The core of one European League of Legends team is sticking together heading into the 2016 season.
ROCCAT announced today it’s re-signed Norwegian mid laner Erlend “Nukeduck” Våtevik Holm, meaning the team will return at least three players from its 2015 lineup. He will rejoin support player Oskar “VandeR” Bogdan and jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski in the lineup, giving the team a solid core of three players from which to build.
“We are very happy at sealing new agreements with Vander, Jankos and Nukeduck for next year,” ROCCAT’s announcement reads. “Making this announcement even before the World Finals shows the commitment from both sides–the players and ourselves.”
The 2015 season wasn’t great for ROCCAT. Entering the Spring split, the team had high hopes after adding the mechanically talented Holm to the lineup, with some analysts labelling them favorites to take the League Championship Series (LCS) title in Europe thanks to the combination of top playmaking support and jungler Bogdan and Jankowski with Holm. But the team struggled, putting up a 6-12 record that saw them play a relegation series against Copenhagen Wolves Academy. When the team survived, it swapped out its AD carry and top lane players, but only performed slightly better in the Summer. Their 8-10 record was good for a playoff spot, but they fell in the first round to Unicorns of Love.
Holm in particular came on during the second half of the season, rounding into the form many expected from him when he first signed with ROCCAT. The team now hopes he will maintain that level of play in 2016, and there are reasons to think he might with a lineup that may more cater to his talents. Holm, Bogdan, and Jankowski will take their third tour together in the Spring, likely with new AD carry and top laner to replace Rasmus “MrRalleZ” Skineholm and Etienne “Steve” Michels, who the team has not re-signed as of yet.
LeagueShots provided the team with a highlight video from Holm’s 2015 season.
If ROCCAT gets more of that from the Norwegian mid laner next season, fans of Holm and ROCCAT will be happy to have him back.
Photo via Riot Games/Flickr
