1. 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.

water

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2. Written, up to 4 TPE - Grab Bag: Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. Atlanta is a recent expansion team reaching it's first finals appearance. Chicago has been a dominant force in the league for a long time now, with their last cup win only seven seasons ago in Season 57. If you're betting on these finals, do you go for the experienced vets in Chicago, or the hungry Atlanta first-timers?  I think in this instance I'd have to take Chicago.  Maybe its just one of those old sports myths but I feel like before you can ascend to the very top of the mountain you have to take a hard fall. Atlanta is a great story and going to be a great team for years to come, but I just think that before they can win it all, they need to have their heart ripped out.  Plus Chicago is just insanely stacked.

b. Chicago's lineup much more active with their sticks than Atlanta's, racking up 97 takeaways to Atlanta's 79. This late in the playoffs, how do you adjust to a team that's so adept at picking your pocket?  Its honestly probably a little too late to change much this season, but I think I'd go into the offseason with a full revamp of how we play the game.  Idk what they'd call it in Canada but something like the tiki taka of Barcelona soccer fame would be a an awesome way to take that out of the game. Lots of quick one touch passes all over the ice would wear out the Chicago players trying to go for the stick pick.

c. Atlanta has only 32 penalty minutes in these playoffs compared to Chicago's 45. With emotions high and the Challenge Cup on the line, do you think discipline will play a big role in this series? Its possible it might play a big role in one game, but thats already usually the case each season.  I honestly think both of these teams will keep their heads and play their best hockey.  I could see how maybe in a game 5 or 6 if the series is slipping away from one of them, there might be the propensity to get carried away, but most likely by that point it will already be nearly over anyways.

d. Similar to last season's finals, we see Chicago running a balanced ice-time attack against Atlanta's targeted approach that has some players seeing sheltered minutes. Last season the more balanced attack won out. Do you think we'll see the same again? Why or why not? I do think the balanced approach will win out. If it was just a one-off game perhaps Atlanta's approach might have more effect but I think that over the course of five, six, or seven games, ice-time balance is going to prove to be very important.  The  flip side of players seeing sheltered minutes is that some other players are playing way too much and will be totally gassed in the most crucial moments of the most crucial games in the series. Many hands make light work.

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7. Milestones /// +2

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16. Home Country +2

Why did you choose your IIHF country? Is it where you’re actually from? Is it where your friends play? Was it for a specific role play reason? I want to know how you decided where your player comes from!
Most people are shocked I didn't pick Japan since my player is named Cup Noodle but I just didn't think I'd have much of a good time playing on the Japanese national team at these tournaments because I assumed they wouldn't have any players.  I also didn't want to pick the US, Canada, or Russia since I felt like those would be super popular.  At the time I signed up for the league, I was the general manager for a team in reddit based baseball game called Major League Numberball.  The team was called the Oslo Otters and so I think that was the main reason I went with Oslo, Norway. Its turned out to be a great decision because that whole team is filled with really cool people. WC: 129

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17. Substitute Teacher +2
Well kid, you're in luck.. Not only am I from Norway, but I'm actually a teacher in real life! One of the coolest facts is that Norway has over 400,000 lakes! Ya'll thought Minnesota had lakes? 14,000 is freaking pedestrian compared to my homeland! Not into lakes? What about medals?! Because Norway has won more medals at the Winter Olympics than ANy OTHER NATION. I know you thought like it had to be the US or Canada or Russia but NOPE. Its Norway!! We're also home to the 6 highest waterfalls in Europe. Come hang out with us and visit the most beautiful country in the world! We celebrate our independence on May 17 so you're just in time to get your party on! WC: 124

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22. Be Nice +2
Shout-out to my dude @High Stick King.  Even though we "technically" didn't get drafted together since I joined a bit later, we rolled through 3 seasons of the ANC together, captained the team (I was the alternate), and now have our numbers hanging in the rafters and freaking awards named after us, all of which is dope.  But the real reason I wanted to shout him out is because he's like the greatest sig maker of all time, and super generous with it too. He's taken the time to create no less than like 5 different sigs for me different leagues.  On top of that he's just a solid dude to talk to. I can't tell you how many times I've dm'd him to ask a simple question and we've ended up talking for like an hour just about whatever.  Captain Spack...Good dude! WC:143

Total: 15 TPE