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?

I was hyper focused on playing hockey at the highest level possible, you know being a professional and all. Thus, I never really had time to get worked up over all the shenanigans that cropped up during the season. It was mostly answering emails and complaints that the few but vocal had online. Outside of that, I was playing hockey and trying to focus on doing that, and it was a slow start in a newish setting, and took a bit of time to start firing on all cylinders. A lot of good things happened off the ice during the season. We had the big ol’ family gathering that brought in family from all around. It was great organizing that having good quality family time after we went a while without it. So in short, this season was full of good things despite what the narrative is online which wants to focus on negative events for some reason.

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.
For the sake of new players joining the league and for fun in general, every team should make the SMJHL playoffs. It was terrible when a new HO came in and changed that format. Why should the juniors be super competitive anyways? Can’t we all just have some fun before the craziness of the SHL is pushed on them. Let the young players play some meaningful hockey in the post-season. Let them develop that feeling for playoffs and then send them up to the SHL.

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?
Team Switzerland is going to start off by losing a bunch of games before striking back and eliminating everyone in their path. It’s going to be the Swiss making a lot of noise in this season’s IIHF tournament. There’s a lot of talent that folks around the league aren’t talking about on the Swiss team when they should. Expect big things out of this team which is still maturing into its potential as an international powerhouse. As for teams that are going to fall from the top of the standings, look toward the teams with some aging veterans. It could be a dominant team that everyone expects to win because of how great they have been recently, but consider all the aging plus wear and tear on those older teams. As the tournament progresses, that might cause a few of the teams to falter. With IIHF, it’s difficult to really gauge which countries are going to make a big splash and surprise everyone. That’s just international hockey for you.

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.
A. Puck luck and bullshittery? I don’t think that is the case when the teams are playing best of 7 series. Maybe a game or two could get squeaked out by some puck luck and bullshittery, but these teams are here because they beat everyone that stood in their paths. They’re the best of this season.
B. Chicago has had an impressive run for being one of the more recent team in the league’s history. Looking back at some expansion teams that seem to be still trying to get where these teams are at, it can’t be chalked up as easy. Would be nice to have the numbers on the appearances to give a detailed comment on this topic.
C. Somebody mentioned how Buffalo looked like John Deere and that is what I have seen ever since. The Chicago branding reminds me of Godfather’s pizza chain, which I had one time and really regretted it. Neither are what I would consider top brandings of the league, but that doesn’t matter so much as they are in the finals and everyone else isn’t.
D. Nolan Sawchuk was a star that lit it up in Chicago. Nobody expected him to be as good as he was with Chicago, but he went in there and would battle for that team everynight on the ice. The fans loved him, the crowds would sob when it was announced he was no longer apart of the franchise.

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.
CWtoivo

17. Milestones, up to 3 TPE
Milestones are folded in with CW. So just link your Milestone claim as task 16 for up to 3 TPE towards your 16 total.
MILESTONES TBD (check back later)
Milestones

16/16