TASK 1

The Buffalo Stampede have been around for 20 seasons now, and have yet to make much of a playoff push. The struggling Stampede have been looking brighter in recent seasons, and yet no post-season success has yet to materialize. So, what's missing? It's tough to say. Year to year, but there always seems to be something, whether it be depth or high-end scorers. With a deep roster full of talented youngsters and established veterans, fans have rightfully placed the spotlight on that blue patch of ice. Yes, Buffalo's goaltending has come under fire this year - though not for lack of talent. FourFour has had a great career backstopping Buffalo, but his performance this season left a little to be desired. Hopefully just a hiccup, the Stampede will hit the ice next season with higher hopes, but they may rest on the shoulders of the man between the pipes.

-----

TASK 3
1. Both teams brought in star centers to help them win a challenge cup in S45. Edmonton traded for Joe Kurczewski while WKP added Roman Augustus. Which player will be more valuable for their team in this upcoming series and why?

It's a tremendous story heading into this final series, and perhaps the one that will determine the outcome. Kurczewski vs. Augustus. Which one makes a bigger difference; who is more valuable? It's a tough call and neither answer would be wrong. However, I have to lean Augustus on this one. The Blizzard are, in my mind, the favourites heading into this series. They have depth throughout their lineup and especially down the middle. The Platoon brought Augustus in to be the difference maker for their team, and any success West Kendall has will run through him. The Blizzard can afford off-games from Joe - I'm not convinced the Platoon can afford that luxury.

2. Between both rosters, create an all Challenge Cup starting lineup! (D, D, F, F, F, G) and in 50 words or more explain alittle about your selections.

D - Ludwig Kock Schroder
D - Tor Tuck
F - Roman Augustus
F - Oisin Fletcher
G - Beaujeaux Biscuit

It isn't easy to pick just five players from these two incredible teams, but here's one option. Oisin Fletcher and Roman Augustus would be an unstoppable duo offensively, bringing a little bit of everything. Some solid two way player and plenty of face-off wins, but most importantly, buckets of goals. Defensively, Tuck and Schroder can patrol the blue-line while also getting involved offensively and moving the puck quickly to those talented forwards. In net, there may be nobody better than Biscuit, and that's why he's the last line of defence for this all-star team.

3. 12 young players (S40 or higher) are competing in this championship series! Which young talent has a chance to capture the spotlight on the leagues grandest stage and why?

The Challenge Cup Finals always seem to bring out an unexpected hero. Somebody who has contributed to their team all season, but who has flown under the radar. It's the nature of these series - the top stars are checked so tightly and given such little room to breath, it's left to those depth players to step up and surprise. That player just might be Rex Kirkby of the West Kendall Platoon. Kirkby has just a single point so far, but has been present and impressive in his player off the puck. Kirky needs a lucky bounce to get things going, but he has all the skill to become a difference maker in these finals.

4. Between Edmonton's (karlssens and Keygan) and West Kendall's (JR95 and Wongy) which set of GM's has the tactical/Managerial advantage in this series and why?

I'm going to say that Edmonton's GMs have the managerial advantage in this one. That's not to take anything away from West Kendall's management team - anyone who gets this far has earned it. But Edmonton is a team that has been in place for a while now, learning from some experienced guys in their locker room early on and growing into their own along the way. Ace has lots of experience himself, and karl has done a great job thus far. The Blizzard have a lot to work with and lots of experience behind them, so I give them the managerial advantage.

5. Scout for 1 of the teams in the finals and give them a report on the what area's on there roster can be exploited in the upcoming series.

The biggest weakness in this series is a direct result of the other team's biggest strength. The Edmonton Blizzard come into these Challenge Cup finals as one of the deepest, most talented teams we have seen in the big stage in recent memory. The Platoon have a heck of a roster, but deeper into the lineup they simply don't match up, at least on paper. The Blizzard's third line, and bottom pairings, may be able to overrun and overwhelm the young Platoon, making that the most exploitable area for the Blizzard to attack.

-----

TASK 4

PM'd

-----

TASK 6

There are plenty of things to accomplish in the SHL - so many different avenues a career can go down. My answer for this varies, depending on whether we mean for this player, or for me as a member. As a member, I've done quite a lot. I've won Cups with two franchises, as a player and four more as a GM. I've won GM and Coach of the Year Awards, I've won Most Dedicated, and I've had an award named after me. I was inducted into the GM Hall of Fame, and have served as a Commissioner and now an Owner. From a member stand-point, there's not a whole let left. However, there are some glaring things left from a player standpoint, both for my current player and over generations. I've never won an individual award for my players performance - the only awards I've ever won were management- or member-related. I'd love to win a Stevens, for example, but heck, I'd settle for anything. I've never had a player inducted into the Hall of Fame, so that would be another accomplishment I hope to achieve some day. With Koenig, I am yet to win a Challenge Cup, and I've also never been to the Finals as a member of an Eastern Conference team so I'd like to be part of a team winning the Chouinard as well.

-----

TASK 10

It's going to be a long summer for Fred Koenig, especially given that the Stampede completely missed out on the playoffs. So what does a player in Koenig's position do with the extra-long summer break? Well, it's tough to relax. For one thing, missing playoffs hurts a competitive players pride, meaning Koenig will likely spend a chunk of the summer training and trying to get better to help the Stampede get over the hump next year. But then, maybe he won't even be returning to Buffalo. Indeed, this summer is a particularly difficult one to relax through because of the looming expansion draft. With new franchises popping up in Chicago and New Orleans, Koenig and his family may be on the move. Not deemed worthy of a protection slot, Koenig has been exposed and is one of a couple of candidates who could plausibly be chosen in the expansion draft. Whether it happens remains to be seen, but Koenig is set to spend some of his summer biting his finger nails.