Story Summary
Erik ” Eki” Tammenpää, best known for winning SM, European and world titles in NHL video-game competition, including the 2018 NHL 18 world championship in Las Vegas, has stepped further into competitive ice hockey. After a seven-year break and a 2025-26 season with III divisioona side Kirkkonummen Salamat, in which he played four games with one win, three defeats and a 90.8% save percentage, Tammenpää moved up to II divisioona with Riihimäen Nikkarit. His debut came in a derby at Hyvinkää, where Jää-Ahmat beat Nikkarit 8-3 before more than 700 spectators.
Key Facts
- Full name: Erik ” Eki” Tammenpää.
- Tammenpää won SM-, EM- and MM-gold in NHL video-game competition and captured the NHL 18 world championship in Las Vegas in 2018, earning $50,000 from that event.
- He stepped away from competitive ice hockey at 16 and returned to on-ice competition in 2024 after a seven-year break.
- In 2024 Tammenpää played recreational/hobby hockey for NHC Espoo in Stadi-Liiga before moving to Kirkkonummen Salamat for the 2025-26 III divisioona season.
- With Kirkkonummen Salamat in 2025-26 he played four league games: one win and three defeats; he recorded a 90.8% save percentage that season.
- Tammenpää moved to II divisioona side Riihimäen Nikkarit for the new season, seeking a higher level of competition.
- Tammenpää made his II-divisioona debut in Hyvinkää, where Hyvinkään Jää-Ahmat beat Riihimäen Nikkarit 8-3.
- The II-divisioona debut was played before in excess of 700 spectators.
- He co-hosts an NHL podcast with Juuso Parkkila and continues to create e-sports and real-hockey content alongside family and other work.
- Tammenpää says he does not expect to pursue a paid professional NHL goaltending career but aims to see how far he can develop; he considers Suomi-sarja a realistic level within a couple of years of active training.
- Tammenpää welcomed the return of GM Connected in the video game series and believes less frequent new game releases could be interesting.
IHM Discussion
Tammenpää’s story sits at the intersection of content creation and on-ice ambition. His virtual-hockey pedigree includes SM, European and world titles, plus the 2018 world championship in Las Vegas, but the move into competitive ice hockey brings a different training and playing environment. After seven years away from the game, his route back began in recreational hockey with NHC Espoo before progressing to III divisioona with Kirkkonummen Salamat, where he posted a 90.8% save percentage across four games.
The move to Riihimäen Nikkarit is an attempt to test himself at the higher II divisioona level. The 8-3 defeat at Hyvinkää was a difficult first outing, although Tammenpää said it left him feeling he could contribute in the division. Playing before more than 700 spectators also made the debut a notable experience.
Tammenpää is balancing hockey with content creation and family life, and he has been clear that he does not expect a paid NHL goaltending career. He believes Suomi-sarja could be a realistic target after two more years of active training, while stressing that he wants to discover how far he can develop.
Why It Matters
The move highlights how modern hockey identities can straddle digital and traditional arenas. Lower-tier clubs gain visibility when a high-profile content creator and former e-sports world champion joins their ranks; Kirkkonummen Salamat reported new junior interest after Tammenpää’s videos. For player development, it underlines that non-linear pathways – returning to competitive hockey after a prolonged break – are possible, provided there is willingness to accept incremental steps and the reality of balancing external commitments.
Mini Q&A
Who is Erik “Eki” Tammenpää and what did he achieve in e-sports?
Erik “Eki” Tammenpää is a Finnish player who won SM-, EM- and MM-gold in NHL video-game competition and captured the NHL 18 world championship in Las Vegas in 2018, where he earned $50,000.
What is Tammenpää’s recent playing history on real ice?
After returning to ice hockey in 2024 via NHC Espoo (Stadi-Liiga), Tammenpää played the 2025-26 season for III divisioonan Kirkkonummen Salamat, appearing in four games (one win, three defeats) with a 90.8% save percentage, and then signed for II divisioona side Riihimäen Nikkarit.
How did his II-divisioona debut go?
Tammenpää’s debut for Riihimäen Nikkarit was an away derby at Hyvinkää; Hyvinkään Jää-Ahmat won 8-3 in a match attended by more than 700 spectators.
What are his ambitions and constraints?
Tammenpää does not expect an NHL career but wants to see how far he can develop as a goaltender. He balances hockey with family life and content creation; he believes that two years of active training could make Suomi-sarja a realistic level.
Coach Mark Comment
The key for a goaltender stepping up a division is regular competitive work and purposeful practice. Tammenpää will benefit from consistent minutes, quality shooting in training and a routine that fits around his work and family commitments. His immediate aim of matching the level of other II divisioona goaltenders is the right measure before looking further ahead.
What Comes Next
Riihimäen Nikkarit begin their II-divisioona campaign with the target of finishing in the top six of their group to secure promotion to Suomi-sarja for the following season. Tammenpää’s immediate personal objective for the new season is to perform at the same level as the league’s other goaltenders. He has also stated that two more years of consistent training could put him at Suomi-sarja level; that timeframe offers a clear medium-term checkpoint for evaluating progress.
IHM Final View
Erik Tammenpää’s move from e-sports champion to II divisioona goaltender is a measured attempt to find his ceiling on the ice. His 90.8% save percentage in a four-game III divisioona sample offers a useful starting point, while the move to Riihimäen Nikkarit presents a tougher test.