S60 Championship Week

S60 Championship Week

StadiumGambler
Registered
Posting Freak

#92

08-11-2021, 03:26 PM (This post was last modified: 08-13-2021, 07:01 PM by StadiumGambler.)

Code:
1. Written, 3 TPE, Ups and Downs (150 words min.)

So this was a tough season for everyone in the SHL. Dealing with trolls online, horrible PR from product endorsements, and on top of that all some minor identity fraud to add to the pile. Are these the worst things to happen to your player this season, or did something unimaginably horrible happen? On the flip side, were there any bright spots hidden in the countless nuisances and problems? What good things on and off the ice happened this season for you?

The identity fraud and online trolling was kinda rough this season, but the real test for Nick Brain came with an absolutely brutal season in terms of offensive productivity for Winnipeg. The whole team struggled en route to a 17-44-5 record, and Nick Brain mustered only 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points, the lowest point-per-game numbers Nick's had since his early years on Winnipeg's 3rd line. Nick was booed off the ice in several games along with his teammates, and the belief is widely shared that Nick is "over the hill" and can't compete with the top centers anymore.

However, there was a bright spot towards the end of the offseason. Nick Brain went to CEO, one of the biggest fighting video game tournaments in the world, and took home $10,000 for winning the Street Fighter V bracket in a stunning upset, downing many of the world's best with the pink-wearing Dan Hibiki in moments that will be replayed on Youtube for years to come. When Nick retires, he'll still be a valued part of at least one gaming group.

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2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Pokemon! Everyone loves em, and if you don't, you didn't have a childhood. Or adulthood. Anyways, let's imagine all SHL and SMJHL players are now pokemon. Assemble your team! On top of that, what is your strategy to navigate the POKESHL? Try to get the strongest pokemon and become champion? Catch all of the possible players and complete your pokedex? UwU Breed them? Catch low level juniors players and train them? Or become a gym leader, helping others on their path to greatness? I'd love to hear your approach.

Well for Pokémon if we're assuming its real and not a game, and if we need Pokémon with practicality AND combat ability, then obviously Arcanine should be a staple on the team. It can generate fire and can physically carry trainers for ease of travel over rough or lengthy terrain. The obvious correlation with Arcanine is Toronto North Stars defenseman Adam Barron, who generates fire with his slapshot and can physically carry an entire blueline corps with his immense TPE total.

Another choice for an ace Pokémon would be Dragonite, due to its physical presence and ability to fly in the air. The most physical presence on a flight based team is Kaspars Claude of the Calgary Dragons, who led all teams with flying mascots with his 159 hits in Season 60.

And finally we'd need an aquatic Pokémon that offers stability, such as Lapras. For aquatic-themed teams, Colin Lambert from the Tampa Bay Barracuda would be the play, as he led the team in plus-minus.

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5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

We're adding 2 teams to the SMJHL this season. Do you think we should keep the current SMJHL playoff format of everyone makes it? Or is it time to just take the best 8 or 12 teams and let em duke it out? Defend your stance.

We might not have a choice given the way FHM works, but having a 14 team playoff is not a bad thing for the J because we want to encourage participation as much as possible. Making rookies feel included by at least having a postseason as opposed to welllllllllp have fun waiting for weeks for something else to happen is key for user retention.

However, if FHM forces us into stupid playoff formats again, we need to go 12 teams at least to keep things sane. We'll still have all sorts of problems with seeding (I feel like Anchorage and Quebec City met each other earlier than the finals once despite having top 2 records.), but at least more rookies will feel involved.

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6. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

What's your prediction for this season's IIHF tournament? Which teams do you expect to do well (or not well)? Which players?

I expect last year's weird tournament to be an aberration, and for a more normal pecking order to return this season. Great Britain, USA, and Canada should be considered the medal favourites due to the superior depth of talent they possess. Adam Barron and Bobby Lane, two of the most talented players in the history of the game, should be leading figures in the tournament for what should be a powerful Canadian lineup. Lucky Luca Del Vecchio had an MVP caliber season for Baltimore last year, and hopes to improve upon a disastrous showing he had in last year's IIHF bracket. Goalies such as Strom Chamberlain and Harry Carpet will be looking to shine brightly for their respective teams.

I predict Canada to win, Great Britain to win silver, and the United States to get bronze. I don't think these medal predictions have ever been right, due to teams like Sweden and Czechs coming up, but what can you do.

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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. The salt special: Do these teams deserve to be here? Or were they gifted a trip to the finals through puck luck and bullshittery?

b. Buffalo has been here many times in the past 20 seasons, this is only the second (I think I'm too lazy to check) time for Chicago. Which is more impressive? The continued dominance of Buffalo? Or the solid couple of runs Chicago has made despite the team only being 15 seasons old?

c. Everyone's a critic: Nitpick one thing about either team's logo, jersey, rink design, goal horn, or general site demeanor.

d. Who is the best player to play for either team? Is it a current player? Retired? Traded? Make your case.

b) Buffalo's continued dominance is way more impressive when you consider that they were a fucking disaster for quite a while in the buildup to their breakout Season 46. WannabeFinn and Tomen have done a terrific job of building a perpetual contender and taking advantage of some teams getting into a jam in the trade market. Chicago is impressive in their own way, but NOLA built to contention quicker and won a Cup before them, and they're still below Buffalo's legacy in my eyes.

c) I kinda hate the redesign of the Chicago Syndicate logo. I liked the yellow and grey, and I think they had two thugs behind the mascot in the background. This new logo looks a bit more like a CIA guy rather than a wise guy. Also I feel like Buffalo's green and yellow is annoying because it prevented Regina from using a similar colour scheme, and the logo could use an update and some zazz tbh.

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Quote:15. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.