1. CW Trivia (3 TPE)

Verification word: keese

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11. Written, 50 to 200+ words. One Season Closer to Retirement (4 TPE)

як пісок крізь пісочний годинник....

From his home in the Ukraine, to picturesque Alaska, and most recently to forested Maine, the scenery around Matviy Cajabi hasn't changed much. And while his surroundings have remained rather constant, time is not. And with another season in the books, it brings Cajabi along with countless others a step closer to the end of their careers. For some, that time is now as they close the curtains on illustrious SHL careers and for others, the skates were hung up long ago. Fortunately for Cajabi, he still has some ways to go before he utters the dreaded "r" word, so for now we'll focus on on what was his penultimate season in the SMJHL.

When Cajabi entered the league, there wasn't much hype surrounding him. Little was known about the Ukrainian enigma, and if felt almost fitting that he ended up in sleepy Alaska. He had moderate success in his rookie season which saw him picked in the first round of the SHL entry draft by the Edmonton Blizzard. What should have been a season that saw him build on his numbers, as is often the case things didn't turn out as expected.
While the Armada didn't have a terrible season, whether it was the pressure of his draft position or other contributing factors, Cajabi just wasn't the same player he was during his inaugural campaign. Both his goal and assist totals dropped but perhaps more alarmingly for a player who prides himself on his defensive prowess was his shocking -21 in the +/- category after posting a +17 in his draft year.
As if his statistical output wasn't itself a disappointment, Cajabi found himself traded for the first time. While this is nothing new in the world of hockey and sports, it nevertheless always comes as a shock to the player. But rather on focusing on the negative of not being wanted by one team, Cajabi viewed the trade as a team wanting him and to use the opportunity to prove to himself that he could be a difference maker in this league and the SHL. Suffice to say, he did that and more.
In his one season with the Timber, Cajabi blew his previous numbers out of the freezing Alaskan waters. His statline of 45-50-93 were better than his two seasons with the Armada combined. Additionally, his +46 was a return to form in his defensive game.
Something about the Maine air really brought out the best of Cajabi. The good news is that there's still room for his game to grow, and he'll get a chance to show what he can do during season 78 when he'll be leaned on even more in Maine after graduating players like Mia and Edouard Lavoie and Jean-Jacques Francois Jacques-Jean. Cajabi has always stressed he's keen to be a leader and he'll get that chance as he tries to keep the tradition of winning in Maine alive.

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12. Written, 50 to 200+ words. Old Reliable IIHF Analysis (4 TPE)

Czechia is the bestia. That rhymes, right....?
Another year, another WJC tournament. Another chance for the Czech hockey team to prove to the rest of the world that they're for real and contenders for having the gold medal draped around their necks at the conclusion of games.
Competing for the second time after their inclusion in the season 75 tournament, the Czechs didn't fare as well in S76. Compiling a record of 4-0-6-2, they missed out on a trip to the playoff round after having made it (and losing to Team World in the first round) the year prior.

This year comes with new hope for the team, returning 13 players from the previous year. Chemisty shouldn't be an issue, and coaching/management should have a better idea of what works/didn't work and be able to put a strong, cohesive line-up together from their first game. Additionally, the returning players have another year of experience under their belts and after their lack of success last year they will be eager to try and win for their country (or adopted country for that matter).

After getting his feet wet with 5 games, Tomas Suchanek is primed to take the lion's share of starts in goal. He will be pushed by Akira Suzuki, his teammate in Nevada, who was loaned to the team.
Jesus Murphy, who led the team in points last season, is back along with Nathangus McExplosion who was second on the team in goals with 4 (and 9th in league scoring during the regular season with Colorado) as well as Matviy Cajabi, whose trade to Maine during the offseason saw him explode offensively and creep into the top 5 of SMJHL league scoring.

Only time will tell, but the Czechs are aiming to "wrech" the competition on their way to the gold medal!