Pirates values seem centered around a team having fun together. Franchise manager Tater told us, “the best way to describe the atmosphere of the franchise is a good group of guys looking to have fun and hangout, while also doing our best to compete, but having a good team atmosphere is important to us.”

As far as what the Pirates are looking for this season, Tater had this to say: “The things we look for the most in players is a willingness to improve and play with their teammates outside of games, and having a positive attitude. The rest we work on to help the players, whether it’s doing replay reviews, in house games or whatever they need.”

Pirates Discord: Private

Outlaws:

Franchise Manager – Stovvadz

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins
The Outlaws were the last Sun Division team to join the league. They were part of an eight team expansion to bring the league to its final 32 team form. The Outlaws are also one of two teams to only have had one manager in their franchise history. That Franchise Manager is none other than Council member Stovvadz, who has been a prominent figure in MLE’s history. With Stovvadz’s strong involvement in both the League and the franchise, the Outlaws carry a lot of pride in their team and their record of league success in their short history.

Championship History
The Outlaws had perhaps the best start to a franchise in MLE history. In their inaugural season, the Outlaws took home not one, but two, championship titles. They took home the first ever Foundation League championship and won the Academy League Finals. In the following four seasons, the Outlaws would continue to frustrate their division rivals, winning four more Division titles and two more Conference titles: one in Premier League and the other Master League. Though the Outlaws have the shortest history in the Sun Division, they have become known as a powerhouse franchise, holding the highest percentage of playoff appearances in the league.

Team Atmosphere
Stovvadz’s winning formula seems to be based around balancing fun and fight. “I’d best describe the Outlaws as a pretty relaxed atmosphere, but striving to improve and do our best. We’re always chasing success – but still want to have a good time first and foremost.”

Stozzadz told us the he is looking for players who, “not only can play a mean game of Rocket League, but are also good personalities off the field that we’d want to have around the team. A happy team environment wins games.”

Outlaws Discord: Private

Demolition:

Franchise Manager – Deejay

Season 13 teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Demolition joined the league in season four to bring the league to 16 teams. The first captain of the Demo was Djano. Four more team leaders would come through the franchise before Deejay took over in season 8. Deejay has since become the rock in the Franchise after leading the team for five seasons and going into their sixth this season. He has helped form the Demo’s identity, as well as build up strong teams that have begun to achieve success.

Championship History

For the first five seasons of the Demo’s existence they languished on the outside of the postseason. After Deejay took over in season eight and the league expanded, the team slowly began to find success. A Foundation League Conference title in season 11 and four division titles has given the Demolition something to build on. They remain one of the 10 teams still searching for their first championship in season 13. Whoever joins the Demolition this season may have an opportunity to make Demo history and help them take their first title.

Team Atmosphere

Franchise Manager Deejay was clear and thoughtful about the type of players and atmosphere that makes up the Demolition franchise. “From day 1, I have always strived to create an atmosphere that is all about turning an individual to the best version of themselves, not just in Rocket league but as an actual person. The Demolition has always been about focusing on growing, maturing, and cultivating individuals to unlock the person they are, both in personality, identity, and play style.”

Deejay also had a clear vision for who they Demo are looking for this upcoming season. “Since season 8, I have always emphasized players who are active, positive, excited to learn and be part of a community, as well as open-minded and generally non toxic individuals. Being good at Rocket league is important, however, the potential bonds you can create with fellow teammates is just as important if not more important than an individual’s skill.”

Demolition Discord: https://discord.gg/yTN7Tnd

Comets:

Franchise Manager – Thunderbug

Season 13 teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Comets were part of the four team expansion in season four along with the Demolition. They, like their rivals, had a few team leaders come and go before they found regular leadership in recent seasons. Rolo took over the team in season seven and led the Comets for three seasons. Thunderbug took up the post of Manager in season 10, continuing the teams traditions and culture.

Championship History

Also like their Demolition rivals, the Comets have been slow to make their mark on the league. After only two Division titles in their first six seasons, the Comets began to gain traction in season 10 with an AL and CL Division title. The Championship League added two more titles in seasons 11 and 12, while the Foundation League found their first Division title in season 12. While the team is one of six to still be looking for their first Conference title, they seem to be a franchise on the upswing. You’d be a fool to keep them out of consideration for taking home a Championship this season.

Team Atmosphere

Thunderbug has shown over his time that his passion for the game and his passion for the  Comets runs deep within him. And this is what he wants to reflect in his team. We asked him what his franchises atmosphere is like and he said simply: “We’re a Family and we support one another on and off the pitch.”

When we asked what type of player The Comets are searching for this season, Thunderbug told us, “We’ve always prioritized personality over mechanical ability. So, we’re looking for players with great personalities with the drive to improve.”

Comets Discord: https://discord.gg/guZDVuf

Spectre:

Franchise Manager – Kunics

Season 13 team – AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Spectre were part of the final league expansion of eight teams that took the league to its full 32 franchise league. After a quick shuffling of GMs Mapplesurrup, MonsterJamers, and Legend over the first two seasons, The Spectre found the franchise leader in Kunics. This will be Kunics 4th season as Manager in the Spectre’s short history. Though the Spectre are a young franchise, they have found their own culture quickly in the Mystic division and among the larger MLE franchise landscape as a team that wants to win without taking itself too seriously.

Championship History

While some season eight entrants to the league like the Tyrants and Outlaws made a big splash, The Spectre are among those few teams who still have not reached their peak in terms of results. In their five season history, they have managed to claim five Division titles, but have yet to take the Conference title or see a Finals match. With the expansion to 3s comes new opportunities for success and the Spectre’s Master League team are returning this season as Division champions of 2s last season.

Team Atmosphere

The Spectre is clearly a team that prioritizes a fun atmosphere. This comes out when you talk to Franchise Manager Kunics. “Our Franchise is built on having fun with each other in and out of games.” He said, “We want to enjoy playing and spending time with each other no matter the results of the matches. Well, and scoring great own goals.”

We asked Kunics what he was looking for in a player this season and this is what he had to say: “I don’t know if there is one specific thing we are looking for, well besides own goaling. We just want to find people that we enjoy spending time with that will make the season more enjoyable no matter if we win or lose.”

Spectre Discord: https://discord.gg/cUtBn5pguK

Wizards:

Franchise Manager – Jamesy

Season 13 teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

The Wizards joined the league in season five as part of the eight team expansion to bring the league to 24 teams. Interestingly, the team joined the league as the Tigers in season five. After one season, however, the franchise would rebrand itself to become the Wizards. The Wizards are the only team outside of the original six to go through this change. In their eight seasons in the league, the Wizards have seen quite a few different team leaders. A few notable names have come through the Wizards managerial staff through the seasons. Pineapple was Champion League captain for three seasons. Iso stepped down during season 11 after being GM through seasons 9 and 10. And finally, Jamesy took over in season 12, and is currently in their second season as Franchise Manager.

Championship History

The Wizards came out of the gate early in their franchise history. In just their second season the won the Academy League Championship. They then turned around and won a consecutive Championship. Since then, the franchise has put five Division titles and one Conference Championship in their record books. Only nine teams have more than one Championship to their name. But the Wizards will certainly be searching for another to add to their collection in this new 3s era.

Team Atmosphere

Franchise Manager Jamesy summed up what it’s like to be a Wizard and what their goals are for future Wizard players. “The atmosphere of my franchise is definitely laid back. I am keen on having players that have fun and want to stay a Wizard for many seasons.”

When we asked what the Wizards are looking for in season 13, they said, “I am looking for players who are positive through wins and losses. I want them to work as a team to improve throughout the season.”

Wizards Discord: https://discord.gg/TCCYGPM

Shadow:

Franchise Manager – Euronate

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Shadow joined the league as part of the last team expansion in season 8. In their short five season tenure in the league, they have been led by one GM in Euronate. This make this franchise special because the consistency of leadership has formed a solid team atmosphere.

Championship History

The Shadow are one of 10 teams that have yet to win a Championship. In their first season they won an Academy League and Champions League Division title. After that, the team had a playoff drought for three seasons. In Season 12, the franchise excelled in FL and AL, with their Foundation League 3s team winning a Conference Final. In season 13, the team is looking to further shape their history and take home their first league title.

Team Atmosphere

Franchise Manager Euronate had this to say about his team, “We’re all about having fun & improving together as a team. We tend to goof off doing in-house scrims & playing other games together. We do our best to make it a community regardless of skill level. As a team, we’re all committed to helping each other improve throughout the season.”

When asked what types of players he is looking for, he said, “MLE is a very competitive league with an incredible amount of talent (on & off the pitch). I make it very clear to my players that they’re going to play in many MLE series that just don’t go their way. A lot of what we look for in a player is how they handle taking tough losses. We’re looking for the players that are able to reflect on why things went the way they did. A lot of players don’t realize how important your mentality is during a 5-game series. If you can keep your head cool, you can very easily steal a few wins away from a team that has been outperforming you.”

Euronate finished by saying, “Of course we’re looking for talented players, but to us, character takes priority over raw skill. There are absolutely players that exhibit both of those traits, but they won’t last long in the draft once they’ve been discovered.”

Shadow Discord: https://discord.gg/7V8ST6

Sharks:

Franchise Manager – Adi

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Sharks are the only team in the Tropic Division that are members of the original 6 MLD teams. But they didn’t start out as the Sharks. The franchise now known as the Sharks began as the Flames. They played under that name before renaming themselves to the Sharks. The team is also known for its consistent leadership throughout the season. Through 12 seasons, the Sharks have been led by only three managers. Adi has now taken up the post for his third season, leading a franchise with a lot of MLE History.

Championship History

Despite being among the original six teams, the Sharks remain one of the few teams to not have a championship title. They started their history with a long title drought not winning a Division until season eight. Since then, the Sharks have gained some traction, winning a total of eight division titles. The Sharks are still searching for that last win of the season and have been circling the waters of the playoffs in recent seasons. Only time will tell when they finally take a bite out of the Championship.

Team Atmosphere

When asked about the team, Franchise Manager Adi responded by sending me a video that he believes encapsulates what it means to be a shark: https://twitter.com/SharksMLE/status/1401280060892516353?s=20

I then asked what Adi is looking for in a player this season. He said, “The Sharks pride themselves on an atmosphere centered around good times. We want you if you’re someone who’s here to find some friends and play some games sometimes. All Fish are Friends, not Food.”

Sharks Discord: https://discord.gg/VUzDZUj

Pandas:

Franchise Manager – Riz

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Pandas were one of the early adopters to the league in season three. They joined as part of a four team expansion to take the league to 12 teams. The team was led by three captains before Riz took over in season eight and has remained the Franchise Manager for five seasons.

Championship History

The Pandas are another team that continue to look for their first Championship title. In their first three seasons, they won two Division titles but couldn’t clinch the final game of the season. They wouldn’t return to the playoffs in season nine. In season 10 the Pandas achieved their best season finish with a Conference title in Champions League 2s. The Pandas did not take a team to the playoffs in season 12, which means that this team will be looking to prove themselves in season 13.

Team Atmosphere

The Pandas are a team built on balancing fun and work. When asked about their atmosphere, Riz told us they’re aiming for a team that is, “Chill in all non-RL areas, pretty intense while scrimming.”

We also asked Riz what the Pandas are looking for in a player this season. He responded simply with, “We want players who want to have fun improving their game.”

Pandas Discord: https://discord.gg/hsR5wGt

Flames:

Franchise Manager – FLAMEZ

Season 13 teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

The Flames joined the league in season 5 as part of the second to last expansion to bring the league to 24 teams. Their first season was that last that MLE(then MLD) contained only one league. Longtime MLE Member Wray captained the team in season 5 before handing the franchise over to Fittz and Reverse Fridge to captain the following 2 seasons. Fittz would go on to manage the franchise until season 11. In season 12, FlaMEz would become the new and Current Franchise manager.

Championship History

The Flames came out strong in their inaugural season, winning the Orange Conference and making a statement to the rest of the league. Four seasons later, the Flames took their first Championship title in the Academy League. The Flames continue to be a strong presence in the post-season in their short history. Last season they took six teams to the playoffs across three leagues, and won their Conference in Academy league 2s and 3s as well as Foundation League 2s. Their winning record, especially in the Academy League, is quickly building them a reputation as a team to look out for each season.

Team Atmosphere

When we asked Franchsie Manager FlaMEz about his team, he had this to say: “The Flames franchise focuses on creating a supportive and positive environment while maintaining our competitiveness. Having 6 teams in the playoffs and 3 in the Grand Finals, while building lasting relationships between players of all skill levels on all of our teams, shows that we’re committed to this goal and are excited to achieve it again this season!”

FlaMEz had this to say about what type of players they are scouting this season: “We’re looking for players who are excited to grow alongside positive teammates, continue to build our incredibly supportive community, and most importantly – get rowdy during our weekly match watch parties. We love to have fun with our community and can’t wait to get started in season 13!”

Flames Discord: https://discord.gg/zKWKs48wRE

Eclipse:

Franchise Manager – Grantcfo

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting for MLE in Season 8, under the management of the all-time great Kiimmmiiii, the Eclipse got off to a rather shaky start. After struggling to find a rhythm, they failed to achieve even a wildcard position. Despite this slow start, they still showed a lot of potential and promise for the future.

Championship History

Following their debut season, Kiimmmiiii would help lead the Eclipse to their most successful season to date, as they took 2 Divisional titles, one for CL and one for PL. This success wouldn’t be replicated for the next few seasons, until C^2 took the helm as Franchise Manager, and guided them to their 3rd Divisional title, before falling before they could capture their first Conference win.

Franchise Atmosphere

After having a tumultuous and rather shaky leadership team in previous seasons, the Eclipse look to find solid ground under their new FM, Grantcfo. Speaking with Grant on the atmosphere within the franchise, he had this to say: “The atmosphere is a safe space to interact with many other amazing people and make some new friends along the way. Everyone is welcome and we’re really only here to have a good time.”

Now, of course, when coming into a new franchise, most staff members like to leave their mark on them, whether it’s by changing the culture, or by bringing in some new faces. I asked Grant what sort of players he’d like on the Eclipse, to which he replied, “We are looking to bring in players that are searching for a place to have fun and laugh if they lose. We want people to find friendships that last a lifetime here.”

With a solid foundation beginning to be built under them for Season 13, the Eclipse are a team to look out for across the upcoming regular season, as well as a team to tryout for. If you’d like to join their server, their discord is linked below, and as Grant said at the end of our interview, “Consider this the key to your new home.” https://discord.gg/sZjzBATVpx

Blizzard:

Franchise Manager – Jahex

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting for MLE in Season 5, the Blizzard were unable to find much success in their first season as a franchise. Due to the nature of the Season 5 format (the 1 league system), the ability for a team to make playoffs was greatly diminished compared to the current league format, and the franchise led by KyleTheMurphy failed to achieve a playoff appearance.

Championship History

Despite struggling to find any gold to put in their trophy cabinet, the Blizzard blew into Season 7 with higher expectations for themselves, and achieved their first Divisional title under the leadership of Porkchop. From Season 8 onwards, the Blizzard always felt like a threat in the Storm Division, taking 5 Divisional titles, 1 Conference win, and an MLE Championship whilst under the management of Helly. and Jahex.

Franchise Atmosphere

Recently, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Jahex about the atmosphere of the Blizzard. He was very forthcoming, revealing that, “We are an open book when talking to players, so they can better understand us and vice versa. We encourage our players to make sure they practice with teammates even when they don’t play in the week’s matchup.”

Now coming into his third season as the franchise leader for the Blizzard, Jahex has had to partake in the drafting of many players over the seasons. When asked what sort of players he was looking for in Season 13’s draft, he stated: “We have a sort of formula that we are going to use again this season.” When I asked about this formula, he explained that, “During tryouts, we make sure to talk to each player. Those conversations lead us to earn their ambitions for the upcoming season. From that, we can make notes of which players are striving for the same things. Once I have a group I believe complements each other we use that for the draft.”

With a steady base under them, brought about by the leadership of Jahex, the Blizzard are looking forward to Season 13 with a fresh batch of optimism. If you’d like to be a part of the Blizzard for Season 13, feel free to tryout for them in the tryout server when they host one, and join their discord server with the link below. As Jahex and the Blizzard would say, “Stay Frosty”. https://discord.gg/MZdkdEBZYU

Hurricanes:

Franchise Manager – goldentornado17

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

Debuting in Season 5 as a part of the expansion to 24 teams, the Hurricanes struggled to find any success in their opening season, similar to the other new franchises. This first season, the ‘Canes would be led by BigQ, who would achieve an award himself, as the 2s Savior of the Season.

Championship History

The Hurricanes have had a lot of silverware in their past, with their first trophies coming in season 6, with a Divisional title and Conference win. However, it was the period of seasons 9 through to 11 that they really showed their dominance, picking up 4 Divisional titles, 3 Conference wins and 2 MLE Championships. They would add another Divisional title in Season 12, bringing their total to 6 Divisional titles, 4 Conference titles and 2 MLE Championships.

Franchise Atmosphere

Speaking with goldentornado17 (GT) about the atmosphere in the Hurricanes camp for Season 13, he stated that, “the atmosphere on the canes is very relaxed and welcoming,” and that they are, “a smaller community so we like to joke around a lot and not take things too seriously while also encouraging each other along the way in order to foster a positive environment.”

Of course, with the Season 13 draft arguably being the most important and with a team in every league, the ‘Canes already have their specific type of player they’d love to bring in. As GT told me, “we value people who fit our culture and are excited to play together and build up the entire team. Maturity, honesty, and loyalty are some things we value highly as well as the ambition to get better both individually and as a team.”

With a history of success in the not too distant past, and with a steady leadership team behind them, the Hurricanes look set to continue their winning ways. In a closing statement, GT added, “I guess I’d just like to say that if you want to join a winning culture that doesn’t take life too seriously the canes are for you.” If you would like to join the Hurricanes, you can attend their tryouts in the tryout server, as their discord is private for current ‘Canes.

Lightning:

Franchise Manager – DudTheBomb

Season 13 Teams – FL, AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting in Season 5 of MLE, the Lightning found their first season rather tumultuous. After starting the season with Deadshot as their franchise leader, he stepped down mid-season, leading to the promotion of MajestikMoose as the new leader of the Lightning. Despite a change to a more stable leader, the Lightning failed to reach playoffs that season, with no awards to their name.

Championship History

The Lightning haven’t always been a championship winning franchise, but that’s not for a lack of trying. As of Season 11, the Lightning had racked up a total of 3 Divisional titles, all under different franchise leaders in Gus, Cakekyst and jgabbert13. However, when Jesus and DudTheBomb took over in Season 12, their fortunes shifted drastically, as they found themselves winning 3 Divisional titles, as well as their first Conference and, most importantly, their first MLE Championship in AL 3s.

Franchise Atmosphere

Speaking with the Lightning’s current FM DudTheBomb about the Lightning’s atmosphere heading into Season 13, he had this to say: “It’s very relaxed… I tend to let everyone go at their own pace in terms of communication, because I know that people have friends and all outside of MLE, but I encourage us to talk with each other.”

With this being his first season as the top dog for the Lightning, Dud has a chance to craft the team he helped lay the foundations for in Season 12. To do that, he needs to pick up specific types of players, as he went on to mention, “Finding people in the draft that have a mix of both, (community presence and the push to get us to a championship,) while prioritizing more towards championship pushes, will be very helpful.”

Looking to build on their most fruitful season to date, the Lightning are looking to shock some life into the Storm Division, and they could use you to help achieve that goal. If you’d like to be a part of the Lightning for Season 13, attend their tryouts in the tryout server and join their Discord linked below. When I asked Dud for any closing comments, he told me the following, “The Lightning will be everywhere you go, on and off the field, and we hope to see you all around!” https://discord.gg/TxA7uRadZB

Express:

Franchise Manager – C0P3X

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

Debuting in MLE as a part of the Season 8 Franchise Expansion that, ironically, brought 8 more teams to the league, the Express had a strong opening season. Under the leadership of General Manager C^2, they enjoyed a fruitful first season, with their FL and CL teams both making the playoffs in the wildcard spots, and the CL team shocking most by winning the Blue Conference. Despite all this, they were unable to capture the MLE Championship in their final match of their season.

Championship History

Following their first season’s success, the Express would enjoy further success through Seasons 9 and 10, racking up 3 divisional titles. However, they would enjoy their greatest success in the most recent season, Season 12. With a strong regular season capped off by a ML 3s Divisional title, it was instead their ML 2s team that would take the Blue Conference and then the MLE Championship, bringing the Express their first Championship title.

Franchise Atmosphere

Now going into their 5th season under C0P3x’s management, the Express look to continue their success in Season 12 into Season 13. I spoke to him about the atmosphere within the franchise and he had this to say, “On the Express, we are all hyped up to get Season 13 under way. It can get a little quiet once retentions are processed and players are returned back to FA, so we are super excited to get the discord filled back up with players and restart the grind to bring home another Express championship.”

With their first MLE championship in the back, the Express are looking to add to their already illustrious roster with new players from the draft. When asked what sort of players he wants, C0P3x responded, “We are looking for players who are going to be active in the discord, and willing to play with their teammates a lot throughout the season.”

If you would like to be a part of the Express for Season 13, make sure to turn up to any tryouts they hold in the tryout server, and you can join their discord using the link below. When asked for a closing statement, C0P3x had this to say: “If you’re looking to become a part of a family, the Express is the place for you. As always, #ChooChoo.” https://discord.gg/nWUEymxGvb

Jets:

Franchise Manager – Rexton

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting back in Season 5, the Jets found muted success in the original 1 league system that MLE offered. At their outset, the Jets were led by Springy, who would help guide them to the playoffs as a wildcard team. However, they would be stopped before they could take a conference title in their first season.

Championship History

The Jets struggled at first to progress past the wildcard spots in their championship hunts, but that would change in Season 7, as their General Manager Blackwatch would take them to their first Divisional and Conference title win. Despite this, the Jets would struggle to find success for a while, until Ripperr took over the team in Season 11. Under his management, the Jets found 7 Divisional titles, 2 Conference wins and 1 Championship title across all divisions of play. Ripperr left a large hole to be filled when he stepped down at the end of last season.

Franchise Atmosphere

Now under their 7th franchise leader in 8 seasons in Rexton, the Jets are looking to rebuild for Season 13. As Rexton said in my interview with him, “The Jets are a very chill group. We value intermingling between all members as well as good healthy banter within the group.”

Of course, with a rebuild comes a need to fill out the roster with new faces, and the Jets are perfectly expecting this. In terms of what or who they’re looking for, though, it’s rather simple, as Rexton explained. “We are looking for active players who prioritize enjoying themselves over the grind of winning. Of course, I do care about results, but the player experience is more valuable in my opinion.”

With a positive mindset and an eye for chemistry, the Jets look towards another season of glory and glamour with another head at the end of the table. When asked for some parting words, Rexton told me, “The Jets have always found their success through the chemistry their teams have built by being a community.” If you’re looking to be a part of the Jets community this season, feel free to join their discord server linked below, and tryout for them in the tryout server. https://discord.gg/XuA52hpfMw

Knights:

Franchise Manager – Galaxy

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

Debuting in Season 4, the Knights struggled to find any early forms of success, mainly due to the constantly shifting management situation in the earliest form of MLE. Despite starting the season with Cathexis as their franchise leader, they would end the season with dpants as their interim leader, and he too would not be leading them for their second season in MLE.

Championship History

The Knights struggled to find their feet at first, but after their Divisional win thanks to the leadership of MikeIsMyIke in Season 7, their fortunes began to turn upward. By the start of Season 12, they would have 4 Divisional titles under their belts, as well as a singular Blue Conference, but their greatest success was still ahead of them. Under the management of Galaxy, the Knights found 4 Divisional titles, 2 Conference wins and an MLE Championship, all in the latest season of MLE’s long history.

Franchise Atmosphere

With Galaxy leading them for the 3rd season in a row, the atmosphere in the Knights franchise is at an all-time high. As Galaxy told me, “We are starting to get in the groove of tryout season and have been working with our scouts to start to get an understanding of who we would like to draft. We understand what it takes to win and how to create a fun environment and a community while doing so.”

On the topic of scouting, I asked Galaxy about the Knights’ plans for the draft, whether they were focused on players that go for gold, or those that are here for community. Galaxy responded by saying, “We don’t see that as mutually exclusive. You can be a player who can bring a championship to a franchise and also stay engaged and active.”

With a plan and a shake up to the Knights management team planned for Season 13, you can expect them to look for talent across the board to help them keep up their performances. In a closing statement, Galaxy wrote, “Please feel free to come to a Knights tryout if you haven’t already or just drop by the server and say hi. We really do want to build a community within the server that is not exclusive to our franchise players.” You can join their server by clicking the discord link down below. https://discord.gg/KjzWKYEHYJ

Spartans:

Franchise Manager – B++

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting in Season 5 of MLE, the Spartans got off to one of the strongest starts of any franchise, immediately conquering their division under the management of MLE Alumni Phi Sig. They would be unable to convert their Divisional title into a Conference win, a theme they’d soon come to hate.

Championship History

The Spartans would take 5 Divisional titles before they achieved their first Conference win, in Season 9. A period of transition would take place after their then General Manager, Blagden, stepped down. After two seasons without a playoff appearance, the Spartans would take their second ever Conference win, as well as their first MLE Championship in the AL 2s Finals for Season 12, under their Franchise Manager B++.

Franchise Atmosphere

Having finally achieved their first MLE Championship last season, B++ is in high spirits for the upcoming Season 13, as well as the Spartans franchise as a whole. Speaking about the topic, he said, “We are very excited after coming off our first MLE championship” and that they are, “setup and ready to win more!”

With such an intensely positive attitude towards this current season, you’d be right in thinking that the Spartans are going into Season 13 with high expectations. This also translates to the types of players that they like, as B++ explained to me. One of the types of players they’re looking for are, “Players who are not only active and nice but also always looking to improve”, as well as, “challenge for starting spots in the league above.”

The Spartans have a very specific direction that they’re attempting to head in for this coming season. If you’d like to be a part of that, you can join their discord server with the link below, or turn up to any tryouts you see in the tryout server that they hold. With any luck, you could find yourself on the defending AL 2s Champions for Season 13. https://discord.gg/QBGwkRF

Aviators:

Franchise Manager – TheTerminiator

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting in Season 4, the Aviators were headed up by SquatingTurtle. The team found modest success in the early format of the MLE season, reaching the wildcard stages before being eliminated from the playoff hunt. They did so whilst their captain in SquatingTurtle achieved the 2s Savior award and had the most saves overall for 2s as well.

Championship History

The Aviators haven’t been the most successful franchise across the board. Their first championship came in Season 6, thanks to an incredible run from Fry’s CL team, which also took home the CL 2s Blue Conference. With no playoff appearances for the next 3 seasons, the Aviators have struggled to recapture that incredible run, their only success coming in the form of 3 divisional titles that they picked up in Season 12.

Franchise Atmosphere

New FM TheTerminiator had this to say about the Aviators’ atmosphere: “The Aviators franchise is one that bases itself in the community aspect, and we have an incredible community over there. Each season is different, but the goal is to keep that positive atmosphere going forward.” 

This sort of positive atmosphere has carried over into their aspirations for players as well, with Terminiator stating, “I’m someone who believes a positive atmosphere creates chemistry, and ultimately leads to better performance. Continuing that momentum I think will only bring positive play for us.”

The Aviators are one of the more character-filled franchises with a lot of history and a lot of growth in their future. If you’re interested in being in the Aviators server, you can join it by using the following link: https://discord.gg/6MUQ5eGMSt

Ducks:

Franchise Manager – Knitt

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML

Origins

Debuting in Season 2, when the league was known as MLD, the Ducks first captain and franchise leader has been lost to time. Whilst we may not know who led them during this first season, we do know that they started their history in MLE right. They secured a Conference win in their first attempt, before falling just short in the Grand Finals against the Dodgers.

Championship History

The Ducks are a rather illustrious team from the earliest periods of MLE’s existence, racking up three championship wins across seasons 4, 5 and 7. This makes them the franchise with the second most championship wins of all time. And, with a total of 4 conference titles and 9 divisional titles, the most recent of which came in AL 3s for Season 12, the team could be looking to break out from their lack of conference and championship wins in their third season under Knitt’s management.

Franchise Atmosphere

I got the pleasure of speaking with Knitt about the Ducks franchise, and when asked about the atmosphere in the Ducks camp, he stated, “In one word: electric. We had players from every level in our franchise supporting everyone else, and there pretty much wasn’t a night where there weren’t people in our team VC hanging out and playing games together.”

In terms of looking towards Season 13, the Ducks are looking for a continuation of that chemistry and community vibe. Knitt commented,  “The way I look at it, these are the people you’re going to be spending the entire season with. The community off the pitch translates into performance on the pitch.”

With such a detailed history as the Ducks, it’s hard not to see them having a good season in Season 13 in at least one of their leagues. If you’re looking to be a part of the Ducks Franchise for Season 13, you can join their Discord server using the link below, and attend their tryouts throughout the build up to the draft. As Knitt told me at the end of our interview, “I would say to any FA that comes to one of our tryouts, just be yourself. We take both performance and personality into consideration when deciding who we want to draft/sign.” The Ducks Discord link, for those interested: https://discord.gg/fAFDuMY

Hive:

Franchise Manager – uhsteve

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

Debuted as a part of the 8 team Franchise Expansion in Season 8, when MLE moved to a 4 league format. Under the leadership of Vino, a former member of MLE’s League Operations (LO), the Hive found some success, getting two of their four teams to the playoffs in the Wildcard positions. Both were eliminated before winning the Conference, however.

Championship History

With only 5 seasons under their belt as a Franchise, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they might be a little unsuccessful. But throughout Seasons 10, 11, and 12, the Hive soared, pun intended. They attained 5 divisional titles, 1 conference and, most importantly, their first and only Championship title, thanks to their FL 2s team. Whilst a little more subdued in season 12, there’s a good chance they’ll bounce back.

Franchise Atmosphere

With such a unique franchise, usually a unique atmosphere follows, and the Hive are no exception. I asked the new FM of the Hive, uhsteve, about this and he told me, “The Hive atmosphere is all about having fun and joking around with each other. When it comes to competing, we encourage a positive and driven atmosphere.”

With the atmosphere being so positive, so is Steve’s outlook towards Season 13 – specifically with bringing in more positive individuals. He added, “I want people who will be positive and help keep the team atmosphere up that wants people coming back to play the next season.” He also stated that, “I don’t care if everybody ranks out because at the end of the day, improving at the game itself is more important.”

The Hive may not be the most illustrious or longest standing franchise in MLE history, but what they lack in seasons played they more than make up for in character. In a parting statement, Steve told me, “I just want to say that whether or not they get drafted by us, anybody is free to join the discord, hang out, get help, and participate in any tournaments/events that we host throughout the season!” If you’d like to join their server, here’s their discord: https://discord.gg/F6UzmRs2Ww

Hawks:

Franchise Manager – Staas

Season 13 Teams – AL, CL, ML, PL

Origins

Debuting as one of the first teams in MLE back in Season 1, when MLE was known as MLD, the Hawks found success almost immediately. Their franchise leader (whose name has been lost to time) guided them to becoming the first ever Blue Conference champions, before their loss to the Elite in the Championship Final.

Championship History

In terms of trophies, the Hawks were, up to Season 12, one of the most unlucky franchises. As of the end of Season 11, the Hawks had won 3 divisional titles and 4 conference titles, but had failed in all four attempts at winning the championship. This changed in Season 12, where the Hawks had one of the most dominant seasons in MLE history, winning an additional 3 divisional titles, a further 4 conference titles and, most importantly, 3 separate MLE championships. This has propelled them to one of the most decorated franchises in MLE’s 12 season history.

Franchise Atmosphere

I had the honor of sitting down and interviewing the FM of the Hawks franchise, and he was very willing to discuss the atmosphere of the franchise. He told me, “Everyone is typically pretty chill, but from my experience, it varies quite a bit season to season. I do however expect players to practice and grow within their teams, because our ultimate goal is to make playoffs and win championships.”

Seeing as the Hawks had an incredibly championship-oriented side across the board in Season 12, I asked Staas about his plans for bringing in players for Season 13, to which he responded, “We’re definitely looking for players that want to strive to win. We’ve had every team make playoffs in the past two seasons, and I look forward to keeping that streak going.”

With the Hawks looking to continue their reign of dominance through to Season 13, now may be the best time to tryout for them, as Staas explained. “I’m looking forward to seeing some new names at tryouts, and putting together new teams that will hopefully continue our streak of success.” If you’d like to join the Hawks Discord server, you can do so here: https://discord.gg/g8ANJYZ