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3/16 TPE



a. Atlanta is a recent expansion team reaching it's first finals appearance. Chicago has been a dominant force in the league for a long time now, with their last cup win only seven seasons ago in Season 57. If you're betting on these finals, do you go for the experienced vets in Chicago, or the hungry Atlanta first-timers?

I would go with the experience because the Syndicate have so much experience winning whether it is past championships with their veterans or even their younger players are used to playing in big games and have experience going deep into the playoffs. I think this will be a great experience for the Atlanta franchise which will help guide them in the future to winning the Challenge Cup. (67 Words)


b. Chicago's lineup much more active with their sticks than Atlanta's, racking up 97 takeaways to Atlanta's 79. This late in the playoffs, how do you adjust to a team that's so adept at picking your pocket?

I would say just start playing physical and just grind them down and also shoot the puck a lot. Trying to get to fancy and cute in the offensive zone won’t work against the active sticks of the Syndicate. You have to grind down their defenseman and test their goalie. They have a strong defensive system and you have to shoot because as they say you miss the shots you don’t take. (70 Words)


c. Atlanta has only 32 penalty minutes in these playoffs compared to Chicago's 45. With emotions high and the Challenge Cup on the line, do you think discipline will play a big role in this series?

I do not think discipline will a play a role in this series. The Syndicate play defensive hockey and had some tough matchups to their cup run. The Syndicate have strong rivalry’s from all their winning. I also do not believe the difference in minutes between these two teams is that big if I am being honest. (57 Words)


d. Similar to last season's finals, we see Chicago running a balanced ice-time attack against Atlanta's targeted approach that has some players seeing sheltered minutes. Last season the more balanced attack won out. Do you think we'll see the same again? Why or why not?

I think it will be the same especially because Chicago Syndicate’s type of attack and strong defensive play. I think having sheltered minute’s players on the ice is risky against the balanced attack because it only takes a few minutes for a game to turn and the momentum shift. If your sheltered players get caught out even once the game can completely change and it could lose you the game.  (70 Words)

7/16 TPE

I would say the most prestigious cup is the Challenge Cup for obvious reasons as the Challenge Cup is what most players are after. It is pretty hard to win although these days it appears easier if you on certain teams which is a whole different story. I would almost argue the Four Star Cup is harder to win especially because teams change season to season pretty significantly and the majority the teams are similar talent wise so at some point it because all about tactics or randomness. Although it appears the Four Star Cup has been dominated by certain teams recently as well but that is a whole different story. I think one difference for being a General Manager in each league is the fact one you have to think shorter term and you have a certain window with a group of draftees. In the SMJHL you have so many moving parts and one season you need to draft a whole team and others you only need like two players. I feel like it would be cooler to have three challenge cups but that’s just me although having 3 Four star cups would mean you were pretty dominant. 

(195 Words)

10/16 TPE


https://simulationhockey.com/showthread....pid3208976
13/16 TPE


I think this season will similar to the previous seasons with some of the same teams being at the top. The top will consist of Team Sweden, Team Japan, Team USA, and Team Canada again. Teams like Germany, Great Britain, and Finland will be in that second type tier who could also win if things go their win.  I feel like next season’s IIHF tournament will have a lot more turnover play wise and team wise due to retirements. I feel like Great Britain has a decent chance of doing good things. They have had some big losses player wise in recent seasons but they have brought in some good young players. I could see Great Britain being more dominant in a season or two but they seem to be on a good path so far.  I think you will see the likes of Ryu Jones and Jimmy Wagner at the top of the leaderboards again as those two are still in their prime and Ryu Jones is coming off leading the SHL.
(170 Words)


16/16 TPE