TASK ONE: You’re the coach of one of the teams in the playoffs! At least you’d like to think you are. Come up with a new set of lines for one of the teams eliminated in the playoffs, and explain why you made the choices you did. Must be at least 150 words.

The Calgary Dragons exited the playoffs after a disappointing Round 2 sweep by the hands of the Texas Renegades. If I was their coach I would probably have made quite a few line changes to their forward lines to make the series more competitive!

My top forward line would be centered by Nicholas Pederson – Randy Randleman – Esa Anrikkanen. This is very similar to the current top line. However Anrikkanen takes Kurczewski’s spot on the top line. In his old age Esa no longer plays a physical game but Randy makes up for that and allows Joe to be a force on another line.

The second line would be Joe Kurczewski – Shane Gagner – Schnitinfritz Jarg. Jagr would be the playmaker on this line and Joe and Shane can be physical and goal scoring forces.

The third line would be Laflamme – Mack – Izzy. Mack setting up Laflamme would be the main way this line scores. The rookie Izzy would provide physical play and energy to assist.

TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S36 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

Through the course of the S36 Playoffs, Texas Renegade’s Defenseman Lord Vader has been an unsung hero for the team and instrumental in getting them to the finals. While Vader has yet to score, he has potted 8 assists in 10 games. While others on the Renegades have been lighting up the scoreboard, Vader has focused on the defensive end. He boasts a +5 +/- rating, has put up 32 hits, and is tied for the lead on his team with 20 shot blocks. He has also been instrumental on Texas’s strong powerplay and penalty kill. He is also played a ton of minutes during these playoffs! On average, he is also playing over 28 minutes a game and is showing no signs of fatiguing! Vader is also bringing great intangibles to the team. He is strong in the dark side of the force and his playstyle chokes his enemies who defy him.

TASK THREE: Who has the edge, New England or Texas? What (or who) will be the biggest factor for one team to triumph over the other? Must be at least 150 words.

I believe that Texas has the edge going into the finals. The teams in the Western Conference were all much more dominant than the teams in the East this season and Texas has already taken out the Jets and Dragons. In comparison, I think the Wolfpack will be easy. If the Wolfpack have any hope of winning, they will need to shut down the Renegade’s top line of Durden, Allen, and Falk. That line has been dominant in the playoffs combining for 35 points in 10 games and a combined +23 through the first two rounds. On the other hand, the Renegades will need other players on their team to step up to not put all the burden on their top line. Karlsson, James, and Owen are currently a -5 and will need to step up to not be a liability that the Wolfpack can exploit. If that line can step up, and their top line stays hot. The Renegades should soon be celebrating.

TASK FOUR: The SHL is hosting a charity event including members of both teams from a series during this postseason. Describe how this teamwork event would go in a minimum of 150 words. Must include three player names from each team, the name of a charity and at least one activity.

With both teams eliminated from the SHL Playoffs, the Minnesota Chiefs and the Buffalo Stampede came together after a hard fought 7 game series to host a SHL themed family feud night for the BasicNeeds foundation who provides programs that support people with mental illness and epilepsy in low income countries. All money won would be donated to the foundation. Each team sent 5 of their top players to compete. Representing the Buffalo Stampede were Maximilian Wachter, Alexis Metzler, Ludwig Koch Schroder, Vlad McZehrl, and Casey Holmes. Representing the Minnesota Chiefs were Lord Pretty Flacko, Alonzo Garbanzo, Terrance Nova, and Ivan Koroviev. The feud went three rounds, with Buffalo winning the first round and Minnesota winning the second one. The third round went down to the wire with the Chiefs deciding to play the question but failing to guess the last answer on the board. Thus, the question went over to the Stampede to steal. With the question being “name the top things VLAD McZehrl say”, it was an easy steal for the Stampede with the top answer being “KICK IN THE FACE” an old school classic.