Over 30 Hockey League

Article 217    September 29, 2012

Game results and Player(s) of the Week

Week of September 22, first game – In a back and forth game which featured the Portuguese Pretenders three times giving up a one-goal lead, Midas Touch kept coming back each time, as the game ended in a 3 – 3 tie in overtime.  The good news is that Jim Barber got that scoring monkey off his back sooner rather than later, as he scored his first goal of the season (the significance of this goal will be explained later below).  This game was played wide open with little concern for defense, as Midas Touch took 35 shots on net, while the Portuguese Pretenders took 31.

John Leite opened the scoring for the Portuguese Pretenders, with just under 4 minutes left in the first period, as he was set up by line mates Sergio Costa and Mike Pereira.  However, only twenty seconds later, John Desmond of Midas Touch capitalized on a defensive turnover, to quickly tie the game.  In the second period, Dominic DeFrancisco put the Portuguese Pretenders back ahead on an unassisted goal out front, four minutes into the period.  Once again, Midas Touch answered quickly, as Jim Barber scored three minutes later on his third consecutive slap shot attempt (after the first two attempts were blocked).  Less than a minute later, Dominic scored again off a Tony Medeiros (the Portuguese Power failure) rebound out front, to put his team back in the lead.

In the third period, Angelo Deluca scored off the wing, on some pinpoint passing from team mates Rick Cassano and John Desmond.  Overtime was played more cautiously than the previous three periods, with neither team generating any significant scoring opportunities.

Getting back to Jim Barber, in case you haven’t read about it (and you probably haven’t seeing how Jim has been slow in making updates to the league website), has been challenged this season with a unique dare.  Either Jim scores more than 6 goals this season or else he has to bring with him and carry onto the rink every week a brand new pink stick bag (compliments of the Over-30 league).  With 10 games remaining in the season, Jim needs 6 goals to avoid that stick bag.  Gentlemen, we are now taking side bets on this action for anyone who is interested!

Week of September 22,  second game – In a game that was as one-sided as the score indicates, the Wanna Be’s jumped out quickly to a three-goal lead and coasted the rest of the way, in dominating In Shannon We Trust by the lopsided score of 5 – 1.  In the history of the Over-30 league since the Big 3 line of Iannello-Shannon-Nickerson have been together on a team (4 years), we believe that this was only the second time (ever!!) that this line has been shut out.  For one game, the Big 3 was the minus 3!

Using their forward speed to their advantage by attacking the defense of In Shannon We Trust, the Wanna Be’s pinned the defense deep in their zone, as well as just as effectively coming back hard on the back check to smother any potential offensive threats.  To their credit, the forwards of the Wanna Be’s set the tempo right from the first shift of the game.  And that strategy paid off big time as they scored three goals in the last four minutes of the first period.  John Kelleher got things started as he scored off a rebound out front, set up by rookie Shawn Wyatt and defenseman Umberto Baldassarre.  The killer sequence of this game occurred with just over a minute to play in the first period, in a span of 13 seconds, as first captain Gary Goodwin was set up in front by John Kelleher, followed by an unassisted goal by rookie Shawn Wyatt (on only his fourth shift of the game).  Congrats Shawn on being the first rookie to score this season in the Over-30 league.

Kenny Bania once commented "Why do they call it Ovaltine? The mug is round. The jar is round. They should call it Roundtine."… So with that said, why do we call the line combination of “Shannon-Iannello-Nickerson”.., the “Holy Trinity”?  Sure, Matty is good, Joe is good and Ray is good… but the way they played last week against Wanna Be's... they should be called the “Holy Shitty” line.

So did everyone witness the pre-game show… that had Matty Iannello taking off his jacket to reveal his new slightly altered #7 jersey?  With a little bit of duct tape he transposed #77 into #7.  However we still feel that the duct tape was adhered to the wrong jersey… as fellow teammate and also #77 Goaltender Alby Luise should relinquish his number the for team captain.  Besides Alby is on his way to increasing his GAA to 7 anyway (currently 4.66).  Don’t worry Alby… you have the best line in the league, but also the worst back-checking in league history.  So we expect a slightly hire GAA when the “Holy Shitty” line is on the dek.

With Matty altering his #77 to #7… thus went his talent a la’ Jim Barber (and Sampson) when they both cut their hair off.  The proof… Matty (0-goals, 0-assists) as the only players to net points inthat game was Mike Luise and Papa Smurf.

Not to outdone… The was also another number re-dedication from #5 to #4…, but nobody was paying attention because the spectacle in question… is not on any roster (yet?) as it’s too early in the season from him to decide what team he wants to be on.

Midas Touch early undefeated however could be not be accomplished without the new defensive pairing of Jason Glista and Michael Florentino.., welcome to the league and just so you know… you’re playing under one of the best captains the Over-30 League has had in the past several years.  Enjoy the league and the press reporters.

First he was “The Pretender”.., currently now referred to as “El Baby”.., we are talking about none other than chief on dek complainer; Mr. Scott Young.  However Scott is now petitioning the league for yet another nickname… his new requested nickname… “Le Flop’er”.  It seems whenever you get close to Scotty when he has the ball… with just the slightly of contact, he becomes a House of Cards ala Manny Nunez.

Rule 64 - Diving / Embellishment (AKA The Manny Nunez Rule*) *Rule name change is also being deliberated on by the Over-30 Board of Directors

64.1 Diving / Embellishment – Any player who blatantly dives, embellishes a fall or a reaction, or who feigns an injury shall be penalized with a minor penalty under this rule.

A goalkeeper who deliberately initiates contact with an attacking player other than to establish position in the crease, or who otherwise acts to create the appearance of other than incidental contact with an attacking player, is subject to the assessment of a minor penalty for diving / embellishment.

64.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who attempts to draw a penalty by his actions (“diving / embellishment”).

64.3 Fines and Suspensions - Regardless if a minor penalty for diving / embellishment is called, Hockey Operations will review game videos and assess fines to players or goalkeepers who dive or embellish a fall or a reaction, or who feign injury. See also Rule 28 – Supplementary Discipline. The call on the dek by the Referee is totally independent of supplementary discipline.

The first such incident during the season will result in a warning letter being sent to the player or goalkeeper. The second such incident will result in a one thousand dollar ($1,000) fine. For a third such incident in the season, the player shall be suspended for one game, pending a telephone conversation with the Director of Hockey Operations. For subsequent violations in the same season, the player’s suspension shall double (i.e. first suspension – one game, second suspension – two games, third suspension – four games, etc.) See also Rule 28 – Supplementary Discipline.