PBE +3

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?

After an unexpectedly fantastic SMJHL career filled with many individual and team awards, I definitely felt I had to manage my expectations in my rookie SHL season. As excited as I was to finally join the San Francisco Pride, life on the 3rd line is a bit different than being one of the leaders of the team. My time will come for all of that in the big leagues, but it was a bit like starting over again. That being said, I felt like I could definitely hold my own out there and made some good contributions to the team, maybe even a little more than I was expecting. That's about the best I can ask for at this point. I know that time and hard work is the only thing that's going to make me better, and I know that when it's time for me to move up in the lines I'll be ready for that opportunity and able to help the team in any way I can. (169 words)

2. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)

Well, dang. Your team didn't make the finals this season - my condolences to you. Are you and your teammates planning on watching the finals even though you're not in it? If so, what are your watch parties like? If not, are you still following the finals or trying to ignore it completely? What are you and your teammates doing together (if anything) instead of following along? (if you're on Hamilton or New Orleans, or either of the 2 SMJHL teams that soon will be playing in the finals - congrats and sorry :p this one isn't for you!)

It was a bit of a down year for the Pride, so not only did we not make the finals, we barely missed the playoffs. After so many years of exciting postseason play with the Anaheim Outlaws it was a little bit of a bummer, but I know great things are coming for us soon. I'll probably catch a bit of the SHL finals here and there but to be honest my attention is definitely more focused on the SMJHL finals as the Anaheim Outlaws are back in it! Many of my teammates from our S52 victory are still there and I am so excited to cheer them to victory. It's a bit of a bummer to not be with the team at this point in the season, but the team has all the tools to go all the way. It's going to be a hard fought series, that's for sure, but I'm hopeful my team can bring the Four Star Cup home. I don't have any big plans for watch parties or anything but hopefully the victory will look nice on my big screen TV at home.  (188 words)

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

It has been publicized a decent amount on this site but Hamilton prospect Andrei Kostitsyn's brother Sergei appears to be missing. Does anybody know where Sergei? What have you done/what can you do to help Andrei track down his brother?

Missing? Sergei? Where could he be? What a mystery! It must be tough for poor Andrei to get himself on the rink with all he must be going through with his brother being missing and all that. I know if I was him I'd just be out at bars until the wee hours. You'd hope he wouldn't be dragging his teammates along, though, because you don't want to have your behavior bring your teammates down and all of that. Look, if Andrei has any signs he wants me to post, I'm happy to help. Where was Sergei last seen? Perhaps we can start there. Have the authorities been notified? We need to get to the bottom of this. (118 words.)

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

Which player from the Steelhawks or Specters has a great chance to make the Hall of Fame when their playing days are up? Make the case for that player's HOF bid.

Obviously both finals teams are loaded with talent. How else would they have made it all the way? Hamilton in particular has been playing championship hockey for years and one of the main reasons for that is the play of Robert Phelps, someone we'll likely see in the Hall of Fame when his career is over. He'll be primarily remembered for his goal scoring prowess, having been among the top in the league in that category for several years now. But he is perhaps an underrated passer, particularly for his position, and has made significant contributions on defense as well. His steady play is one of the main things that has lead to Hamilton's success in this league, and it would be a mistake not to recognize him for all of that in the hall. Hamilton has many great players, but Phelps is definitely one of the best. What a career he's had. (153 words.)

Trivia verification word: sloth