1. Verification word: Yes

2. Written, up to 4 TPE - Grab Bag: Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. Atlanta is a recent expansion team reaching it's first finals appearance. Chicago has been a dominant force in the league for a long time now, with their last cup win only seven seasons ago in Season 57. If you're betting on these finals, do you go for the experienced vets in Chicago, or the hungry Atlanta first-timers?
We'll, I am writing this after the fact but my money was on Chicago. I think they just have the more complete roster. Great forward group and a proven FHM team. That is not to say that Atlanta was a big underdog. I think Atlanta has proven that they are a team that is capable of performing even though the may not have the same star power as other top teams. I think they will be a team that we see a lot more of in the near future.

b. Chicago's lineup much more active with their sticks than Atlanta's, racking up 97 takeaways to Atlanta's 79. This late in the playoffs, how do you adjust to a team that's so adept at picking your pocket?
I don't think Atlanta has to worry all that much. Its not that I don't think Chicago do well defensively but I think their series against Texas and San Francisco really spurred that on. Especially against SFP where they just seemed to not be able to enter the zone at all without losing control to Chicago. So I would say its more down to who they have faced than actual team strengths.

c. Atlanta has only 32 penalty minutes in these playoffs compared to Chicago's 45. With emotions high and the Challenge Cup on the line, do you think discipline will play a big role in this series?
I think generally it really doesn't. Refs tend to put the whistle away in the finals and again, I think its more down to Chicago playing more games than Atlanta than anything else. Both special teams tend to step things up in the playoffs so I wouldn't be too worried if I was Chicago. I think both teams just need to focus on doing what they did to get to the finals and if that means taking a few more penalties then so be it.

d. Similar to last season's finals, we see Chicago running a balanced ice-time attack against Atlanta's targeted approach that has some players seeing sheltered minutes. Last season the more balanced attack won out. Do you think we'll see the same again? Why or why not?
I definitely think that the balanced ice-time is where you want to be as that is a great indication of if you have a deep roster. If you can rely on and roll 3 lines then I think 9/10 times you are going to be the favourite to take the series. Plus your guys are going to be more rested for a longer series so I definitely think that the balanced approach is the way to go.

3. Written, up to 4 TPE - Grab Bag: Pick up to 4 Four Star Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. Newfoundland has gotten 25 points in 11 games from two of their top D, Rand al'Thor and Mikko Rashford. If you're Quebec's coach, how do you adjust to Newfoundland having guys on the blue line that are just as offensively dangerous as the wingers?
I'd really try and step up my fore-checking game and work a lot on pressuring in the neutral zone. I think I'd tell my center and left winger to stay pretty high in the zone and pressure the offensive dmen to try and shut that down. Playing a couple of wingers high against such an offensive duo could lead to a lot of takeaways leading to breakaways.

b. Quebec has three players shooting 20% or better in Bertrand, Utah, and Kidd. If you're the Newfoundland defense, how do you find a way to bottle up three forwards that can't seem to miss the back of the net?
I'd just work had on trying to push the forwards away from the net. If you can limit chances from in close and keep guys away from the net you should be able to keep the shooting percentage down as long as you can rely on your goalie to make regular saves.

c. Looking at each teams' PDO, we see that Quebec is riding a bit of a hot streak while Newfoundland has actually been a bit unlucky. Do you think this a is a good thing for either team? Is Newfoundland bound to find some luck, or are they going to get stuck in a rut? Is Quebec going to come back down to Earth, or did they get hot at the right time?
Newfoundland has proven over and over again that they have the culture of winning and the fact that their PDO is low is very promising for their chances. Quebec can absolutely keep riding their lucky streak but I am more inclined to believe that NL will rebound and Quebec to fall back a little bit.

d. Newfoundland has appeared in all 4 of the last SMJHL finals and won 3 of them. Quebec, a consistently strong presence in the SMJHL, has a lot of playoff success behind them as well, having won several series since their last 4 Star in S58. How do you approach this series mentally on either side? If you're Newfoundland, are you worried your streak can't last forever? If you're Quebec, do you fear that you can't take down a goliath?
If I am Newfoundland I am going to just go into it the same way as I always do. There is clearly a very strong culture of winning and great coaching there so just stay calm and play the way you know you can play. If I am Quebec I think the same has to be true, although I would watch a lot of tapes to try and figure out just how to beat such a dominant team.

6. Written, 3 TPE, Dream Team 150 words min
You have to create the perfect SHL or SMJHL line for your player to be on. Who do you put on your line and why? Is it something about their style of play that compliments yours? Does it only include players from the present, or do you dip into the past to find an incredible D pair? Or are you just choosing your friends ‘cause they’d be fun to win the cup with?
Well, I have to start with Henrik Lekberg Osterman obviously. I'd have him playing center and being the defensively responsible one. I have to go with Sven Svenson on one of my wings as Sven and HLO has some serious histroy and chemistry. They have the proven track record and they work really well on both sides of the ice together.
Well, I have to start with Henrik Lekberg Osterman obviously. I'd have him playing center and being the defensively responsible one. I have to go with Sven Svenson on one of my wings as Sven and HLO has some serious histroy and chemistry. They have the proven track record and they work really well on both sides of the ice together. As for the third forward, I am not all too sure. Henrik has played with a lot of guys but I think it would have to be another Swede in Yngve Simonsson. Simonsson does not have the star power as some other guys but again, the chemistry is there and its a proven combo. These guys have played together before and have been remarkably effective. On defence it would have the be Rikard Bjerg and Alex Petrenko. Petrenko and HLO are a deadly duo and Bjerg is just such a solid defenceman. So basically our first line combination in San Francisco from like S59.

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