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.

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. You can never take success for granted, but these are two of the league's heavy favorites coming into the cup finals. Pick either of our finalists, and tell me what about them impresses you the most!
c. The Aurora defeated the Blizzard in their conference final, and the Wolfpack sank the Forge. Who had the more impressive victory to punch their ticket to the cup final, and why?

a. I will always have to lean towards Winnipeg being the most impressive team in the finals until they no longer make the finals. They have been consistently one of the top teams in the league for like five seasons now and show no signs of slowing down. They're terrifying to play in a way no other team can manage and that alone means they come across as more impressive. (69 words)
c. I fully believe the Aurora sinking the Blizzard was more impressive. Not only were the Blizzard the more impressive team in the regular season being 4th in the league, the Aurora did it coming off a very impressive win over the third best team in the league as well. The Aurora's path to these finals has been insanely difficult and there have been no signs of chinks in their armor. (70 words)

3. Written, 3 TPE, Peggy's Back, Tell a Friend (150 words min.)
Winnipeg is a cup finalist for an astonishing fourth year in a row! To make that happen in the current era of the SHL requires serious skill and deserves appreciation. What is it that makes this Aurora era so successful? What have been the most crucial factors in their Western dominance? What lessons should the rest of the league learn from their success?

The key to Winnipeg's competitive success has been an absolutely smashing amount of success in both the draft and free agency early on. Their general manager Ace entered this team with a plan and his immediate goal was to collect the best possible humans available and bring them to this team to attract others. Jess, JURT, and Fluw are some players that immediately come to mind and while some of them have retired at this point, as they've continued on this path of success they've only added more and more of these people who just attract other users to them. They are some of the best people in all of sim leagues and that draws a sense of loyalty you just don't get on a ton of teams. It makes people want to be there and to be a part of what they're building. it makes people want to earn, to contribute, and to do their best to make the team a success and it has obviously worked. I've been personally very impressed with how Ace has built the team and I think Winnipeg will continue to find success for as long as Ace continues this philosophy and the team seems like an appealing place to call home. (197 words)