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sobrien6187 · 03-20-2025, 04:40 PM

As the season ended and the Great Fall Grizzlies sat nestled at or near the bottom of the standings, just waking up from a long hibernation, wondering how an entire hockey season has gone by already, the team in the room came together to eat some berries, scratch our backs on trees, question our live's decisions and contemplated the next steps.

Naturally we fired up the AUX and launched into some mix of electronica and metal, thrashed and headbanged until we couldn't see straight, then took the ice for practice. Playoffs? Playoffs?!? PLAYOFFS!?!?

Just kidding, we had the best team in the league right where we Wanted them. We were a wounded, corner animal. A grizzly, even. We'd played QCC well late in the season, so we were hopeful, if not somewhat optimistic. Who needs defense when we have Matti back there between the pipes?

How did that go for us? Don't worry about it. The Grizz will be back. We'll hibernate earlier next season. The Cubs are growing up.

anywheresoundsnice · 03-20-2025, 06:15 PM

The Citadelles are a superstitious bunch, and when a team like that is gearing up for the ever-elusive threepeat, you do not mess with a winning formula. Johan and his fellow rookies were introduced to the ancient book of spells from which Shiny Rainbow read incantations of mental clarity and scoring prowess; they were shown the rigorous workout routine that Aslak Hestnes brought from his Norwegian trainer back home for ultimate conditioning and endurance; and they spent hours in a dingy classroom in Old Québec listening to Dejana Kaptina's breakdown of QCC's most effective set plays. We brought our own quirks and rituals to the team, as Chubby Barista drank a liter of the strongest coffee known to humanity and unleashed pure fury against a punching bag, screaming obscenities that made half the team go to Sunday Mass for the first time in their lives. Johan, for his part, ran the puckhandling drills he'd picked up on the outdoor rinks of rural Alberta until his arms felt like jelly. He hoped that his preparation would be enough to overcome an intimidating path to the Cup. But above all, he had faith in his teammates, and held the unshakable conviction that a glorious victory was in store for all of them. But until then, we perform our rituals Citadelles

sofiem964 · 03-21-2025, 09:57 PM

The Ottawa Highlanders prepared for the playoffs a little differently this season... With the help of Dydney Frosby, the team headed over to their local cow sanctuary yet again. It might seem strange, but lifting feed and cow poop does wonders for the muscles. It also lets the players take a break off the ice, which might seem counterproductive to some, but rest is important for the body and brain. Plus, being outside and getting fresh air helped destress the players, even amidst all the hard work. It also helps that the cows are adorable and very playful.
Of course, some on-the-ice preparation needs to be done as well. Dydney was very nervous, as it was his first playoff season as a Highlander. Nonetheless, he worked hard and greeted each day with a positive attitude, enabling both himself and his teammates to keep pushing forward. They stretched together at every practice, and they even let Dydney put on some silly cow videos in the locker room to hype him up. Sometimes he feels like quite the oddball, but this team has welcomed him in every way possible, allowing Dydney to put on his best performance despite what his brain tells him sometimes.

goldenglutes · 03-22-2025, 10:54 AM

well bingankus also known as bingo glunksplosion prepared for the play offs by doing lots of preparation as a player and this prep included things that would either benefit his physical fitness or his mental state. these things included activities such as drinking coffee and trying different coffee beans from different coffee roasters (this improved his mental state by allowing him to focus more easily) and going out for walks every once in a while (this improved both his mental and physical state). bingo has been doing lots of preparation for his play off games and as a result of his preparation bingo is very ready for his play off games which makes him very excited to play in his play off games which in my opinion is pretty exciting in deed. damn i accidentally deleted like fifty words that i had written for the end of this point task but oh well i will just write some more. bingo is really very ready to get out there and play in his play off games he is ready to go and he can not wait to get out there and show them what he is made of with all his preparation! am i right @hotdog @micool132

Signatures by Vulfzilla, Jepox, Jess, rum_ham, Ragnar, and myself
[Image: 9vAsr7c.png]

Iceolate19 · 03-22-2025, 09:09 PM

Preparing for the playoffs is no easy task, especially for a team like the St. Louis scare crowd. Full of first time rookies, the playoffs give an opportunity for the young squad to gain experience, and maybe, even cause a couple of upsets. As the scare crows look to prepare themselves, they also look to create a foundation on which to build for the next few seasons as their rookies turn into full time important players.

Pregame is the classic routine, there are no changes. Hockey players are superstitious after all. But in the days off leading up to the playoffs, new forms of off ice preparation appear. Normally on a few days off, players are allowed to go about their own schedules, with team events sprinkled in. For playoff prep, every minute is scheduled to make sure everyone is properly prepared for the next opponent. Video sessions, meal prepping, mental preparation, sleep schedules. All of it is pointed towards one goal. The cup.

plummdogmillionaire · 03-22-2025, 10:23 PM

There is nothing more sacred at playoff time then keeping things exactly as they are as to not trigger a collapse. During the season, the Highlanders have a running tally of perks that are liked and disliked. In the final month, any consumables on the like list are stockpiled for the playoffs.

The dressing room playlist is ordered and locked. Each song is purchased to ensure it won't be lost if there is a rights issue on the streaming services.

The top 2 coffee beans are purchased in bulk, and the breakfast bar menu is created. Players and staff know exactly what will be available each morning, and everyone has something they will enjoy.

Finally, the heirloom tartan (kilt pattern) and the season's sacred luck objects are locked up each night. This season, the sacred object is a Rubiks solved by Bam Morris that facility manager Seth Matteo encased in epoxy to prevent tampering. Before each game, everyone taps the center of the green face of the Rubiks cube for good luck.

Superstitions are weird, but the cup is worth it.

AW13 · 03-23-2025, 12:34 AM

isfl pt

PonceAR · 03-23-2025, 09:13 AM

QCC had an insane mix of luck and almost protagonist like skill on this regular season, despite the amount of new players joinning, counting myself on this.
Now, after the regular celebrated in the locker, words of encouragement from the vets that graduate to the new blood are spoken, and a true sense of duty start sinking into the entire team for the playoffs, which will be a time to rest for everyone after all the wild things happening and new changes coming. It's for sure that this is not the end of the road after the crazy feat Quebec pulled with the triple-lift of the Laurifer and despite being happy about the path we walked through, now the eyes are focus ahead on the hills we have to climb to not only achieve such feats agains, but to crush them
The team is getting ready to come back, stronger, boulder and maybe even a bit crazier than ever and i'll be sure to do my best in the new air of progress and determination.

iRockstar · 03-23-2025, 03:28 PM

A lot of heart and soul came into play for the Grizzlies when going into the playoffs. We knew we were down bad, and we knew we were going up against a very scary Quebec team that had all the power in the world, to win the whole thing and hoist the cup. With that said, we had a team outing prior to ensure team bonding was at an all-time high, capped off by a luxurious team dinner at an amazing steak & bbq spot. Once that was done, the focus began, and it was a lot of practicing, a lot of ensuring our bodies were prepared and our minds were mentally rady to go into this duel. A lot of time at the rink was then spent in mental awareness for all of this and that really helped us get into the headspace that would hopefully allow us to win. Sadly, none of this worked and we were swept, but the team is young, and we'll be back in the hunt!

Jonnyhockey17 · 03-23-2025, 05:06 PM

The Anchorage Armada had tough finish to their regular season, costing into playoffs with a 28-32-6 record. Going into playoffs, the Armada knew they were up against a great Kelowna Knights team that finished 3rd in the conference with a 45-21-0 record.

To try and gameplan against the Knights, the coaching staff held a meeting to discuss the teams current strengths in order to best matchup against Kelowna. The optimal game plan was determined to be a shut down defensive hockey team that focused on shot blocking, while also relying on solid goaltending to make the key saves.

When looking at which players on Kelowna to target specifically, the Armada looked at their star centre, Mel Guolla, who had 95 pts in 66 games this year, leading his team as well as being one of the top scorers in the league. Anchorage also decided to focus their efforts on shutting down the Knights top winger, David Corrigan, who had 81 pts in 66 games, sitting him 2nd on his team.

Although Anchorage has taken the time to prepare, they will still face a tough challenge in the first round of playoffs.

DELIRIVM · 03-23-2025, 05:32 PM

The Great Falls Grizzlies came into the playoffs as probably the largest underdog in the entirety of the league. Preparations for the playoffs were just like any game. Coming in and knowing that the other team is likely favored and has more experience leads the team to spending most of its time just continue growing and gaining experience. The Great Falls team knew that there would be no cup this year and that likely we would get blown out (we were) but gaining the experience in the playoffs and becoming a more coherent team that builds off of all successes and failures was the ultimate goal. Sometimes it's nice not having a lot of pressure and just being able to focus on the growth at hand. Great Falls has a great future but this playoffs is not where they get to show it off. Moving forward the team will be a lot better for what they saw against Quebec City and can hopefully make noise in the next year. Until then take every game as a chance to learn.

visceralpotamus · 03-23-2025, 06:37 PM

Thunder bay had an exciting season as one of the top scoring teams in the j, but with an abysmal defense. As an offensive defenseman I felt it was part of my job to shore up on defensive side of the game, so I spent a good amount of time watching film, as well as dodging wrenches to increase my bravery. Drawing the vancouver w slurs was an extra motivation, as i have been campaigning against their mascot for a while now. The series did not go as planned, but we were really proud to pish them to 7 games, considering our poor team record against them in the regular season, and the massive difference in the team standingsacross most categories. Team preparation for the playoffs is more than xs and os, so we spent a lot of time doing various team bonding activities, including visiting every burger joint in Ontario and British Columbia in search for the widest burger out there

2by2ark · 03-23-2025, 07:23 PM

We tried sacrificing to the old gods and the new to make Raf invincible, but that didn't work, so we traded for Kewl. All the skaters have been commuting uphill both ways in the snow. The centers have to win a hundred faceoffs before they're allowed to have breakfast. The wingers were recently dropped into the wilderness with their sticks and a box of pucks and told to hunt for food to survive. The defense has been training with Shaolin monks for the last few weeks. The coaches are currently in the Clockwork Orange chair watching tapes. The local coven has been asked to curse Kelowna so that their laces come untied during a penalty kill. The power play unit has gone on a tour of a power plant for inspiration. I personally have been body checking every person I see on the street. Clearly our preparations are working, as we've knocked out Quebec.

Caspwad · 03-23-2025, 07:31 PM

It took a lot for our team to get to where we are this season, our brilliant head coach had to evaluate, re-evaluate and then rebuild tactics for us to be shining like we are now. Hard work, blood, sweat and tears in each training session.

A lot of reflection after each game, studying tape, watching my own mistakes and learning to fix them. learning new tricks from the older guys and even the younger guys. Without them I would have drowned in the ocean that is professional hockey, they kept me a float. With how we are now we are almost unstoppable, giving out an absolute thrashing during the second half of the season to help put us in a fantastic league position to end the season.

Now that we are half way through playoffs it feels and looks like I have become a different player, I'm making plays I'd never have before, Striking faster, Hitting harder and Passing quicker it has help our team get out of some tight spots as we have moved along the bracket.

Just know that whatever the end of this bracket has in store for Vancouver, we will fight through and become the ultimate team for next season.
Whalers

Zinny · 03-23-2025, 10:17 PM

Erkki Kaila spent the night before game 1 of the conference quarter finals at a local food bank & kitchen near the Kraken's stadium.
When asked about his reasoning for this, he responded "I've heard people say that it's a publicity stunt, or that it helps distract me before a playoff run, but it's just nothing like that."
Erkki Kaila has spent the last 3 years spending the day before opening game of the regular season and the day before a playoff run at a nearby food bank where he plays.
"It helps ground me. People take sports so goddamn seriously you'd think it were literally life and death. The amount of money that's thrown into every professional sport while their buildings are surrounded by people trying to figure out where they're going to get their next meal. It's pathetic and what I do hear isn't even a bare minimum. It helps me connect with people in the area, it helps remind me that there are so many bigger things than hockey. It doesn't mean that I won't still do everything I can on the ice, but it helps remind me that if I fail, there's worse things."
"As far as more direct ways that I'm preparing for the playoffs, the coach and I are tinkering with my role out there, letting me focus on parts of my game I didn't get to in the regular season.

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