Good morning, fellow WIIMers! Gosh, it feels like forever since I’ve been able to say that.
[insert joke about longest off-season ever, gets booed loudly]
Okay, okay, I’m sure we’ve had enough of hearing that oh-so-clever reminder of last season. I know I’m ready to be done and over with it, which is great because for us Hockeytown folks, preseason hockey starts tonight!
But there is one last thing holding over from the 2016-17 season that needs to be taken care of before the new campaign can properly get underway, and if you just clicked on this article without somehow reading the title, I’ll just come out and say it.
It’s the Official Winging It In Motown Predictions Contest!
[confetti falls, standing ovation]
Uh, sorry. Seems we’re suffering from a case of premature celebration. I swear this has never happened to me before.
That’s right, after months of waiting (oh god, it really has been months) the results from last year’s contest are finally here! I’m sorry to all of you for keeping you in the dark for so long, as I know the anticipation must have been killing you. Please proceed to your nearest witch doctor to be revived because YOU HAVE TO WAIT NO LONGER.
Okay, maybe a few more paragraphs. We’re going to go over a couple nitty-gritties first.
Unfortunately, we were only working with an 82-game contest this time around, so there were fewer opportunities to rack up those points and prove your prescient prowess. Still, 379 individual guessers managed to accrue a total of 4,201 points.
As was the case last season, some people took one guess and then disappeared into the ether, never to be heard from again. I hope they’re doing okay. Unless they were visiting Chicago fans, in which case I shoo them back to Second City Hockey where they belong.
And then we have our most-dedicated predictors, the ones that made a point to get a guess in for every single game of the season. We doubled this prestigious list this time around! Thank you and congrats to mdruh12, old man hockey, Raccidragon, and wingingintherain for being the four WIIMers to hit the 82-game mark. Your defense of your Iron Octopus streaks begin soon!
A total of 16 of you made at least 75 predictions, so if that was you, keep up the good work! They always say to envision your goals, so fix that position of honor in your mind and it’s as good as yours next spring!
Last year, commenter wingingintherain took home the highest honors: a Gold Octopus trophy and the title of Chef För Alla Chefer (aka #SwedishMafia Boss and, I assume, Muppet kitchen master). By making it to the 82-game point this year, I’d say there’s a pretty good chance of a title defense here.
This of course means that it’s time for the main event paragraph, the one you’ve all been waiting for! And if you scrolled all the way down just to get to this point, you are a cheater and cheaters do not win. I am taking down names.
AHEM!
Rounding out the podium in third place is… uh, a tie? Yes, I’ve double checked the numbers and it is indeed a two-way tie! Both Goldie90 and RawrPawr clocked in at 117 points on the season! Now I only have one Bronze Octopus here for the two of you. I suppose you can… share custody? You go ahead and figure out your arrangements.
In second place with 119 points is wingingintherain! You receive this year’s Silver Octopus.
Uh oh, you all know what that means! We’ve got a NEW CHAMPION, people! With 139 points, this year’s winner is…
old man hockey!! Congratulations, you get the Gold Octopus and command over the Detroit Swedish syndicate! And while you’re at it, you should probably go pick up some lottery tickets. You know something the rest of us don’t!
A huge, ginormous THANK YOU again, to everyone who made predictions last year. It wasn’t the easiest season to get through, but this Family of Internet Monsters(TM) always makes the losses sting less and the victories that much sweeter. I will once again admit my bias, but this is the best SBN Hockey community there is.
Now get that sentimentality out of your eyes, everybody, because I’m not done yet. I’m taking this opportunity to announce that the Predictions Contest WILL indeed be returning for another year! Strap on those tinfoil party hats, because we’ve got a new season in a new arena, and a new title up for grabs.
I’m getting excited just thinking about it.
