1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 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.

Wheeler

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. I'm not sure many people would have seen this coming. Two teams that joined the league at the same time, both making the finals and competing against each other for their franchise-first cup. So... who do think wins it all? The first time to the Challenge Cup Seattle Argonauts, that have been dismantling higher seeded teams through their entire playoff run? Or the President's Trophy winning Atlanta Inferno that are back with a vengeance after a S64 Challenge Cup defeat?



This is a pretty good matchup for sure between two good teams. Seattle has definitely shown that they have been able to unlock the goaltending and defence needed to be able to be successful in the playoffs, which has allowed them to defeat all the higher seeds they've been up against who haven't managed to catch on yet. But I think Atlanta's firepower will prove to be a bit too strong for Seattle.



b. You can't talk about Seattle's run without talking about the dominant performance of starting goaltender Willie Miller, who has posted a .935 SV% heading into the finals. If your Atlanta, how do you solve this brick wall? If your Seattle, what do you do to make sure your guy stays hot?



I think if i am Atlanta, I do not change what I've been doing. Don't change what got you this far and has made them so successful and dangerous these past few seasons, because that's what is going to bring them to the ultimate prize. I would say the same for Seattle, in that they shouldn't try to change too much about what they're doing and try to ride this hot wave too the ship.



c. Atlanta's big storyline is their incredible depth. They have eleven players that have logged 10 or more points so far in the playoffs. If you're Seattle, how do you try to contain three lines of unending offensive pressure? If you're Atlanta, how do you ensure everyone is able to continue to contribute against such a stellar defense?



Seattle has managed to put up some great defensive and goaltending numbers and they need to continue to do what they're doing to be able to stop Atlanta's depth. I think it will be incredibly difficult to contain Atlanta's top offensive players but this is where they will really need their goaltending to step up. 

4. Written, 3 TPE, League vs. League (150 words min.)

Could any SMJHL team in history (if they were NOT capped at their usual 350/425 builds) have beaten any SHL team in history a 7 game series? Why or why not? What historical teams do you think are good candidates for this trial? Who do you think is the best team in SMJHL history and the worst team in SHL history? Would the J team have a chance? Make your case!

Now normally for something like this I would say it would be a definite no for any SMJHL team to beat an SHL team in a 7 game series, but when you look back there have honestly been some pretty horrific SHL teams. I think the S54 or S55 Tampa Bay team that went 0-50 for the season would be given a pretty good run for their money if they were to come up against say the S65 Detroit team or any of the S62-S64 Newfoundland Teams, those were all powerhouses in the SMJHL with a lot of good players who, if uncapped, could make up for a challenging opposition against a team like that Tampa Team. I also think that Tampa team is probably the worst team the SHL has seen in it's history. As for the strongest SMJHL team? The S55 Newfoundland Berserkers that won the 4 star cup, no bias whatsoever. None at all.

16. Written, 2 TPE, Top Line (100 words min.)

Create the best line you can using real life or SHL hockey players from your player’s home country. Give me 3F, 2D and a G– and a short description of why you chose who you did!

Well I was excited to do this about Canada but then I realized Joans is from Germany so now I actually have to do some research for real players. For forwards, I would say Draisaitl definitely has to be the first name on the sheet, don't think there is any question about that. Next up I would say Tim Stutzle would be a good choice, young up and comer, that will be really good in the near future. and as the 3rd forward, Tobias Rieder I guess since I can't think of anyone else. On defence, Moritz Seider is gonna be an all star, and then to join him.. Leon Gawanke, Jets prospect. In goal I'd have Grubauer.

18. Written, 2 TPE - The Procrastinator Special! (100 words min.)

Congratulations, procrastinator!  Through your terrible time management skills, you’ve unlocked a special task! [TEAM] has won it all! Were the playoffs as you expected this year, or were there some surprises? Did anything stand out to you about this season’s final series? Did the engine switch make a difference for you?

Atlanta has finally won it all, they've been pretty close the past 3-4 seasons being on of the best teams in the league, and their hard work finally came to fruition. I will be honest, I was hoping that my LA Panthers would be able to repeat but Seattle and their defence/goaltending was just too much for us to get past, and it proved too much for just about everyone in the league to get past, save Atlanta. I did not expect Seattle to beat San Fran, I did not expect them to beat LAP, I did not expect them to beat Chicago, and they proved me wrong in each match up. The engine switch I think definitely had a part to play in this as I think they were the first to really figure out goaltending and defence and what really worked, which allowed them to get through to the finals.

7. Milestones, up to 3 TPE

Milestones are folded in with CW. So just link your Milestone claim as task 7 for up to 3 TPE towards your 16 total.

Milestones