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.

Jon Tellofsen is calm as he laces up his skates, preparing for game 1 of the Four Star Cup Finals. He wants to treat this game like any other - he has to if he wants to perform well on the ice. He still remembers last year, the excitement, and ultimately the disappointment, losing the second round series to the Detroit Falcons. The Crows had an excellent start to the playoffs that year, sweeping the Vancouver Whalers and looking like one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs, despite only finishing 4th in the league. Now that they topped the table this year, there was a bye round before they would taste any playoff action. A better regular season, however, only meant even higher expectations for a city that has been waiting for another Four Star Cup since S29. Jon knows he has to take everything as it comes, one game at a time. Now is certainly not the time to get complacent - last year’s playoffs ended far too quickly for Jon to want to experience that again. And now that the Scarecrows have made the finals? All the more crushing if they come back empty handed.

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.

After a rockier start to the regular season than what he is used to, Minnesota Chiefs goaltender Olli O’Koivu closed out the season with a .912 save percentage. While it may be odd to consider a team’s starting goaltender as an unsung hero for the playoffs so far, O’Koivu’s tamer season start led to many sleeping on the world-class netminder. Now, in the playoffs, his save percentage has ticked up a good margin, currently at .919, and he has been coming up with the clutch saves the Minnesota Chiefs have needed to keep them so dominant these playoffs. While there have been many solid contributors to Minnesota’s success, especially their well-rounded and explosive offence combined with a healthy and stingy defense, Olli O’Koivu’s excellent and consistent performance has largely gone under the radar, making him an excellent choice for the unsung hero of the playoffs.

TASK 4: Messaged Pris


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.

From the Los Angeles Panthers, the standout choice for a postseason surprise is Danny Foster. In prediction threads, you were considered either a gambler or half-mad if you selected anyone other than Danny Foster for goon of the year. This postseason, his point totals have swelled impressively, while keeping his penalty minutes to a more consistent and less goon-ish total. Staying out of the box will be important for Foster, and the Panthers, in the upcoming final

On the other side of things, from the Minnesota Chiefs, Jonathan Lundberg entered the post-season with just over 200 regular-season hits this year. Lundberg also racked up an impressive amount of points, just shy of 40, one of the frontrunner of the Chief’s dynamic and potent offence. He’ll need to crash every crease and wear down the opposition like he has all season and postseason up to this point for Minnesota to continue their winning ways.