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trella · 05-09-2018, 09:44 PM

If I had one word to describe Teddy Cuddles and Tigole Bitties(<a href='index.php?showuser=177' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>Ace</a>) in the playoffs, it would be heartbreak. The two have been extremely unsuccessful in the playoffs, and despite playing well in some series, the team they played for did not prevail. It all started with their rookie season in the SMJHL with the St. Louis Scarecrows.

S35 St. Louis Scarecrows

It’s Season 35 and the St. Louis Scarecrows look absolutely unstoppable. You have a team with players the likes of Crossfit Jesus, Louie Garrett, and Matthew Auston. Your defensive core is absolutely fabulous and you have a rock in net with Jimmy Wagner. You have a good mix of youth with rookies Tigole Bitties, Roman Augustus, Finn Jacobsen, Joseph Lombardi, and the newly signed Teddy Cuddles. After winning the President’s Trophy with 34 wins, a Four Star Cup looks all but guaranteed. You go into the playoffs with a favorable matchup against the Colorado Mammoths, who were the 6th seed. You have a full series to rest and are expected to come out flying and take the series easily.

Game 1: The Mammoths come out with momentum from their Round 1 victory and thrash the Scarecrows 4-1. Jimmy Wagner allows 4 goals on 15 shots with one of his worst performances ever.

Game 2: The Mammoths win again, 4-2 and now lead the series 2-0. After having a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd, the Scarecrows fall apart and lose the game after allowing 2 goals in the second and 1 in the third.

Game 3: The Scarecrows pull out their first win of the series with a 5-4 comeback OT win. After being down 3-0 and 4-2, the ‘Crows come back and win with a OT GWG from rookie Finn Jacobsen.

Game 4: The ‘Crows tie the series! After having an 2-0 lead going into the third, the ‘Crows blow the lead and the Mammoths force another OT. Overtime heroics once again by none other than Finn Jacobsen. Scarecrows win 3-2.

Game 5: Mammoths take this one 3-2. Crows blow a 2-1 lead and Wagner only makes 15 saves. Bitties gets his first point of the series with an assist and Cuddles is a plus player, as linemate Joseph Lombardi scores his first career playoff goal.

Game 6: Do or die for the ‘Crows as they are down 3-2 in the series. The boys come out with a commanding 4-1 win, chasing Aleksandrov out of the net. The series heads back to St. Louis for a game 7. Wagner has a much better game allowing 1 goal on 30 shots.

Game 7: This is it. This is the ‘Crows’ chance to win the series after being down 2-0 and 3-2. The scoring is opened by Alex Zajac of the Mammoths but the Scarecrows reply with a goal by Roman Augustus, his first career playoff goal. The game is hard fought and there are many chances at both ends but the goalies stay strong. The game heads to OT. A powerplay a piece in overtime but nobody scores, off to OT2. 2 powerplays for the ‘Crows but they can’t finish the job. OT3 begins and tensions are high. Asvard Lyszczarczyk skates down with the puck on his stick and gives the Scarecrows their final blow. Goal. Mammoths win in triple overtime, with 54 saves from Aleksandrov. 2-1 final score.

Cuddles is left scoreless and Bitties finishes with only 1 assist.

S36 St. Louis Scarecrows

The Scarecrows lose many of their stars giving last season’s rookies a chance to step up and take a bigger role. Bitties scores 24 points and Cuddles finishes with 20. The Scarecrows finish in 3rd place despite a noticeably weaker roster. The Scarecrows match up against the 6th seed Detroit Falcons this time, and hope to advance to the next round to face the Raiders.

Unfortunately, there is an issue with this index where it is showing games against the Colorado Mammoths instead of the Detroit Falcons. I cannot see how these games played out but I can see the scores.

Game 1: 6-5 OTL

Game 2: 3-2 OTW

Game 3: 4-2 L

Game 4: 3-1 W

Game 5: 5-4 OTL

Game 6: 3-1 L

Scarecrows lose in 6 to the lowest seed in the playoffs. Bitties gathers 5 points and Cuddles scores only 2

S37 St. Louis Scarecrows

Year 3 of the boys’ SMJHL career with the ‘Crows and it will be their last. This will be their last chance to bring the Four Star Cup back to the cursed city of St. Louis. The team this season is solid, with the Season 36 draftees leading the way, and the addition of players like Dermott Lavelle and Thé Dude. You also acquire Nour Harrak, a great player who is loved by all. Although you came in 5th in the regular season, you look to be the dark horse contender this season. This season, you match up against the Prince George Firebirds in the first round, who were a formidable team all season

Game 1: The Firebirds come out strong in this one, taking Game 1 with a final score of 4-2. Anze Barbashev scores two goals and the Firebirds take a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: The Firebirds come out strong once again, repeating the result from Game 1, winning 4-2 and taking a strong 2-0 lead against the Crows. If the Firebirds can go into St. Louis and win at least once, they pretty much have the series.

Game 3: Back to St. Louis. The Crows come to play in this one, as they beat the Firebirds 6-2 in a commanding victory. Cuddles has a fantastic game, scoring 3 points and racking up 6 hits.

Game 4: The Scarecrows get an even better result in Game 4, winning 6-1. The Crows are led by a 2 goal, 3 point performance from Tigole Bitties, and the Crows storm back to tie the series after dropping the first two games.

Game 5: Back to Prince George we go for Game 5! The Scarecrows shut down the Firebirds, playing great defensively and getting big saves from Yuma in net. The Crows win 2-0, the game winner coming off the stick of Bitties. The series is 3-2 ‘Crows as we head back to St. Louis.

Game 6: The Scarecrows have the Firebirds on the ropes and Cuddles and Bitties have a chance to win their first playoff series! The Firebirds come out, guns blazing and score 2 quick goals, but the Scarecrows muster up a comeback and tie it 2-2 before the end of regulation. Into overtime we go. Bitties gets the puck and passes it to Augustus, who passes it to the rookie, Dude! HE SCORES!!! THÉ DUDE WITH A TWO GOAL PERFORMANCE PROPELS THE CROWS PAST THE FIREBIRDS!

You guys finally did it, you won a series. You can’t stop now though, you have your heated rivals, the Detroit Falcons up next, who came in second place in the regular season. The Falcons are coming off some rest so we will see how that helps or hurts them.

Game 1: The Crows get a thrashing in Game 1, losing 7-4. Not a great start for St. Louis, but the Falcons were coming off fresh legs, so that may be an excuse.

Game 2: The Scarecrows drop Game 2, losing the first two games in two straight series. The Scarecrows came back from this against the Firebirds so you can’t count them out yet.

Game 3: The Scarecrows take Game 3 at home with a nail biting 3-2 win. Teddy Cuddles scores the game winner on the powerplay, as the Crows look to tie up the series in Game 4.

Game 4: The Scarecrows do it! They win Game 4 and tie the series at 2 a piece! The final score is 6-2 and the Crows are led by a two goal night from Joseph Lombardi.

Game 5: DO YOU BELIEVE IT?! The Scarecrows take the lead in the series after pillaging Detroit, winning in a dominant 8-2 smashing. Bitties and Cuddles are the 1 and 2 stars respectively and the Crows look poised to repeat the last round and win the series at home in Game 6!

Game 6: The Scarecrows disappoint, dropping Game 6 5-2. This is bad news for the boys, as Detroit now has the momentum going into Game 7 in Detroit.

Game 7: The legacy of failure continues. The Scarecrows lose the series in a very tight 3-2 loss at the hands of the Falcons. The boys’ SMJHL careers are over as they pack their bags and head to Edmonton to prepare for their SHL rookie seasons.

Goodbye St. Louis

S38 Edmonton Blizzard

The Blizzard are in the midst of a rebuild and do not make the playoffs this season.

S39 Edmonton Blizzard

The Blizzard’s rebuild looks a bit ahead of schedule, as they shock the league and make the playoffs in the last spot in the West! The Blizz are up against the powerhouse Jets who won the West. Most predict an easy sweep for the Jets.

Game 1: The Blizz lose 4-3 in OT. The Jets get a nice OT GWG from Arrivabene, former Falcon. Cuddles and Bitties both get their first career playoff points.

Game 2: The Blizz take game 2, silencing the critics who were predicting a sweep. 5-3 final score, Cuddles scores 2 goals.

Game 3: The Blizz drop this one 5-4. A Cory Knouse hat trick is not enough to win the game, and the Jets take a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: The hockey world is shocked as the Blizzard tie the series at 2 after the first four games. Blizzard win 5-3 in Game 4 and they look to be making some noise

Game 5: What is going on? The Blizzard win Game 5 in a dominating 5-1 win! Hercules Rockefeller has a 2 goal performance, and Michael McFadden makes 31 saves in a great performance.

Game 6: And the Blizzard are back down to earth, losing Game 6 in a close 2-1 contest. The Jets’ Viganupatan Singh has a 2 goal night and Zhumbayev has a .947 save percentage.

Game 7: The Jets save everyone’s bracket by pulling off the Game 7 victory with a final score of 5-3. Albeit a bit disappointing since the Blizz came so close to upsetting the #1 team, there was massive improvement in Edmonton this season and the fans, management, and players cannot help but be proud of what they have accomplished this season.

S40 Edmonton Blizzard

The team looks really good this season. With a returning core and progression from the team’s younger players and breakout seasons from Cuddles and Bitties, this team was a force to be reckoned with. However, in an extremely strong Western Conference, the Blizzard still got the bottom seed and match up against the big, bad Jets. Will the Blizzard be able to pull off the upset this season?

Game 1: The Blizzard start off strong with a convincing 5-2 win over the Jets. Game winner from Chippy Chiclets who had recently been moved down to the third pairing.

Game 2: The Jets stop the Blizz in their track, smashing them 6-2. Singh gets the game winner for the Jets, who scored 4 unanswered goals after going down 1-0.

Game 3: The Blizz drop their second straing, losing in a very close overtime game, final score 3-2. OT GWG comes from defenseman Max Weber, and the Jets take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Game 4: And the series is all tied up at 2! The Blizz win a tight game, 2-1. The game winner comes off the stick of Tigole Bitties for his first goal of the playoffs.

Game 5: We head back to Winnipeg, and the Jets take Game 5 in another close game, final score 2-1. GWG from Corey Bearss, we head back to Edmonton for Game 6.

Game 6: On the brink of elimination, the Blizzard clutch out the win with a 4-2 final score. McFadden comes up big, making 40 saves to keep the Blizzard in the playoffs.

Game 7: Game 7 OT, what could go wrong? Plenty of things, and the Blizzard lose 5-4 in OT. Luke Fleming, in his last season before retirement scores the GWG to propel the Jets past the Blizzard in Game 7 for the second season in a row. Expectations were much higher for the Blizzard this season, and if they beat the Jets, they had a very good chance of winning the Challenge Cup. However, they came up short once again.

Overall, while Cuddles and Bitties have been great players for the Crows and the Blizz, their teams have experienced no playoff success while they have been on the roster. When will the boys finally pull through and win just their second playoff series? We will have to wait and see. For now, Bitties, Cuddles, and the rest of the Blizzard train hard in the offseason with a returning legend, Theo Kane, who will hopefully be the important addition that can lead them to a Challenge Cup.

Let’s go Blizz!