When talking about Challenge Cup favourites for this season I definitely think it is hard to talk about it without coming up with at least one of the following four teams: the Hamilton Steelhawks, the Buffalo Stampede, the Texas Renegades, and the Chicago Syndicate. I know everyone is already dreading another Hamilton Steelhawks cup win (besides those on the team of course), but it is hard to have them out of the cup favourite talk with their 56-9-1 record with their goal differential of +163. That is the best goal differential in the league by over 30 goals. They also have 6 more wins than the 2nd place Buffalo Stampede. 

With that though, my cup favourite is the Buffalo Stampede with their 50-13-3 record and goal differential at +133. Their record and goal differential is second to the Hamilton Steelhawks, but looking at their team PDO compared to the Steelhawks, one can argue they have gotten worse "puck luck" in comparison. Plus, their team is lethal and should be higher ranked in TPE in comparison to the Hamilton Steelhawks which is why they are my Cup favourite for this season.

As unfortunate as it may be to some people in the league, it does seem like another Challenge Cup in the Great Lakes Division as the only competitor outside of that division is the Texas Renegades. The Renegades are right behind the Buffalo Stampede in terms of their performance this season, but they were much better defensively, allowing the fewest goals as a team this season. If defense wins championships, maybe this will be the season. However, I really don't see the Cup leaving the Great Lakes.