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ImShiny · 03-25-2020, 04:51 PM

The clock ticks down. 5....4.....3.....2....1.....0

The Manhattan Rage are your Season 52 Challenge Cup Winners!

The Rage bench explodes into cheers. The bench clears in a heartbeat as the players rush onto the ice. Helmets and gloves tossed aside as the team celebrates in a pile. Peter Larson is swarmed by his teammates as they all hug each other.

The San Francisco Pride stand off to the side waiting and watching the Rage celebrate. After some time the Rage captain Barret McCarthy gathers his team and heads to begin the final handshake line. The two teams begin to handshake and congratulate each other on the series and for the cup win. David Vent sees Tokak Takshak in the line and gives us old pairing partner a hug. The two might have not seemed like it but were good friends. They spent a lot of seasons together working on their chemistry in Manhattan and even on Czechia.

As the handshake line comes to an end the Pride head to the center of the ice and salute their faithful fans one last time. The Pride had a hell of a season and had just fallen short of glory. They will be a team that will be back in the finals soon and will probably be raising the cup when they do.

The red carpet is rolled out onto the ice as the cup is marched down the carpet. Players and fans cheer as it is placed at center ice with the SHL Commissioner.

"This was a fantastic season from the league. This series was one of the best in history and a huge congratulations to both teams on making it this far. Manhattan, you have been waiting for a long time for this. Barret McCarthy, please join me in raising the cup for your team!" The Commissioner lowered the microphone as captain Barret McCarthy skated over to the cup and commissioner. The two lifted the cup and after a few minutes of pictures, the commissioner gave McCarthy the ok to skate it away.

Barret McCarthy pulled away from the commissioner and raised the cup above his head. He has been dreaming of this moment his whole life. All the hard work, sacrifices, failures all made this moment worth it. He was at the top of the world with his teammates. It's a feeling McCarthy will never forget as he skated around looking for his family and screaming his heart out. As his lap came to an end he passed it to Peter Larson

Peter Larson was unstoppable for the Rage. Undoubtedly the MVP for the team during the season and throughout the playoffs. He kept the team in games when they had no shot of winning. Being one of the top goalies in the league, this was a huge season for Larson and it had paid off. He was right now a world champion and nobody was going to take that from him. This was better than any award he could win especially since he won it with his teammates. As Larson came back he pasted it off to defensemen David Vent.

David Vent honestly couldn't believe this was happening. This felt like a dream that he was going to wake up from at any point. They had done it, the Rage had won, HE was a champion. All the doubt of if he was good enough, does he even deserve to be in the league, can he actually help the Rage win? They were all answered. Yes, he was supposed to be here, he had helped the Rage win and he was so glad to be here. His love for his teammates will be forever and this bond he has made with them will never break. As Vent circled back he called out for Alex Winters to come take the cup.

Alex Winters had a hell of a season. After winning rookie of the year his first year, Winters thought that was it. He thought he peaked and would never amount to anything after that. Now, look at him. He lead the Rage in points during the regular season, He scored 4 game-winning goals through the playoffs, He was now a Challenge Cup Champion. Winters has now cemented himself in Rage history as one of the greatest playmakers that has played for the Rage. The next person to get the cup would be Winters's best friend Luke Thomason.

Luke Thomason was on cloud nine. Winning the Challenge Cup was a feeling he has never felt. Winning IIHF medals is a great feeling but this, this was something so much better. Being a top-line contributor for the Rage and having consistent great seasons. Luke has seen the disappointments the Rage has gone through. Blaming himself when the Rage lost out of the playoffs beforehand. Now, none of that mattered. Thomason was a Champion for life now and was never going to live this down. Next up for the cup is old-timer David Kastrba

David Kastrba was one of the older players for the Rage. Kastrba has been through it all. All the failed seasons, the seasons where they were favorites to win it all, all the heartbreakers. Kastrba was there for it all. He never let that deter him from working hard. Dave kept pushing harder and harder every season. Doing whatever he had to do for his team to win. It finally paid off. Kastrba was now a champion and nobody could take that from him. As Kastrba skated towards the group he handed the cup to Reginald MacIntyre.

Reginald MacIntrye was currently the oldest player on the team. That never slowed down the defensemen. Coming in clutch during the playoffs and having to play first pairing minutes. Reginald was able to keep up with the younger skaters and even prove his veteran status by getting some crucial points for the Rage. Despite his age, MacIntrye was one of the top producers for the Rage during the season and was a huge lockerroom captain for the team. Keeping the younger players in check and keeping morale high. MacIntrye had finally gotten his cup and he could not be any happier than he is right now. MacIntrye came back and headed right for Jax Aittokallio

Jax Aittokallio is currently one of the top centers in the league. His father had won a cup before him so there was a lot of pressure on Jax to do the same. Would he be as great as his father? Would he be able to make his father proud? As Jax lifted the cup above his head he knew right then that all the pressure would be lifted off his shoulders. All the close games, the close series that had the Rage losing out. Jax took the blame to heart and promised his team that he would work harder for them. It all paid off for this moment he got to share with his father as he skated around the rink. Jax skated back and called our Andrej Doskocil to come take the cup.

Andrej Doskocil always had doubted himself. After being drafted in the first round he always called himself a bust. He never saw himself as a top defenseman in the league. However, this season he proved all the doubters wrong. He was a top defenseman. He played the first pairing all regular season and helped the Rage secure a first-round bye. Doskocil had a career season this year in points and he couldn't believe it. This year was a whirlwind of emotions but Doskocil now had the confidence in himself that he was, in fact, one of the top defensemen in the league. The person to take the cup from Doskocil would be Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash came to the team three seasons ago. He helped the team from the very start and helped strengthen the Rage's scoring depth. The third liner had a hell of a season. Getting 32 points in the regular season and being a huge contributor in the playoffs. Dash is a player who the Rage love seeing in the lockerroom and keeps things light during the tough times. Dash was now a champion and was going to live in this moment as long as they could. As Dash came back around they handed the cup power forward Anastasia O'Koivu

Anastasia O'Koivu has been told "you are only good at fighting, You are just a goon, You will never win a cup like that" Well guess what. She did and she did way more. O'Koivu was the physical player that the Rage needed. She helped keep opposing teams off her scoring teammates and stood up for her team when needed. Not only did she knock people out but she was a scoring machine in the playoffs. Contributing in huge games with goals and assists. O'Koivu was crucial in the Rage's victory and will go down in history as a champion power forward. She came back to the group she handed the cup to fellow Russian Derek Bohne Jr.

Derek Bohne Jr. couldn't believe his luck. His rookie season he wins the cup. The rookie had a hell of a season. While playing the third pairing he was able to get 6 points, 35 hits, 49 shots blocked, and a plus-minus of 11. Bohne was a consistent player for the Rage stopping opposing forwards getting across the blue line. During the playoffs, he was able to lay the body multiple times against top forwards. Bohne was a defensive wall and he is improving more and more every game. As Bohne took his lap he looked over to the group and called forward Scottey Crawfling

Scottey Crawfling was so what of a legend. He was a huge fan favorite for the Rage over his time with the team. He backstopped the Rage to many wins and was loved by his teammates. When Peter Larson came in Crawfling knew his time as a starter was coming to an end. However, instead of coasting as the backup, Crawfling worked hard with Larson to make Larson the best goalie he could be. Crawfling was the best coach for Larson as he taught Larson everything he knew. Now, all that hard work paid off. Even though he didn't play in the playoffs, Crtawflings bright personality helped the team out when they were down in the dumps. Finally, the legend Scottey Crawfling was a champion. As the goalie skated to a stop he handed the up over to Craig Finely.

Craig Finley knows his time as a player is becoming shorter and shorter. After many seasons with the Rage, Finely was able to be a consistent defenseman for them. This year Finely was able to get 30 points while playing for the Rage despite the end coming soon. Finely is proud of his teammates and all the hard work they and him put in through all the offseasons and through the season. He's so happy to be able to share this moment with his friends and is looking forward to sharing it with his family as well. As Finely came back to the group he handed the cup over to rookie Phineas Gold

Phineas Gold was a rookie sensation this year for the Rage. Despite it being his first year Gold was a scoring monster. Getting 12 goals and 13 assists. Gold knows he is going to go far in this league. AS he holds the cup high over his head he just keeps thinking about doing this again, and again, and again. Gold is going to be one of the top players in the league in seasons to come, but right now all he cares about is that the Rage and he are World Champions. Gold looked over at fellow rookie Luca Veccelli to come take his turn with the cup.

Luca Veccelli was living the dream. Not only did he win the cup in his first season, but he was a big contributor in the playoffs. Veccelli showed out in his first season getting 16 points during the season. He was a strong center and helped the team in the offensive zone a lot. Veccelli is the future center the Rage are gonna need. With a cup already under his belt, his confidence is gonna skyrocket. With Veccelli's lap coming to an end he handed the cup Austin Roenick

Austin Roenick feels like he should play the lottery right now. After getting traded to the Rage this season Roenick was hesitant. Coming to a team with unfamiliar people and moving into city a he has never really been to. However, Roenick came in and went straight to work. He formed tight friendships within the team and was able to get great chemistry with the forwards. He wanted to help the Rage go all the way and he did. Coming in clutch with key goals in the playoffs to help launch the team into the finals. Roenick was now a champion and might have found his forever home.

As Roenick finished his lap he handed the cup off to management and staff for their turns with the cup. The players were still celebrating hugging each other and kissing family members. This was a bond that the team was never going to forget. Every single person on the team had played a key part in getting the Rage to the finals. This year was their year and it showed in a dominate finals series against LA. The whole team got together at center ice with the cup for a huge group photo. Teammates and friends pushed in close trying to get every member into the picture. All of the failures, the heartbreaks, the so close games. All of those did not matter anymore. They had succeeded in accomplishing their goal as a team.

The Manhattan Rage were Challenge Cup Champions once again.