TASK ONE
Write a blog post about any post season game of S30. Can be a game preview, a recap, something silly like a review of what colour laces a player is wearing. Must be 150 words

Austin, Texas – The Renegades and Blizzard have traded the first four games of this series, that has been all to familiar the past few seasons. Each team dropping 1 game of their home ice advantage, going into game 5 of this series it looked like we were going to get a classic. This is the time that the veteran leadership of the Blizzard began to show it’s ugly face as they flat out dominated the PbP (snooze) level games against a young Texas Renegade team. Once again knocking the Renegades from playoff contention. We were able to catch up with former Renegades defenseman Patrick Brumm for his outlook on consistent struggles with Edmonton.

“This series had a different feel, I really thought this time we were going to be in the second round. Edmonton has a veteran, and very talented team , but I feel like we were out playing them the first four games of the series. We just couldn’t continue what we had going early down the stretch. While I’m no longer in Texas they’ll be a team to watch for seasons to come.”




TASK FIVE
Write 200 words on any series match up and what you think will happen, what actually happened or what should have happened.
Texas Renegades vs Edmonton Blizzard

The Blizzard have made a mockery out of eliminating the Renegades in recent years, and this year was no different. While the Renegades did come out looking very potent in the first 4, they couldn’t keep up with the pedigree, and playoff experience of the Edmonton Blizzard. Led by a future hall of famer goalie in Aittokallio the Blizzard proved they have what it takes to win the cup again in S30. The first four games had Edmonton squeaking out two of them in overtime (Hamilton Steelhawk style boyy). Game 5 was a turning point where Edmonton was really able to take it to Texas, and get their first definitive win of the series. Surprisingly though this didn’t deter the young Texas Renegades who came into game 6 not like a team down a game, and face elimination. They looked like a team ready to force a game 7, and win the series on the road. Unfortunately this wasn’t a Disney fairy tale, and Edmonton once again handled them in game 6. Sending the Renegades home packing.

What went wrong – It wasn’t as much as what went wrong, as the Renegades are still missing a few pieces. You aren’t going to get cheap wins against the Edmonton Blizzard one of the most dominant teams in the past seasons. If Texas could of pulled out one of those OT wins they would have had a complete momentum.




TASK EIGHT
Take one Cup finalist and talk about how they made the playoffs (free agent signings, trades, outstanding rookies, a career season from someone). Must be 200 words

The New England Wolfpack have played all their cards right to make the Challenge Cup Finals. They built a solid team by picking up key players Jakob Tanner, and Patrikov Bure. They also have a TON, I mean a ton of home grown talent. A team that had trouble keeping their drafted talent under previous leadership has shown a strong ability for a team whose slogan was once “Just try”. In the regular season they only had 2 PPG players in Bure and Russell, they rest weren’t even close. This is a team that has come together late to make a deep playoff drive.
Jakob Tanner is the lynch pin of this team as he showed so often in Hamilton the team lives or dies with him. With Aittokallio on the way out, he may become the premier goal tender in the SHL. With several cups, and challenge cup appearances already under his belt he is no stranger to the spotlight. It is no surprise to see a team with Tanner between the pipes in the SHL finals.
Patrikov Bure has been the breakout player as he scored 60 in regular season helping to spring the Wolfpack into the playoffs. While he has struggled a little in these playoff the rest of the pack has picked up their game to help make this drive.

BONUS: Who scores the cup winning goal?

Theo Kane