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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?
My player Nick Connolly didn’t do too poorly this season. While I have been falling behind a bit due to being absolutely shit poor and not being able to afford equipment, it’s nice to see my player still perform and score points. Although, this year I certainly had a significantly less plus minus but some argue that the stat is useless. Unfortunately, Chicago as a team performed what I would consider significantly worse considering a great season last season and our homegrown talent only getting better. So while I am fairly excited at the thought of my player putting up a good chunk of points, I’d much rather see the team win as a whole. Even if that meant playing less minutes or a different role, maybe geared towards a more defensive approach. I’ll try to maybe crank out some media so I can make an equipment purchase for the first time since my second season.
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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 honestly think both expansion teams are coming at a time when the league is really stacked. The top teams are pretty much insane. Buffalo, for example, has just an unbelievable roster which no one can really consistently compete with outside variance where they may lose a game here or there due to non-optimal strategies. But, since there’s so much talent, the players they will lose will be ready to contribute at a high level for their expansion team. There are a lot of good players that will combine to form solid rosters right off the bat. I think both teams will be in a good position to compete in the short term. Maybe not for the cup right away, but they might be able to sneak into playoffs if they draft right. Once they have that sorted, they just have to think about stock piling the cupboards with picks and prospects and they’ll have a very bright future ahead.
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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?
Being as September just started, I think it would be really fitting to have a fundraiser benefitting Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and really any mental illness cause. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month which is a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to helpful services. It is also important to make sure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention. And I know this is supposed to be relevant to the finals and the two teams, but I feel like this goes beyond that and into the users of the site. Do not feel ashamed of having these thoughts and please seek help if you do. Asking for help is not admitting defeat or embarrassing. It’s understanding there’s a greater underlying issue that needs to be addressed and is the first step to feeling better about yourself. A lot of us use this site as an escape from real life as our day to day lives are filled with stress and anxiety. In today’s times, mental health needs to be paramount for every individual.
13. Written, up to 4 TPE Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. Both of these teams have stacked defenses - which team do you think has the defensive advantage in this series?
Both of these teams having stacked defenses is almost an understatement. By far the two best defenses in the league in my opinion. If I had to give an advantage to one team in the series though it would be Buffalo. I think they just squeak out the win in terms of defensemen and analytics.
b. In the two regular season matchups, each team won once at home. Do you expect the results to reflect a home ice advantage in this series?
I always think that home ice advantage plays a huge part in the play of individual teams. When the crowd is cheering for you, it feels like you’re a super hero and can run through a brick wall. I would expect much of the same in the series. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the home team win every game.
c. Based on FHM player ratings, New Orleans has higher average ratings in bravery, aggression, and fighting? Will that toughness have any impact on this series?
Playoff games are just a different beast entirely than the regular season. They slow down and become much more defensive. They usually favor teams who can throw the body and wear down their opponents late into the game. I could definitely see these stats affecting the outcomes in some way or another. If they rile Buffalo up for them to just take one or two extra penalties, those might determine a winner.
d. What is your favorite name from a player appearing in this series? Why do you like that player's name?
e. There are several animal names in this series - which of these animals is the coolest? sloth, hippo, otter, monkey, fox, kirby.
I’m partial to a fox. There’s just something about them that’s so cool. Except for their screams at night. That’s a little off putting. I’ve heard owning them as a pet is insane. Like they have ridiculous amounts of energy and just destroy everything. My favorite pokemon is also Ninetails so that doesn’t hurt.

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16. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is now completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.
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