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.

penguin


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. An LAP team that was disappointed in a S63 finals loss is back again to face a TBB team that has been hungry for their chance in the entire FHM era. Who are you taking as a winner and why?
b. Tampa Bay’s top forwards have been absolute power houses on this run, totalling 102 points across their top 6. If you’re LA, how do you line-match against two lines that are on an absolute tear?
c. L.A.’s D pair of Kierkegaard and Kahnwald are maintaining a shocking 2 more GF/60 than GA/60, despite playing more than 21 minutes a game including PK time. If you’re Tampa Bay how do you get around these two? Hope to outlast them in endurance, or look to more depth scoring?
d. TBB’s roster has racked up many more shot blocks (294) than LAP has (188). Do you see this as a good thing? Is this an iron willed team that’s willing to lay down their bodies to get the job done, or do you think it paints a picture of a team that can’t maintain possession and has to find another way to keep the puck out. Maybe a bit of both?



a. I think I have to go with LAP here simply because they look to be the stronger team coming out of the stronger conference. The top four teams this season in points were LAP, Chicago, SFP, and Seattle. All four from the same conference. Despite that LAP had a huge lead on the rest of the league and is now coming off a 4 game to 2 series win over the second best team in the league. This team has wrecked all comers and it doesn't change here.
b. I don't think the Panthers have to do too much here or get fancy at all. Through the season the Panthers had the second best defense in the league, only rivaled by that of Chicago. More than that, Chicago had the leading offense throughout the regular season and we just watched the Panthers almost completely shut them down. Including a game six where they out shot Chicago three to one. Chicago couldn't find a gap and I'm not sure Tampa Bay will either.
c. I think the Tampa Bay is going to have to get real creative in this one. LAP has had one of the better defenses all season and even a high scoring juggernaut like Chicago struggled against them. I think you're going to have to find a way to outlast them. In the final game against Chicago, Chicago managed to put up more shots in the third than the other two quarters combined. They were completely blanketed at the start of the game, but eventually wore down the Panthers defense. Unfortunately they couldn't make any of those shots count. Tampa Bay is going to have to do a bit different in this one and make those third quarter opportunities find the net when they arise and the defense starts tiring.
d. I think TBB's amount of shot blocks is a testament to a team who knows how and when to buckle down when the puck gets to their side of the ice. This is a scrappy team who had one of the top two goal differentials in the league due to having a rather hard nosed defense. I think they know how to attack when the opponent is on offense and as they go against a Panthers team that wasn't great in scoring this season, I think it may be the one thing that gives TBB an edge in this match.


3. Written, 3 TPE, Four Star (150 words min.)
Tell me what each of the four stars on the Four Star Cup stands for! Some will say it’s for each of the four divisions in the SMJHL, but you and I know better! What four things are embodied in the SMJHL’s greatest trophy?


The four stars on the trophy are clearly a foreshadowing about the coming of the four horsemen of Nevada. It was written in the ancient times that four bright stars would arrive and dig the Nevada Battleborn out of the bottom of the league and climb to the top. The first star represents the moosiest moose Melvin Majestic-Moose. He was the first player drafted by the Battleborn in the prophesized class. The brightest upcoming star that had the whole league watching gim. He took the league by storm and the moment the Battleborn took him, they knew they had something special. He anchored their defense for many seasons and offered many behind the scenes insights to carry the team forward. Next up was the Willie. You know the Willie. Willie Miller. Despite saying you should never take a goalie early on, the shine of this star was far too bright to ever pass on. He was an impact on the team that no one could quantify on the ice. His spirit in the locker room and the ability to repeatedly crack up the locker room gave the Battleborn a soul that could carry them forward. Then in came the incredible wurmple known as Wing Wang. Wing Wang was the spirit of these stars and he brought them hope and energy for games. His star eventually dimmed thought and they lost him. Fear not though as that star was replaced by another as Nevada traded for a Penguin that helped solidify their defense. Next up was the eventual GM of Nevada, Connor Snooks. Though his light did not initially shine as bright as the others, he ultimately shined the brightest and the longest. He has had major, long standing impact on the Battleborn as a whole as he took to the management side of things and took over for a mostly IA GM to help Jess lead the team. He is still there today helping carry the team to a brighter future. Now with the prophecy realized, the Battleborn have risen and refuse to look back as the team continues to grow stronger and stronger and now have reached their first conference finals! Only time will tell if they finish this season, but as long as their stars shine wherever they are, the team will continue to improve until they are unstoppable.


7. Milestones, up to 3 TPE
Milestones are folded in with CW. So just link your Milestone claim as task 12 for up to 3 TPE towards your 16 total.
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Post your claim in the milestones thread for tpe earned per stat, and then link that post in your CW submission. This is done because the person who grades CW will be a different person than double-checks milestones.

Adelie de Pengu Milestones

21. Written / Graphic, 3 TPE, Boss Fight (150 words min.)
Develop a video game boss fight based off of your team’s branding. Tell me what it looks like, what its strengths are, and most importantly– how you defeat it. ALTERNATIVELY for a graphic task, show me your player fighting the boss you’ve imagined.


With the absolute SCARIEST mascot in the entire SHL, Bully was made for this prompt. The Manhattan mascot is a bull, but there are no identifying markers of what kind of bull. So for this practice we're going to talk about the Chianina which is an Italian white bull that weighs 3500lbs and stands almost six feet tall. For this boss battle, we won't even have to scale this absolute monster up. His weapons are not only his obvious sharpened horns, but his surprisingly deadly hooves and massive weight to throw around. His moves would not only be quick, intimidating charges but also swift turns where he can use his weight to try and crush the player against obstacles. He could throw his head around to make use of his horns, kick behind him to cover his back if the player gets behind him, and attempt to trample at any turn. Although cliche, the way to beat this mammoth would be to use different objects to attempt to distract the bull. While he is busy charging a decoy, it would give the player a chance to get in a few blows and ultimately take him down over time by hamstringing him, slowing him, and then landing a final blow.