Task #1 (+3 TPE):
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.

Trivia confirmation word: Pasta





Task #2 (+4 TPE): Grab Bag
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. Winnipeg has put together an impressive streak of Challenge Cup Finals appearances, but has no hardware to show for their dominance in the west so far. What do the Aurora have to do differently to get over the hump this year?
b. Buffalo, fresh off a rebuild, crushed their way through the first two rounds of these playoffs after coming in as a wildcard, scoring two consecutive sweeps against two of the best teams in the East. Have the Stampede convinced you? If so, what sold you?
c. Two very different teams took two very different routes to the Cup Final: which of them impressed you more? Why?
d. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?


A.) The Winnipeg Aurora have been stiffled by their opponents 3 seasons in a row, this reminds me very much of years ago when I was a part of the Los Angeles Panthers. Winnipeg doesn't need to do anything different, they have an unbelievable roster and it's only a matter of time before everything clicks and they bring home the Challenge Cup. I wouldn't be surprised at all if next season is the season that everything finally works in the teams favor.

B.) The Buffalo Stampede got hot at the right time this season and the results speak for themselves. This is a team that everyone in the Eastern Conference is going to have to worry about for years to come. The Stampede have  great management so I can't say that I'm surprised. I would expect the Stampede to be one of the biggest threats to win the Challenge Cup for the foreseeable future.

C.) I think that what the Buffalo Stampede did this season has to be viewed as the more impressive feat. Not only did the team win it all, they weren't viewed as one of the favorites heading into the season and some might say that they snuck into the playoffs as a wild card. However, the Stampede was on when the games started to matter and the group from Buffalo proved to be unstoppable.

D.) Using my magic eight ball, I'm 100% certain that the Buffalo Stampede will win the Challenge Cup. I can neither confirm nor deny that I'm a time traveler, but trust me, take all of your life savings and put it on the Buffalo Stampede. Maybe it's because of all of the talent that the Stampede have on their roster, maybe it's the Aurora's horrible luck. Either way, the Stampede will be champions, take it to the bank.




Task #5 - Blood on the Ice - (+3TPE)
5. Written, 3 TPE, Blood on the Ice (150 words min)
Continuing an emergent tradition: this year's final features a god-bear of cosmic wind facing an unfamiliar rival on a familiar battleground: this year, the great glowing north faces a furious herd of buffalo! Tell me who wins and why! The arena and the rules of the fight can be whatever you desire. Get creative!

This one is easy, the Cosmic power of the north is wayy to powerfull for a heard of Buffalo. While the Buffalo may be strong as a unit, the Aurora can dance between them effortlessly and the almost supernatural element of their amazing display will leave the Stampede of Buffalo confused and unsure on what they could possibly do to attack the Great power of mother north. Legend has it that the northern lights are the souls of the former SHL players who has since moved on from the league. The souls of the players who never recreated are the most powerful and are said to be the portion of the Aurora that shines the brightest. The mystic power of the Aurora will throw the heard of Buffalo into great confusion causing the Stampede to break up and move in all different directions.
This battle will take place in an arena so vast that the flat earth theory will be proven to be false.







Task #10 - (+3 TPE) - IIHF Analysis
10. Written, 3 TPE, IIHF Analysis (150 words min.)
Write your predictions for this year's IIHF tournament or WJC! Tell me about your team! How far do you realistically expect to go this year? What nations do you want to match up against, and which do you dread?

Heading into what will be his second straight and third ever IIHF tournament,  Alexi Piastri is very confident about how things should shake out and Japan's chances at having a successful tournament. Japan has an excellent team led by superstar players such as Evil AllBran and BASE PACK.  AllBran is one of the most electric offensive players in the SHL and can make anyone that plays alongside of him a more effective player. BASE PACK has established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the entire SHL. With a goaltender like BP in net, Japan is capable of winning games simply from excellent play from their goaltending. Piastri only registered 5 points in last seasons tournament,  but he has scored at over a point per game in his first two SHL seasons and hopes to play a more important role for Japan in this season's tournament.  As a team, a medal would have to be considered a solid result, but Alexi and every player in the locker room hopes to bring home gold. There's a number of excellent teams to watch out for. Japan will need to be 100% on top of their games when facing off against the likes of Canada, USA, and Sweden.






Task #11 - (+3 TPE) - Civil War
11. Written, 3 TPE, Civil War (150 words min.)
How does your player feel about playing against SHL teammates in the IIHF? Do you ease up on your hits, or do you go harder? Do you grin at each other across the ice, or is this a point of national pride?

Alexi Piastri is excited to play against some of his fellow Minnesota Monarchs during the upcoming IIHF tournament. The Monarchs are a very young team, so there will be plenty of future matchups between teammates in international play. Piastri's teammate Hai Nam Hoàng is also a part of team Japan and the pair could develop great chemistry not only during international play, but with the Monarchs in SHL as well. Alexi cares a lot about winning, so don't expect him to take it easy when battling for pucks in the corner with an SHL teammate during IIHF play, when one of his Monarch teammates is carrying the puck, they better account for where Piastri is on the ice because he won't play them any differently than he would anybody else. Sure, Alexi will talk with his SHL teammates in between whistles, he may even go have a pre-game meal with them or share an uber back to the hotel, but he would expect any of his teammates to play at 100% intensity againt him and that's certainly the minimum effort that he will be putting in during IIHF play.