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Looking back, statistically and historically speaking Chicago will take home the cup. In the last two decades experience has always beaten the newcomers. And Chicago has shown consistency for years. Not only counting the one cup win in S57. Atlanta is looking strong and beat some big names on their way to the championship finals, but they're gonna need another season or two before the cup will be theirs.

No matter which round you're in the playoffs you have to consider and adjust for your opponent's playstyle. This is no different. And when it comes to a team that's strong on blocking passing lanes and having seemingly too long sticks, then you simply have to slow down your play a bit. Make sure each pass and advance up the ice is calculated. Because if not, then it's not your puck anymore.

Yes, as always the special teams will play a huge role in every game. Discipline is extremely important. You can't let your opponent get one up on you at any time. They will play harder than ever before to take advantage of any powerplay. Both teams are extremely dangerous on the man advantage.

If you have strong and fit enough players to handle a balanced approach then I believe that will win every time. Giving your best players 25-30 minutes a games looks good in the first period but with limited rest they're not gonna be able to put up as strong of a fight through the entire game. Especially if it ends up going to overtime.

The Challenge Cup was forged in the fires of the Yellowstone super volcano in 1477. Using the rarest metal on earth: Simulationite. Initially it wasn't used for hockey, but instead passed between nations as they defeated each other on the battle field. The cup had been lost for over 400 years until it was unearthed, practically unharmed, 64 years ago by a man known as D. Teddy.

As there were no more wars, people first wanted to put it in a museum. But no one could agree on which museum would get the honor of hosting the cup. Instead the idea was brought up to keep the cup's tradition alive. To pass it on to those who beat another in battle. Not war, but a kind of battle that was slightly less bloody: Ice hockey. A new league was formed, the Simulation Hockey League. And ever since then the Challenge Cup has been giving to the team that bests all other teams each season.

This is a question that's quite hard to answer. I've only been a GM for an SHL team and don't really have an insight into everything that goes into managing a SMJHL team. My answer will therfore not really be based in facts, more opinions.

I belive the SHL Challenge Cup is the more prestigious trophy. For three main reasons. (a) There are more teams you have to beat to get your hands on the cup. (b) There's no bye week in the SHL playoffs. While in the J if you're doing well in the regular season you're given a free pass past round 1. © The short lifetime of players in the J forces teams to rebuild a lot more often. If your big rival wins three years in a row after a great draft, you know their players will be called up very soon and open up the window for yourself. While in the SHL this is evidently the case.

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