TASK ONE:



TASK TWO:

Bubba Nuck is a rugged defenceman who previously played on the Hamilton Steelhawks, now he sits ready to do everything in his power to eliminate his former team from the playoffs. Nuck bounced around the SHL a bit and had stints at forward before finally settling back into his familiar role on defence and the results are surely something that made Calgary happy with the transition.

Nuck managed to score 33 points in 50 games this year and has only ramped up production in the playoffs with 16 points in 16 games which makes him tied for team lead. Nuck looks to have sacrificed some shot blocks in exchange for offence, his 61 in the regular season were good for second while in the playoffs he has fallen to third and only has 15 in 16 games. I'm sure the coaches will take the offence but having over a block a game goes a long way in the win column. As of right now Nuck has the exact same plus minus in the playoffs as he did in the regular season. Plus fourteen. Considering he has that in 34 less games is very impressive and it further shows that Nuck is ramping up his play in the playoffs. Can Nuck be the catalyst that knocks the Steelhawks out of the playoffs?

TASK THREE:

Theo Kane has just scored his 6th goal of the playoffs and his teammates are screaming as they leap over the boards to join the 5 players already cheering with their goalie Jakub Aittokallio. Kane has continued his torrid pace since well into the playoffs and Edmonton has just eliminated the Calgary Dragons and is poised to make some history. Last season marked the first time an SHL goalie had won the Challenge Cup 3 times and now Jakub has a chance to win his 4th and further cement his already legendary career.

"I don't really think he even thinks about that stuff. He just wants a chance to win, winning is all that matters to him and the team. We've battled hard to get here but we know there is so much more to go if we want to be crowned champions."

An excited Jackson Rogers-Tanaka delivers that quote when asked about his goalie's possible milestone victory. Aitto's laser like focus is on display as he gives us a brief interview, the same focus that has allowed the Blizzard to dominate the league for the better part of a decade. The kind of focus that you only hear about in stories or in the movies, that is the kind of focus found on the entire Edmonton roster as they prepare to face an old foe from the East.

TASK FOUR:

"Hey no pushing!" A teacher is heard admonishing her 5th grade students in a class room that is painted a dull grey like a perpetually overcast day. About 40 students are crammed into a room designed for 20, all 80 eyes are focused at the front of the room where recent Challenge Cup victor, Cody Black is standing with his new trophy. Black has chosen to spend his day with the cup in schools all across his province of Manitoba.

"I have always loved hockey above all else and I told myself if I ever won a Cup I would do a quick tour in my home province. I figure if I can convince even one of those kids to take up hockey then I have done what I set out to do. I want to be a great ambassador for the sport like Gordie Howe and help to grow it as big as possible."

It might be working, all of the children are in awe and are begging to touch the chalice atop the desk. Seeing all of these young children so interested in what their guest speaker has to say bodes well for the future of hockey at least in rural Manitoba. Hopefully we see other athletes take notice and do their part to help spread the joy of their sports to the youth of tomorrow.