03-19-2024, 09:24 PM(This post was last modified: 03-23-2024, 02:55 PM by charlieconway. Edited 1 time in total.)
Quote:1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
chapman
Quote:6. Written, 2 TPE, Maybe next season (100 words min)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?
I think it's Edmonton. Not only did they finish first in the standings, but they had a top-down excellent roster led by Elric/St. Clair/Kobliska, but they had great goaltending from Justin Time. St. Clair finished second behind LAP's Prpich in league scoring, and Emil Egli led all defenders in points. They let in the third fewest amount of goals, behind only Texas and Winnipeg, and scored the second most behind Philadelphia. Finishing the season with a whopping +156 goal differential (highest in the league) indicates this was a team that was firing on all cylinders in the regular season. Unfortunately, they fell in five games to eventual cup winners LAP.
Quote:11. Written, 3 TPE, IIHF Analysis (150 words min.)
Write your predictions for this year's IIHF tournament or WJC! Tell me about your team! What are your expectations for your player? What teams are you watching out for this time around? Did last season's results surprise you?
My team is Canada, though I’m not currently on the roster as the lineup, as usual, is stacked top to bottom and my player is just starting out his career. I think Canada has as good a shot as anyone to win the gold medal.
You can’t place too much importance in preseason but finishing 5-1-1 for second place in the overall standings (tied with Ireland, behind only Germany) can only mean good things for the actual tournament round.
It was a team effort too, which speaks to depth. There are no Canadians in the top 15 in points for preseason. The team is still winning, but it’s winning by committee. There are genuine star players in Jack St. Clair, Paul and Ricky Koivu, Eggward Elric, and goalie Anthony Dionne. There are also returning veterans like Max Manning up front, or Luc Blouin and Ben Jammin on the back end. The team has a great mix of skill and toughness all throughout the lineup.
With the tournament format, you can never really guarantee that things will go your way. However, I think Canada has to be a favorite for taking home a medal at the very least.
Olof Karsikko, my fellow S60 draftee, has an amazing knack to win. It does not matter what happened during the season or the game before; he will find a way to win. It's honestly amazing and would love to know how he does it. He was named in luke's top 75 SHL players and it was well deserved. Sure the Panthers' G.B. can do well, but he can't match playoff Olof.
2d. Grab Bag +1
Wolves win for sure. Panthers are lone predators while wolves fight in a pack. The wolves would surround the panther and end the fight quickly. The only solution the panther has is to climb a tree like most cats do when meeting dogs. So it would either be an easy wolf win or a panther retreat. I could never see a panther beating the wolfpack.
11. IIHF +3
Switzerland was sooo close to gold last year, and settled for Silver. I predict there will be no settling this year as the Swiss go all the way for the gold medal. I would be lying if I said I was surprised we did it last year - we have an amazing team and the pieces to do it. The Swiss have not seen much success in the recent past and I think that may have been due to a shortcoming in tactics. With revamped lines and strategies, the Swiss are just as dangerous as any other team out there. We probably have one of the best defense corps the IIHF has ever seen, leading to some D making the switch to F this tournament. With some new transfer blood coming in, the door is wide open for continued success. Beck, my player, is very old now and will play in a complimentary role to the others on the team as he did last year.
8/8
Credit to enigmatic, Merica, tweedledunn, and jaypc8237 for sigs
6. Yukon Malamutes were the best team to not make the finals this season. Ultimately, the Malamutes were one of the highest TPE teams in the league, yet we couldn't string it together in the playoffs. It was a disappointing post-season for Captain Kristian Seppanen, who had hoped he could be the one to take the Malamutes to the promised land. Although the Malamutes finished 7th in the standings in the regular season, the Malamutes had secured a 1st round bye, only to be forced to go up against a team that finished 2nd in the standings (and who seems to have our number in the post-season). Sadly, I think Yukon had to have been the biggest victim of this god-awful (but obviously necessary, based on league structure) playoff format - and may be among the happiest teams to see it gone. (140 words, 2TPE)
12. I think I would go for the absolute best players available, so probably something like Philippe Eko-Eel and Shoyo Hinata. I already have some friends on Team Finland, like Juho and TannerPitts, but I also want to start growing my little medal collection and building a Hall of Fame calibre resume for Kristian Seppanen - and with absolutely no recognition in the SMJHL (which is criminal, by the way - he totally deserved AT LEAST 1 all-defensive team), I'll need all the international success I can get, as well as as much chemistry as I can establish with my SHL teammates. As such, going best players available and aiming for gold, gold, and more gold is best. Although, maybe that's a bad strategy, taking a defensemen because I want to be the best defensemen to get some more awards...hmmmm. (137 words, 2TPE)
14. Looking ahead to the Four Star Cup Finals, it looks like it will be Colorado Raptors versus the Newfoundland Berserkers. Without having any knowledge of what the results might be...I'm going to predict that Colorado Raptors go up 3-1 and then one of the two team wins in 7 games or less. Don't ask me how I got to this prediction, or why I'm predicting those results while Colorado is allegedly up 3-1 on the series. But jokes aside, I think Colorado wins in 6. I think Newfoundland has had a fantastic post-season run, but the Raptors were in the finals last season and have only gotten stronger. They also haven't had an easy path to the finals: facing strong Carolina and Quebec City teams. (125 words, 2 TPE)
1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
credit
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7. Graphic, 3 TPE, Think you can do better?
Design a new logo for the Los Angeles Panthers or the New England Wolfpack.
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9. Graphic, 3 TPE, Face of the Franchise
Your player strikes a sponsorship deal with a local producer of something. Create an add showing the product with your player or their face on it.
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. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?
b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?
c. Olof Karsikko, who has won the Razov and the Challenge Cup with both teams, while already past his peak comes into finals with higher save percentage than Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz who on the other hand has lower goal against average. Which team in your opinion has advantage on net and how much of an impact you think it will have on the series?
d. So, a pack of wolves fighting some panthers. Where the fight happens? How it goes? Which side wins? Were animals hurt while answering this prompt?
e. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?
A) New England definitely has the potential to shut down the Panthers offensive depth by committee. Luckily New England has four strong defenders in Seamus o'Slapahan, Pork Tenderloin, Jayson Aittokallio and Sean Davis. If these four have a good series it will go a long way in shutting down the Panthers.
B) Ivan Lacksamus might have had a great lead up to the finals, but the Panthers don't need to change anything to win the series. The Los Angeles Panthers have a strong balanced forward group along with a just as good defense core. Georg N'Zola, Pass Forfeit and Rasmus Bergling should all be able to handle Ivan Lacksamus offence.
C) I personally Believe Olof Karsikko is doing a great job, but has the help of four stud defenders in Seamus o'Slapahan, Pork Tenderloin, Jayson Aittokallio and Sean Davis. Think Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz will have the better series as the Panthers have the better team. I don't think this will come down to goalie tending. D) This fight would take place in the forest as both animals would use the trees and cover to there advantage. Personally I would side with the Panthers, I think a 1 panther is stronger than 1 wolf. So the number of each animal would make a difference. Yes many animal where injured in the typing of this response.
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3. Written, 3 TPE, Been there, Done that (150 words min.)
It has been 10 seasons since Panthers last won the cup and Yannick Svoboda is only player left from that team. While for the New England this is 4th finals appearance since S70 and multiple players have been there for all of them, including the two cup wins. Will that experience triumph over excitement or will it make them overconfident? Will the nerves of Panthers get better of them now when the stakes are the highest? Which team has the mental advantage over the other and how big of an impact you think it will have on the match up?
3) Well when I'm writing this The Panthers have already won the championship. Either way I would have picked the Panthers over New England to win the cup. Yes the Panthers are missing the experience and New England has plenty of that, doesn't change the fact the Panthers have been building for this. The Panthers have always been a very strong team and have finally gotten over there development hump to find them a chance at the cup in the finals. New England does have the experience to win the cup and here is a reason New England keeps end back up in the finals. With that said New England is an aging core and are over the hump of there cup window trying to piece together more chances. This is why I believe the Panthers build up to the cup finals will pay off and they will be crowned the champions in the end. It also helps seeing that the Panthers have already swept New England in the finals.
JKortesi81 SHL GM
S32, S40, S42, S45 Challenge Cup Champion
3: The stakes can be seen to be high for both of these teams, for the Panthers it is high as it is their first final in such a long time, and their first final with this generation of players. But on the other hand the Panthers are very much in the early stage of this team, and I would not be surprised to see them contending, and potentially even winning the league in quite a few seasons to come. On the other hand the Wolfpack did get 2 cup wins, and 4 final runs with for a big part the core that is still there right now, which does mean their squad has proven themselves already, and there is no big need to proof they are good enough. But on the other hand the team is becoming older, and might not be able to contend for example 5 seasons from now (at least with the core they have right now). This could mean the Wolfpack wants to take every opportunity that comes to them, as they might not get too many more. (182 Words)
4: With the Edmonton Blizzards already having gone into a full on rebuild, with many players leaving the team right after their knock-out from the play-offs this season, together with the Winnipeg Aurora’s old-ish team and slowly going backwards for the last 1 to 2 seasons slowly we do have to admit the time for these 2 teams seems to be over, for now at least. Maybe the Winnipeg Aurora can make another deep run next season even with their old-ish squad, but the Edmonton Blizzard do seem to be out of it for the upcoming few seasons, fully focusing on creating a new young squad to be back for some titles in a few seasons. Together with this also comes a few other teams coming up to be contenders in the west for the upcoming few seasons, making it even harder for the 2 giants of the past few seasons to be able to contend in the seasons to come. (160 Words)
Quote: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. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?
b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?
c. Olof Karsikko, who has won the Razov and the Challenge Cup with both teams, while already past his peak comes into finals with higher save percentage than Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz who on the other hand has lower goal against average. Which team in your opinion has advantage on net and how much of an impact you think it will have on the series?
d. So, a pack of wolves fighting some panthers. Where the fight happens? How it goes? Which side wins? Were animals hurt while answering this prompt?
e. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?
a, b, c, e
a. New England can shut down Los Angeles by focusing on tight defensive structures and minimizing turnovers. They can also utilize physicality to disrupt the Panthers' offensive rhythm and capitalize on counterattacks. With a strategic defensive approach, New England has the depth and skill to neutralize Los Angeles' depth.
b. Los Angeles should focus on containing Ivan Lacksamus, possibly employing tighter defensive coverage or double-teaming him when he's on the ice. Alternatively, they can rely on their offensive stars to step up and match Lacksamus's production to nullify his impact on the series.
c. New England likely holds a slight advantage in net with Olof Karsikko's higher save percentage. However, goaltending matchups can be unpredictable, and the impact on the series may come down to how well each goalie performs under pressure.
e. If it ain't broke, I'm sticking with New England. They have a well-rounded team with strong offensive firepower and solid goaltending, making them a formidable opponent. Plus, Ivan Lacksamus's MVP form adds an extra edge. I predict the Wolfpack to win the Challenge Cup finals.
Quote:3. Written, 3 TPE, Been there, Done that (150 words min.)
It has been 10 seasons since Panthers last won the cup and Yannick Svoboda is only player left from that team. While for the New England this is 4th finals appearance since S70 and multiple players have been there for all of them, including the two cup wins. Will that experience triumph over excitement or will it make them overconfident? Will the nerves of Panthers get better of them now when the stakes are the highest? Which team has the mental advantage over the other and how big of an impact you think it will have on the match up?
The New England Wolfpack's extensive experience in the Challenge Cup finals undoubtedly gives them a significant mental advantage over the Los Angeles Panthers. With multiple players having been through the rigors of the finals, including two cup wins, they understand the pressure and intensity of the moment. However, this wealth of experience could potentially lead to overconfidence, especially against a hungry Panthers team eager to make their mark.
On the other hand, the Panthers, led by Yannick Svoboda as the sole survivor from their last cup-winning squad a decade ago, bring an air of excitement and determination. While nerves may be a factor, their hunger for victory could drive them to perform at their peak when the stakes are at their highest.
Ultimately, while experience can provide a mental edge, it's how each team handles the pressure and rises to the occasion that will determine the outcome. Both teams will need to balance their emotions and focus on executing their game plans to secure victory in the Challenge Cup finals.
Quote:6. Written, 2 TPE, Maybe next season (100 words min)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?
The Atlanta Inferno, man, they were the ones to watch this season. Led by the killer combo of Billy Herrington and his buddy Binko Koivu, they were on fire all year long. But somehow, they just missed out on the finals. Maybe it was tough luck or some seriously stiff competition, who knows? Either way, you gotta hand it to them for putting up a fight. With Herrington and Koivu leading the charge, the Inferno's definitely a team to keep an eye on in the future. They may have missed the finals this time, but they're not backing down anytime soon.
03-21-2024, 02:37 AM(This post was last modified: 03-21-2024, 02:37 AM by Lime.)
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1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
lime
Code:
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. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?
b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?
c. Olof Karsikko, who has won the Razov and the Challenge Cup with both teams, while already past his peak comes into finals with higher save percentage than Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz who on the other hand has lower goal against average. Which team in your opinion has advantage on net and how much of an impact you think it will have on the series?
d. So, a pack of wolves fighting some panthers. Where the fight happens? How it goes? Which side wins? Were animals hurt while answering this prompt?
e. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?
b. I think you definitely have to shut down Lacksamus if you want to beat this New England team I mean all of the offense runs through this guy 15 points in the conference finals is insane and there's not much you can do unless that kind of production is halted.
c. Panthers are large beefy animals I think that panthers would win versus wolves just from that muscle idk I did some research and panthers can be like twice the size of a wolf they pretty scary looking and are used to taking down big prey. I think they are well suited for a fight.
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9. Graphic, 3 TPE, Face of the Franchise
Your player strikes a sponsorship deal with a local producer of something. Create an add showing the product with your player or their face on it.
03-21-2024, 09:40 AM(This post was last modified: 03-21-2024, 09:42 AM by MuNk22. Edited 1 time in total.)
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1.
CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each
correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below.
Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit.
Post your verification word in your CW post.
Aebleskiver
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4. Written, 3 TPE, Merely a setback! (150 words min.)
For more than 5 seasons conference finals have mostly been played
between Edmonton and Winnipeg in west, yet this season they were both
knocked out earlier. In the east Baltimore and Hamilton challenged
Philadelphia and New England but ultimately we saw the same two teams in
conference finals. Was season 75 merely a setback for Edmonton and
Winnipeg or is the clock also ticking for New England and Philadelphia?
Which teams you expect to see making it to finals during next few
seasons?
The clock is not ticking for New England and Philadelphia. They are top notch organizations with experienced general managers who know how to succeed at this level. Philadelphia especially is going to remain a contender for quite some time as they keep adding quality prospects into their pipeline. Three prospects from their S74 draft class has already won a Four Star Cup in the juniors. First was Gewmba Stolemamoney with the Maine Timber in S73. Next, Marek Carda won a Four Star Cup with the Detroit Falcons in S74. And then most recently, Leonard Wood just won the Four Star Cup with the Colorado Raptors in S75. In the coming seasons, these three players could form their very own line on the Forge as Philadelphia looks to get back to winning championships. I fully expect Philadelphia to continue to be dominant and continue to be in contention for the Challenge Cup. New England could very well do the same thing and continue to be a playoff rival to the Philadelphia Forge.
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6. Written, 2 TPE, Maybe next season (100 words min)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?
The best team in the SMJHL to not make the Four Star Cup Finals in season 75 were the Quebec City Citadels. They're actually the best team to not make the finals two seasons in a row! Last season, they were eliminated from the playoffs in the semifinals by the hands of the Detroit Falcons. This season, the Citadels were eliminated by the Colorado Raptors in 6 games after being ahead 2 games to 0. Overall, this Quebec City team has been stacked with talent with championship aspirations. They are lead by first overall draft pick Froya Solberg and her twin sister Sonja Solberg who was taken ninth overall. Quebec City is home to several other first round draft picks as well.
1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
4. Written, 3 TPE, Merely a setback! (150 words min.)
For more than 5 seasons conference finals have mostly been played between Edmonton and Winnipeg in west, yet this season they were both knocked out earlier. In the east Baltimore and Hamilton challenged Philadelphia and New England but ultimately we saw the same two teams in conference finals. Was season 75 merely a setback for Edmonton and Winnipeg or is the clock also ticking for New England and Philadelphia? Which teams you expect to see making it to finals during next few seasons?
Wow this 1 aged poorly considering Edmonton traded me to Texas, a few people to Toronto and another handful of people to other teams to fully embraced what will most likely be an insane rebuild that they have the tools for now. This however means with me and the other players that got them to the 1st place regular season or at least up there most of the time will no longer be a major threat in playoffs. Maybe they fluke and go far still but they will be underdog for sure. So no, that will not be happening any time soon.
As for Philly and New England? I have no idea cause I could not name 1 player on either team. But a lot of teams have just gotten better and I assume they do have aging players so the smart money would be on it at least being a lot harder to get far than it has been even if they fluke an upset in playoffs.
[166 words] 6 TPE
IIHF
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14. Written, 2 TPE - But I thought the season was already over (100 words min.)
Challenge Cup Finals might be over and season switch done on portal but there is still sims going on SMJHL. Write a preview (or if you are really late, a review) about this seasons Four Star Cup Finals.
My god what a season for the winners the Colorado Raptors. The longest streak of waiting for a ring in sim leagues is now over! I wish it happened sooner when I was on the squad but it is fully deserved! What an amazing locker room. If any team deserved to beat the Berzerkers it was them this season. A great build up and story to just be on top! Always knew they could do it! Now the hard part is retaining the thing which hopefully they can give a good go at least.
The hype in that locker room was so fun to see as well. Well earned champions!
[110 words] 8 TPE
Proud S67 - S69 Colorado Raptors Captain S57 Forward of the Season Award winner
Quote:1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
trivial
+3
Quote: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. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?
When a team has the amount of depth that the Panthers are presenting, there's really no way to shut them down in the traditional sense of the word. All they could hope for would be to slow them down a bit. Focusing on covering a couple of key players on each line, and hope for the best.
+1
Quote:b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?
The Panthers have to stop Lacksamus. There's no way they win this series if they let him be, and hope their own stars step up. Because even if the Panthers' heroes show themselves, Lacksamus would record another 15 point series. This man has been the core piece for the Wolfpack since his early days. And still is.
+1
Quote:3. Written, 3 TPE, Been there, Done that (150 words min.)
It has been 10 seasons since Panthers last won the cup and Yannick Svoboda is only player left from that team. While for the New England this is 4th finals appearance since S70 and multiple players have been there for all of them, including the two cup wins. Will that experience triumph over excitement or will it make them overconfident? Will the nerves of Panthers get better of them now when the stakes are the highest? Which team has the mental advantage over the other and how big of an impact you think it will have on the match up?
When it comes to the playoffs, and especially the championship series, experience usually if not always beat excitement. No matter how many years you've practiced trying to get this far, actually playing in the finals in the very best league in the world is an experience you can't truly prepare for. Your usual nerves of steel will be reset, turning into wet noodles. Your usual endurance will get shot as you experience what it's like to play with and against the best in the world who now will turn it up to 200%. It's a drastic difference from the regular season games.
But all is not lost for the Panthers. Even though they're likely to lose game one, and maybe even game two, because of the above reason. It doesn't take long to get used to the finals pressure, and get their heads into the game fully. After the first two games I'll say it'll be anyone's series.
+3
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.
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a. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?
The Los Angeles Panthers' victory in the Conference Finals, despite not seeing a single multi-goal performance from any player, highlighted their team depth. To counter that, New England must focus on smothering their whole offensive threat through tight defensive coverage, and minimizing space for Panthers' forwards to maneuver. Implementing aggressive fore checking and back checking strategies can disrupt their offensive flow. Additionally, exploiting turnovers and capitalizing on counterattacks and rush chances can catch the Panthers off guard.
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b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?
Los Angeles should create a plan to contain Ivan Lacksamus, recognizing his important role in New England's offense. Employing specific defensive match ups and physical play can disrupt his rhythm. However, the Panthers must also trust in their own star players to elevate their performance, meeting the challenge head-on with a heightened determination and really playing up to their skill level.
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d. So, a pack of wolves fighting some panthers. Where the fight happens? How it goes? Which side wins? Were animals hurt while answering this prompt?
Both wolves and panthers are apex predators known for their strength, agility, and hunting ability, so a confrontation between them would be intense.
The fight would likely start with both groups sizing each other up (as predators do), growling, snarling, and showing signs of aggression. Wolves typically hunt in packs, which gives them an advantage in terms of numbers and coordination. On the other hand, panthers are solo hunters but are incredibly agile and powerful. It should be noted that Panthers are usually more of an ambush predator.
During the confrontation, I suspect it would be pretty parallel with how hyena's and lion's interact on the Savannah. The wolves may attempt to use their numerical advantage to intimidate the panthers and drive them away from their territory. However, the panthers, with their superior agility and strength, could potentially fend off the wolves' attacks and counter with swift devastating strikes.
The outcome of the fight would depend on various factors such as the size of the wolf pack, the individual strengths and intelligence of each animal, and the specific circumstances of the encounter (topography, etc). It's also possible that the conflict could end without a clear winner, with both groups ultimately losing.
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3. Written, 3 TPE, Been there, Done that (150 words min.)
It has been 10 seasons since Panthers last won the cup and Yannick Svoboda is only player left from that team. While for the New England this is 4th finals appearance since S70 and multiple players have been there for all of them, including the two cup wins. Will that experience triumph over excitement or will it make them overconfident? Will the nerves of Panthers get better of them now when the stakes are the highest? Which team has the mental advantage over the other and how big of an impact you think it will have on the match up?
The Los Angeles Panthers haven't tasted victory in a decade, with only Yannick Svoboda left from their last championship team. Meanwhile, New England has been a regular in the Finals, making their fourth appearance since Season 70, and with an amazing couple of cup wins under their belt. The question arises: does experience guarantee success, or does it maybe breed overconfidence?
For the Panthers, the pressure is palpable. With the weight of a decade-long drought on their shoulders, nerves could easily get the better of them. On the other hand, New England's players have been here before, knowing the highs of victory and the sting of defeat. But there's a fine line between confidence and over confidence. Will their past successes make them underestimate the Panthers?
In this mental and physical battle of strength, both teams must strike a balance. Confidence is key, but so is staying grounded and focused. The psychological aspect could tip the scales in favor of the team that can keep their cool under pressure. As the anticipation builds, the mental game becomes just as crucial, if not more so, as the physical one, shaping the destiny of both teams in the quest for the championship.
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6. Written, 2 TPE, Maybe next season (100 words min)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?
The Great Falls Grizzlies' latest season really highlighted a cruel twist of fate in the SMJHL. Their commendable season, marked by a positive goal differential of +21 and an over .500 points percentage, seemed destined for a playoff spot. Yet, the reality of their divisional placement, landing in the dreaded 4th spot, denied them postseason action.
In a league where playoff spots are guaranteed for all teams in divisions with only three contenders, the Grizzlies found themselves on the wrong side of the equation. Despite outperforming several playoff-bound teams in other divisions, they were left out due to the constraints of their divisional setup.
However, hope is on the horizon with the announcement of two new expansion teams slated to join the league next season. This expansion promises to rectify the inequities of the current system, offering a more balanced playing field where teams are judged solely on their performance rather than their divisional placement. For the Grizzlies and other teams that have suffered similar fates in previous years, the dawn of this new era brings optimism and the idea of fairer competition.
8 TPE
karlssens Registered
S28, S45, S49 Challenge Cup Champion
Posts:4,037 Threads: 182 Joined: May 2015 Reputation:73
Discord: karl#3942
Pronouns: He/Him
Player: Oskar Scholz
03-21-2024, 03:15 PM(This post was last modified: 03-21-2024, 04:34 PM by karlssens. Edited 3 times in total.)
Code:
1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
karl
Code:
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. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?
b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?
c. Olof Karsikko, who has won the Razov and the Challenge Cup with both teams, while already past his peak comes into finals with higher save percentage than Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz who on the other hand has lower goal against average. Which team in your opinion has advantage on net and how much of an impact you think it will have on the series?
d. So, a pack of wolves fighting some panthers. Where the fight happens? How it goes? Which side wins? Were animals hurt while answering this prompt?
e. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?
A: If there's any team familiar to shutting a team down it's the New England Wolfpack. They are no stranger to the Challenge Cup finals, both as a favorite and more commonly as an underdog. I'm in no position to tell them how to play since they clearly know what they're going, but I would imagine it involves shutting down the big guns up top like Prpich and Martin. You can't stop them all, but at the very least you can slow down the 2 biggest threats.
B: They should certainly find a way to shut Lacksamus down. Similar to what I said in question A it's unlikely you'll be able to bring the entire New England offense to a grinding halt, but you can shut down their main weapons and in this case it's clearly Ivan Lacksamus who's found another level in the twilight of his career.
C: I would give the advantage to Olof Karsikko and the New England Wolfpack. No disrespect to Grzegorz, but Olof is a incredibly seasoned veteran with many awards, cups and deep playoff runs under his belt. In a best of 7 series you want the goalie that'll give you the least amount of concern between the pipes and in that case it's definitely Olof.
D: Wolves can be quite intimidating, but I don't think they'd stand much of a chance against a group of panthers. Maybe it's the cat person in me, but cats are the ultimate predator capable of bringing down animals much larger and stronger than them. I don't think a wolf would pose much of a threat. Fun fact, a group of panthers is called a claw.
E: If I had to put some money on it I'd probably take the New England Wolfpack given their string of recent success and familiarity in the cup final, but based on personal preference I'd take the Los Angeles Panthers. I like what they've done over the last few seasons and it would be nice to see them get rewarded for a strong season after a rebuild.
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6. Written, 2 TPE, Maybe next season (100 words min)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?
Obviously it's YOUR San Francisco Pride! Jokes aside we took some big steps during the regular season last year and followed it up with a strong win against Los Angeles in round 1 and a shocking upset of the highly favored Edmonton Blizzard in round 2. We were riding a high going in to this season and while we didn't finish quite as well as we would've hoped we still squeaked in to the playoffs. Sadly it ended there with a clean sweep to the Los Angeles Panthers. Removing my personal bias I'd say the two teams most disappointed not to make the finals are Edmonton and Philadelphia. Both finished the regular season with more wins than their conference counterpart and both finished with goal differentials north of +130. To not make the finals definitely stings.
2. Grab Bag 3 TPE
a. I don't think it's possible to shut down LAP because like you said they are deep, the best team on paper in the entire SHL. They had a slow regulation season start but they got hot at the right time nearing the playoffs. They now believe in themselves, a line is struggling a particuliar game? No big deal someone else will step up.
c. Pretty easy answer here and no disrespect to the LA goalie it's only because Olof Karsikko is a playoffs legend. Will it have a huge impact knowing Los Angeles has the upper hand everywhere else? That's the question. Old man Olof can still steal one or 2 games but I don't think he will be able to do it 4x against such a powerhouse. All you need from Brzeczyszczykiewicz is average goaltending.
e. I predicted a Philadelphia Texas finals because in my eyes the real final was the 2nd round matchup between Edmonton and Los Angeles. It was too hard to call but whoever won that I had a feeling would win it all. New England is getting older and playing in a weaker conference, they haven't been battled test as much. On paper I have to go with the Panthers here.
6. Maybe next season 2 TPE
Quebec is the easy answer here for the second season in a row. Are they gonna three-peat as they are gonna be once again the favorites on paper next season. They only had 2 players who weren't at 350 TPE, had the Solberg twins break individual records, finished 1st by a lot and yet couldn't get to the finals. Destroying weaker teams will get you a lot of points but playoffs are a different animal. I honestly don't even know what they have to change to reach the finals at least. This is a good team that is getting FHMd would be the easy answer.
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