Even though I've already played three full seasons in the SHL, I'd like to consider myself as a younger player, especially since I haven't reached any of the milestones I'd like to achieve before hitting regression. It would seem that the game sees me the same way, as much to my delight (and a little bit of relief and surprise), it placed me on the up-and-comers team. Well sort of, the game must have noticed that I was at my best playing in the best tandem in the SMJHL, so the legendary Tyler Ward was selected alongside me to split starts. It really is a smart game, since the whole lineup is made up of former QCC stars. Up front, it may seem strange at first choosing three right wings to be your forwards, but when you look at the names it all makes sense. Chosen to be the right winger is the legendary Zdenko Beranek, who has a Fallah, Lindsay, and Martucci trophy under his belt. On the left side is left shot William Salming, often an unsung hero of the team, and centering them is Kev Kevens, who is the best of the three at faceoffs. On defense is arguably the best pairing in QCC history, Teylora Petrov and Jasper Maximov. This was a very tight knit group from when they all entered the SMJHL in Season 55 for the expansion Citadelles (save for Ward who joined the team a season later) all the way up to when they left Quebec City for their respective SHL teams right after winning the Four-Star Cup in Season 58 (except Teylora, who got called up after Season 57, and Ward after Season 59), so when we all saw each other for the first time in a long time it was like no time had passed, each of us were joking around with each other, reminiscing about our days in QCC, and talking about our time so far in the SHL. Nobody ever said it, but we all knew that we were the underdogs going into this tournament, especially before we found out who our teammates would be. Once we saw each other's faces, though, all of our doubts were immediately washed away. We were fired up, ready to take on the first team in the tournament.

The up-and-comers are looking strong going into their first game against the grizzled vets. With Mat Smith starting, at first it was a little weird to see his usual teammates lining up against him on the opposite end, but it's something he'll just have to get used to. Still though, it must have been weighing on his mind at first since the first goal of the game was scored by former Chicago teammate Gunnar Soderberg. It was a nice feed from Smith's good friend Cassius Darrow, and Smith got it, but it must have just barely gotten through his pads as it trickled into the net behind him. As the night went on Smith got better, but his opponent between the vets' pipes, Harry Carpet (Smith's opponent in Toronto and teammate in Finland), was a brick wall, stopping every shot he faced. The final score was 1-0 in a somewhat defensive game, 20 shots for the vets and 21 for the young guns, and suddenly that confidence that the up-and-comers were feeling going into the tournament was starting to waver. Nobody took the loss harder than Smith, though, as he knew that one goal should have been his. This tournament wasn't going to be an easy one to win, and little mistakes like that could cost them everything.

Well this game was just embarrassing for the young guns after a tough loss to the grizzled vets. Nobody on the team played well against those hall-of-famers, most of which Smith only recognized as the people who most of the awards were named after. Tyler Ward got the start, and after giving up 5 goals on 20 shots in the first period and a half, Smith was put in. He did no better in the second half, allowing another 6 goals on top of that on 22 shots. The up-and-comers could take solace in the fact that it wasn't a shutout loss though, as Kev Kevens scored a greasy grindy goal late in the 3rd, final score 11-1 for the Hall-of-Famers. The young guns were frustrated going into the locker room, most of all with themselves, and knew that they all had to be better if they wanted a shot coming out of the round robin.

Well confidence is at an all-time low for the Up-and-Comers as they couldn't put together a single win during the round robin, but it was time to put that behind them going into the elimination rounds. The locker room going into the game was quiet and tense as everyone geared up in time for opening puck drop. Smith would get the start this game and a slow start it would be, allowing 2 goals in the first 10 shots. Smith was clearly frustrated at this point, as he almost got into a fight towards the end of the period with Chicago teammate Gunnar Soderberg (who by the way was pushed onto him by Kev Kevens). Things started looking up a little bit in the second period as Jasper Maximov would score a quick one early in the period with a rocket from the blue line, and shortly after Zdenko Beranek would tie it up off a nice feed from William Salming. The team was feeling pretty good going into the 3rd after a rousing speech from captain Maximov, but doubt quickly crept in when Smith allowed the first shot of the period to go in. Time passed, and just as it was looking more and more like that would be it for the young guns, Beranek sprung off on a breakaway! He gets in close, brings the puck almost to his feet, and at the very last second slides it over to the opposite side of the crease and tucks it in behind Carpet. That would be it for the 3rd period, but the team was completely fired up going into overtime, completely dominated that period and Kevens ended up with the game-winning goal, tipping a shot from Teylora Petrov.

As the youngest and most inexperienced team in the league, the Up-and-Comers were excited at the prospect of facing some of their childhood idols in the Hall-of-Famers. Still though, from a hockey standpoint they were a little relieved to hear that they had been upset by the Superstars. The mood going into the room was positive, as everyone knew that since they made it this far they could absolutely beat just one more team. They weren't complacent by any means, they were getting ready for a tough game, but they were feeling good nonetheless. Tyler Ward would be getting the start as by far the better option on the team, and the right choice it was. First period passed, no goals against on 15 shots; he even robbed the legendary Ryuuji Minamino on a wide open net. On the other hand, Beranek, Maximov, and Petrov were all able to pot one each for the young guns. Second period starts, and not even a minute in Ward makes the save of the tournament on a 2-0 breakaway for the Superstars. He drops the puck to Maximov, who hesitates for a second as two Superstar forwards start putting on the pressure, then sends a saucer pass right to the tape of Beranek who had been waiting at the opposing blue line. He goes in alone and tucks it in on Doyle for his second of the game. After this goal, though, the Young Guns bench looks puzzled as Ward skates over to the bench and goes down the tunnel. The coach tells Smith to start stretching, in case, and it's a good thing since it turned out that Ward tore several muscles in his groin from that save and wouldn't be returning to the game. As Smith goes into the game a little cold he lets in a soft goal about halfway through the second, then a tough one goes in over his glove hand. Still, the score is 4-2 going into the 3rd and the Young Guns are feeling alright. The 3rd period is a full on goalie battle, as both netminders turn away 10 shots each in the first 15 minutes. With two and a half minutes left in the 3rd, the Superstars get set up in the Young Guns zone, and pull their goalie for the extra attacker. They cycle it around the zone for about a minute before Theo Morgan finds Minamino in the slot, who snaps the one timer into the back of the net to get within one. With one minute left, the Superstars win the final faceoff of the game and get it into their attacking zone, setting up once again. They cycle for awhile and fire a few low shots looking for rebounds. With two seconds left on the clock one finds Minamino and as everyone scrambles for the puck, he snipes it top shelf. But at the last possible second, Smith flashes the glove to catch the puck right on the goal line. The clock winds down to 0, and as it does, the Young Guns bench erupts as they have pulled off the greatest upset and won the Cup.

I loved this PTs connect to form a full story thing, along with the option to do something else if someone didn't want to do this over a full season or missed one. Would love to see more like it in the future.