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?

It has got to be the fact that the Texas Renegades didn't make it to the cup finals. As far as how the regular season shook out, there were not really any major surprises in regards to the standings. The bad teams were bad, the good teams were good, and the rest somewhere in then middle of the two. But damn was Texas a force to be reckoned with during the regular season. While one other team in Hamilton did manage to crack the 50 win mark (at exactly 50), the renegades finished with 54 wins while scoring a league leading 283 goals and allowing almost the least goals at 136. That's an absolutely dominate goal differential of +147. For a team to be that consistently dominant for such a long stretch of play and then fall short right when the games matter the most. That has got to hurt. Have to image Texas will be very hungry next season.  

2. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Oh no, the head honchos of the league are worried that there aren't enough story lines for the finals! Therefore they're changing the rules for the finals. The home team will get to choose to either a) play the whole game with 6 skaters on the ice at a time or b) be immune from penalties/offsides/icing. Whatever the home team chooses, the visitors get the other perk. Which one are you choosing, given the choice and why?

Initially I was actually thinking I would take being immune from penalties/offsides/icing because that would allow you to put pressure on the opposing team in so many different ways. It allows you to send a dangerous scoring down the ice to cherry pick and look for breakaways/easy exits by allowing teammates to simply throw the puck down ice in your direction because they also don't have to worry about icing. But then I thought, having 6 skaters easily allows you perfectly counter that. Have your defenders adjust so if they decide to cheat somebody down to ice you simply send one guy back to shadow him and shut that option down. You have now taken away their attack strategy as well opened up more ice while still a man up. I'll take 6 guys.

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?

I'll apply this to the J as Newfoundland missed out on a shot at the cup after a very promising run as well as the fact that I'll be back in Newfoundland with one more crack at bringing home a cup. Throughout my three seasons so far in Newfoundland I have gone from riding the 3rd pair on a deep team to cup finals defeat, to a solid contributor on the 2nd pair on a team having a bit of a down year, to the number one defenseman on a top three team that just couldn't quite get there. After a quick rebuild with some incredible drafting, free agent signings, and player development, the Newfoundland Berzerkers promise to be one of the most dangerous teams in the J last year. The answer to the question, "What will you do differently next year?", is simply. We will win the cup. And I won't be happy unless we do. 

5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)

Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?  

I'll do you one better. I'll tell you one from each and then which team not making it was the bigger upset. The best team in the SHL to not make the finals was as I mentioned in question 1 was the Texas Renegades. They had an insane goal differential of +147 and have four more wins than the next closest. The best team in the J to not make the finals was the Newfoundland Berzerkers. This team was deep and dangerous and will be winning the cup next year. Ok fine QCC was maybe a little bit better this season. But not by much. But I would have to say between both the SHL and the J I was most surprised that the Texas Renegades didn't make the finals because they were clearly the most dominant team in the SHL over the regular season. 

12. Written, up to 4 TPE - Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. Hamilton finished 13 points above Buffalo in the standings this season. What is one thing that Buffalo can do to give themselves a leg up despite this?



Win. The regular season is long gone and merely a memory at this point and doesn't mean a thing in regards to this series. Just show up right away ready to play and if all goes well you can sneak a game 1 win to put yourself in the drivers seat.

 

b. Hamilton was 3rd in the league in GF this season. Buffalo was 2nd in GA. This begs the age old question: what will win out, a great defense or a great offense? Why?



I think this question is misleading. Buffalo was 4 goals from being tied for 1st in GA while Hamilton was 22 goals from being 1st in GF and were the third best offense rather than nearly the best defense. I think Buffalo wins. Defense wins championships right? 



c. Which of these two teams' brandings do you prefer? Take into account colors, logo, name, location, and anything else you consider relevant.



Hamilton Steelhawks no question. I feel like like the Buffalo name/logo is too similar to the Buffalo's NHL team and one of the colors is even the same. Plus it is packers colors so have to hate it. Love the Steelhawks Jerseys/colors/whole identity.


d. It's all come down to this: game seven overtime. Which four players are you sending out to win the game for you. This is in a fantasy sense, so feel free to mix and match from both teams.



Going with Aaron Wilson, Samuel Michaud, Michael Scarn, and A Jobin. Going all Steelhawks, going all scorers. Get the puck in the net and the game is over so lets quite messing around. Please for the love of god Wilson you better hope that 5 FO rating comes in clutch. Get Scarn open. Get Scarn puck. Lift Cup.

15. Milestones, up to 3 TPE
New this season, Milestones are folded in with CW. So just link your Milestone claim as task 16 for up to 3 TPE towards your 16 total.

SHL Milestones: https://simulationhockey.com/showthread.php?tid=114645
SMJHL Milestones (for senddowns): TBD



Milestones