If I know anything about this sport and this league, the most important thing that you can have in the SHL finals is experience. Have you been here before? What was it like? Are you prepared? Do you know what it takes to win it all? Talent can get you far, sure. But do you have any winners on your squad? Do you know the physical toll it takes on each and every individual player in that locker room to be the last team standing and to hoist that beautiful challenge cup trophy? There's a reason we engrave the names of our champions on it, because they had to sweat and bleed for the privilege. Experience tells us what we need to do to be able to accomplish our wildest dreams. New England has playoff experience in spades. They have always been relevant in recent years. They have pushed for greatness despite the odds. Would you really discount the team that's been here before? In my opinion, this league is theirs until proven otherwise. Sure, Texas is talented and sceappy. But I'll put my chips on the blue chip horse each and every time. If I know anything about this sport and this league, the most important thing that you can have in the SHL finals is experience. Have you been here before? What was it like? Are you prepared? Do you know what it takes to win it all? Talent can get you far, sure. But do you have any winners on your squad? Do you know the physical toll it takes on each and every individual player in that locker room to be the last team standing and to hoist that beautiful challenge cup trophy? There's a reason we engrave the names of our champions on it, because they had to sweat and bleed for the privilege. Experience tells us what we need to do to be able to accomplish our wildest dreams. New England has playoff experience in spades. They have always been relevant in recent years. They have pushed for greatness despite the odds. Would you really discount the team that's been here before? In my opinion, this league is theirs until proven otherwise. Sure, Texas is talented and sceappy. But I'll put my chips on the blue chip horse each and every time.

(205 words, 4 TPE)


Sweden, being the nation that has accomplished so much success on the national stage, surely has a lot of haters. Federations that wish they had as stacked of a trophy case as we do. Nations who wish they were as athleticly gifted as our players. And teams who wish they had the camaraderie and poise of the Swedes. Sure I could go on about all these teams who despite us. But as a true Swede, there's only one federation that gets my blood boiling, and that's the Fins. Boy do I hate the Fins. Sure, many folks don't see the difference between our cultures and our people. But we couldn't be more different! When they zig, we zag! We say sardine, and they say it like sardine! We are so different.

Or are we? Maybe my hatred of this team comes from the fact that we are in fact very similar. They understand the long days and long nights of scandanavia. They gave viking blood just like we do. Maybe I am just jealous when they win - if they can win, why can't we? I am so sorry for this frivolous rivalry my friends. My neighbors. I have decided that now we are no longer rivals but best friends. Let us eat and drink and play hockey and show all of those other Federations that they cannot match what the Swedes and Fins bring to the table.

(237 words, 4 TPE)