Quote:1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

This reality is just one of infinite realities existing alongside this one in parallel. Take us over to one of those realities in which everything is the same but these S52 playoffs have unfolded differently. What happened in that reality's playoffs and who's in the Challenge Cup over there?

In my favorite alternate reality, the unlikely Toronto North Stars, in the middle of their ‘tank’ season ran through the playoffs like a buzzsaw! Instead of being swept by Buffalo, in this reality, they flipped the script and did the sweeping of the Stampede riding the red hot play of Goaltender Harry Carpet who finished the series with two shutouts! Next, the North Stars dispatched the reigning champion Hamilton Steelhawks in 6 and the Manhattan Rage in 5 to set up a finals appearance with the San Francisco Pride. Rookie Bobby Lane, who tied for the team lead with 46 points in the regular season, exploded for 3 goals and 2 assists in the series opening 5-1 win for Toronto. However, the Pride bounced back with 3 straight wins. They seemingly figured Carpet out with 3-2, 4-1, and 7-3 victories in games 2, 3 and 4. Then, with the Stars on the ropes, Carpet found his game again and rattled off shutouts in games 5 and 6 to even the series at 6. Game 7 was a back and forth  affair, with each team getting a goal in each of the first two periods. A scoreless 3rd period sent the game to overtime tied 2-2. Overtime was mostly an uneventful defensive battle as the teams felt each other out. The deciding moment finally came late in the period when rookie Bobby Bobcalf intercepted a pass and buried an unassisted overtime winning and challenge cup clinching goal! Toronto North Stars, unlikely champs!

Quote:3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

By now, you're probably familiar with the attributes on FHM, and you likely have some sense of what type of build you're going to be aiming for with your player. What one attribute are you going to focus on most? Of all the attributes in the game, what is your player going to strive to be the absolute best at? Why are you picking that specific attribute above all others?

I’m going to be doing a playmaker forward. Not too different from my current STHS build. Pass first, offensive minded player who can skate and isn’t a total liability defensively. In order to make sure I don’t fall into the jack of all trades/master of none hole, I’m going to focus on being more offensive than I had previously thought with my STHS build. I’ll be focusing heavily on Offensive Read, Getting Open, Passing, and Skating. I would like to be able to put the puck in the net when the situation calls for it as well. Enough to keep defenders honestly and so they can’t just play the pass when I have the puck.

Quote:4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

The Most Generic Prompt of All Time - what is your player looking forward to in the offseason? What are they planning on doing? Training? Relaxing? Testing free agency? Whatever it is, let us know!

Rhys is entering his 2nd offseason coming off a mildly disappointing year in which he saw a dip in most statistical categories. A good problem to have, Pritchard will have a short offseason due to his team making Four Star Cup finals. Still, Rhys plans to train hard this offseason, focusing mostly on his offensive game and conditioning. Rhys is also planning to compete in WJC for the 2nd season and is hoping to help guide Team British Isles to a medal as a veteran member of the team. He is not sure if he’ll have enough time to head back home to see his mum in Wales this offseason but if he does, that will be a priority. He also would also like to spend some time getting to know his girlfriend of a few weeks in Anaheim. Needless to say, Rhys was under the impression that his last offseason was busy, but this upcoming one looks like it will be even crazier.

Quote:6. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

The SHL is taking a stand and trying to do its part in reducing its carbon footprint. One of the proposed ideas is to eliminate back and forth air travel during the Challenge Cup and Four Star Cup finals and instead hold all 4-7 games in one neutral, rotating location a la the Super Bowl. Are you FOR or AGAINST this idea? Why?

I am AGAINST this idea and I can’ t for the life of me understand why anyone would be for it. For one thing, you’re depriving fans of the respective teams the opportunity to see their teams’ play in the biggest series of the season. They would have been with their team through thick and thin all year, it doesn’t seem right to deny them the opportunity to cheer their team on in their barn in the biggest games. Secondly, home ice advantage is a big part of the games and why fighting for seeding is important during the regular season. Lastly, if the goal is to reduce the carbon footprint, think of all the extra flights that will be needed to shuttle all of the thousands of fans from both cities who are able to attend back and forth from this neutral site. It’s not just the team flights that need to be considered here.

Quote:14. Written, up to 5 TPE Pick up to 5 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words to qualify.
1. Head GMs JayWhy and Grapehead have been GMing for a while, whereas Co GMs Luketd and DaftRaincloud are newer to management - which team's front office staff (including coaches) do you think will provide a strategic edge (lol as if such a thing exists in STHS) in this series?
2. Manhattan has been rocking a pretty evenly-distributed ice time for forwards (35-33-32) whereas San Francisco is going a bit more top-heavy (40-40-15). Which approach do you think is better for a fierce Challenge Cup series?
3. The Rage and the Pride have, in my opinion at least, two of the best logos in the entire SHL. Which team's logo do you like more and why?
4. What is your favorite player name on either of these two teams and why? (not favorite player/user, just focusing on their player name)
5. Would you rather: (a) a chainsaw lesson with JayWhy, (b) a private Gritty meet-and-greet for you and Luke, © an all-you-can-eat grape buffet experience with Grapehead, or (d) an hour session where DaftRaincloud shows you everything from his internet history?

2. I think the better approach is to get your best players on the ice as much as possible so I like San Francisco’s approach here. Particularly since injuries are not an issue in our sim. This is the biggest series of the season. In my opinion it’s best to have your stars on the ice to decide your fate.

4. Between Rainbow Dash ,Phineas Gold, Cleo Green, Ben McBen, and Nathan Explosion this series features some of the most under the radar joke names in the league. However, I think Backdoor Barnacle takes the cake from the Manhattan Range. For one thing, I have no idea what it means. Maybe it’s a reference to something that I’m not aware of. I’d google it but I think its better left as a mystery

5. I can’t really eat more than a few grapes so my money would be wasted on an all you can eat buffet and I’m not really into viewing people’s internet history. So that just leaves Gritty and Luke or the chainsaw lesson. I’m not a Flyers fan and my in-laws live on some land so I think the chainsaw lesson sounds like it would do me the most good.

Quote:17. Casual Member Special, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer - SEND ANSWER IN PM TO "PT DIRECTOR" (tagged below)
A. As determined by draft class, which rostered player is the oldest player in this series?
B. Name TWO players who have played for both the Pride and the Rage.
C. Among ACTIVE PLAYERS, who has the most points scored in Pride franchise history?
D. Who was recently selected as the #1 player in Rage franchise history as part of their Top 50 in 50 series unveiled this season?

**Important**: Send the answers to username "PT Director" with the subject of the message titled “S52 CW" - Do not send it to my personal account; those will not be graded. Do not post the answers in here; you will not get credit for the task.

PM sent