1. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
While these two teams are no strangers to the Cup finals, we did see some very interesting things this season. Looking back, what do you feel was the most surprising part of the season?

Looking back, the most surprising thing to me probably wasn’t a super paid attention to thing, which is the rise in number of hits in the league. Specifically, the fact that Demarcus Smythe was able to break 400 hits in the season. Last season we had someone make it to 398, but that was seemingly unbelievably high then. Previous season highs since we switch sims are: S52: 312, S54: 337, S55: 256, S56: 316, S57: 398, S58: 411. That is an insane number of hits. The next closest person had only 271 hits. That is relatively common for the person in second place. Jakob tends to hover around the 200 hit mark which ends up varying quite a bit in placement, ranging from top 3 to top 10 across that time period. Meanwhile, the highest number has been steadily rising for the last 4 seasons. Why is one person getting more and more hits. It’s not like it’s the same person breaking their own hit record. It’s just someone who ends up taking the reigns and dominating the number of hits that season. Anyways, that surprised me.

2. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
Oh no, the head honchos of the league are worried that there aren't enough story lines for the finals! Therefore they're changing the rules for the finals. The home team will get to choose to either a) play the whole game with 6 skaters on the ice at a time or b) be immune from penalties/offsides/icing. Whatever the home team chooses, the visitors get the other perk. Which one are you choosing, given the choice and why?

Be immune to penalties. I know that there’s obviously a huge advantage to being on power play all the time, but people successfully penalty kill. You know what people don’t successfully do? Defend against a team that isn’t beholden to the rules. Having more players doesn’t mean a whole lot if your entire team is knocked down the whole game. And if they try to retaliate, they end up in the box. Now you have the same number of skaters on the ice AND you don’t have to obey any of the rules. Have someone hang out by the opposition goal and fire puck back there while you muck the opposing team. Even if you miss it’s fine since icing doesn’t matter either.

4. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
If you're sitting at home watching the Finals: What do you plan on doing differently next season to help your team reach the promised land? If you're playing in the Finals: Is there anything different you plan on doing next season to continue your team's success?

I was relatively happy with my season with Tampa this year. We’ve been building for a while and we’re still a way away from being a playoff team let alone a real cup contender, but everyone is going to keep putting in the work. I think next team with the growth we’ve had we’ll be in a spot to compete for a playoff berth. Personally, I’ll just be doing my thing. Continue to work out wherever I can. I can’t afford some of the additional coaching like some of my teammates, but when it comes to training week in and week out I do what I can, and for tasks that come every week I’ve been as committed as everyone else. And I think that’s what’s going to get Tampa Bay to the cup finals in a few seasons. The whole team has been getting better together consistently since the perfect season just a few seasons ago. Everyone has bought into the system. And everyone is going to keep training until eventually that hard work pays off. We don’t need to change much, we just need to keep grinding and stick to our plan.

5. Written, 2 TPE (100 words min.)
Which SHL or SMJHL team was the best team to not make the finals this season and why?

You can really make a case for either Calgary or Toronto as the best non-finals team this season. They had a similar number of wins with Toronto at two higher, and they had the exact same goal difference, Toronto scoring once more and Calgary allowing one fewer. However, with those two extra games, plus more OTLs, I have to give the edge to Toronto. The real reason for that is that they compete in the tougher conference in my opinion and managed to perform either the same or better than Calgary throughout the season. I also think Toronto would have faired better in the finals than Calgary would have if they had made it.

6. Written, 3 TPE (150 words min.)
What's your prediction for this season's IIHF tournament? Which teams do you expect to do well (or not well)? Which players?

As I do every year, I will be predicting a huge gold medal win from the great nation of Czechia. As we know, Czechia is bestia, so the why should be self-explanatory. If the gold isn’t won by Czechia, I would guess first Canada, then the United States, and finally, Great Britain. My podium is Czechia, Canada, and then the states. However, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Brits make it to the podium. Everyone else I anticipate doing poorly, since if you aren’t shooting for the podium, what are you even doing. Michael Scarn, as always, will dominate on the first line. With Hernadivic and Zaporozhets at his side, that first line should be absolutely lethal. Defence is in a position to potentially be shaken up in the coming seasons, but for now, we have Tanner and McCarthy rocking it on that first line, and I expect good things from them. Defence is a potential weak point, but who needs the top defence in the tournament with Knox freakin Booth at goalie.

15. Milestones, up to 3 TPE
New this season, Milestones are folded in with CW. So just link your Milestone claim as task 16 for up to 3 TPE towards your 16 total.

4 milestones achieved, 3 TPE