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1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
While these two teams are no strangers to the Cup finals, we did see some very interesting things this season. Looking back, what do you feel was the most surprising part of the season?

While some may not find it super surprising, but seeing Toronto emerge as another Great Lakes powerhouse after several seasons stuck behind Hamilton, Buffalo, and Chicago, has been a sight to behold. Not only did they put themselves into the playoffs, but they were also able to leapfrog BOTH Buffalo and Chicago into 2nd place in the division, pushing last season’s Challenge Cup winners Chicago out of the playoffs. With their core locked up and multiple 1st round picks this season through shrewd asset management, Toronto looks to solidify its place as another Great Lakes powerhouse. Their core is just entering their prime in terms of TPE and many of Toronto’s players enjoyed career years in terms of offensive production. Their run this season in the playoffs was spectacular, reaching the semi-finals against a very strong Buffalo team, pushing them to 7 games. There will be many finals in the future for this squad.

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2. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
Oh no, the head honchos of the league are worried that there aren't enough story lines for the finals! Therefore they're changing the rules for the finals. The home team will get to choose to either a) play the whole game with 6 skaters on the ice at a time or b) be immune from penalties/offsides/icing. Whatever the home team chooses, the visitors get the other perk. Which one are you choosing, given the choice and why?
 
Option B is definitely the better option. While playing the whole game with 6 skaters on the ice gives you a numbers advantage and can allow skilled players to be able to have extra options to choose from for offensive and transition plays, the immunity from penalties, offsides, and icing is far too valuable. Sure, offsides won’t get called that much when you are against 6 skaters, you will likely be in your defensive zone more often. Icing will be used for line changes. BUT being immune to penalties is what makes this option overpowered. Sure you may have 6 skaters on the ice, but if they are unable to play because the shorthanded team is constantly tripping, holding, grabbing, checking, tackling, any penalties that they can think of, what is the point of having that extra skater?

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5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?

In my mind, Chicago Syndicate. As much as I begrudgingly pick them because they were able to defeat the Steelhawks last season in the finals, the Great Lakes has been a bloodbath this season, with Toronto leapfrogging over Buffalo and Chicago into the playoffs. A team like Chicago has no place being outside of the playoffs amassing an 88 point season, 29 points (essentially 14 wins and 1 overtime loss) above a team that made it into the playoffs. The top four teams in the Eastern Conference had a 14 point gap (7 wins) above the 5th place team. It is unbelievable how competitive the Great Lakes division has become, and it is absolutely criminal that one of the 4 teams from the Great Lakes is unable to reach the playoffs despite being significantly better than the next best team outside of this incredible division.
 
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12. 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.
a. Hamilton finished 13 points above Buffalo in the standings this season. What is one thing that Buffalo can do to give themselves a leg up despite this?

What they did this season to give themselves a leg up in this series has already been completed. Buffalo made a significant trade this season prior to the trade deadline in bringing in Dick Clapper, the former Steelhawk that was dealt back to New England this season in the Mitchell Van Der Heijden trade. With the trade for Dick Clapper, Buffalo increased their offensive firepower and has been arguably the better team since the trade deadline.

b. Hamilton was 3rd in the league in GF this season. Buffalo was 2nd in GA. This begs the age old question: what will win out, a great defense or a great offense? Why?

To be honest, this is totally up in the air. But recent series shows that a hot goalie is able to do anything he or she wants. Even if the team in front of the goaltender is leaking shots against massively, if the goaltender stands on his or her head, (see Chicago S57 Finals, Hamilton S58 Finals). Despite throwing a staggering amount of shots against Chicago (Hamilton), Hamilton (Buffalo) was defeated in 5 games after stellar performances by Tibuk Soonika (A Jobin). You win, if you let in one less goal than the opposing goaltender.
 
c. Which of these two teams' brandings do you prefer? Take into account colors, logo, name, location, and anything else you consider relevant.
I am personally not a big fan of the color green. So I will have to choose Hamilton. Hamilton’s name and brand has ties to the community in which Hamilton is a part of. Known as a steel manufacturing town, the name Steelhawks brings in an imagery of the surroundings that the team plays in front of and fosters a type of community for the team that team brands should strive for.

d. It's all come down to this: game seven overtime. Which four players are you sending out to win the game for you. This is in a fantasy sense, so feel free to mix and match from both teams.

Only four? Are we playing 3 on 3 or 5 on 5 OT in the playoffs? I always thought it was 5 on 5. Regardless, My picks this year for Hamilton’s 3 on 3 would be Michael Scarn, Theo Morgan, and Samuel Michaud. These three have been the most consistent players along with Aaron Wilson, scoring the most points for the Steelhawks these past several years. If its 4 on 4, I would add Hugh Jazz as a defenseman. If its 5 on 5, I would add the aforementioned Aaron Wilson to complete the lineup.

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13. Written, 2 TPE - The Procrastinator Special! (100 words min.)
Welp, you waited until the last day to grind out your CW and the CC finals are longggggggg over by now. congrats to [TEAM], woo! Reflecting back on the series, who gets your vote for series MVP? Make the case why this player deserves it over any other.

Series MVP definitely has to be A Jobin. In a scenario where Hamilton were the team that were under the gun for most of the series, getting absolutely outshot in significant portions in the finals, it was Jobin’s stellar performance that kept the Steelhawks in the games and in the series. Coming from last season where Chicago’s goaltender was able to absolutely dominate despite the significant amount of shots that was thrown in his way by Hamilton, it feels very interesting to be on the other side of the equation this season. Giving Hamilton a chance to win despite getting outshot every game earns Jobin the MVP honors.
 

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15. Milestones, up to 3 TPE
New this season, Milestones are folded in with CW. So just link your Milestone claim as task 16 for up to 3 TPE towards your 16 total.
SHL Milestones: https://simulationhockey.com/showthread.php?tid=114645

+/- 36 > 25 – 1 TPE
28 Giveaways < 30 – 1 TPE
Challenge Cup – 1 TPE