J Intern CW Pass

1. Bodies +3 TPE

2. The easiest route to the final was the San Francisco Pride. The pride had the easiest route to the final due to them being the best team in the league and having to play the fifth, sixth and 15th best teams in the league, whereas the Tampa Bay barracuda had to make it to the finals by playing the second, third eighth best teams in the league. I think by just looking at the ranking of the teams that were played to make it to the finals, I think it is pretty easy to see who had the easiest route that being San Francisco. (104 words, +2 TPE)

15. The San Francisco Pride won the cup this season. San Francisco is the best team throughout the entire season and it was easy to see why they were able to win the cup just because of how dominant they had been the entire year. San Francisco came into the playoffs with three of the top 10 point scorers in the league whereas Tampa Bay had nobody in the top 10 in total points. Having that many players in the top 10 compared to the team that you were facing in the championship is a good step up at winning the cup. Also, San Francisco had the number one goalie throughout the regular season posting number one in stats for goals against average and save percentage where the Tampa Bay goalie was not even in the top 10. I don’t think there was much Tampa Bay could do in the finals. They had a battle in the early round just to make it to the finals and put up a solid effort. (171 words +3 TPE)

Task 1 (3 TPE):
Verification word: tpe

Task 9 (169 words, 3 TPE):

I think it's fair to say that even though they've been there before, the way the season had gone before the playoffs was frustrating for the Tampa Bay Barracuda relative to expectations. When compared to the back-to-back defending champions in San Francisco, Tampa winning would have likely been more of a cathartic release of the pent up frustration that built up over the course of a regular season marred by poor luck and a scramble to survive lower seeding than the team should likely have found themselves holding. The Pride winning three in a row is an accomplishment worthy of celebration, however, it's certainly notable that the narrative of the Barracudas' season would likely make for more of a sense of "climbing a mountain" given all of the adversity they overcame along the way and becoming more of a Cinderella story than a team of their stature would normally warrant. For the sheer emotion of it alone, I think the judges would be more impressed by Tampa Bay's party.

Task 12 (3 TPE, 173 words):

I think that the teams hardest hit by expansion will be the teams that were either in or just hitting their windows for contention. The blow of losing up to four players off of a roster at once is pretty devastating and should represent a fairly dramatic shakeup in the league as teams angle themselves to take advantage of the fallout. While the expansion rules are not yet public, the sheer math of the players needing to be exposed to fill four expansion rosters means teams will be forced to expose very useful players. Teams with a decent core but poor depth will make out better, relatively as they won't lose pieces that are as difficult to replace. Overall, I think it will be important for the teams who are hardest hit to continue following the process that got them there in building strong squads, as the sheer amount of player movement involved could make the trade market and free agency red hot for at least a few season as the dust settles.

Prompt #1: thanks +3 TPE

Prompt #5: The most important thing is to have that core of incredible forwards, because without them the engine of the team simply does not run. Take, for example, the Vancouver Whalers. Where would they be without superstar scorer Aaron Noxus and his right hand henchwoman River Yekaterina Volkova, the team's top two points getters? I'll tell you – they'd be scoring way less, the second and third lines would buckle under the pressure, the load on the defensemen and goalies would be greater as a result, and Vancouver would've been eliminated in round 1 as a super low seed. Without Noxus, there is no semifinalist Whalers this playoffs. Without Volkova, who else is capable of feeding Noxus? It's open and shut. 119 words, +2 TPE

Prompt #9: Vancouver throws absolute ragers on the regular, so we'd have no issue crushing this sort of competition. It'd be mega gay, almost radioactively gay. The speakers would be blasting Chappell Roan music for as long as Seany and Raf can be kept away from the Bluetooth, then start playing assorted K-pop and Hozier songs, respectively, if they do get their hands on it. Pyro would sit in the corner watching Seth Jones play, Mulder would be toasted to high heavens, Tmoney would kind of just be vibing in the center of the dance floor, and Shia would be running around with a fire extinguisher putting out both metaphorical and literal fires. The judges would have no choice but to be impressed by just how many Blåhaj piñatas were swinging from hooks on the ceiling and by the variable skill levels of the players playing Rocket League on the console in the corner. Wild. I can only assume this is what all parties are like. 164 words, +3 TPE

Total TPE: 8

DEATH BEFORE DETRANSITION.

I do my best work in the ISFL, go find me there.

1. Whiskey

12. I think the expansion draft will really expose teams with any weaknesses in their organization top to bottom. With 4 teams confirmed there won't any team who will be left unscathed. Contenders are going to miss their top players while rebuilding teams will have to compensate for the loss of prospects. While I don't think free agency will be overly crazy, I do expect a lot of trades to be done as teams re-evaluate their position and plans after the expansion draft. A team on the edge of rebuilding may be pushed that way if they lose their veterans where a team who's rebuilding but loses prospects may see an opportunity to load up on veterans for a run. Regardless what happens, it'll be a very exciting time! (128)

15. SFP is again our Challenge Cup winners beating the Tampa Bay Barracuda in 6 games. They won because they scored more than their opponents. It's a cop out answer but it's true, SFP ended with 5 of the top goal scorers, 5 of the top assist leaders, 7 of the top point leaders. Scoring that well meant that Justin Time could be average and they could still win the cup. To combat this TBB needed to do one of two things. 1: Out score the Pride. They did have 7 players with 20 points or more but with none over 30 versus SFP's 3 over 30, it wasn't likely they could accomplish this. 2: Limit the Pride's opportunities. TBB did well in this regard, in game 4 they limited the Pride to 29 shots versus their 43, in game 5 they outshot SFP 46-36. Unfortunately they lost both games, but if they were able to replicate that in the other 4 games they would've had a better chance at beating SFP. My favourite part of the series was going into game 5 with the series tied 2-2. TBB was down 5-1 after the second, scores 2 goals in the first minute of the third period! Adding another about halfway through but ultimately falling short and putting them behind 3-2 in the series. It felt like the defining moment for me. (230)

1. Fish 

18. https://imgur.com/a/HtCkzly


TPE: 6/8 if I got trivia correct?

trivia verification:  nyr

11: 

I think my own team baltimore did better than expected all things considered, we're in the midst of a rebuild and we're staying relatively competitve, getting a couple of wins in the playoffs. I think we do get worse next season with more regressions than callups, but once the young guys come up things will get a lot better. who knows if i'll be around for that though (50+ words, 1 TPE)

12: 

I am very interested to see how expansion impacts the league. I was not very involved for a little while until a month or two ago, and all of a sudden there are four new teams. This is absolutely going to shake up some of the league, and with some teams losing three, maybe four teams depending on the rules, teams need to plan accordingly. there will surely be newer and younger players at risk, so gms have to do what it takes to avoid losing them. for instance, my own team baltimore is going to have a lot of younger guys as we're in the mdist of a rebuild, so it might be smart to leave an old geezer such as myself unprotected. It would be sad to leave baltimore given i've played all of my 10 or so seasons there but i'm close to retiring either way and joining an expansion team would give me reason to keep my player going longer. my philosophy is better me than the young players though, for the greater good of the team. I'd be curious to see how competitive some of these teams will be, and it will be interesting to see how they compare to each other. (200+ words, 4TPE)

sigs from @sulovilen @_Blitz_ @Ragnar and @enigmatic



[S68] Erik Bergmark || RW || Colorado Raptors || Baltimore Platoon || 1205 TPE

Height: 6'1 || Weight: 175 lbs || #73

----------------------SMJHL Regular Season Stats---------------------- 

S67 - COL || 66 GP || 22 G || 15 A || 37 P || -13  || 18:11 ATOI  
S68 - COL || 66 GP || 34 G || 26 A || 60 P || -16  || 19:57 ATOI 
S69 - COL || 66 GP || 24 G || 44 A || 68 P || +3   || 20:07 ATOI  
S70 - COL || 66 GP || 40 G || 53 A || 93 P || +26 || 20:11 ATOI  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
CAREER || 264 GP || 120 G || 138 A || 258 P || +0 || 19:37 ATOI  
----------------------SMJHL Playoff Stats----------------------
S67 - COL || 7 GP || 2 G || 6 A || 8 P || +0 || 17:32 ATOI 
S68 - COL || 6 GP || 0 G || 2 A || 2 P || -2 || 20:00 ATOI
----------------------WJC Round Robin Stats----------------------
S67 - FIN || 12 GP || 0 G || 2 A || 2 P || -4 || 15:31 ATOI 
S68 - BI || 12 GP || 4 G || 0 A || 4 P || -7 || 15:04 ATOI
S69 - BI || 12 GP || 1 G || 11 A || 12 P || +3 || 15:18 ATOI
----------------------WJC Playoff Stats----------------------
S68 - BI || 3 GP || 0 G || 0 A || 0 P || -2 || 16:46 ATOI
S69 - BI || 2 GP || 2 G || 1 A || 3 P || -1 || 14:51 ATOI
----------------------IIHF Round Robin Stats----------------------
S68 - IRL || 12 GP || 4 G || 3 A || 7 P || -5 || 15:55 ATOI
S68 - IRL || 12 GP || 4 G || 5 A || 9 P || -5 || 14:17 ATOI
----------------------------Transactions----------------------------
S67 - Drafted 12OA by Colorado Raptors
S67 - Signed 1 x 5,000,000 contract with Colorado Raptors 
S68 - Drafted 2OA by Baltimore Platoon
S68 - Signed 1 x 3,000,000 contract with Baltimore Platoon
---------------------------------------------------------Highlights---------------------------------------------------------
S67 - SMJHL - Nominated for Vyacheslav Onoprienko Trophy for Most Underrated Player
S67 - COL - Won Troy McClure III Trophy for leadership
S67 - COL - Won Alexander Zajac Award for dedication
S68 - Named Alternate Captain for Colorado Raptors
S68 - SMJHL All-Star
S68 - SMJHL - Nominated for Vyacheslav Onoprienko Trophy for Most Underrated Player
S68 - COL - Won Troy McClure III Trophy for leadership
S68 - COL - Won Alexander Zajac Award for dedication
S68 - COL - Won Bo Kane Trophy for top offensive forward
S68 - COL - Won Zinaida Titova Trophy for regular season MVP
S68 - IRL - Won Collin Farrell Award for most improved player
S69 - Named Captain for Colorado Raptors
S69 - COL - Won Troy McClure III Trophy for leadership
S69 - COL - Won Alexander Zajac Award for dedication
S69 - COL - Won Nick Brain Trophy for top two-way forward
S69 - BI - Won WJC Bronze Medal



  

Code:

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.

JNH

2. 155W, +3 tpe
San Francisco had the easier road to the finals. The west is the weaker conference so it is only natural that they had the easiest path. The east has consistent powerhouses in the finals every season who are all capable of winning the cup. San Francisco had to play New Orleans in the conference finals, which is a joke. New Orleans would of never made it out of the first round in the East. Meanwhile Tampa Bay had to get through Atlanta, Philadelphia, and New England. All of which have won the cup in recent seasons and were all ranked top 4 teams in the East. In 2 of those series, Tampa even went to game 7. San Francisco only faced off against the third, fourth, and eight place ranked teams. It's my clear that San Francisco had the easier road to the cup, but now that they are there it won't be so easy.

14. Words:112, +2 tpe

The unpredictability of the IIHF is what makes it the most fun and competitive tournament in hockey. While some players may dominate the SHL, there are always those who stand up and excel more on a national stage. When you can see nations like France take down the kinds of the hockey world like Canada, you know it's always going to be a wild ride. Players you never heard of can be the MVP of the tournament. The IIHF is the only true measure of the competitive nature of ice hockey. There is no drafting and building a loaded roster. You work with what you got and you either sink or swim.

9- 
I feel like Kelowna have a shot at throwing the best party and not because our players could out drink 90% of the SHL but mostly because of the locations available is the beautiful city , the bar and restaurant having breathtaking views but also the activites possible around Kelowna before the drinking starts 

The wide range of music tastes means I’m sure everyone would have something to listen to and enjoy. The stupidity of me and Jagg I can be certain fun and dumb stuff will be done and pyro living up to his name and having a great firework show that will blow peoples minds

gigi

1. Trivia (3/8 TPE) || Verification Word: zellweger

13. (225 Words, 7/8 TPE) This year, I'm gunning for USA-Blue to comeback and beat USA-White for the WJC championship title. Biases aside, I think USA White has serious competition this year. We're one of the larger teams this year with a total dressed plyer count of 18. Out of the 18, eight of our players have a TPE above 415, and only three players below the 350 TPE threshhold. While our record currently stands at a meager .500, there is still much room in the round robin stages. Plus, the real competition starts once the tournament begins. My player, Kienen McKeller, has a lot to prove after coming off of a drab WJC last season. His numbers were low, and this year on a more stacked team, I'm hoping to be a key contributor to the teams offensive talent. My season with the Great Falls Grizzlies could have gone better. Coming off this sophomore slump, I hope to rebound and become a point-per-game production player. This WJC will help me analyze my build and make any final changes before my third-year in the juniors, where I'll be hitting the 425 cap and gunning for a cup run alongside my team. Needless to say, this might be my last WJC--so I'm hoping its a good one.

15. (111 words, 8/8 TPE) The Pride win this years challenge cup! They were the favorites going into the tournament, so it's no surprise to see they made it this far and won. SFP's lethal offensive efforts were no match for TBB. They spent much of the time in the offensive zone, making Justin Time's job a lot easier (and far more boring.) While puck luck exists, TBB could have done more to change their tactics and lines. Playing a safer game that minimizes chances of being on the penalty kill, and playing good defensive hockey could have allowed them to break the puck out of the zone into SFP's more often, creating more scoring chances.

9. Written, 50 to 200+ words. Finals Fiesta Faceoff
Of the two teams in the SHL or SMJHL playoffs, which would host the most banger party if the goal of the finals was to impress judges with the most stellar party. What would their party be like? What would impress the judges most? If your team isn’t in the finals, how would they one up the two finalists to have the coolest party ever?

If the SHL Finals were decided not by goals or saves, but by who could throw the most outrageous, unforgettable party, the Tampa Bay Barracuda and San Francisco Pride would be neck and neck—but in very different ways. The Barracuda would throw an ocean-side rager unlike anything the SHL has ever seen. Picture a massive beach party along the Florida coast—fireworks lighting up the night, live EDM sets blasting across the sand, and tiki bars with endless tropical drinks served in coconuts. Players arrive by jet skis, the mascot is doing flips on a wakeboard, and there’s a seafood spread so fresh it’s practically still swimming. Judges would be dazzled by the party’s raw energy, its carefree, all-out vibe, and the kind of chaos only Florida can provide. San Francisco, though, would go for class with flair. Their party would be hosted on a luxury rooftop overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Think gourmet food trucks, world-class wine tasting, an art installation designed by a local SHL fan, and a surprise guest performance by a Grammy-winning artist. The Pride’s bash would scream "cool," with everyone from players to staff dressed to the nines. If the Atlanta Inferno wanted to one-up both? Easy. They’d host a massive bonfire party on top of Stone Mountain—complete with BBQ, fireworks, and an airshow of helicopters doing synchronized loops with the Inferno logo. Billy Herrington DJing shirtless would be the final touch. Game, set, party.

10. Written, 50 to 200+ words. What do they do different?
We’ve seen Tampa Bay and San Francisco make the finals twice in a row and both 3 times in the last 5 seasons. What do they do differently that other teams should follow for better success in their future playoff runs?

Look, credit where it’s due—Tampa Bay and San Francisco made the finals again. But let’s not pretend they’re reinventing the wheel here. In truth, what they’re doing “differently” might just be the luck of a few hot streaks at the right time, a couple of bounces going their way, and maybe one or two players getting carried by good line chemistry or soft matchups. It’s not like either team is deploying some revolutionary system or running clinics on team building. Their regular seasons have been decent—not always dominant—but they managed to ride the momentum when it counted. That happens in hockey. It’s not always the best team that wins, it’s the one that stays healthiest and catches fire. Tampa’s strategy? Stack the top line, hope the depth holds. San Francisco? Same script, just different names on the jersey. Their goaltenders have been good, but not unbeatable. Their defensive cores solid, but far from generational. Other teams shouldn’t rush to copy them—they should look at their own identity and focus on consistency, depth, and developing strong locker room culture. What the league needs is less imitation and more innovation. Let Tampa and San Fran enjoy their moment. It doesn’t mean they’ve figured it all out—they just haven’t tripped yet.

Billy Herrington || USA || Detroit Falcons (S68 - Present)
Nickname: Aniki
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Accolades
1x - Four Star Cup (S68 - DET)
S68 - Esa Anrikkanen Trophy [Rookie of the Year] (42 G - 30 A - 72 Pts)
1x - Brodie Witzel Trophy [Playoff MVP] (S68 - DET)
1x - Ronan O'Keefe Trophy [Most Playoff Pts] (S68 - DET [25 Pts])
1x - SMJHL All-Star (S68 - DET)
1x - Linna-Landvik Trophy [Western Conference Champs] (S68 - DET)
1x - Laurifer Trophy [Top Regular Season Team] (S68 - DET)
S68 - Drafted 7th Overall by the Atlanta Inferno
S68 - 4th in SMJHL Regular Season Goals (42)
S68 - Drafted 32nd Overall by the Detroit Falcons (SMJHL)
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Augustus Wang || Canada || Anchorage Armada (S49 - S52) || Buffalo Stampede (S52 - S64)
Nickname: Big Wanger #WANG20
Peak TPE: 2127
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Accolades
Inducted into the Hall of Fame before retiring
S55 - Member of the Quadruple Gold Club (2nd Fastest)
2x - Challenge Cup (S55 & S60 - BUF)
1x - Scott Stevens Trophy (S59 - BUF)
2x - 1st Team All-Star (S57 & S59 - BUF)
1x - 2nd Team All-Star (S58 - BUF)
4x - IIHF Gold Medal (S54, S56, S57 & S58 - Canada)
1x - Four Star Cup (S51 - ANC)
1x - WJC Gold Medal (S51 - Canada)
3x - President's Trophy (S54, S55 & S60 - BUF)
5x - Mathias Chouinard Trophy (S55, S56, S58, S59 & S60 - BUF)
S59 - Anton Razov Nominee
S59 - Led all Skaters in Playoff points (19 GP // 7 G - 18 A - 25 P)
S59 - Led all Defensemen in Regular Season points (19 G - 49 A - 68 P)
S57 - Led all Defensemen in Regular Season points (16 G - 45 A - 61 P)
S57 - Aidan Richan Nominee
S57 & S61 - Scott Stevens Nominee
S56 - 1st Career Hat Trick (BUF 12 - 0 TBB)
S56 - 4 Goals in 1 game (4 G & 2 A // BUF 12 - 0 TBB)
1x - IIHF Bronze Medalist (S55 - Canada)
2x - WJC Silver Medal (S50 & S52 - Canada)
1x - WJC Top Defenseman (S51 - Canada)
2x - 1st Team All-SMJHL (S51 & S52)
2x - SMJHL All-Star (S51 & S52)
S55 - Inducted into the Anchorage Armada Hall of Fame
S52 - Most Regular Season Points by a Defenseman in Anchorage Armada History (SMJHL)
S52 - Named Captain of the Anchorage Armada (SMJHL)
S52 & S53 - Quilha Agante Nominee (SMJHL)
S51 - Named Assistant Captain of the Anchorage Armada (SMJHL)
S50 - Named Assistant Captain of Team Canada (WJC)
S50 - Drafted 6th Overall by the Buffalo Stampede (SHL)
S49 - Drafted 14th Overall by the Anchorage Armada (SMJHL)
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