1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
While these two teams are no strangers to the Cup finals, we did see some very interesting things this season. Looking back, what do you feel was the most surprising part of the season?

I think the biggest surprise this season was Texas managing to win the President’s Trophy in the regular season, and that the race to the finish in the Great Lakes was between Chicago and Buffalo.
Texas is coming out of a rebuild, and they’ve been building steadily for a few seasons. Still, it feels like a really big jump for them to come out and start kicking ass as they did this past season. They didn’t do as well against some of the top teams, but they’re still growing while those top teams are buying as much extra time as they can. Eventually that time is going to run out, and it’ll be sooner rather than later.
The Great Lakes run-off is a little bit of a surprise as well on the season, since I think we all expected it to be Buffalo or Chicago versus Toronto racing to make the Playoffs this time last season. I know we certainly didn’t expect to be second in the division in Toronto. It was a pleasant surprise, for sure, for us to watch those two teams have that struggle instead.
(188 words)

4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
If you're sitting at home watching the Finals: What do you plan on doing differently next season to help your team reach the promised land? If you're playing in the Finals: Is there anything different you plan on doing next season to continue your team's success?

The only thing we really need to do in Toronto is keep growing. We came out swinging this season and managed to make it to within one step of going to the Finals and having to figure out what we’re doing to stay successful instead.
A lot of making a series out of the Semi-Finals was dependent on strategy and luck. Buffalo is still a bigger team in terms of development, but we took them to Game 7 overtime. If we can close that gap in development even just a little bit, that may be thirty extra seconds that we can keep a one goal lead for next season. It’s difficult in this situation not to think “If I had done one more week of training” or “If I had done a Post-Game Show or two”, since that could’ve been the points to level up something that would’ve gotten us a better chance at that extra bounce we needed. It’s frustrating, but I think that we’ll galvanize and come back stronger next season.
(173 words)

6. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
What's your prediction for this season's IIHF tournament? Which teams do you expect to do well (or not well)? Which players?

My biggest prediction is that Team USA is still building and it’s probably time to acknowledge that our not medaling in the last couple of seasons is not a coincidence. Sure, we’ve gotten close and had not-optimal circumstances, but this is a piece of a bigger picture.
The Team USA of the late-S40s into the early-S50s is effectively gone. Half of the players on those rosters have retired, the ones that are still kicking are in regression, some of them deeply. No Kurczewski, or Williams, or Cain, or Moore. Manius, Mauldin, and Cannellini are long gone. Driftwood is a shadow of his former self, he’s so deep in regression. The replacement core are now in the early stages of regression. They’ll still have two or three seasons before they really begin to feel the burn, but it’s going to nag at least a little. The new players coming up are developing, but it’ll be at least one more season before they’re locked and ready.

That’s not to say that the outlook is bleak. We definitely have plenty to look forward to. There’s promise with regular season results from Barrett Blackwood and Bobby Lane, for a start. Weston, Price, Marston, Hudson, and Biscuit are all also progressing nicely. Chamberlain is ready for the goaltending reins. We’re adding a few new defensemen this season, including Colin Lambert. I think the long-term outlook is golden, but our short-term outlook isn’t so gilded. It’ll be interesting to see how the team adjusts.
(248 words)

15. Milestones, up to 3 TPE

Claiming 3 Milestones.

16. Written, 3 TPE
Say something nice about another member or members, no word limit.

I said a lot of good things in that mPT that still hold true. All of the Toronto guys are amazing and continue to be some of the biggest highlights of my days. I'm so excited with our progress this season, and even more excited for what next season will bring.
One big shout-out I want to give this season is to @sköldpaddor. Not only does Jess do amazing signature graphics, but she also has an awesome Twitter account and has been really supportive of our team’s playoff campaign. I’m sorry we couldn’t get Carpy a Cup this season, Jess, but we’ll get him one for sure!

ISFL Affiliate PT
+3 TPE Claim.