TASK ONE: There are two options for this task.
If you are a player in the Challenge/Four Star Cup: How is your player feeling for the Finals? Are they nervous or excited? Are they ready? Write at least 150 words about the few days before the beginning of the Finals for your player and how they prepared for the series.

I'm feeling a whole range of emotions right now. Nervous, Excited, anxious, determined, confident... That doesn't even begin to name it all. This is everything I've been in this league for, the Challenge Cup. Fourteen SHL seasons, a few McDonalds, Karpotsovs, a Sarmad Khan, a President's Trophy, 19th all time in scoring and still going strong... and, finally, finally my team is in the finals and just four wins away from taking home the ultimate prize. Ultimately, though, I am confident that we can do this, confident that my teammates will pull through. This is a special group and one that is so hungry for a cup. I mean, look at Garbanzo... 19 seasons in the league, all in Minnesota, and he is finally getting his first shot at a cup. Pedro Sarantez, drafted by the Chiefs ages ago, returning to his first team to win it all. I could go on and on. But what I do know is that we will give it absolutely everything we've got and that we will be the hardest working AND most talented team in this finals. And we will win.

TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S39 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

My unsung hero of the playoffs would have to be Chiefs third line center Eric Pelletier. This is a guy who may not get the most playing time, getting around 14 minutes per game, but he has done well all season and playoffs when it mattered most. His success in the faceoff dot has been great, winning more than 54% of his faceoffs - a very underrated statistic in the SHL as faceoff wins mean higher time of possession. He's often been the glue holding that third line together as the primary playmaker and a guy who seems to always show up in big moments. His two points in the Challenge Cup clinching Game Six of the finals displayed just how clutch he can be as he was even named the first star of the game for his performance and he even got into a fight during the post-season. While his point totals are not as high as guys like Nova or Flacko as he only scored six in the playoffs, he is not a hard hitter, not even the best faceoffman for his team, and certainly not the most developed player yet, he fills his third line role beautifully and displays flashes of talent that indicate he is poised to breakout soon.

TASK FOUR: Unscramble the names of these four players who will be competing in the Challenge Cup Finals. Send the answers to me by PM. Please make the subject of the message “CW Word Scramble” or something along those lines. [Grading: 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer]
waxiaamrinmhceilt
eilrruasstgeglnht
thcaenmhnigscneru
nalzgaoaronzbo

PM Sent

TASK SIX: Finals series always show surprises. Who will have to stand out the most from each team in order to win it? Make a prediction for potential series MVPs. Must be at least 150 words and mention at least one player from each team.

For the Panthers, this one is quite obvious. They have been relying on otherworldly play from Timo Haas and will need that against a team that has actually been even more dominant throughout these playoffs in the Minnesota Chiefs. If he continues to play at, or even close to his current level of play, the Panthers will have every opportunity in the world to win the cup.

For the Chiefs, the key will be to overcome the Panthers' dominant goaltending by exploiting a rather thin defense. The Chiefs have a very well-rounded team and have displayed that so far in the playoffs, winning games in every fashion, from shutdown defense to an overpowering offensive attack, dominant goaltending to grinding, physical play. Thus, the key for the Chiefs will be their jack of all trades in Sebastian Strange - a guy who is dominant in the faceoff dot, a highly physical forward, and the Chiefs' leading scorer in each of his three seasons with the team. If he can continue to play such a strong, complete game and put pressure on the Panthers' defense and, in the process, Timo Haas, the Chiefs will have a good chance at coming out on top.

Bonus: Terrance Nova