Login

Aephino · 07-08-2020, 04:24 PM

1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

Overall, it is hard not to be at least a little disappointed this season. Looking purely at this season's stats, I had 15 goals and 17 assists in 50 regular season games. These are not numbers to be scoffed at, alongside playoff returns. In just seven playoff games, I managed 6 points. I led the Falcons again in points this season, but I certainly did not meet my goals. Compared to last season, where I reached 64 points (the second highest points tally in this "cap-era" of the SMJHL), this season I greatly under performed. I was personally hoping for 50 points, which is certainly a tall order, but I thought would be attainable with our monster first line in Detroit. Turns out, our line struggled for much of the season, which was a surprise to the whole league. Next season, anything over 32 points would make me happy. For what will likely me my final season in the J's, I hope to go out with a bang.

2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

As a whole team, I would not say that we are doing anything together. I think the fact that we got knocked out first round, combined with our underperformance in the regular season dampened our enjoyment of the Four Star Cup playoffs. We most likely will be chatting while the games are going on, and discussing our thoughts on who will win and who will want to win, but we have nothing major planned. I think there was greater potential for that sort of thing to happen with the Challenge Cup finals, but it is not looking pretty so far. Here in Detroit, we have some ties to the Hamilton Steelhawks, so last season was incredible for our franchise as Detroit and Hamilton won both major cups. This season will seemingly end in despair for both teams. Members of Detroit management that are involved in the Hamilton series are dumbfounded as to how New Orleans are sitting 3-0 up as it stands. I'm sure after that finals wraps up, we will have much to talk about amongst the team. [/align]

4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

One team that I think should do very well is Team DACH. I think they have underperformed in the past, but this year will be hard to stop. They have a number of experienced players now, particular in the forwards. Between Labovitch, Mega Tron, Wagner, Sulfurgold, Harrington, and Hartmann, they have some of the best wingers in the SMJHL right there. A team that I think could surprise some folks is Finland. No Kaarlo will be a blow to them, but with Barkov, Seppala, Timonen, Stratton (on loan), and Topalo, they have the big names that can cause them to go far in the tournament. As for the British Isles, I think this is going to be our year. We looked like the team to beat in S53, but we were unable to perform in the medal round. Just like DACH, we have experience on our side. I know I will be doing my best to turn things around and aim to lead the team in every way that I can. Believe me, I want that gold to make up for Detroit's season in the SMJHL.

13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?
b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?
c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)
d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there?

a. Looking at regular season stats, Kryyst had 32 wins in 43 games played, compared to Cain's 23 wins in 40 games. They have a similar amount of shots faced, but Cain has a save % of 90.3% versus Kryyst with 91.3%. The kicker is 2.22 GAA for Kryyst and 2.78 GAA for Cain. Geezus Kryyst has the upper edge against Cain.[/align]

b. I think this answer is pretty clear... Darnell. I'm only joking, Gabe. Gabriel has a whopping 36 assists in the regular season, for a total of 44 points versus Darnell's 9 points. Darnell does have 90 hits vs. Gabe's 60 hits, but Gabe also has 2 more shots blocked and 15 more takeaways. With a +35 for Gabriel, I think he is clearly the better Johnson and should do well in the Challenge Cup.[/align]

c. Seeing what has happened, the answer has to be no. I think most people are stunned at the 3-0 lead of New Orleans as of right now. They obviously have a great team put together with players like Manius, Williams, and Claude, but Hamilton's regular season seemed much stronger. Flacko Lagerfield dominated the SHL again, along with Wilson and Phelps stepping up. I cannot believe that there is a chance that this stellar Hamilton team has the possibility of getting swept by NOLA.[/align]

d. I would go to New Orleans. I have never been to the South in the US before, so that would be my first time down there. The important thing would be trying southern food and eating out a lot. There seem to be multiple museums that could be interesting to visit. Besides that, I would have to go the French Quarter and check out the St. Louis Cathedral. If possible, it would be crazy to go down there during Mardi Gras to get a flavor of the massive celebrations that take place.[/align]

16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

skree

Total: 16 TPE

KlusteR · 07-08-2020, 05:01 PM

Code:
1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

There's no reason to mince words - Markus' season went horribly, as was expected. Not that he can't stop pucks - he's done plenty of that, still posting an "above league average" Save Percentage of .916, good enough for 4th position among league starters. But it also came with a ton of Shots Against, which skewed his Goals Against Average. But such are the expectations when you're a younger goalie trying to keep a rebuilding team competitive... We unfortunately couldn't win some games against similarly weak teams, and so we had to look up to the standings in the Western Conference to see everybody else starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel... Not us, yet. And it may not be next season, either, even with a slew of young studs coming up to the big leagues to help us out - since some of our bigger pieces are still developing in the SMJHL. We know our moment to shine is coming soon enough - but until then, Markus will have to hold the fort once more, and hope that the rookies can contribute offensively right from the get-go.

(189 words)

Code:
2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

A few of the "older" Chiefs' crew - namely, Captain Mathias Seger, Collin Gibbles, Noah Gallagher, Geoff Moore and Markus Tegernako, decided to make our way down to New Orleans, to watch game 3 of the Final at a bar nearby Smoothie King Center, and then surprise Mika Mayfield (ex-teammate for most of us) and Mitchell van der Heijden (Swiss teammate for 2 of us) at the end of the game! It was really nice to be reunited once again, as we were three seasons ago (except for Mitchell, who had just been drafted by Anchorage!)... how time flies by so quickly, it seemed like only yesterday when Markus came to training camp to fight for the backup position to Sébastien Primeau... How the Seger-Moore-Tedla-Volkov quatuor was going to dominate for a while - and now only 2 remains, with one's impact on the team being weathered every passing day. Markus yearned to be back, but he also knew his place was to help the new guys, the same way he was helped by all of those great players and people he was surrounded with. With a subtle smile, Markus continued the conversation on...

(195 words)

Code:
3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

It has been publicized a decent amount on this site but Hamilton prospect Andrei Kostitsyn's brother Sergei appears to be missing. Does anybody know where Sergei? What have you done/what can you do to help Andrei track down his brother?

After conducting very thorough investigation with private police back in Belarus, I found Sergei escaped Beloved Minsk aboard fishing boat. No idea where went - supposed to stay in North Sea, escaped, no idea went. But then, idea came in head - what if Sergei want to find brother Andrei? Andrei is a Berkserk now, and so he must be in the New Land Land, at St John. But when I talk to Corey, he tell me Andrei metalbird now. I no understand, so I drive down Transcanadian and have a rest in Québec City. When arrive in Québec City, Sergei everywhere! Sergei on billboards, bus, even fountain. Sergei apparently very big player for Québec City Capitales, new SMJHL team. Big snow owl, very menacing, perfect for Sergei. Andrei understand all before Sergei tell him - and become metalbird in hope Sergei follow way of birds forever.

:clean:

(145 words)

Code:
7. Written, 3 TPE

Write a sonnet about an SHL-related topic. Be sure to follow the proper ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG rhyme structure or your HS English (or equivalent any-language Writing teacher) will track you down and give you a failing grade.

It is with heavy heart I write
A wicked tale of cursed tenders
For some, the story may seem trite
To others, twin souls left asunder

For Finn and Swiss, the same path beaten
Of tendering incomplete projects
The former, in inception forgotten
The latter, cursed puck luck dejects

Then to the Stars, did Finn reach summits
But left only to his own devices
Whilst to the Chiefs, his soul Swiss submits
For salvation of previous vices

The Astral Twins of Simulation Goaltending
Await the same fate, a martyrdom doomed ending

(This sonnet is dedicated to Harry Carpet and myself, Markus Tegernako.)

Code:
13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?

b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?

[s]c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)

d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there?[/s]

a. For once, Aleister Cain is playing up to his potential! The highly-touted expansion draft acquisition from the Specters, who has been their mainstay in net for almost 10 seasons now, is looking to finally delight us with the kind of of assured play that we always saw in the regular season - but in the play-offs, this time! The Specters faithful have been waiting for this moment for too long for it to fail now. I'm giving Cain the edge. (81 words)

b. I'll be honest - there's a reason why I selected Gabriel in my fantasy team, and it's because I could see all of the offensive potential this kid has - although he's not really a kid anymore, isn't he? While Darnell is by no means a bad player, Gabriel simply outshines him in almost every category - while playing on a higher pair in the line-up. (64 words)

Code:
16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

SpeedTheCollapse

StadiumGambler · 07-08-2020, 06:13 PM

Code:
1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

Nick Brain fared good, bad, and ok on the ice for various reasons this season. On one hand, Nick's performance in terms of goals and assists was not _TERRIBLE_, 15 goals and 26 assists are adequate numbers relative to the rest of the league. The problem of course is that this is down slightly from Season 53, down big-time from Season 52 and 51, and numbers that aren't great for a player on the first line of a decent team, that's expected to give top teams a bit of a fight. Nick needed to be a high-powered offensive weapon for the Jets, and he was merely medium powered.

On the other hand, Nick's season was great in terms of the Game Rating stat (which seems to be dubious in usefulness but correlates roughly to certain aspects of player performance), and seemed to rate highly in various advanced analytical categories. I joke regularly about Nick having high "fundamentals per 60 minutes", but there might be a grain of truth to that. If I understood what any of the stats did or what they were I'd share them, but the gist I'm getting is Nick is great at defense, competent with the puck instead of wasteful, and would probably be a top-class player in the league with better support. So that kinda makes sense, but it's a far cry from the easy to understand good numbers that Nick was putting up in the Simon T era.

---

Code:
4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

The biased man in me thinks the United Kingdom will be hard to beat this year. We've got a top-flight forward line, a super deep blueline, a developing goalie in "Lucky" Luca Del Vecchio, and we've got capable hands at the till with ProjectSaint and goldenglutes. I'm hoping we'll get the job done to add another gold medal to Nick Brain's trophy case.

The reality is that USA and Canada, with their inherent depth and vast quality, will be hard to beat on paper. Canada could've very easily won last year, but got unlucky and finished 4th. They'll be back, and they have plenty of capable people to put together a lineup with. USA is steered by scruffdaddy, who has mined IIHF gold before for the Yanks, and they've got quality players everywhere. Even if they keep losing depth to transfers, they've got more reserves to call from and probably don't have to march out WJC-caliber guys as 4th line forwards (which is suicidal in FHM, as Tampa Bay has proved).

I'm hoping for UK Gold, Canada Silver, USA Bronze, but its more likely Canada Gold, USA Silver, Sweden or UK Bronze.

---

Code:
5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Which player from the Steelhawks or Specters has a great chance to make the Hall of Fame when their playing days are up? Make the case for that player's HOF bid.

The obvious answer is Joey K, Joe Kurczewski. He's the last survivor of the legendary S31 draft class, had a great career, put up a ton of points on some icon-level teams, won at least one Cup I think, and has had a respectable GM tenure with the New Orleans Specters. Even if NOLA screws it up this year, they're sorta like the San Diego Chargers in the NFL, where even if things don't work out in the end, they do better than other organizations in terms of putting together a talented roster that always warrants strong consideration as Western Conference champs. I think he'll be a slam-dunk first-ballot guy unless his retirement year falls alongside some stiff competition.

---

Code:
6. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Occasionally, broadcast networks will bring an active player into the TV coverage of ongoing finals if their team has been eliminated, and that player is often to give unique insights from a current player's perspective. During this NOLA-HAM finals, which SHL player or prospect would be a good addition to the Challenge Cup TV coverage? Why would that player be a good addition to the broadcast team?

I think Troy Reynolds would be a fun addition. The controversial former Renegade and North Star had a rollercoaster ride of a career off the ice even if things didn't go great on the ice. Frequently in the news for drunken behaviour, various fights, and known for being an on-ice agitator of some repute, I think Troy has that Sean Avery type of vibe going on, and that would add some interesting, possibly controversial insight to the usual crew of incompetent-ass talking heads we'd probably get in SHLverse.

I would also like to welcome in the initial management avatar of Wasty to a hypothetical broadcast. I don't recall his name off-hand, but a guy like that who has been GMing forever probably has a lot of good insight to share in terms of roster talk and matchups and the like, and I think it would improve the quality of a broadcast to have a man with that amount of tenure and experience telling it for what it is.

---

Code:
13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?

b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?

c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)

d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there?

a)I think that Cain is easily the better goalie talent-wise, but Cain has never lived up to his potential in big games, and him being screwed by goalie RNG is about 80% of the reason NOLA are Cup-less. Kryyst meanwhile has proved his mettle and made all the saves needed for the past few years on top-quality Hamilton teams. I think Kryyst is more likely to come up clutch in net to bring it home for Hamilton

b) Honestly, Gabriel is the better talent and has more natural ability if we're being honest. He's a puck-moving defenseman and those guys are liable to be heroes, especially with an aggressive style like Hamiltons. To be fair to Darnell though he plays a much more physical game and I'm sure no Hamilton forward wants to chase him into a corner for the puck, because that decision could prove hazardous to your health. Realistically though Gabe has the offensive nous to make a bigger impact for Hamilton in this series.

c) I think if NOLA and Hamilton were in the same division, maybe, but two matchups head-to-head don't mean a lot. Regular season stats are also harder to take into account for the simple reason that Hamilton and NOLA might as well be in two different leagues when it comes to schedule and quality of opposition. It would be slightly better to correlate numbers between the two facing higher-ranked teams in the standings methinks, and compare those to see who gets the edge.

d) Actually, I would take Hamilton at this point IRL for a vacation spot. I'm not sure about leaving my home country of Canada for any reason ever again, and I don't want to be in coastal cities too often really due to the encroaching threat of the oceans moving inland. New Orleans has great food but my stomach condition can't handle a lot of it. I think Nick Brain would prefer NOLA over Hamilton though due to the better nightlife and chance to pick up ideas for new cuisine.

---

Code:
16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

Verification word: TrivialPursuit

SlashACM · 07-08-2020, 06:48 PM

1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

It was a rather disappointing season stat-wise but after 10 seasons in the shl you learn that's how it goes. Ups and downs, I'm extremely proud of what nic brought to the team, leading the west for a while after a cold start. It's been an incredible run and no matter how it plays out, I'm proud to be a specter. We are set up for the long run and even with some names moving on, we have some great ones moving in too. It's time to show the league that our hard work and tpe earning can pay off. It doesn't matter how you play in the regular season because the playoffs are a whole new season, and you have just 7 games to outsmart, outstrategize, and outplay your opponent. Will you have what it takes, or will you be writing CW from the outside looking in? Luckily this time, it's all about me baybee.

4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

Fuzz and scruf finally figured it all out during the sths era, getting us back to back golds, and now that we're in the fhm era with an unbelievable roster, it's all the better. Joe is a plug but slappy is still a beast plugging along. Bonk is a fucking legend, Cain Wasty Nic all at high tpe as well. Scruff just hit TWO THOUSAND, with sharp and gibbles nearing that. We may have two forward lines of 1800+ players, just incredible. Serpe, Julio, Fox rounding out our insane player core, even Strom is a beast. There's no way USA doesn't tear up the tournament and send czechia, canada, germany, sweden ETC home. We can run whatever tactics we want, we will dominate with a pure defense style of play or a run and gun shootout. We are built for anything and will always be a contender as those who look up to the big USA squad know to never defect because their chance of winning gold will diminish to 0%

7. Written, 3 TPE
Write a sonnet about an SHL-related topic. Be sure to follow the proper ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG rhyme structure or your HS English (or equivalent any-language Writing teacher) will track you down and give you a failing grade.

Pingy i miss you so
please come back and recreate
do not spam or else HO
will bring you swiftly to your fate

Duder will you come back
You were a bright spot on the site
Updating head, talking smack
Don't say the n word in a fight

Even king was kinda cool
Would love to see how he turned out
if he didn't act like such a tool
and try to flex on us for clout

The shl has many friends
I'll stick by them until the end

13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?
b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?
c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)
d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there?

a. Obviously Kryyst is better as it is IMPOSSIBLE that playing tampa, baltimore, and toronto all season wouldn't inflate his stats and give him 8 free wins and shutouts. He had 5 fucking shutouts against TBB, TOR, and BAP. I'm sure if i got to play those shit teams as much as he did i'd have a god damn .955 save percentage too. The east is bullshit.

b. Darnell is a god. Just a beaut. I'd take him over gabe in a heartbeat. Just an absolute studmuffin, always giving us kisses in the LR after a good win and whipping us on the buttocks when we need it most. The ultimate morale boost that has done wonders for us in these playoffs.

c. I think it does. Obviously we are immune to their cheese strats and our hard work and truculence has paid off. The boys are buzzing and have proven against all odds that we have what it takes to go the distance. Will it go 7? Will it go 6? Will it go 5? Will it go 4? Will I hit the word count? Just did.

d. I would still go to New Orleans even though I live there just because what in the shit am I gonna do in Hamilton. What the fuck is there? I don't know, to be honest. I'd rather go to western canada or somewhere beautiful. I imagine Hamilton is kind of like Gary Indiana only maybe not as bad because Canada just seems better about that shit. Either way, go NOLA.

16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

bingo bango bongo

Task 1- 3 tpe
Task 4- 3 tpe
Task 7- 3 tpe
Task 13- 4 tpe
Task 16- 3 tpe

16 total

Wallflower · 07-08-2020, 09:49 PM

1) (3 TPE) My player did a lot better in his rookie season than I expected him to going into it. I saw that as the season progressed, I dropped off a little, but I was still amazed with how Bale managed to get over 20 points and consistently put the puck in the net. Even though there were a lot of ups and downs, I still managed to see my guy have games where the team's offense pretty much rode his back. ON top of the sheer stats being better than expected, I also got to see him end up on the top two lines when I really expected him to ride the pine and be on the fourth line the most of the season. The chemistry that he built up with the other guys and the faith that the GM had in Bale were both awesome to see and instilled a lot of confidence in him as a young guy.

2) (3 TPE) My team and I re definitely going to watch the finals together. At the end of the day, we missed the finals, but realize that we could have played much better as a squad throughout the season. There is obviously a reason that these two teams are in the finals and that's because they know what it takes and they did exactly what they had to to get themselves in this position. I think it will be important for a young team like ours to really pay attention to what a real championship contender looks like. I am sure that we will all get together as a team to try and figure out what we can work on to look more liek New Orleans and Hamilton because they are where we want to be. It will be cool to see what we can learn about them from skill as well as the strategy it takes to win in this competitive league.

3) (2 TPE) There have been a lot of theories as to the whereabouts of Sergei Kostinyn, brother of Andrei, who is actually now clean in case anybody didn't know. I think it is important to remember that Sergei has always been a bit of a wild card. Nobody has known where he is for awhile and he has always ben a disappearing act, especially in big games. I think if we look closely, the idea that the Mongolians kidnapped him can carry a lot of weight. He has disappeared and nobody knows where he is, what better way than to hide him with Genghis Khan? Seems outlandish, but really is possible.

4. (3 TPE) I think if you look at the IIHF tournament, you see a lot of good teams but not a ton of parity. To me, the two clear top dogs are Germany and the United States. Both teams have a lot of talent top to bottom and could easily be seen making a run to the championship. Their teams are sound and talented from the breadth of SHL players that you can find on the rosters. For my team, Latvia, I believe that our goal should be to make a run towards the podium. Obviously I think that we should hope to win, but I'm not necessarily sure that it is realistic to put those expectations on us. I think it is a lot easier to envision us making a push to get on the podium in general. If you look at our team, it isn't very deep or talented, but there is a lot of heart. We will have to rely on that heart to get us to the top of the standings. That and hopefully we can use sound tactics to push us over the hump.

5. (2 TPE) I think that from what I've seen, I would expect Flacko Lagerfield to get into the Hall of Fame. I don't know exactly what he was like before FHM, but he has been an absolute star ever since we switched to the new sim engine. He set the record for most points this season with an absolutely legendary north of 80 point season. It was absolutely incredible to see the run he went on after a slow start. He will at least be in the hall with the records he has set, but he might even be able to made in the fullness of his career. He has been elite all the way around and deserves to get a very solid look from the committee.

Trivia 3 TPE
verification: COCK

Faelax · 07-08-2020, 10:22 PM

16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

Applied

1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.) 150 words
Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

When I think back on my season as a 3rd year player, I am both satisfied and disappointed at the same time. On one hand, I shattered my previous point totals, putting up 32 points and tying the team lead, while playing big minutes for the team in all situations. I had almost forgotten how fun it was to score goals, since I only had nine in my first two seasons. I was really happy with how my game progressed this year on both ends of the ice. I obviously had a great offensive year on a team that didn’t score a ton, but also felt like my defense was very good. On the other hand, we missed the playoffs again, which was a huge bummer. We thought we had a great chance of making it this year, and sitting at home watching from the sidelines again is very disappointing.

2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.) 153 words
Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

In Maine, we plan on partaking in our team's pastime this offseason, drinking and watching sports. The sports this year will probably include both the SHL and SMJHL playoffs. For the juniors playoffs, we like to see who ends up taking it all in the end. Then when the SHL playoffs are on, we like to have a little fun with it, rooting for our respective SHL teams. I don’t believe we have anyone on either finals team in the locker room, so we are just watching it because it will be good hockey. We have also made an interesting drinking game out of the finals. I have been talking with a few of the Buffalo guys as well, they are pretty bummed about not making the finals obviously. I’m pretty sure that most of them aren’t gonna watch, and I don’t blame them either. I would have a hard time watching too.

4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.) 165 Words
S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

This season of IIHF hockey should be very interesting. Last season's gold medal game teams are both looking great. The USA is still a huge favorite to win gold in my opinion, that team is so stacked in every position. But I wouldn’t sleep on Czechia either, even though the gold medal game was pretty one sided last season, they have continued to get better, and will definitely play a better game vs the US if they play again in the bracket stage. As far as other teams that could make a run, Canada is always a decent team at worst, Ireland and Great Britain have some good players and should not be slept on. Two other teams I think are up and coming are a couple of central European teams in Switzerland and Austria. Both have a nice mix of young talent and veteran experience. All in all, it should be another great tournament this season and I am really looking forward to it!

13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series? 56 words

While these are the two best goalies in the league, I have to give the nod to New Orleans here. While Cain had a rough start to the regular season, he really turned it around towards the end and has been great through the postseason so far. Nothing against Kryyst, but Cain has the edge here.

b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson? 54 words

I would say that Gabe Johnson from Hamilton is the better of the two. I know it is in to joke about Gabe being bad right now, but really he is very good. He led Canada to some good international results, and is one of the best offensively minded blue liners in the league.

c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.) 53 words

Well, it looks like the regular season matchup between these two was not an anomaly. New Orleans looked dominant all series long. They seemed to have the Steelhawks number in the regular season, and it continued here into the finals. They just seemed to be a step ahead of Hamilton the entire series.

d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there? 51 words

No disrespect to Hamilton, I’m sure it is a nice city, but I would love to take a trip to New Orleans. I love some good Cajun food, and what better place to get it than New Orleans! It seems like a great place to just have fun for a week.

StamkosFan · 07-08-2020, 10:33 PM

Code:
1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

After setting the all-time record for goals last season, Ola Wagstrom disappointed himself, his teammates, and his fans, failing to come even close to living up to what was expected of him. He couldn’t even scrape 30 goals or 60 points, let alone the 80 point season that his coach had projected for him based on tests. I can attribute that to trying to change; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. He changed his build and his coach changed his archetype, at least at the start, and he just wasn’t the same game-breaking player that he was last season. Next season, Ola Wagstrom has to go back to the way he did things before. Hopefully, with a new team and new linemates, he can be guided to success once again. Manhattan and their all-in strategy should go well with Wagstrom’s desire for heroics. With the TPE he has, he should be the best player in the league; it’s about time he sees the fruits of his labor.

Code:
4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

Sweden’s youth hindered our performance last year, but with a rising core of S53 and S54 ascending through the ranks, we always knew we could compete with the best of them soon. Now, 5 of our S53 players are uncapping, so this will be the year that the IIHF gets a taste of what we’re really made of. Our veterans are also at the peak of their careers now, high TPE and ready to lead the way. I’m expecting us to surprise a lot of folks with a strong showing in the tournament, hopefully surpassing our accomplishments last year. We have a very tough group, with both Canada and Great Britain in the same division, but four teams advance and I feel like we can capture enough wins against the other teams to move on. USA, Canada, Great Britain, and Czechia are the top four contenders to go for a medal, but I think Sweden is a dark horse and with the right amount of luck, we can sneak into the semi-finals.

Code:
7. Written, 3 TPE

Write a sonnet about an SHL-related topic. Be sure to follow the proper ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG rhyme structure or your HS English (or equivalent any-language Writing teacher) will track you down and give you a failing grade.

A long time ago, in a sim engine far far away,
A team used any means to win,
They said this was a fair way to play,
And cared little for the trouble they put the league in.

Now fast forward a couple years later,
The rest of the league laughs as they cry and they weep,
It doesn't matter if they all try to be a hater,
Hamilton lost in the finals in an embarrassing sweep.

Karma has its way of coming around,
What they did to the league was done to them,
The great champion now kneels on the ground,
NOLA's victory is forever a gem.

So as one now all teams celebrate,
The Steelhawks have finally met their fate.

Code:
13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?

b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?

c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)

d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there?

a. As solid as Kryyst has been, I feel like Aleister Cain has the advantage. Cain is a high TPE goalie on a good team who has just gotten bad bounces, and now that he’s finally hitting his stride, I think he is ready to show the world what he is made of. He has always had the potential to steal a series and rob the best of goal scorers, and now I think he is in a good position to realize that and be the hero for his team.
b. You have to say that Gabe Johnson has the edge. He is a defenseman that can take care of both ends of the ice in any role his team needs, and he is the cornerstone of the Steelhawks blue line. He is high TPE, at the peak of his game, and provides a diverse array of options for Hamilton; he’s the real deal and that’s why he takes the prize.
c. The writing was on the wall for Hamilton based on the regular season matchups. New Orleans crushing victory should not have been a surprise, as their finals sweep came on the heels of a regular season matchup sweep. The Specters have outplayed Hamilton every time the two teams met this year, and they truly were the better hockey club at the end of the day.
d. I would go to New Orleans. I don’t know anything about tourism in Hamilton, if it’s even a thing; meanwhile, New Orleans has a vibrant culture, a rich history, and a lot to do in places like the French Quarter. And of course, they’re known for lively parties and great cuisine; who doesn’t love Cajun food? I would be sure to experience all that the city has to offer.

Code:
16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

Verification: Trivia

GoonerBear · 07-08-2020, 10:42 PM

NSFL Welfare - 3 TPE

Code:
2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

The Manhattan Rage kept tabs on the finals, at least. It was fun to watch together when we could and see some nailbiting surprises, even in a series that ended in a sweep. The club kept tabs on rumors and I hear at least a couple picked up some texts on drama between the two clubs off the ice. Either way, it felt a bit good to watch the Specters pick up their first Cup in their franchise's young history and to see Hamilton get theirs. Not that any of us are still bitter about that first round series. Our watch parties were in-and-out affairs at the team's clubhouse, where people could come and go as they needed to, though we made sure to keep plenty of refreshments available, adult beverages in particular. And we especially made sure to invite the club's new signings, Ola Wagstrom and Geoff Moore! Fun times, and fun times watching these finals unfold the way they did.

(162)

Code:
3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

It has been publicized a decent amount on this site but Hamilton prospect Andrei Kostitsyn's brother Sergei appears to be missing. Does anybody know where Sergei? What have you done/what can you do to help Andrei track down his brother?

Alright, I guess Hamilton needs one win while it's still Championship Week. I'll ring up some connections from back home and see if I can pull some favors as a knight of the Royal Order. I can't guarantee much, though perhaps if Sergei has stumbled off into the United Kingdom somewhere, he'll be found in relatively short order. Otherwise, I'll make a few calls to get some old favors from people further east on the European continent. Some folks owe quite a bit, especially for the rare spirits I've picked up for them. I've even put out a bounty - whoever brings back Sergei shall be guaranteed the finest spirit I've got to offer.

Code:
5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Which player from the Steelhawks or Specters has a great chance to make the Hall of Fame when their playing days are up? Make the case for that player's HOF bid.

I'm going to spoil a bit of an upcoming retrospective I have on the Class of S41, though Hamilton's Flacko Lagerfield is a surefire lock for the Hall. A six-time All-Star, certainly seven when the tallies come due this offseason, a Challenge Cup champion, an Aidan Richan winner, a two-time Sarmad Khan winner - possibly three - a three-time Sergei Karpatsov winner...the dude's got a cabinet chock full and he's not going to slow down all that much anytime soon. More than that, he's taken every chance in stride when he's had to move on to a new club. He thrived in the transition to the Barracuda and led the franchise to their first playoff appearance in nine seasons and was part of their S50 Challenge Cup Finals run. And in Hamilton, he's exploded. Give him the jacket, even if he quits tomorrow.

(141)

Code:
8. Written (150 words min.) or Graphic, 3 TPE

With only one champion in the SHL and the SMJHL per season, that means the other 26 teams came up just a bit short (or a lot short). Team owners know that fans can get frustrated by shortcomings, so they're always trying to keep optimism high in the fan base. Written option: give an excerpt from an ousted team's owner's press conference at the end of the season focusing on the team's bright future or however they can keep fans' optimism high. Graphic option: the team has rented a billboard in town with an inspiring message to fans to keep optimism high; show the billboard (must include team logo and whatever the optimistic message is).

From the Manhattan Rage

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending. We share your disappointment in our elimination from the postseason in the Eastern Conference semifinals once more. We assure you we still have a solid core, though admit we could stand to improve our position and must to contend for the Cup once more. The window we have is still open, though for how long, we cannot gamble on. What we have elected to do at this time is to make a pair of trades. We have elected to deal a total of two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and two third-round picks, as well as dealing away Rainbow Dash and Derek Bohne, Jr. to new teams. We wish them the best in their new homes. In exchange, to push for the Cup now...next season, you will see Geoff Moore and Ola Wagstrom in Rage red and black. Get ready. The next few seasons will be a hell of a ride."

(158)

Code:
16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

Verification word: PECK

suavemente · 07-08-2020, 11:25 PM

TASK 3: +2 TPE
Yes I do know where Sergei is but to disclose such information would bring great risk and potential harm to not only myself but also my team, and the greater league as a whole. I beg and plead with you, do not pursue this investigation any further only death and despair await those who embark down this road. Sergei never existed, Andrei is a delusional man and to taunt him by entertaining his crazy ideas is a bad look for the SHL. Please ban Andrei from discussing the matter as I do not know if he realizes the potential dangers of his actions.

TASK 5: + 2 TPE
I think Joe K. The Legend from Season 31, will absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, 100 outta 100 times will be a Hall of Famer. It is literally un-jinxable, it is an inevitability just waiting to happen. Joe Kurczewski has had so many games, seen so many teams rise and fall, that he himself is a walking Hall of Fame. The Ever-Eternal will certainly go down in the annals of history as one of the greatest and most dedicated to the league in the history of its entire existence. Witnessing history happen with the Specters is something that really inspires and sends a great message to the league about what dedication and perseverance can achieve.

TASK 9: +3 TPE
[Image: N4jN7cX.png]

TASK 10: + 3TPE
[Image: McA8y1t.png]

TASK 11: +3 TPE
[Image: tCbbHhR.png]

TASK 16: +MAX 3TPE

hoobastank

NET: 16/16 CW TPE

***frithjofr*** · 07-08-2020, 11:28 PM

Code:
5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Which player from the Steelhawks or Specters has a great chance to make the Hall of Fame when their playing days are up? Make the case for that player's HOF bid.

Joe Kurczewski. Guy's gotta go first ballot, for sure. Not only has he been an incredibly successful player with three 4 Star cups, and now just lifting his fifth Challenge cup, but he also reached the coveted 2K club. He's been a fixture of the league for over 15 seasons, and he's built NOLA into a consistently successful franchise in very short order. He's a great guy on and off the ice, and even in the twilight of his career he's coming up big when it counts and making amazing plays. Simply put, NOLA couldn't have won this cup without him in either capacity.

Code:
1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

I'd say that overall, as a player, Darnell came up short this season. Last season, and through the IIHF, it seemed he had been ramping up his offensive production, but through the regular season it was a frequent disappointment. Defensively he fared better, but still got off to such a rocky start it felt like he never quite found his footing until the very end of the year. I'd like to think that a lot of that had to do with the revolving door of partners Darnell had through the season on the bottom pair, but truth be told, other dmen had partners changing almost as often, and they did just as well. Next season, hopefully, Darnell can shore up his game just a little bit more. Being a bit tighter defensively will help in controlling puck possession and help generate more offense. Not just for him, but for the team as a whole.

Code:
3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

It has been publicized a decent amount on this site but Hamilton prospect Andrei Kostitsyn's brother Sergei appears to be missing. Does anybody know where Sergei? What have you done/what can you do to help Andrei track down his brother?

Darnell actually works with the NSA, using some of America's greatest, most high tech facial recognition technology on a daily basis, and has turned in a few photos of Sergei to help track him down. No hits currently, other than from a site called simulationhockey.com, which is believed to be a Far-Right cyber activism group working parallel and counter to the famed hacker anonymous. They're seem to be looking for Sergei too.... but to what end? Is Sergei secretly a double agent? What's this obsession with a Clean Sergei? The numbers hotdog, what do they mean? But other than that, Darnell doesn't really do much. Good luck, Andrei!

Code:
4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

Hopefully Germany can put together a much better run this tourney. Last tournament going out in the first was an embarrassment, and actually Darnell's earliest exit from a tournament. While winning another medal with Germany would be great, even a later finish would be satisfying. Germany is in a position where they could potentially content, anything's possible in the IIHF really, but perennial favorites like USA and Canada are probably more realistic nods for a gold medal. I think we'll see a bit of a shakeup this tournament though, as FHM knowledge has come a pretty long way and the system has a lot more depth where a good manager can really get a lot more out of their players. This means that smaller countries who wouldn't traditionally be considered contenders really do have an outside chance, and I think all across the boards IIHF becomes a more level playing field. Maybe no David vs Goliath stories, but hey, that's how a lot of people were looking at the challenge cup and look how that turned out.

Code:
13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?

b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?

c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)

d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there

A: Tough call. I'd say head to head Cainer definitely has the edge. He's proved himself to turn up in clutch moments all throughout the playoffs that Kryyst just simply hasn't had to contend with. However, Kryyst has a higher heat rating right now. I think the edge goes to Cainer. Even with a little less heat, he's been playing more meaningful games and knows when to turn it on. He's a competitor for sure.

B: Gabriel Johnson is a better player on the ice, hands down, no questions asked. Darnell, however, contributes to his team off the ice as well by helping to manage player development, training and tactics. They each bring something different to their teams, and are valued by their teams for those differences. Who's more valuable? That's probably up to the individual to judge on their own.

C: Apparently they do. Speaking from NOLA's perspective as a coach, we really weren't sure what to make of it, but were optimistic. Turns out that optimism was well placed. We seemed to be Hammy's match, their foil, and even across 4 games they couldn't quite figure us out. Traditionally though, teams seem to run much different tactics in the regular season and the offseason, so it's hard to say exactly just by looking at regular season matchups, and especially with such small sample sizes.

D: Gotta be New Orleans, I mean, come on? Ghost tours, bar hopping, parades (and maybe jumping in a second line celebration). New Orleans just seems like such a vibrant and festive place. Plus it's closer to home and I wouldn't freeze my ass off in Canada. Canada's cold all the time, right? Like -50? I'm sure getting a chance to spend a week anywhere on vacation on someone else's dime would be pretty great though, even if it meant I was stuck in Hamilton.

Code:
14. Written, 2 TPE - The Procrastinator Special! (100 words min)

Welp, you waited until the last day to grind out your CW and the CC finals are longggggggg over by now. congrats to [TEAM], woo! Reflecting back on the series, who gets your vote for series MVP? Make the case why this player deserves it over any other.

Two players for me really come to mind. If we're talking just about this series, then I think we've really gotta give it to Aleistar Cain who - despite letting in, what, 6 goals? - kept NOLA in the fight in game 4 when we were getting heavily outshot and forced an overtime which we were fortunate enough to win. Without Cain, with literally any other goalie, I think it's a much different series. Who else could post a 0.950 on 3 heat? I don't think many. If we're looking at the playoffs as a whole, then Michael Fox's 3rd period natural hatty to win it against LAP would get him the nod. MVP is about sustained performance, which he had, and coming up big in clutch moments. Doesn't get much more clutch than that.

Velevra · 07-09-2020, 12:11 AM

1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
It was a mixed bag of a season for Akira Ren in his sophomore season. Over the last off-season he worked to transform from a more offensive minded defenseman to a defense first defenseman. He would end up playing more of a shutdown role along with his partner Jules Watt while allowing Corey Kennedy and Parker Smeb to pile up the points from the backend. Despite this Ren posted up a respectable 28 points, 6 of which were goals! His personal goal was to get to the 30 point mark and ideally reach around 35 points, following short of this is disappointing to Ren but he was happy to see the team improve from his rookie season. Chicago finished 3rd in the league in a very tough division and Ren played a large part of that. He hopes to continue improving his play for next season with the goal of 35-40 points and helping Chicago go on a strong cup run.

2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
After a tough first round loss to the Buffalo Stampede, Akira Ren and his fellow Chicago Syndicate teammates took some time off to relax mentally and physically before starting preparation for the next season. While some of Ren’s teammates have been following the finals, Ren himself hasn’t been paying much attention to them or watching the games personally. He doesn’t have a strong personal connection to either Hamilton or New Orleans and the games are often played at inconvenient times for him. Instead he has been making some improvements around the house (he just built some new shelves and got a BBQ)! He has also been making the most of the summer by going on some walks around the neighbourhood while still practicing appropriate physical distancing. However, his mind now is on preparing for next season. He recently had a meeting with Chicago Syndicate General Manager Shawn Velevra and knows his role will be similar to last season. However the goal is much more ambitious, win the cup and he is excited to get back on the ice to achieve that!

8. Written 3 TPE (150 words min.)
The mysterious owner of the Chicago Syndicate Codename “Barlog” released the following statement to the Chicago Media following the team’s disappointing first round exit.

“To our loyal and passionate fans, I understand that our loss to the Buffalo Stampede is frustrating. However the road is only brighter from here. In less than 10 seasons we have turned this team from nothing to one of the top teams in the SHL. It takes time for players to develop in this league, and we saw this with breakout seasons from Parker Smeb and Martijn Westbroek. Our team core is made up of strong players drafted from S46-S51, this means that we will have a strong competitive window from S55-S61. Our time has finally arrived and we will take the league by force! Not only that we have seen strong development from our S53 and S54 prospects, some of which are in discussion for SMJHL MVP. The future is bright in Chicago, stick with us because we will be a top team for the next 10 seasons at minimum and our goal is to win this city a championship!”

13. Written, up to 4 TPE.
a. I’m not sure there is a clear advantage in net from either team going into the finals, I’m also not sure if a goaltending difference will be what decides the finals. Kryyst seems to have played better over the course of the season but Cain seems to have played well in the finals so I will give him the edge.

b. Both Johnson’s were drafted in S48 and Gabriel Johnson seems to have 1515 TPE at the time of writing compared to the 949 TPE of Darnell Johnson. Gabriel also posted up 44 points this season whereas Darnell posted up 9. While these factors aren’t the only important ones, I would probably say Gabriel is the better Johnson.

c. Looks like funny enough, the regular season matchups were indicative of the series outcome. Before the start of the series though I probably wouldn’t have thought New Orleans sweeping the regular season series would forecast the playoff series. However New Orleans changes up their tactics for the finals which proved to give them a decent edge over Hamilton allowing them to capture the championship!

d. Haha as much as I love travelling within Canada, if it as an all expenses week long vacation I would probably choose New Orleans. While I have not been to Hamilton, I have been to some of the surrounding cities and imagine there wouldn’t be much to do there for an entire week other than relax for a bit. Experiencing the culture in New Orleans would be pretty cool and a new experience for myself personally.

16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max
Submitted – verification: velv

Samsung virtual assistant · 07-09-2020, 12:51 AM

Code:
1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

My player had a fairly similar season to last season actually, and while i'm not particularly happy about it it was still alright. I'm on the 3rd line after all so my production will obviously be lower than similar player that gets more playtime. I improved my goals by 3, giving me 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points instead of 3+14 last season. I doubled my shots blocked too, so that's obviously very exciting for me as i started out building a defensive player but didn't really see any of it last season. I'm however not happy about throwing like 15 hits less than last season, that was poo. I managed to increase my +/- tho and getting over +20, that was really nice, however i 100% realise that it's all because i'm on a great team, +/- is a team stat, has always been and will always be, people saying otherwise is only trying to hype their player up.

Code:
2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

Thanks for the reminder dude! Real nice. We lost to New Orleans Specters in game 7 after almost pulling a legendary reverse sweep against last seasons cheaters, but they managed to pull some 3rd period magic sadly. There was not much partying in Los Angeles that night and hasn't been since either, well at least not hockey related, there are always parties in LA. I can honestly say that i did not watch a single game in the finals, all i heard was that Specters was sweeping the Hamilton Steelhawks, which is very unfortunate. I have (or at least had, nobody seems to be talking to me anymore) some friends on the Steelhawks so i'd much rather see them win, but clearly that didn't happen. My parties involved being alone in the woods down by a stream, far away from civilization, doing some fishing. Everyone else can party however they want, there really is nothing to celebrate.

Code:
Code:

3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

It has been publicized a decent amount on this site but Hamilton prospect Andrei Kostitsyn's brother Sergei appears to be missing. Does anybody know where Sergei? What have you done/what can you do to help Andrei track down his brother?

Where is brother? I have helped in the search for Sergei but have came up empty aswell. As a alumni of the Newfoundland Berserkers i have a lot of contact with my former team and the quest for Sergei Kostitsyn has been legendary yet very fruitless. Andrei tried a Reddit MIA thread, but was banned. I am starting to think that there is foul play here. Why would Reddit ban a man for looking for brother? Something definitely isn't right. All i know is that when we do find brother, we will live all live happily ever after. Until then we will just have to continue looking. I'm going back to Japan for a couple weeks this offseason and i will do my best to look for brother there.

Code:
Code:

5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Which player from the Steelhawks or Specters has a great chance to make the Hall of Fame when their playing days are up? Make the case for that player's HOF bid.

I would say that Robert Phelps is a first ballot HOF player. He has never had a season below 40 points since he came into the league in season 37 after spending only 2 seasons in the J. That i's absurd. He also have 6 season with 100+ hits. These last 2 seasons he's only been heating up too, with 60+ points in both seasons. Teddy is like a good bottle of wine, he only gets better. Cheers to my old GM and friend! I don't know when he is retiring and who's on HOF committee then, but if he is NOT a first ballot we really need to look at what the hell is going on over there.

Code:
Code:

8. Written (150 words min.) or Graphic, 3 TPE

With only one champion in the SHL and the SMJHL per season, that means the other 26 teams came up just a bit short (or a lot short). Team owners know that fans can get frustrated by shortcomings, so they're always trying to keep optimism high in the fan base. Written option: give an excerpt from an ousted team's owner's press conference at the end of the season focusing on the team's bright future or however they can keep fans' optimism high. Graphic option: the team has rented a billboard in town with an inspiring message to fans to keep optimism high; show the billboard (must include team logo and whatever the optimistic message is).

Code:
Code:

16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

formx

CanadianDuck · 07-09-2020, 03:05 AM

Task 1. (3 TPE) S54 of the SHL was pretty good for me stats wise. 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points in 50 games is nothing to sneeze at. I got to play with some amazing players in San Francisco which was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to sign a 2 year contract extension for the Pride. The truth is that I did have thoughts on testing free agency, but playing here has been such a fun experience that staying just made sense regardless of no playoffs the last 2 years. Next season is currently my last signed season, so I have to decide soon if I want to start looking for the best chance at a Championship (regardless of if its with the Pride or with a different team looking for one last piece.) Either way, this season didn't go the way I hoped, but I am looking forward to playing out my last few seasons before its time to hang up my skates for good.

Task 3. (2 TPE) Andrei Kostitsyn's brother Sergei going missing sent shock waves throughout the entire league. Posters have been setup, players have made PSAs seeking information on his whereabouts. With no playoffs participation this season, I have spent my time in the Wilderness day and night for the last 2 weeks looking for the talented young superstar. It's been rough, but with the few clues I have found my theories on what happened have narrowed down to few possibilities. My current theory is that Sergei was abducted by a group of Sasquatches and is being held against his will until he can learn to speak their language and mate with their teenage daughters.

Task 5. (2 TPE) When I look at both the New Orleans and Hamilton rosters, one name stands out as a future lock for the Hall of Fame, Joe Kurczewski. Joe has had such an amazing career both on the ice as a player and off as a GM. His career has been full of amazing achievements that anyone would kill to have, even half of when their time comes for retirement. As for players a little further away from that time, I would like to throw out Nicholas Williams as an more biased answer. I will always take the time to proudly say that I got to play on a line with Williams in St. Louis and know he was destined for great things.

Task 13. (4 TPE) A: 2 of the absolute best goalies in the SHL facing off head to head makes this such an exciting series for me. I have played in front of Cain back in the SMJHL, so I know all his strengths and weaknesses. I fully believe it is time for Cain to show everybody what some of us have known for a long time, he's nothing more than swiss cheese and has no chance of winning an SHL Championship. Smile

B. The better Johnson resides in Hamilton with the Steelhawks. While I have nothing against Darnell, I just see him as inferior to Gabriel in almost every possible way. It's also pretty obvious that a Johnson in Canada is bigger, stronger, and just that much better than one in New Orleans, not that I'm bragging or anything.

C. A teams head to head success against one opponent means more to me than a teams overall success during the regular season. Having the direct knowledge of one opponent shows that you have the knowledge on how to defeat a better opponent and the ability to make it happen when it really matters most.

D. I would take the trip to New Orleans without question. I would get to spend time with many of my former teammates and hopefully witness them win it all in their home arena with all the great fans they play for. I've been to Hamilton, but New Orleans would be a blast.

Task 14. (2 TPE) What a series that was! I was expecting a tough hard fought series, but never expected a 4 game sweep. Having to choose my pick for the MVP seemed like a tough choice at first, After trying to decide between 3 very worthy players, one stood out. Aleister Cain worked his ass off and is the clear cut stand out MVP. I think he was the hardest working player on the ice in these Finals and has proven he is THE BEST Goalie in the SHL. What an awesome performance, it was an amazing spectacle to behold, and one I won't soon forget.

Task 16. (3 TPE) Verification Word: Boo

Total: 16/16

charlieconway · 07-09-2020, 03:45 AM

Quote:Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

To be completely honest, I don’t think Adam had a good season. On a larger level, the Jets missed the playoffs again, and that might’ve been someone else’s fault a couple of seasons ago, but right now my TPE is the second highest among defensemen on the team. There’s no real excuse for taking such a step back from my sophomore year. I think largely it comes down to trying to be better defensively, which, hey, mission accomplished: there was a marked improvement in plus-minus and advanced statistics. But my player is largely built to provide offense from the back end, and I’m just not doing enough of that.
Looking forward, I’m hoping to put TPE into attributes that will help win control of the puck and maintain it, while improving Adam’s ability to find open ice and find teammates in good position on the ice. My TPE earning has been fine pretty much my entire career, so I should have even more points to play with when it comes to evening out my build. ■

[175 words, +3 TPE]

Quote:S54 IIHF Predictions - with one FHM IIHF season under our belt, we've got a bit more of a sense of how the tournament might play out in the new sim engine. What are your predictions for the S54 IIHF or WJC tournament - how do you think your team will fare this season? Who do you think are the biggest contenders to take home the hardware and why?

I've been blown away by Team USA's success in recent years. They have a stacked roster in all positions, and I don't see that changing this time. I'm hoping Canada can take home the IIHF Gold this time around, given that we have a similar player-pool size and some real high tpe-totals and point producers on the squad.
FHM seems to like bestowing success upon the teams you'd expect it to, as opposed to STHS. This means that the deepest countries with the most skilled players will tend to come away with the win.
The two NA teams seem like a lock to me to at least make the final 4, but I would not be at all surprised to see Team GB and Team Czechia make it far either. They have some of the best player son their squads as well, though maybe with less depth than Canada and USA.
Oh, and Canada has a secret weapon this season: no more GM Gabe. Here's hoping Nokazoa can lead us to our rightful place of number #1. ■

[177 words, +3 TPE]

Quote:Which player from the Steelhawks or Specters has a great chance to make the Hall of Fame when their playing days are up? Make the case for that player's HOF bid.

Full disclosure: I'm not someone that has a huge understanding of the SHL's past, as I only joined the site a little less than one year ago, and the time before my own is a bit misty to me. But recently I was browsing this thread by @luketd and came across a familiar name in the S40s top 10 regular season forwards: Robert Phelps.
So not only is Phelps someone that's been insanely successful later on in his career with Hamilton, but he's also been an impact player for his entire tenure. Plus, he remains one of the stand out forwards for Team Canada, which I am lucky enough to also be a part of. These recent CC wins and top-10 points finishes would surely push him into the HoF when he hangs up his skates. ■

[135 words, +2 TPE]

Quote:With only one champion in the SHL and the SMJHL per season, that means the other 26 teams came up just a bit short (or a lot short). Team owners know that fans can get frustrated by shortcomings, so they're always trying to keep optimism high in the fan base. Graphic option: the team has rented a billboard in town with an inspiring message to fans to keep optimism high; show the billboard (must include team logo and whatever the optimistic message is).

[Graphic, +3 TPE]

Quote:Welp, you waited until the last day to grind out your CW and the CC finals are longggggggg over by now. congrats to [TEAM], woo! Reflecting back on the series, who gets your vote for series MVP? Make the case why this player deserves it over any other.

I was originally going to go with Lil’ Manius, because his performances in game 1 and game 2 of the finals were enough to earn him 1st star of both games.
But looking back at the final scores of the first three games of the finals, Aleister Cain is the guy that gave his team the best chance to win. Game 1: three goals against on 45 shots for a .933 save percentage and 89 GR. Game 2: one goal against on 44 shots against for a .977 save percentage and 100 (!) GR. His third game was a step down, giving up three goals on 36 shots for a .917 save percentage and 83 GR. I don’t have access to the stats for the fourth game, but I think if nothing else, his herculean performances in the first three games suggest that there was no more important player. Goalies are so important in FHM, and goalie form especially. I’m sure Hamilton’s forwards were frustrated beyond belief: they had enough shot volume to win games but were stymied.
Aleister Cain was the best goalie in the finals, and in the playoffs, period. For that, he deserves the Anton Razov Trophy in addition to his long-awaited first Challenge Cup. ■

[208 words, +2 TPE]

Quote:CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

Form completed. Verification: kamehameha

[+3 TPE]

**RomanesEuntDomus** · 07-09-2020, 06:53 AM

Quote:1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

I am generally happy with how my season went and maybe that is a problem. Maybe I am content too quickly and look at myself too much because I have a very good individual season both in the regular season and in the playoffs while my team fell short again and lost in the Conference Finals. I shouldn’t be happy with that and I shouldn’t be content as long as we don’t win. If you almost get swept in the Conference Finals and only start fighting back when already down 3-0 then it doesn’t matter if you led the team in scoring by a good margin and put up 60 points again, you still weren’t good enough. This especially goes for the playoffs where my own personal performance was so closely connected to the teams results as a whole. I did well in the first round and we moved on rather handily, only to completely suck in the first three games of the Conference Finals as my team lost all of them. I then turned it back up again for the latter half of the round but at that point it was already too late. If you wanna be the best and win titles then you can’t afford to take multiple games in a row off in the playoffs.

Quote:2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

The Panthers aren’t having coordinated watch parties with the entire team but a few of us are coming together to watch these games as a group for sure. After all we are not just hockey players but also hockey fans first and foremost who love the sport, so the playoff finals of the best league in the world are a must-watch event for us. This year is kind of special though because for a lot of us it will be quite hard to decide who to root for. What brings us together is more so our antipathy towards one of the teams or even both of them in quite a few cases. A lot of us don’t like the Steelhawks for the obvious exploit-related reasons and NOLA has become a personal rival of many people in LA in recent years due to lots of matchups in the past few seasons and an especially contentious series last season. Last season we won but this season NOLA beat us on their road to the finals so now we all have to decide whether we want to be salty about that or root for them so that we can at least say that we lost to the Champions and took them to seven games?

Quote:8. Written (150 words min.) or Graphic, 3 TPE
With only one champion in the SHL and the SMJHL per season, that means the other 26 teams came up just a bit short (or a lot short). Team owners know that fans can get frustrated by shortcomings, so they're always trying to keep optimism high in the fan base. Written option: give an excerpt from an ousted team's owner's press conference at the end of the season focusing on the team's bright future or however they can keep fans' optimism high. Graphic option: the team has rented a billboard in town with an inspiring message to fans to keep optimism high; show the billboard (must include team logo and whatever the optimistic message is).

Dear Panthers Fans,

I wanted to write to you today to thank you for your continued and passionate support that you have shown towards our team this season. We are incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated and supportive fanbase and be assured that you don’t take you or your support for granted. Sadly we fell short this season and couldn’t give you the Challenge Cup that you so deserve and that you have waited for not just for seasons, but decades at this point. We know you expect more from us and so do we as well. Regular Season Conference Titles and Individual Awards mean nothing when you can’t go all the way when it matters the most, so we choose to go out of this season not looking at the positives, but being angry and demanding more from ourselves. We know you will do the same while still supporting us with the same unconditional passion that you have shown in the past and we couldn’t be more thankful for that.

Best regards and we’ll see you next season,

Niclas Wastlund

Quote:13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. These are absolutely two of the best goaltenders in the league in Cain and Kryyst - which team has the advantage in net in this series?
b. There are two Johnsons in this series - Gabriel (HAM) and Darnell (NOLA). In fact, the two used to host the Johnson & Johnson Podcast together, but they're now on the ice as bitter rivals. Which team has the better Johnson?
c. The Specters won both regular season matchups, but Hamilton finished with better team stats overall. Do regular season head-to-heads provide an accurate forecast for a playoff series? (answer predictively if it hasn't happened yet; reactively if it has.)
d. If SDCore offered you an all-expenses paid week-long vacation to either New Orleans or Hamilton, which city would you choose to go to? (tough choice I know lol.) How would you spend your time there?

a. You’ve got two of the very best lining up against each other in these playoffs so this sure is a tough one. Normally I would be leaning towards Cain for his all-around consistency and because he is a bigger factor to NOLAs success since they don’t have quite the skater depth of HAM. But Kryyst has been so clutch in the postseason over the past few years that there is no way around him for this question.
b. Both teams have great Johnson but I’m gonna go with NOLA’s Johnson here, Darnell. Gabriel might have more training hours to his player, but Darnell brings so much more to the table due to his behind the scenes work. We gave him some shit last season due to the illegal lines issue, and deservedly so, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has done tremendous work in setting the team up for success. Also, Team Germany bias.
c. According to our series against the Specters, no. We beat them 4-2 in the regular season but then went down 0-3 right away in the playoffs, being outright dominated in some of the games. So I would say it hasn’t too much predictive value, mainly because the sample size is so small, but it is still a fun factor for media writers and line makers to work with.
d. I mean, New Orleans is the obvious answer here but sometimes you have to go for the obvious option. Not just sometimes in fact but very often because it is obvious for a reason, as in lot of cases “obvious” is just a code word for “objectively” better. Okay I’m going on a bit of a tangent here, sorry, but the truth is that I don’t know too much about either city. And while I would probably lean New Orleans, Hamilton still has some draws as well, mainly the fact that I have been to the US on vacation before but not to Canada, and the fact that it is not hot and humid as fuck… I think?

Quote:16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now 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.

Verification: Mullet

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us