Task 1: Pick a player from an eliminated team and slot them into an existing playoff lineup. Who do they replace, why, how do their playoff stats look?
Must include: 150 words.

Roman Augustus of the St. Louis Scarecrows is a player I'd like to see slot onto the Vancouver Whalers. Being a capped player he could fit in anywhere on the Whalers' blue line but I think he'd make a killer combination with Isak Ødegård on the 2nd pairing, bumping Sven Brokstad to the 3rd pairing and Jack Johnson to nacho duty. Roman Augustus was an elite goal scoring defenseman during the regular season and since the Whalers have struggled to score goals thus far in the playoffs - 2.25 goals per game puts them quite a ways behind the 3.375 of 3rd-best Prince George - he could bring a much needed spark to the team. It's impossible to say with any certainty what his stat line would be but considering he put up 31 points in 50 regular season games I don't think it's a stretch to guess that he'd be around 1 goal, 3 assists in Vancouver's 4 games playing next to Ødegård.


Task 2: Create a game-day program cover for any playoff game.



Task 3: With the SHL draft looming in the shadow of playoffs, tell us how you're going to distinguish yourself to SHL GMs during your cup run or the beginning of your offseason.
Must include: 100 words.

At this point the die has pretty much been cast as I'd imagine that my draft class will be judged mostly on their regular season performances and activity. But there is still time for things to shake up so I'll try to show SHL GMs that my activity won't fall off like so many previous rookies by posting around the site, making truly horrific graphics for 2 TPE, and most of all engaging them in conversation. Those conversations have already started but when I get around to filling out the IP threads I expect to make a bit more headway.


Task 4: Write 200 words or make a graphic highlighting any goalie matchup of the series.
Written must include 3 stats, either from playoffs or the regular season.
Graphic must include both goalie renders and both team logos.

The most interesting goalie matchup of the SMJHL playoffs is, by far, Carrick Murray versus Evgueni Marmeladov. In a series that should have been a lopsided Vancouver Whalers victory, the Detroit Falcons' Marmeladov has thus far outdueled the highly regarded Murray. After recording a shut-out in Game 1, Murray has given up 9 goals on 51 shots in Games 2 through 4 and has gotten pulled before the first intermission twice for his troubles. Marmeladov, meanwhile has allowed 10 goals on 82 shots and his backup, Blowjob Jesus Jr., has not seen any ice time in relief.

Before the season this kind of result would have been scoffed at but it should be no surprise to anyone who's looked at the SMJHL goaltending stats. While Murray was 2nd in the league in Wins and led Marmeladov 23-20, assigning a team win to a position player (one that very rarely has any effect on the scoring of goals, no less) is a relic of a bygone era that we should move past. Aside from the crime of playing for a worse overall team, Marmeladov led Murray in statistics that illustrate goalie performance. He was 2nd in the league with a 0.900 save percentage while Murray languished in last among qualified netminders with a 0.875 and bested him in goals against average, as well, 2.48 to 2.75. In the end, though, the series could come down to a single shot and whether it is saved or scores. Which goalie is up to the task? We'll see.


Task 5: Choose any game in the finals and write a short post game recap. Can be a summary of the goals scored, a turning point, an unsung hero profile, etc.
Must include: 150 words.

Coming into a game cold is never easy. As the players are on the ice getting into a rhythm and finding their groove, the backup goalies are kicked back with a baseball cap acting more like a cheerleader than a player - knowing it's unlikely they get into the game. And then it happens.

Ben Holtby faced this challenge in Game 2 of the SMJHL finals and thrived in the face of adversity. After Halifax yanked likely goaltender of the year Jordin FourFour Jr early in the second period for allowing 4 goals on 17 shots, the rookie was thrust into a 4-2 game that was still close enough that he was expected to keep his team in it. And play well he did. Holtby saved the first 26 shots he faced as the Raiders clawed their back and tied the game, sending it to overtime. In overtime, though, the Whalers ended up solving Holtby and won the game but in a game that his team was outshot 44-17 in, Holtby did everything humanly possible to give his team a shot at the win. The fact he didn't get a three stars nod was criminal.