My chosen tasks with running tally for my own benefit, and maybe whomever is grading. 

Task #2, 100 words, 2 TPE, Total 2 TPE
    To celebrate their first home playoff game in several seasons, the Whalers have decided to surprise their fans with a commemorative item to thank them for their support.  Every ticket holder walking through the door will be given a foam harpoon in the traditional one-flue style that is most associated with 19th century whaling. The word “Whalers” is wrapped around the handle in the traditional blue letters over the greens and whites that make up the rest of the teams’ colors. The flue is entirely blue except for a white outline on either side of the customary whale tail logo.

Task #4, 274 words, 3 TPE, Total 5 TPE
    Growing up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in a tiny town has given me plenty of backwoods experience especially in the hiking department. After an interview about my experiences I was contacted by the Take a Hike foundation which servers underprivileged youth in the Vancouver area. I didn’t really understand at first how just taking kids hiking was going to help them, but I like hiking so I said sure. I begin to accompany small groups of kids for walks in the forests surrounding the city. They are usually quiet at first but as we move along and see more they get much more animated and forget that talking scares the animals away! As I begin to see more and more of the same kids on some of these journeys I begin to realize that hiking does make a difference. It seemed to build their confidence. Many of them confessed that they didn’t think they would be able to hike as far as they did. Some of the kids who never smiled when we first went out seemed to not be able to stop smiling. One of them told me that “Mother Nature has the best graphics!”
     Some of the stories these kids tell me are heartbreaking. It can be tough living where I did but my life was a cakewalk compared to what some of them have gone through. I think I’ve gotten pretty good at listening but I don’t usually know what to say. Counselor Jenny tells me that listening is enough. I am enjoying the experience and plan to continue doing it as long as I am in Vancouver.

Task #7, 161 words, 2 TPE, Total 7 TPE
     Honestly, the playoff format didn’t make much sense to me. I get that the first four teams had a bye as a reward, but why did the last four teams even make the playoffs?  We could have had an eight team playoff right from the start.  And what was the point of having divisions or conferences if the teams all just got ranked by record? We ended up with the two best teams playing each other in the semi-finals, teams that were in opposite conferences!
     However, I get that we are somewhat limited by the system we are using. If we decide to continue with the same format, I recommend (if possible) getting rid of the divisions and conference and have each team play another 5 times for a 55 game season. This would give no schedule advantage to any squad in the league, and allow for the two best teams in the league to meet each other in the finals.

Task #8, 231 words, 3TPE, Total 10 TPE
     Zebulon Leavitt: I had a rough start as a rookie Whaler and my biggest issue (especially with the coach) was taking dumb penalties. I got benched a few times during games and it is quite humbling. As the season went on I got the message and started playing a bit more disciplined. I didn’t completely stay out of the box but I spent a lot less time there. Well, except for the fight but the coach doesn’t mind those as much. 
     I focused mainly on improving my defensive skills over the course of the season. During practice for special teams they had me especially concentrate on being shorthanded, which I actually enjoy.  That in particular improved overall for the team and I like to think I was an essential part of that. Playing with Slimey Snail helped quite a bit. He is along the same prototype of the player we both want to be and we worked together on strengthening our games. He especially assisted me in improving my hitting, checking, and how to shot block better while reducing your chances of being injured. 
     The coaches thought I could use some work on my passing so I spent plenty of off hours on that as well and it paid off! While I only put up 8 assists that wasn’t disappointing especially since they came in the latter half of the season.

Task #9, 165 words, 2 TPE, Total 12 TPE
Battle between Berserkers and Lumberjacks: If I was gambling man, I would always bet on the Berserkers. Lumberjacks are experts in cutting down trees and moving them. Berserkers are trained to fight.  History has plenty of examples of hard working civilians going into battle with trained warriors and having their asses handed to them. Lumberjacks are trained to swing their axes at an object that doesn’t move. Unless they can convince the enemy to stand still they are pretty much doomed. 
However, if woodsmen could somehow lure the Viking warriors into a dense forest they might be able to take advantage of their forest knowhow and use guerilla tactics to defeat them. I daresay they are as much experts in climbing trees as the Berserker is in warfare. Leaping from tree to tree would allow them free reign to rain destruction from above with little the Scandanavian army could do about it.
So the winners are… the Berserkers unless the Lumberjacks get the terrain advantage.


Task #12, 191 words, 3 TPE, Total 15 TPE
Prospect Review for Zebulon Leavitt: The future is bright for this young defenseman, and he will be a welcome addition to any SHL team. He hits, he blocks shots, and he isn’t afraid to drop the gloves to defend his teammates on occasion. While he has plenty of areas of the game to work on, he has also proven he is willing to work on them. A team source indicated a both seriousness in becoming a pro accompanied with willingness to put in extra time in improving his game. “He spends extra time in the weight room and on the ice, he has never been late for a single meeting, he listens to both the staff and his peers, he is encouraging, he is exactly the type of player you want in your locker room.”
He also appears to be quite active outside the arena, participating in kayaking and hiking which can only improve his strength and stamina. Upon arriving in Vancouver he almost immediately volunteered for a local charity group dealing with underprivileged children, an indicator of a person who wants to improve not just himself but those around him.


Task #16 , 1 TPE minimum, Total 16TPE

Verification word: Shrapnel