Over 30 Hockey League

Article 224 November 24, 2012

Game results and Player(s) of the Week

Week of November 17, (Game 1) – No Joe Shannon, no Ray Nickerson, no worries as the focus was clearly on captain Matty Iannello to produce, and produce he did, leading his In Shannon We Trust team to a hard fought 5 – 3 victory over the Portuguese Pretenders.  In the process, his team picked up two valuable and much needed points in the standings and the playoff race. Perhaps overlooked in this game was the solid play of the defensive trio of Mike Caso-Mike Naczas-Jim Clarke for In Shannon.

Mike Luise got things started on a positive note for In Shannon We Trust, scoring halfway through the first period.  In the second period, In Shannon We Trust’s Tony Mastrocola scored his third straight goal since being promoted to the first line three games ago.  However, Dominic DeFrancisco of the Portuguese Pretenders scored his team’s first goal to get them right back into this game.  For Dominic, he now has a seven game goal scoring streak going (Tony who?).  Just over a minute later, Matty Iannello answered right back for In Shannon We Trust on a brilliant individual goal.  Late in the period, after not scoring on a 5-on-4 major penalty, Sergio Costa scored on a rebound out front getting a big assist from Mike Hollingsworth who lumbered into the play causing havoc out front. 

Early in the third period, Pat Pirone’s hustle, thirty seconds in caused a turnover that resulted in Pat scoring his first goal of the season for In Shannon We Trust.  A minute later, the Portuguese Pretenders Brien Sullivan scored a power play goal off a bomb from the point, bringing his team back to within a goal.  Halfway through the period, off an offensive zone faceoff, Matty Iannello set up his options and moved Mike Caso to the right from his left point position, then cleanly won the faceoff back for a one timer blast into the net for the insurance goal.  Game, set and match!       

Week of November 17, (Game 2) – In a game that featured one team (On My Own) on a three game winning streak and another team (Midas Touch) having only picked up one point in their last three games, something had to give.  That something resulted in Midas Touch pulling off the upset win over On My Own by the score of 5 – 3.

In the first period, captain Dave Curcio scored from the high slot to give his On My Own team the early lead.  However, unable to capitalize and take advantage of this momentum On My Own stopped playing their running attacking style and started playing more of a sit back waiting style of play.  And this cost them (as did turnovers in the middle of the rink), as Midas Touch scored the game’s next three consecutive goals.  First, Angelo Deluca scored three minutes into the second period, followed by defenseman Jason Glista moving off his point to unload a slap shot past the goalie two minutes later.  Three minutes into the third period, Mark Stickney scored giving his team a two goal lead.

Another week… another bad decision in regards to the Player of the week Award.  The only team to not have a player win the award is the same team in which the presenter resides.  In Shannon We Trust has yet to post a candidate worthy of such a prestigious award.  Last week pre-game rumors was hinting that if someone from blue had anything close to a semi-descent game that they would win. 

In a day when everyone wins a blue ribbon for participation.., once again a questionable recipient wins.  Sure, Matty Iannello (1-Goal & 2-assists) is amongst the greatest of all time… however, Dave Curcio posted a Hattrick (Yes! it is was during a loss.., but a great individual effort).., but my vote was for Mark Stickney (2-goals, including the GWG).., but hey, whatever… right John Colucciello and Jim Barber ?? (Whatever!)

Portuguese Sniper Tony Medeiros has recently brought some of his own Portuguese line mates into the league.  When asked about a recent Dunkin Donuts Player of the Week Award in which Tony appears in the photo (but yet won no award??), our chief investigator received the following anonymous email and asked that his identity be concealed.

Before joining the league we were all brought down to his dark basement with only a flood light illuminating… Before us; a table and chair in which we were forced to sign a contract with "you know who."

• Never talk negatively about "you know who"
• Always pass him the ball
• Hand over all player of the week awards
• Lastly.., always refer to him as the messiah.

Our hands are tied...

One of Tony’s favorite movie scenes is from Reservoir Dogs and the infamous “stuck in the middle with you” ear cutting torture scene.  Since Tony doesn’t own a gun and hates the sight of blood… he improvises his own torture method before he recommends and allows a fellow Portuguese’ to play the Over-30 League with him.

Below is hidden video filmed by a former line mate who also shall remain nameless.

Nice kilt and disguise Mr Medeiros… but we recognize those dance moves from your goal scoring celebration moves.  Shame on you for your torturous “Portuguese Fish Dance.”  Let your players make up their own minds on if they want to pass to you.., or take a shot for themselves.

With Thanksgiving upon us, it is time once again for the seasonal Over-30 what have we learned and what are we grateful for this season article

For the Wanna Be’s captain Gary Goodwin focusing on his leadership skills this season, in getting all of his player’s on board to play that “all out for 30 minutes we fore check, we back check, run them down aggressive style of play and if that doesn’t work we knock them the hell out of our way and run right over them.” It’s paying off as even old timers Nick Romano and John Kelleher are playing like 20 something’s on the rink.  

For rookie sensation Anthony Lauletta of On My Own coming into the league as an unknown player and taking it by storm by leading all players in the league scoring race.  Not afraid of all those Over-30 living legends who have dominated the scoring in years past, Anthony is quietly putting up the points as if he was looking back telling all his challengers to “catch me if you can.”

For the five year reign of the Big 3 of Matty Iannello-Joe Shannon-Ray Nickerson that is finally coming to an end.  Once feared for their ability to score goals in bunches at any time and be the Over-30 league’s premier first line, their run has apparently run its course.  How do we know?  Joe Shannon is now playing defense full time, Matty Iannello is not one of the top three scorers, and Ray Nickerson is actually quiet for long stretches of a game and not bitching,  

For seeing one of the best balanced and competitive seasons unfold the Over-30 league has had in some time, even with the Wanna Be’s on an impressive winning streak and solidly in first place.  Four teams are fighting it out for the remaining three playoff spots and it looks like this will come right down to the final game of the season to determine who those three teams will be.

For the impressive play and shut down defense of the Wanna Be’s which has mostly come from two players, Mike Fleming and Umberto Baldassarre playing the entire game.  Time will tell if they can keep up this pace and not get worn down come playoff time.  The addition of a player coming off the IR and a new player joining their defensive ranks should ease the wear and tear.

For watching old man and living legend defenseman Dan Broderick (the real number 5?) of the Portuguese Pretenders quietly going about his business to once again lead all defensemen in scoring and keep all those young challengers at bay.  Adding to that, Dan is tied for 10^th place overall in the league scoring race.  Way to go Dano, show those young guys how it’s done game in and game out.

For the pure joy of watching every week Jim Barber, captain of Midas Touch, go through the motions of futility and not score a goal, even when he has a wide open net.  That pink stick bag is looking better and better each week for Jim to have to carry with him for next season when he walks on the rink. Rumor has it that even his own team has asked him to start wearing pink laces in his sneakers, pink wristbands and a pink bandana as motivation for Jim to get his act in gear and start scoring some goals.  Personally, we think this is the law of Karma coming back tenfold to Jim in his failure to score those 6 goals for all those times (and there are too many to count) he has failed to provide the league and players with website updates!

For seeing the impressive turnaround by goalie Matt Anctil of Midas Touch from his rookie season struggling in his Over-30 league debut to playing more confident and consistent and turning into a goalie his teammates can depend on to make that first save or key save in a game.  Good job Matt.

For recent player spotlight honoree Jim Clarke of In Shannon We Trust proving this writer’s unnamed source correct when he told us that “Jim once had an actual “Spin Move” that worked.., back in the day!! Once!  We can hear all your opponents say to themselves Jim, “go ahead try that move, I’ll just wait for the eventual cough up that will be coming.”

For Angelo Deluca of Midas Touch, who reminds us of Kato, the Green Hornet’s right-hand side-kick when he plays and wears those goggles.  The league is currently looking into purchasing a chauffeur hat as a Christmas gift for Angelo to wear during his game.

For John Colucciello of On My Own going solo this season without his “posse” and having a good season, even if he still takes forever to get into the faceoff circle.

For rookie Shawn Wyatt of the Wanna Be’s who has scored some timely goals and big goals for his team, you have adapted well to the pace and style of the Over-30 league.  You don’t look as crimson in the face and aren’t huffing and puffing after every 30 second shift you take out on the rink.

For goalie Bill Gardynski Sr. of the Portuguese Pretenders we see that those anger management classes are finally starting to pay off.

For Tony Medeiros of the Portuguese Pretenders, even though you are only 1 goal behind your protégé Dominic DeFrancisco for the overall goal scoring lead, your game still looks off this year.  Maybe all that recruiting of new players for the league and being the so-called leader of the Portuguese Power Gang is taking its toll on you.  No worries Tony as Dominic is proving just who the real power is behind the gang.