TASK ONE: If not: How has your player kicked off their offseason? Are they traveling? Meeting up with friends and partying? Following the games? Write at least 150 words about the beginning of your player’s offseason. Must include at least one other player.

Well Sven Brokstad is out of the championship as is his good friend Tor Tuck. Together, they've decided to eschew the typical trappings of an SHL off-season. Hours spent on the ice honing their craft, maximizing their potential, is all well and good but these two aren't your average SHL superstars, they're hard partying rock stars. They've both decided to tour the Mediterranean coast and dine on fine wine and good cheese, all while enjoying each other's company. They're planning on touring all of the museums and little towns in Italy. They want to eat tapas in Spain, and dance the night away with the locals. France will find them hopping from town to town, sharing baguettes and brie with the locals, getting robbed by the gyspies. Is it a bromance? It's too early too tell, but they both know, in their hearts, that they don't want this off-season to end.


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 choice for the unsung hero is a little unconventional seeing as his team was knocked out in the first round. It doesn't matter, because it wasn't this player's fault at all. He did his best to help his team win, but he was only one player on the ice. Ronnie Westbrook played an absolutely torrid pace with five goals and five assists in only seven games played. That comes out to 1.18 points per twenty minutes, and 1.43 points per game. The team knew that when they played Westbrook the opposition was already down a point. He was extremely efficient as well, scoring five goals on only twenty two shots, which comes out to a team leading 22.73% shooting percentage. Three of his points were scored in the power play, of which he only played 10 minutes total, equating to a ridiculous six points per twenty minutes. The Westbrook playoff efficiency is something that has to be talked about for a long time, he was on fire and no one could stop him; it's too bad no one on his team could stop the opposition either.

TASK FOUR: Unscramble the names of these four players who will be competing in the Challenge Cup Finals. Send the answers to me by forum 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    

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Answered in a PM

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.

I think the clear finals MVP has to be Terrence Nova of the Minnesota Chiefs. I mean the dude was simply a consistent studly force for the boys up north and pushed them over the hill to the promised land. Let's review his six games:

Game 1: 0 G, 1 A, 0 +/-, 0 PIM, 46% FO
Game 2: 1 G, 0 A, -1 +/-, 0 PIM, 67% FO
Game 3: 1 G, 0 A, 0 +/-, 0 PIM, 40% FO
Game 4: 0 G, 0 A, 0 +/-, 0 PIM, 50% FO
Game 5: 3 G, 0 A, 2 +/-, 0 PIM, 48% FO
Game 6: 1 G, 0 A, 0 +/-, 0 PIM, 63% FO

He scored more than a point per game on average, and scored at least one point in five out of six games, coming out to an average of 1.16 points per twenty minutes. He also had a faceoff percentage at or over 50% in three out of six games, never had a penalty called against him so he wasn't a detriment to his team. This was all done with about twenty minutes per game, and his play actually improved as his minutes were reduced later in the matchup. He wasn't flashy, but he was the dependable center the team could rely on throughout the finals.

Bonus question: Who scores the Cup-winning goal? (NOTE: This question will be graded at the conclusion of the winning-game sim of the Challenge Cup Finals, even if that happens before the conclusion of Championship Week.)

Lord Pretty Flacko