Task 1

Another SHL season has come and gone, and with the playoffs now nearing their own end, we finally meet for the S44 Challenge Cup Finals! This year we see the west represented with the Winnipeg Jets, and hailing from the east is West Kendall Platoon. West Kendall blasted their way in by pure strength alone, with some of the most elite scorers in the SHL. Dani Forsberg, and Trevor Wilson led the team with 20 points respectively, but we know how they get those points are very different. Forsberg lit the lamp for 10 goals in 18 games in the post season, while Wilson was the benefactor of those by being the slick setup man with 14 assists in as many games. It’s a very different story coming from Winnipeg. I mean Zach Evans always shows up and puts on a great game, but Artom Zhumbayev back stopped this team with a 12-6 record accompanied by a .915 save percentage and 2.67 goals against. So I guess you could say it will be the unstoppable force meeting an immovable object for this finals, should be a good one!

Task 3

Artemi Berezin had a rather quiet season. This was quite the transitional year for the Wolfpack with a significant head office change. Berezin’s highlight of his year had to be when he was seeing significant time on the man advantage and PP with the Wolfpack and seeing the development of the young stars of the team right before his eyes. Rafe Ulrich, Manuel Gotze and Kristaps Ball took massive steps forward in S44 and it was a delight to see.
Berezin found himself in more of a playmaking role than he’s historically seen. With the newly acquired centerman Tigole Bitties arriving in New England, he found himself looking to make plays to the big Greenlander centerman. The real highlight of the season for probably most on the Wolfpack were when New England went on a 9-0-1 run to surge back into the playoff picture. At one point we were within three points of entering the postseason but our record came back down to earth.

Task 4 - sent

Task 8

1. You could literally have an all-star team with just picking a starting lineup between these two power house teams, but let’s give it a shot! Up front you need Zach Evans, Dani Forsberg, and Trevor Wilson. I mean these guys combine for 59 points in 18 games?! Outrageous! On the points, I’ll add some more power with Jon Ross and Max Weber who had 16 and 14 points respectively, and it really shouldn’t be a surprise who would back stop this team, Artom Zhumbayev, and that name should be enough of an explanation.

3. Beaujeaux Biscuit, and Artom Zhumbayev both are elite goalies, and it would be hard to pick one to really give the advantage to but I would give Beaujeaux the overall advantage just because of the fire power he has in front of him, but that shouldn’t discount the fact that Artom could back stop any team in this league to a cup run because he is just that good.

4. You don’t have to look far to find two future great players from either team who showed up and made a difference even in these playoffs. Rex Kirkby from the Platoon had a very respective 7 points in 18 games as a rookie defensemen. And from Winnipeg you have Ignatius Blunt who helped his teams playoff run with 3 points in 18 games but the real stat is the no penalty minutes with averaging just under 15 minutes a game, anytime you can stay out of the box and score is a good time.