The long waiting has come to an end - the ELF 2025 Divisions are here. Next season, the 16 ELF teams will be split into four divisions. One division is likely to receive special attention.

After all, one team is playing its first ELF season. We take a look at the North Division.

The Teams

• Berlin Thunder
• Hamburg Sea Devils
• Nordic Storm
• Rhein Fire

The Records

• Thunder vs. Sea Devils (1-5)
• Thunder vs. Rhein Fire (0-2)
• Sea Devils vs. Rhein Fire (2-4)

As Nordic Storm are about to make their debut season, no team has played against them yet. Accordingly, their record is 0-0.

Thunders Rebuild

Berlin Thunder is undergoing a rebuild this offseason. The team from the German capital has not only changed their logo but also their head coach. Dean Cokinos is taking over from Johnny Schmuck.

It will be exciting to see how the new game ideas can be seen on the field with also new personnel. Even though Thunder have only presented a few new faces so far.  

So the Thunder are in for an exciting season against good opponents. 

Kitchens vs. Thunder

Especially, the clash between Berlin and the Hamburg Sea Devils will be a very special one, particularly for Kyle Kitchens. In a splash move, the best pass rusher in the league moved from Berlin to Hamburg. 

Now, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and ELF all-time sack leader has two games against his former team coming up next season. If that's not extra motivation.

Defensive superstar Kyle Kitchens will wear the Sea Devils jersey next season. ©ELF

Hamburg's Revenge? 

The Hamburg Sea Devils raised the fans' hopes for a good season with some good offseason moves. Alongside Kitchens, the team hired one of Germany's best coaches in Shuan Fatah.

Especially exciting will be the matches with Rhein Fire. The two teams have shared a division for three years now. While Hamburg managed two dominant victories in the first year, Fire hit back with four wins in a row. 

Last season, the Sea Devils suffered two painful defeats with a difference of more than 30 points each. The last encounter even ended 51:2 for the Fire. Can the Sea Devils get their revenge this year?

New Rivals

Although not a single game has been played yet, the battle between Rhein Fire and Nordic Storm has the potential for a new, intense rivalry. The team from the north is facing its first ELF season and had to build their squad from scratch.

Notably, numerous players switched from the current champions Rhein Fire to Storm. Among them the absolute top performers, League MVP Glen Toonga and Championship Game MVP and quarterback Jadrian Clark. 

Promising pass rusher Max Parkinson also moved among the teams, and in center Joachim Christensen, Storm brought a decorated former Fire player out of retirement. 

The new Nordic Storm coaching staff also includes some Fire DNA. Head coach John Shoop was the Fire quarterback coach last season. So the first clash between the two teams has a lot of stories to offer.

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