a) As great as it is to have one star, I do believe that it is best to have multiple scoring lines. Time and time again in the NHL and SHL, we have seen many teams with star players crumble in the playoffs because the competition is more fierce and defenses are more inclined to shut down that star player. (59 words)

b) When it comes to stopping a hot player like Svoboda, I always default to focusing on stopping the player’s goal scoring. So if I was strategizing against Svoboda, I would take away those shooting lanes at all costs and force him to pass. Given that 18 of the 30 points are on goals, it would be clear to me that he is shooting whenever possible and probably has been given too many open looks. If others are scoring off of Svoboda’s passes, then we just tip our cap. (88 words)

c) Facing a team as good as WInnipeg, I’ll be honest and just say that chances are that the shots will only continue. Given that, I think New England needs to focus on getting to Montagne early and often in the finals. I would stress “pucks on net” if I was New England, and hope some of those early shots can go their way to set the tone. (67 words)

d) I’m going with Winnipeg. An absolutely dominant team who has come up short in recent seasons, I think this is the season when everything goes right and they come out as the top team. The combination of potent offense, sound defense, and an all-world goaltender make this team tough to beat at any time, but it seems like throughout these playoffs they have been on a whole new level. (69 words)


Something good that has happened in my career (all in the SMJHL so far) was being named Captain of the Regina Elk in Season 69. This was something that meant a lot to me, as leadership is something that I really value. The reason I bring this moment up is that I am hoping it can translate to my SHL team with the Texas Renegades. Of course it doesn’t have to mean that I am the next captain of the franchise by any means, but I hope that my SHL team will see the value I can bring both off the ice and on it. In the short term, I hope that I can someday be an alternate captain for the franchise and then have that potential to grow into the next captain of such a historic team. For now, I will enjoy the last season of my SMJHL career and continue to lead in every way I can as I prepare for that next step in my career. (169 words)


Throughout my three years in the SMJHL, the Carolina Kraken seem to be the team that continues to cause the biggest headaches for us. Because of that, Carolina is the team that I would most love to take down in next season’s SMJHL playoffs. Carolina is also one of the more passionate fan bases you will find in the SMJHL or NHL, and I think that their fans are also what make playing them both so fun as well as challenging. I know that I’ve walked off their ice with my ears ringing on multiple occasions, and I think that my teammates will admit of all teams we have played, their fans have got in our heads more than any other. Anytime we have gone into Carolina, they make their presence known. Overall, Carolina is just a solid SMJHL franchise who have proven to be some of the most intense games for me and the Elk and there would be nothing sweeter than knocking them off on our way to the cup in Season 71. (175 words)

Unlike last year, I am going to go against the Aurora and pick the Wolfpack in this match-up of mascots. I gave my reasons for the bear god last year, but the more I think about this one, it will be the wolfpack leadership that will shine through. I see it all the time; when a pack of wolves are moving together, they fall into formation where the leader is always in the back to ensure that the rest of the group is staying ahead of them and in sight. Based on that mentality, I think the pack would have quite the strategy when facing off against the bear god. While the bear god will certainly start off with what looks like an easy win, I think the craftiness of the wolves would ultimately tire out the bear and the last one standing would be that leader of the pack. The arena that comes to mind would be somewhere in remote Canada, where I think both sides would have their own set of advantages. (174 words)

S70 Milestones