Quote:1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
Reflection on your season - how did your player fare on the ice this season? Did you meet or surpass your individual player goals or did you come up short? Whether you excelled or disappointed - what can you attribute that to? What will you try to do better next season?

I'd say looking back at my career so far it was an average year. I came close to career bests in Goals and Assists and tied my career best in points.I'd like to think I exceeded where I thought I would be personally. As a veteran Defensive Defenseman, just maintaining the status quo should be considered a win considering how fast the league is getting now that we've gone to FHM. I'm happy to see that I've maintained my current rate of production and am able to give my team a 100% effort for the entire 50 game season and post season. I attribute my success as I always do to my teammates and friends in Buffalo. I wouldn't be half the player I am without their encouragement, friendship and guidance. I am extremely grateful to everyone in Buffalo for having my back and helping me to do my very best this season. It was truly a season of greatness for all of us.

Quote:2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
This offseason will be extra exciting, as it features the rare expansion draft! Write about how you think the expansion draft will play out, either for one or both of the expansion teams or from an SHL team's perspective.

I am pretty excited for the expansion draft for both Seattle and Atlanta. I think regardless of who is drafted or by which team, everyone has something to be excited for. Seattle I think has the first pick and they will probably use it to take a defenseman or a goaltender and if it is indeed a defenseman I would wager it would be Darrow. Which, I will personally be bummed about because I would miss him a ton in Buffalo but it would be a great cornerstone pick for Seattle. Atlanta would probably take a goalie and it will probably be Alister Cain who we just beat in the finals. He's a brick wall and someone the team can build around and use to mentor their goalie pick in the upcoming prospect draft. Regardless of who is picked, I think both Seattle and Atlanta are going to get quality for their choices.

Quote:5. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
What are your predictions for the upcoming IIHF or WJC tournament? What team do you think will win/surprise people/be bad/etc.?

Every year I hear the rumors that this is the year the US Dynasty dies off. Though that was said about Ireland half as much when they went on their run. I would expect with a lot of top notch Americans retiring that the window may indeed be closing on our hopes for another gold, but I still have hope. Canada of course always remains a threat and I think with the emergence of William Hartmann in the Swiss camp, that Switzerland may surprise this year after an abysmal year last year. You can also never count out Germany which is led by Cass Darrow, a former Top Defenseman of the Tournament and of course any team that has Elizabeth Doyle (GB or Ireland, I am drawing a blank here) has a chance to run the table and be amazing, regardless of the caliber of player in front of her.

Quote:7. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.) The two finals teams have decided to team up for a fundraising opportunity to benefit both cities. What noble cause will the teams decide to benefit? What sort of fundraiser will the teams hold together? How will the two teams mesh before the finals start?

The noble cause that every team can get behind is cancer. Cancer sucks, my mom suffered from it and many others die from it each day and its something that should be eradicated from the earth. Both teams as well as all teams across the SHL can get behind it. The best kind of fundraiser to have is something that is fun for everyone including the players and to that end I think a carnival would be the way to go. It could include autograph signings, a silent auction, meet and greet, pictures with the challenge cup. As far as how the teams would mesh, I don't think there is any real 'rivalry' between the teams and like I said everyone can get behind fighting cancer. Even going into a final, its an event that benefits everyone from sufferers to survivors and is great PR not only for the teams involved but also for the league as a whole.

Quote:6. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.) The world's hottest app is TikTok - which SHL or SMJHL player would have the biggest following on TikTok? What do they post there?

This is the easiest one to answer, its gotta be Poop Scoop from Buffalo. Anyone with the name Poop is gonna be a star on Tiktok or anywhere for that matter. He's a great player and his name or just doing skits involving someone calling his name at Starbucks or going to the movies or just out and about would be comedy gold. Either him or Monkey. Maybe both of them together, a duo called Monkey Poop would put my ass in the seats to watch whatever comedy or hi-jinks they get up to on the daily. Monkey Poop. coming to a tiktok near you.

Quote:3. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
It's too late for this go-around of expansion, so hypothetically - should there be SHL franchises in other continents? I saw some interesting European proposals in the PT. Should these - or proposals for any other continent that's not North America -become a reality in the SHL?

You know it wouldn't be too far fetched to place a team in Mexico, either right over the line in Tijuana or Juarez. Perhaps even Mexico City or Cozumel. Before we go branching out abroad we should consider three things, travel time for the players, fan base and safety. Is there a big enough fan base where ever were going to expand to? I'd wager Latin America is a ripe fan base that is just starting to pick up Hockey. Mexico is close enough to our base of operations in America and while Safety is a concern due to cartel violence, additional security can always be provided by the teams themselves.