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Nictox · 03-27-2025, 10:13 AM

1. Trivia
Word: Specters

4.
Depth is always a huge factors in winning games. You cannot always rely on top line, top TPE players to do all the work. Especially when they are being targeted and shut down every chance they get. Having the depth being able to produce and win the team games is a huge boon. If Tampa Bay can focus on shutting down San Francisco’s offensive powerhouse players, their depth might just get the job done. Sometimes having the right build with limited TPE and strats that compliment those skills is all you need to win the game. So when the depth players are built in a way to compliment each other and the synergy and chemistry are there, you can expect big results.
[122 - 2 TPE]

5.
As someone who just came off losing to San Francisco’s powerhouse forwards while having elite defensemen, anything can happen. Tampa Bay’s focus should be on shutting down the big lines and letting their depth do the work. I know it is not always that easy to do, but Tampa Bay seems to have the pieces in place to make it happen. I have always preached defense is more important and can win championships, but having some of the best forwards in the business can absolutely solve all your problems. I still lean towards having better defenseman rather than outsourcing your problems.
[101 - 2 TPE]

6.
Luca Pane would show up with the biggest shit eating grin you will ever see. Luca would also make sure to criticize all the food and drinks in the box while simultaneously sampling everything in there. Once the commissioners were fed up, Luca would offer to leave the box free of charge, under one condition, he can take a bunch of the food and pass it out to the crowd below while wearing his Specters’ sweater.
[76 - 1 TPE]

RIP Dangel #AD26 | RIP TDZ

***hockeyfan*** · 03-27-2025, 10:14 AM

GM Pass

***sliceruser*** · 03-27-2025, 10:16 AM

gm pass

JuOSu · 03-27-2025, 10:19 AM

CW Pass

Beavie · 03-27-2025, 10:21 AM

6. Your player gets added to a message group by accident and gets an unintentional invite to watch the finals live with the commissioners on their box. What does your player do and how does the situation evolve?

It was a cool Spring evening in Laval as Claude has returned to Montreal after a turbulent season for Claude L'Castor and the Nevada Battleborn. He is just finished going to the gym and is home with his mother, finishing supper for her as a treat. Then his phone would vibrate, and continue to do so. As soon as he checks it, he sees a bunch of messages from "HO Chat." Turns out one of the commissioners, trying to invite the new intern, Claude L'Heureux, accidently added Claude L'Castor. The J goaltender would feel awkward as he sees continuous messages about how to rig the league in favour of San Francisco to capitalize on the Northern California market, and how goaltenders are just interchangeable. Finally, Claude awkwardly sends the message of "Sorry, I think you added me by mistake."

Feeling a tad embarrassed at this terrible leak, HO would apologize. But they get an idea. Since Claude has been a player who has been building a reputation off-ice for his charity efforts in his hometown of Montreal and even in Nevada, as he has been working on a charity to allow kids from low-income families and otherwise disadvantaged to have access to sports, to invite him to watch the finals from the Commissioner's box, maybe talk about partnering with the charity. Seeing the finals live would be a great experience, see the level of play he will need to match in a few seasons. But, being with the HO in the box may not be a good look. He would talk with his agent, and even his GMs to see what to do, and he comes up with an idea.

He suggests, instead, he be able to watch the game from the stands, but meet before the game to discuss partnership ideas between his charity and the league. He would even invite his mom, and message a few of his teammates and friends around the league to see if they would join. But still he thinks:

"Why this very specific and topical prompt?"

Word Count: 343, I went a bit overboard. +4

8. Who you got? Who wins the Challenge Cup or Four Star Cup? Why?

Time is a flat circle, and his name is Justin. There are only three things guaranteed in life, Death, Taxes, and SFP in the finals, this time Tampa joining them. The strongest team the past few seasons has been San Francisco. Going back to back and unlike QCC in the J, have a real chance at a three-peat. Tampa has done well, they have the slight edge in terms of defensemen, and Tibuk Soonika has performed better overall in net these playoffs (But still, Justin Time for Khan). But San Francisco is absolutely a team with the edge in the forwards, with Winters and Webb leading the way. With the tendencies of FHM 8 leaning heavily on the forward core, that, in my opinion will give them an edge. I fully expect us to have three-peat champions in San Francisco. The real thing I wonder, is if this will go to 7 games unlike last year?

Word Count: 156 +3

14. The IIHF has always been known to be hard to predict. Last season saw the 8th seeded Norway win the entire tournament after taking down 2nd seed Ireland, 3rd seed USA and 4th seed France. In season 77, we saw a similar situation with 8th seeded Ireland taking on 6th seeded Japan in the finals. How do you feel about the volatility of the IIHF, do you wish the series were longer so the stronger teams didn’t get upset as much? Or do you prefer the chaos that is single elimination?

On one hand, I remember my experience in the WJC last season as a GM. Team Canada Black dominated the round robin, only to finish 4th, just landing outside of the podium. It can be frustrating to do so well but be eliminated due to the one and done nature of the playoff rounds. But, on the other hand, the IIHF is a fun bonus thing during the off-season. A way to provide some fun while both the drafts are going on. Even if the IIHF GMs work hard during the tournaments, it is a bonus to the main leagues. There is also some fun for the smaller nations, like Latvia, Quebec, so on, to upset nations they are expected to lose against when they are still building their rosters.

Word Count: 130 + 2... well rounds down to one.

***JohnFranklinKennedy*** · 03-27-2025, 10:22 AM

rahhh gm pass rahhhh

***HabsFanFromOntario*** · 03-27-2025, 10:29 AM

pt pass

***KaleSalad*** · 03-27-2025, 10:47 AM

Gm pass

HillsHaveHats · 03-27-2025, 10:59 AM

GM Pass

Ricer13 · 03-27-2025, 11:02 AM

1. Trivia

Verification word: Rice

Tate · 03-27-2025, 11:04 AM

1. Trivia +3
Verification Word: Bananas

6. Your player gets added to a message group by accident... 61 words - +1 TPE
Blade Hunter gets the invite by accident, but he shows up anyway. Dressed sharp, sunglasses on indoors, he strolls into the commissioner’s box like he owns it. Nobody questions him at first. Midway through the game, someone finally asks, “Wait… who invited you?” Blade just smirks and replies, “I’m here on surveillance.” Awkward silence, then laughter, but they let him stay.

9. Written 200 words. Finals Fiesta Faceoff - +4 TPE
If the SHL finals were judged on who could throw the biggest, wildest party, San Francisco Pride would absolutely run away with the win. Tampa Bay might bring the beach vibes, but San Francisco? They’re bringing pure spectacle. The Pride would host their finals bash on a luxury rooftop downtown, overlooking the skyline and the bay. Think custom lighting that pulses in time with bass heavy EDM, champagne towers guarded by players in suits, and a guest list that includes tech moguls, celebs, and at least two people who claim they invented the slapshot. Every part of the party is dialed in. Massive LED screens play highlight reels of their playoff wins like it’s the Oscars. A sushi bar shaped like a hockey rink sits beside a whiskey tasting room hidden behind a bookshelf. Judges aren’t just impressed, they’re overwhelmed in the best way. And just when they think they’ve seen it all? A helicopter drops confetti while a hologram of the team captain hoists the Cup. It’s over the top and absurd and it’s exactly what you’d expect from a team that knows how to win both on and off the ice. Pride doesn’t just party, they dominate the scene.

Total TPE = 8

***fancey13*** · 03-27-2025, 11:08 AM

GM Pass

***HoltzFan10*** · 03-27-2025, 11:33 AM

CW Pass

*Rojjter* · 03-27-2025, 11:46 AM

Offseason pass

a_canuck · 03-27-2025, 12:23 PM

Trivia Validation Word: pamplemousse
(hopefully 3 TPE)

5. As a defenceman this may be heretical but in this league you need to be able to score. Having a solid d-core is important if you want to make a long playoff run but at the end of the day the team who scores more wins more. This is probably somewhat biased after the year Thunder Bay had where we just couldn't keep pace with the number of goals we needed to catch the top teams in the SMJHL. Obviously you need to be thinking about both but I think it a lot harder to create a lockdown defence focused team given the limitations of the league than a high flying, high scoring team. If the league allowed practice sims (which I do NOT think is a good idea, better to have an even playing field) I am sure someone could figure out how to make a low scoring but defensively sound team work. (154 words, 3 TPE)

14. I think the chaos of the IIHF is one of its strong points! If every tournament or playoffs in the SHL was chaotic then there would be an issue but having one tournament where anything can happen and there are wild and unexpected results is great! Seeing these smaller nations achieve spectacular tournament wins where no one saw them coming is exactly what makes the IIHF tournament worth following. The SHL playoffs should have the teams that are stronger on paper win most of the time to elevate the "fairy tale" runs for underdog teams but the IIHF is for chaos hockey. (102 words, 2 TPE)

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