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MN_Moosey · 09-01-2022, 11:03 AM

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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!

Oh man. Honestly I think that Detroit team last season could have taken down that really, and I mean really, bad Tampa team that finished with not a single win the entire regular season. I know that this could be seen as low hanging fruit but that is arguable one of the worst teams that has ever taken the ice in the SHL. The Detroit team on the other hand was insanely dominant the entire season and only finished with 7 total losses with only 5 being outright. Honestly I could maybe even see this series end in a sweep in favor of the Falcons. Now comes the biggest claim that I will make on this subject. I know that this has potential to cause a ruckus but I have good reason. I believe that the Detroit Falcons could defeat the Tampa Bay Barracuda without unbanking their TPE. I know, I know. 350s and 425s going against a team that has significant TPE advantage and winning? Yeah. I am that bold. They are just that good of a squad.

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5. Written, 3 TPE, Secret Weapon (150 words min)

It’s never too early to start thinking about how you’re going to gain a competitive edge next season! How is your team going to go the extra mile to get wins next season? Is it a secret training regimen? Sneaky equipment modifications? Booby trapping the visiting teams’ locker room? Anything goes.

Not the best season down in Kraken land but we are looking well off for the future. Lots of talent are moving up the depth charts but you can never have too many advantages. There are a few things in store to give our boys a little edge, hehe you'll see that this is a pun later, but we have to keep things a little more discrete. Taking a page out of the vintage Indianapolis Colts led by one Peyton Manning, we will be pumping in extra crowd noise while the opponent has the puck. If you cannot properly communicate with your teammates then you are more prone to making poor decisions. The second order is that in the visitors bench there will be high grit sandpaper installed right where the players rest their weary little legs after a shift. Their blades will over time be dulled as they do their little shuffle down the bench as guys go on and off the ice. Less of an edge means less mobility.

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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.

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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?

These are two teams that I actually saw come into the league back in S56. Good to see that they are moving on up in the standings. As far as who has the edge in this one, well Atlanta is clearly the favorite but Seattle has made themselves known as king slayers in their playoff run. I see no signs of Seattle stopping their winning ways and they take this one.

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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?

Atlanta needs to start by winning in the faceoff circle. Seattle centers are winning 55% of their faceoffs and Atlanta needs to step up to win possession especially in the Seattle zone. Miller has been a wall but he is not unbeatable. The regular season was rough as he posted a save percentage under .900. Atlanta just needs to keep the puck in their possession and they will give themselves a chance to win each and every game.

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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?

For Seattle, it is all about matchups. You need to play your cards right and keep the lines moving as to not get caught in a bad spot. Atlanta has incredible forward depth and they are a lot younger than Seattle. Short shifts should keep things balanced out and won't allow one line to get dominated by a mismatch.

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d. Seattle's powerplay has been on fire contributing 14 goals up to this point, which comes out to almost 30% of their goals scored (50G total) in these playoffs. Atlanta on the other hand have managed just 5 power play goals, which is only 5% of their scoring (59G total). In your opinion-- is this a good thing for Seattle, or a good thing for Atlanta? Maybe a good thing for both? Do you think a dynamic team like Seattle that can capitalize on so many of their PP chances will lead to Atlanta playing scared-- worried about what might happen if they enter the box? Do you think a relentless Atlanta team that is so flush with even strength scoring is going to be too much for Seattle to take?

The disparity of powerplay points is something that Seattle should be worried about. Atlanta is a very disciplined team and will continuously keep 5 men on the ice. When the team you are up against knows how to score on even terms and they can keep it that way, you might find yourself in deep trouble if you cannot get them to make any kind of mistakes.

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