As discussed in my previous deep dive this season, the Detroit Falcons are the obvious favourites for the S65 Four Star Cup.
However, there are two more teams in the SMJHL that could challenge for the cup and come up with a plan to keep the Falcons from winning it. Those two teams are the Quebec City Citadelles, and the Newfoundland Berserkers. I will discuss both teams and their chances below.

Quebec City Citadelles:

The Quebec City Citadelles have a total of 8 players playing at the top of their SMJHL game at the moment. They're the only other team in the SMJHL able to break 100 points during the regular season, and ended in 2nd place in the standings. Out of the 6 times the Quebec City Citadelles and the Detroit Falcons met on the ice this season, the Quebec City Citadelles were able to win 2, one which was an OT win. That shows they have been able to find a way to get the puck past the Detroit Falcons goalie, just not consistently. With Shylo Moxii and Louise St. Martin, the Quebec City Citadelles have two players able to pass and shoot the puck, but they have no real other stars. Perhaps that's where their strength lies, as all players seem to be able to do well on the offensive end. Their goalie is mediocre at best. Tho Justin Time tops the tops the league table in Wins, this is mostly caused by the backup only being played in 7 games this season, where a lot of the other teams divided their starts more evenly.

Newfoundland Berserkers:

The Newfoundland Berserkers have a total of 10 players playing at or close to the top of their SMJHL game at the moment. They're the only other team in the Atlantic Division able to somewhat keep up with and challenge the Detroit Falcons during the regular season, and ended in 2nd place in the division standings. Out of the 4 times the Newfoundland Berserkers and the Detroit Falcons met on the ice this season, the Newfoundland Berserkers were able to win one, which was the last one played in the regular season. Out of the other three, they made it to OT on one occassion earlier in the season. Have they grown enough during the regular season to consistently challenge the Detroit Falcons? With AJ Williams, Valters Denisova and Rand al'Thor, the Newfoundland Berserkers have three players able to pass and shoot the puck, but their real strength is in net and in defense. They have only given up 2 more goals in the regular seasons than the league leading Detroit Falcons, which is reflected in their goalies stats, with starter Nina Tucker recording a 2.28 GAA, with a 0.913 Save%, only marginally behind Detroit Falcons goalies Evert Jansson and Tom Zile. The Berserkers have been riding their top three forward lines hard, with the 4th line only getting marginal icetime. Whether that's sustainable in a 7 game series remains to be seen.

Conclusion
All in all, the Quebec City Citadelles and the Newfoundland Berserkers could put up a decent fight in a best of 7 series, but based on quality and regular season performance should be no match for the Detroit Falcons. In order to stand a chance, the Quebec City Citadelles need to plug the holes in their net and hope for solid goaltending, while the Newfoundland Berserkers need the bottom lines to step up, claim their time on the ice and produce more points

 

Cal Labovitch |'| RW #12 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Switzerland

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Personal details

Hometown: Lausanne, Switzerland

Height: 6'1" |'| Weight: 202 lbs

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SHL STATISTICS

Regular season
S55 REG |'| Minnesota Chiefs      |'| GP: 50 |'| G:   12 |'| A: 15 |'| P: 27

S56 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 50 |'| G:   21 |'| A: 12 |'| P: 33

S57 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   31 |'| A: 20 |'| P: 51

S58 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   19 |'| A: 34 |'| P: 53

S59 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   23 |'| A: 39 |'| P: 62

S60 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   24 |'| A: 31 |'| P: 55

S61 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   42 |'| A: 30 |'| P: 72

S62 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   27 |'| A: 33 |'| P: 60

S63 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   18 |'| A: 35 |'| P: 53

S64 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   28 |'| A: 25 |'| P: 53

S65 REG |'| Baltimore Platoon |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   23 |'| A: 33 |'| P: 56

Post Season
S55 PO |'| Minnesota Chiefs      |'| Did not make playoffs                 

S56 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Did not make playoffs                

S57 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Did not make playoffs                

S58 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Did not make playoffs                 

S59 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Did not make playoffs                

S60 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 4 |'| G:   3 |'| A: 0 |'| P: 3

S61 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 4 |'| G:   1 |'| A: 2 |'| P: 3

S62 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 5 |'| G:   2 |'| A: 2 |'| P: 4

S63 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Did not make playoffs

S64 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Did not make playoffs

S65 PO |'| Baltimore Platoon |'| GP: 5 |'| G:   2 |'| A: 1 |'| P: 3

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SMJHL STATISTICS

Regular season

S51 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 50 |'| G:   7 |'| A: 24 |'| P: 31

S52 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 50 |'| G: 19 |'| A: 35 |'| P: 54

S53 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 50 |'| G: 16 |'| A: 25 |'| P: 41

S54 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 50 |'| G:   9 |'| A: 14 |'| P: 23

Post Season

S51 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP:   7 |'| G: 3 |'| A: 2 |'| P: 5
S52 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 10 |'| G: 5 |'| A: 1 |'| P: 6

S53 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 17 |'| G: 2 |'| A: 3 |'| P: 5

S54 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP:   7 |'| G: 1 |'| A: 3 |'| P: 4

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WJC STATISTICS

S50 WJC |'| Team Alpine |'| GP: 19 |'| G: 0 |'| A:   2   |'| P:   2

S51 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 21 |'| G: 4 |'| A: 10   |'| P: 14

S52 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 2 |'| A:   6   |'| P:   8

S53 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 1 |'| A: 12   |'| P: 13

S54 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 1 |'| A:   2   |'| P:   3

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IIHF STATISTICS

S51 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 0 |'| P:  0

S52 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 0 |'| P:  0

S53 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 2 |'| A: 3 |'| P:  5

S54 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 1 |'| A: 6 |'| P:  7

S55 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 4 |'| A: 2 |'| P:  6

S56 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 2 |'| A: 3 |'| P:  5

S57 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 3 |'| A: 5 |'| P:  8

S58 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 4 |'| A: 7 |'| P: 11

S59 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 6 |'| A: 7 |'| P: 13

S60 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 3 |'| A: 4 |'| P:  7

S61 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 3 |'| A:12 |'| P:15

S62 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 3 |'| A: 3 |'| P:  6

S63 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 4 |'| A: 6 |'| P: 10

S64 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 6 |'| A: 5 |'| P: 11

S65 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 9 |'| A: 6 |'| P: 15

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Awards, Cups and Medals

S51 |'| Elias Armia Award (Commissioners' award of excellence)

S51 |'| IIHF (Switzerland NT) |'| Silver medal

S51 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Co-GM

S51 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Bronze medal

S52 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Laurifer Trophy  

S52 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Co-GM

S53 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Laurifer Trophy 

S53 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Oriens Trophy 

S53 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Four Star Cup

S54 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Co-GM

S55 |'| Minnesota Chiefs |'| Called up to SHL

S55 |'| Ryan Jesster Trophy (nominee)

S56 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Co-GM

S59 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GM

S61 |'| Jay McDonald Trophy

S61 |'| Ron Mexico Trophy (nominee)

S62 |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GM

S63 |'| IIHF (Switzerland NT) |'| Silver medal

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Draft position
SHL     |'| Draft S52 |'| Round 1 |'|   2OA
SMJHL |'| Draft S51 |'| Round 3 |'| 25OA

 

  

Julian Flörsch |'| LD #42 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Switzerland

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Personal details

Hometown: Geneva, Switzerland

Height: 6'0" |'| Weight: 200 lbs

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SHL STATISTICS

Regular season[/pbl]

S69 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:    8 |'| A: 23 |'| P: 31

S70 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   11 |'| A: 24 |'| P: 35

S71 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   10 |'| A: 18 |'| P: 28

S72 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   09 |'| A: 27 |'| P: 36

S73 REG |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   08 |'| A: 25 |'| P: 33

Post Season
S69 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 5 |'| G:   0 |'| A: 2 |'| P: 2
S70 PO |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| GP: 4 |'| G:   0 |'| A: 0 |'| P: 0
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SMJHL STATISTICS
Regular season
S65 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 66 |'| G:   7 |'| A: 15 |'| P: 22
S66 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 66 |'| G: 11 |'| A: 19 |'| P: 30
S67 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 66 |'| G: 16 |'| A: 36 |'| P: 52
S68 REG |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 66 |'| G: 13 |'| A: 40 |'| P: 53
Post Season
S65 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 17 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 3 |'| P: 3
S66 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP:  0 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 0 |'| P: 0
S67 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 10 |'| G: 2 |'| A: 2 |'| P: 4
S68 PO |'| Detroit Falcons |'| GP: 18 |'| G: 5 |'| A: 8 |'| P:13
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WJC STATISTICS
S64 WJC |'| Team SWEDEN |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 1 |'| A:   1   |'| P:   2
S65 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 1 |'| A:  5   |'| P:  6
S66 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 1 |'| A:   6   |'| P:   7
S67 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 3 |'| A:   1   |'| P:   4
S68 WJC |'| Team DACH |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 1 |'| A:  4   |'| P:  5
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IIHF STATISTICS
S66 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 1 |'| A: 3 |'| P:  4
S67 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 1 |'| P:  1
S68 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 13 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 1 |'| P:  1
S69 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 0 |'| P:  0
S70 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 1 |'| P:  1

S71 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 15 |'| G: 2 |'| A: 3 |'| P:  5

S72 IIHF |'| Switzerland NT |'| GP: 12 |'| G: 0 |'| A: 3 |'| P:  3

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Awards, Cups and Medals

S65 |'| IIHF (Switzerland NT) |'| Gold medal

S65 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Laurifer trophy

S65 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Linna-Landvik trophy

S65 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Four Star Cup
S65 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Gold medal
S66 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Gold medal
S67 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Gold medal
S68 |'| Quilha Agante Trophy
S68 |'| WJC (Team DACH) |'| Gold medal
S68 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Laurifer trophy
S68 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Linna-Landvik trophy
S68 |'| Detroit Falcons |'| Four Star Cup
S68 |'| Quilha Agante Trophy (nominee)

S69 |'| Minnesota Monarchs |'| Called up to SHL
S69 |'| Ryan Jesster Trophy (nominee)

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Draft position
SHL|'| Draft S66 |'| Autodrafted

SMJHL|'| Draft S65 |'| Round 1 |'|   11OA

 

  

 
Credit for the images goes to @Carpy48, @soulja, @fever95 and @Wasty

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