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***yosh*** · 01-21-2024, 09:20 PM

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

a. Two old faces are back in the ring, proving reports of the dynasty’s demise were greatly exaggerated! Pick either of our finalists, and tell me what about them impresses you the most!

b. Upsets were a theme this year - which of our finalists had the more difficult road to the promised land and why?

c. Which of the finalists had the more impressive conference finals victory, and why?

d. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?

a. What impresses me the most about the Winnipeg Aurora is just how consistent they have been. They have seen the rise and fall of other contenders and yet still remain very much a team in contention. Their core players that I recall should be hitting regression at this point, but even then they are still built like such a strong and reliable team.
B. I would make the case that New England did, simply because of them having Buffalo and Philadelphia in their road to the cup finals. Buffalo was a very strong team this season with a lot of their players putting out incredible offensive seasons, and the Forge have been a consistent force in the playoffs too if I’m not mistaken. All in all, that seems to combine for a recipe of challenge and disaster, but the Wolfpack have done well to stay in it.
C. Again, I would say the Wolfpack. Winnipeg took down the Pride in 5, and really did not seem to be in any real danger, even though the Pride were a team that had taken out a real powerhouse in the Edmonton Blizzard. It’s clear the Wolfpack had a tough battle, especially with the Forge taking them to six games. They handled it quite well, though.
D. Honestly, my money going into the finals would have been Winnipeg still, but at the same time, I totally understand why most would have gone with the Wolfpack. In the end, of course, we do know how the series ended, but it would not have been irrational at all to bet it on the western team just given how consistent they have been.

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5. Written, 3 TPE, Upset City (150 words min)

An impressive string of upsets took place this season, especially in the West with San Francisco’s Cinderella run. Which upset series impressed you most, why, and what in that series sticks out most in your memory? For the purposes of this task, any series won by the lower seed is an upset

I’m just going to stick with what works and talk about San Francisco’s upset of Edmonton. Everyone knew just how dominant Edmonton was heading into the playoffs. Top team in the entirety of the league, putting up an impressive 52 win season in 66 games. That is just a campaign to remember for sure. The Pride, as you may all know, was 14th out of 20th in the entire league, and by points percentage, was just a bit over .500. On paper, the Blizzard were supposed to take the Pride out in quick succession in what was likely going to be a short series. Instead, the Pride won the series in six games. They faced resistance from the Blizzard for sure, but it was a really gutsy and impressive showing from San Francisco to pull off the upset, even if it meant them having to take on Winnipeg in the end.

***Citizen of Adraa*** · 01-21-2024, 10:03 PM

GM pass

***golden_apricot*** · 01-21-2024, 10:06 PM

Trivia: hi

2a. EDMs ability to move from being utter garbage to a competitive roster is very interesting. They build a good roster and made moves where needed, some questionable, but they did work out for them in the end. This is more impressive than luke lucking his way to another final at the expense of many better teams.

2b. the east was and will be more difficult of a total path to the title than the west. There are not many good teams out there so it really is just surviving until you face EDM or WPG. In the east there are several good teams all of who could challenge for a title making the whole road much harder over there with two difficult matchups almost guaranteed.

3. The reason these teams are continuously in the finals of the league is they do not ride the highs and lows of trying to load up around a single draft class, rather they do whatever they can to spread out the roster to make cap management easier and to help facilitate the team to be continuously competitive in terms of total TPE. With the leage the weay it is now, teams do not have to be top two in total tpe to win a title like was the case in previous eras of the SHL, rather there are 5-8 teams in a season who you can realistically say have a shot at the title. The west is a bit less of this since it has been EDM and WPG for the last forever since there are many disfunctional teams over there, but in the east, continuously competitive but not spiking in TPE has proven to be best.

DELIRIVM · 01-21-2024, 10:10 PM

1. CW Trivia Verification Word: Hambone

Whikadoodle · 01-21-2024, 10:14 PM

1. Trivia
Verification word: Woo

3. Written, 3 TPE, Haven’t I Seen This Before? (150 words min.)
Despite being the 8th and 10th ranked regular season teams in the league, our finalists from Winnipeg and New England represent two of the most dominant teams over the past several seasons. What do you think is the secret to their success? What can other teams learn from them? Which one is more likely to be back again next year?

There is a clear reason why these two teams have been successful, and that is because I have had a player there. My players don't play for teams who are not championship contenders. Why would I do that? Johnny FourStar is a big winner and that is why Winnipeg is in the cup final. There may be other secrets to the teams success. Maybe there is something a little extra in the water here in Winnipeg. Maybe we just have some stellar management. It could be just luck! But I think that the single most important reason why the Winnipeg aurora are in the Sim hockey league challenge cup finals is because they took a chance on the best young forward in the league, the one the only Johnny FourStar. If the Winnipeg bears keep doing this one super easy super simple trick (keep Johnny FourStar on their roster and gainfully employed) I think I know who I'm going to bet on being here next season, and that's in the cup finals.

(172)

4. Written, 3 TPE, The Char B1 bis In The Room (150 words min.)
This league was until quite recently dominated by a cabal of four teams. Two of them, Winnipeg and New England, are our finalists. A third, Philadelphia, was a finalist last year. The fourth... was Montreal. Does the success of Winnipeg and New England prove that Montreal pulled the plug too soon and should’ve kept the gang around? Or did at least one of the others just get lucky and Montreal made the better decision, without hindsight? What team-building lessons can we learn from this?

Obviously Winnipeg and New England made the right call by keeping the band together this long. Everyone else are a bunch of big dum dums and gave away perfectly good hockey players at the exact wrong time! How could they! What were they thinking! Retirement is for bozos! Keep players until they turn to dust. On this point, why do people retire their players? What else could they be doing if they aren't playing simulated hockey? Are they into hobbies. Opening up new papa john's pizza franchises in West Virginia? Are they just tired of staying in shape? I am going to play hockey until the day I virtually die. You can't get me out of this league. And as long as I'm in this league I'm going to keep the gang together. I will tell my gm to never trade or drop anyone. Or else I am going to leave too! Just you watch, I will do it!

(159)

*gurbs* · 01-21-2024, 10:24 PM

1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE
Verification word: word

2. Written +2 TPE
c. Winnipeg's conference finals victory was more impressive, displaying dominance in both ends of the ice. Their skilled offense and disciplined defense were on full display, highlighting a well-rounded team. The ability to control the pace and outclass the opponent sets the stage for a formidable presence in the Challenge Cup finals. [51 WORDS]
d. If it ain't broke, don't fix it—Winnipeg should emerge victorious. Their proven track record, consistent performance, and strategic team-building make them the team to beat. With a winning culture, talented roster, and effective coaching, Winnipeg's formula for success remains intact, positioning them as the favorites to lift the Challenge Cup once again. [53 WORDS]

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4. Written, 3 TPE, The Char B1 bis In The Room (151 WORDS)

The recent dominance of Winnipeg and New England in the league, alongside Philadelphia's finals appearance last year, highlights the shifting dynamics among the best of the best in our league. Montreal's absence raises questions about their decision to disband the gang. While Winnipeg and New England's success suggests sustained excellence, it doesn't necessarily mean Montreal erred in pulling the plug.
Success in this league involves a mix of skill, strategy, and sometimes luck. Montreal might have made a strategic decision, considering factors beyond immediate outcomes. The success of Winnipeg and New England doesn't automatically imply luck; it is a result of effective team-building, coaching, and management. Team-building lessons include recognizing the nature of success in sports. Montreal's decision may have been based on a long-term vision, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, strategic planning, and a commitment to sustained success rather than short-term gains. Ultimately, the landscape of success in sports is complex, and each team's journey is unique.

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