1. (3) I have been blessed once again to get an all expense paid trip to either Tampa or Calgary for two games of the SHL Final. While Tampa seems like the more relaxing location, I have chosen to enjoy the greatest sports city in Alberta. I have chosen to visit Calgary so I can enjoy some of the amazing tourist attractions. Banff National Park, the Calgary Zoo, the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Calgary Tower, and of course set up a future visit for the Calgary Stampede. The city of Calgary is such an amazing place, and I am looking forward to getting to spend some quality time around that city and take in the two games with some of the amazing fans in the awesome Luxury box provided free of charge by the league. The city of Tampa will be in awe of the craziness that Calgary is going to unload.

2. (2) The ability, skill, and talent both these teams possess makes rooting for one over the other a very difficult choice. Both teams have shown that they deserve the support of the unbiased fans who don't have a horse in this race. I have decided to root for the Calgary Dragons because they have faced more setbacks and difficulty getting to the point where they have have gone on a roll and made it to the finals. If they do fall to the Barracuda, it will be an amazing achievement and shouldn't surprise anyone. The 50th season of the SHL will have a great Champion.

3. (3) If giving the chance to change the SHL Playoffs anyway that I want, I would have a couple ideas implemented. I would make all teams enter the Playoffs and all teams that are eliminated in the first round would be eligible for the draft lottery. (with the standings still giving the bottom teams better odds of the top picks.) I would go ahead and make a rule that I have seen others bring up in different leagues, where the winning team would be allowed to add one player from the teams they have eliminated to their rosters. The players chosen wouldn't be eligible to have their name on the Cup, but they would be given $2,000,000 for helping their new team win it all, while others would be given $1,000,000 or less depending on where their new team finishes. While the second idea may be more of a dream idea, the first one could actually be implemented.

4. (3) In my opinion Alternate Realities actually exist and in the perfect reality the SHL Finals would be a matchup between two teams who have faced tough opponents to get to the last hurdle before claiming the Challenge Cup. The Eastern Conference Champion Hamilton Steelhawks are well prepared to take on the battle tested Western Conference Champion San Francisco Pride. The Steelhawks defeated the Buffalo Stampede in 4 straight games and the Toronto North Stars in 6 games. The Pride had a tougher time making it this far getting passed the Calgary Dragons in 6 games, and had an incredible 7 game series with the New Orleans Specters which saw the Pride pull off the reverse sweep. Both teams are ready for what many are expecting to be an incredible final round. One thing that is clear however, is that whoever does claim the Championship, they will have gone through hell to finish off their opponent.

8. (2) These Playoffs have highlighted some young players amazing skill and proven they have amazing futures. If I had to shoose one player who I see winning an award in the future I would have to go with Austin Roenick being a future recipient of the Sergei Karpotsov Trophy. (Awarded to the player with the most points in the season) If Roenick continues to strengthen his skills along with his young teammates, he has an amazing future and the Sergei Karpotsov trophy will definitely have his name attached to it, possibly even more than once, but what the hell do I know.

15. (3) PM Sent

Total: 16/16