2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
With everyone getting a free redistribution this offseason, S54 is quite wide open at the moment. Before those redistributions take place, who would you anticipate being the top team(s) for next season?

Honestly, I don't necessarily expect to see a ton of movement at the top of the table, most of the top teams from this season are likely to remain there. The same is likely true for the bottom-feeders as well, I don't think anyone was completely sewered by builds so badly that it led to them being a lottery team. Where I think the most interesting changes will be are the middle ground and bubble teams. Lots of teams will have a season of knowledge to use (or learn nothing from) and tweak their rosters and builds for the coming year. It's certainly likely that a couple of these could push towards joining the top few teams in the league, especially if they were already a fairly young team as is. Also possible is a scenario where a team places too much faith in copying successful builds while neglecting the tactical side of why those builds were successful, leading to another ok but overall mediocre season.

3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
Which player from the Steelhawks or the Blizzard would you bet on to win a regular season individual award in a future season? What player and what award? What makes you think they'll live up to their potential and take home the hardware?

I think it's exceedingly likely that when all is said and done, Samuel Michaud @golden_apricot will bring home a Bojo Biscuit award as the top defensive defenseman in the SHL. He's one of the top earners in his class, already over 100 TPE, and has been a factor on two cup winning teams at a young age. He's only improving and his immense impact can already be seen by the fact that he carried Gabriel Johnson to a resoundingly successful season, which should theoretically be impossible. Michaud drives defensive results and is just entering the heart of his career now. When all is said and done, he could be remembered as one of the better defensive defenders in league history.

5. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Just like everything else in S53, IIHF is going to be an exciting mystery for us all! We've seen the introduction of a new format (all 14 teams in one group) and it's bound to be a very exciting tournament. What are your predictions for IIHF this season? What team or teams do you think have the best shot at taking home the gold? How do you think your team will fare?

I think the teams to beat are likely Canada or the US. They're both powerhouses, with Canada in particular being on the upswing with some young players finally hitting their stride. The other exciting part is that both groups look as though they will have an absolute dogfight for the 4th spot in each group, meaning that each game carries a ton of meaning for some of the less powerful nations. If you get into the quarterfinals, you're never completely out of it - but you have to get there first. I'm biased but I'm feeling good about Ireland's chances to catch the 4th place spot in our group. We're not nearly as strong as we were in the previous decade but we still have talent and can hang in with the big dogs. If I had to predict a winner it would likely be Canada, but there are a ton of teams with crazy depth so it could go any number of ways. The results could literally come down to a single game determining the seeding that paves the way for a team to go all the way or lose out early.

7. Written/Graphic, 2 TPE (100 words min. for written option)
Even though the Panthers fell short this season, the LA influence has been felt around the league and execs in Hollywood are paying more attention to the SHL with the hometown team making waves. If your player could have a cameo in any tv show or movie, what show/movie would they choose? (for the purposes of this PT you may choose a show/movie that already exists just uhhh pretend they re-shoot it with your cameo or something idk).

This one's easy, I would definitely appear in a hockey themed Muppets movie. Perhaps I would be the only human player on the team and it could be similar to Space Jam. Kermit and Fozzy Bear would be my linemates and our line would be called the Rainbow Connection. In this scenario, I would imagine that the Muppets are getting absolutely rinsed by another hockey team because they've never played hockey before and also because they are puppets. I would be able to step in as a now two-time Challenge Cup Champion and show them the way. It would start with the back-end out. I'd have to teach Animal to channel his inner rage and Pepe the Prawn that undersized defenders have a place in the game. Gonzo would of course be the fourth line winger everyone is scared of (on account of all the chicken fucking), and Rolf would naturally be the big powerforward up front that drives goalies insane with screening. Statler and Waldorf would be the assistant coaches on the bench and would mock the Muppets into playing better. This actually sounds amazing, I'm emailing Netflix brb

Task 16:

Verification word: steelhawks

13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words to qualify.
a. Who is the best player in this CC finals? Plenty of good candidates: Lagerfield, Phelps, Kryyst, McIntry, Pepperoni, Scholz, etc. Who's your choice for best player and why?

Come on hotdog I won a Stevens literally a season ago and I don't even make the shortlist >:(

b. Based on player ratings, EDM has the advantage in speed and acceleration and HAM has the advantage in balance and strength. Which team's physical skills will give them the edge in this series?

I think Hamilton's gave them an advantage, mostly because I don't think Hamilton's skating game was poor by any means. Part of the reason the Steelhawks were so good this year was goal suppression, and that starts with play all over the ice. Being able to control the puck or win puck battles prevents shots against, and when a puck is jammed against the wall it doesn't matter how fast a guy is. Being the team that was able to win more of those 50/50 puck battles gave Hamilton an edge in the series.

c. Assemble your ideal fantasy team out of players in this series - F, F, F, D, D, G. Explain your choices.

Tony-Pepperoni - Aaron Wilson - Flacko Lagerfield
Tig Murphy - Brady McIntyre
Geezus Kryyst

This lineup gives you everything you need. You have an absolutely bananas amount of offensive firepower up front, but three forwards who know their way around the defensive zone as well. Murphy and McIntyre are two extremely solid defenders on both sides of the puck that can facilitate puck movement while stifling the other team defensively. Then you have, for my money, the best goalie in the league in Geezus Kryyst who has absolutely carried Hamilton to two cups in three seasons.

d. Blizzard... snow... ok debate time - do you like snow? yes or no? why or why not?

I think people like the concept of snow because of what it represents - the holidays, spent with family, associations with major holidays, being out of school, hot cocoa, the list goes on and on. People absolutely adore the idea of snow because it takes them back to a simpler time. However, the reality of snow sucks and everyone who disagrees is wrong. It causes traffic to become a shitshow because no one knows how to drive in it. It shuts things down, causes power outages, and just generally inconveniences you ESPECIALLY when it snows but not enough so that you get to stay home from school or work. From a practical standpoint snow sucks, even if there's something calming about the atmosphere of wintertime.