Over 30 Hockey League

Week of January 27 (Game 1) – For two periods, Blues Brothers was cruising along towards their third straight win of the season and extending their team shutout streak to nine straight periods.  However, it all came crashing back down to reality in the third period as Maybe One scored three unanswered goals to cap off their amazing upset, winning this game by a score of 3 – 2.  With the victory, Maybe One jumped into sole possession of first place overall.

In the first period, it was all Blues Brothers who were attacking and controlling the play.  With Maybe One missing their top two defensemen and putting a forward back on defense, the advantage favored Blues Brothers.  The aggressive fore checking finally paid off at the six minute mark as John Leite easily scored into an open net after Tony Medeiros’s slap shot, after a pass from Naz, perfectly banked off the end boards onto John’s stick for the easy goal.

During the second period, Blues Brothers upped their lead to two goals as Dominic Defrancisco scored his third goal in his last two games, as he was set up by Bob Snyder and John out front three minutes into the period.  A key play impacting the defense occurred a minute before this as Dave Costa received his third penalty and was removed from the game.  A second key play occurred with under a minute to play as goalie Dave Guisti was injured with a lower body injury but continued to play.

With Blues Brothers in control of this game entering the third period, the key turning point of this game took place as Pat Pirone took a pass from John Carey and John Mastrocola and put his wrap around shot into the net only a minute in.  On this play, Blues Brothers lost Tony Medeiros for receiving three penalties in this game.  With two key players missing, two minutes later saw Maybe One take advantage swarming the net and Pat scored his second goal, set up by Matty Iannello, tying up the game. Only eighteen seconds later, Maybe One completed the comeback as John Carey took a pass from Joe Mancinelli from the left circle and John came off the point to beat the goalie through a screen.  Blues Brothers pulled their goalie and Jason Glista’s shot from the left point did go in but a second after the final buzzer sounded for no goal.

Week of January 27 (Game 2) – Heading into this game, it looked as if two teams were heading in opposite directions.  Trojan Horse was on track and winning games, while Fool’s Gold lost some luster and was not playing a full team game and not generating enough offense.  Fool’s Game played hard all game but in the end succumbed to Trojan Horse’s timely goal scoring by a 5 – 4 score.

In the first period, desperately needing to send a message, Niko Vramis stepped up and out of the Cooch’s shadow halfway through the period to score off the wing, as he was set up by George Medeiros and Sergio Costa.  Three minutes later, Nick Romano answered back for Trojan Horse, set up by the passing of Shawn Miville and Mike Surette.

The second period featured a flurry of goals by both teams that saw Trojan Horse break this game open.  A minute into the period, on the power play saw Angelo Deluca beat the goalie as he was set up by Cappy and Shawn.  Halfway through the period then saw Nicky hustle his way and convert an unassisted goal giving his team a two goal cushion.  However, only a minute later Ray Dow was left open out on the left point (mistake!) and took a pass from Cooch to get his team back into this game. With under a minute to play in the period, Shawn stopped any momentum by Fool’s Gold as his shot from the left wing boards found the net, set up by Angelo and Mike Delorey.

Other a lighter note.., Mrs Mauro Coluciello got a new accessory for her SUV

Thankfully Mauro has one more week off thanks to the BYE week.., but we think Mauro already said his good "bye" to his manhood 2-weeks ago. 

Price for points

Why is referee Jon Picard handing money before the game to Maybe One Defenseman John Carey?

Oh.., that's why.., Looks like John Carey had a goal and an assist.  Not bad for $10 bucks.., (no wait).., you're doing it wrong Pic.., you're supposed to take the money in  exchange for points.  

Next week can you give the Webmaster $20 before the game.., he needs 2-goals bad.

Ahead of schedule

Matty Iannello is noted for not using substitute players.  Even if his team has 4-players and a goalie.., Matty will play with 4-players and a goalie.  

With Tony Mastrocola on MIA-IR.., along with Joe Gustitus and Joe Shannon absent.., we asked "The Great One" if he needed help going against the first place team (that had ALL 11-guys) and the hottest goalie in the league.   

Matty said that he didn't need any help from anyone and as far as he's concerned his team "Maybe One (win)" was "Ahead of schedule."

"We have 3-points after 3-weeks and are waaaay ahead of schedule" ~ Matty I

Tasty Crow

After last week’s win Maybe One are now sitting on top on the standings with 5-points and a record of 2-0-0-1..., We're starting to wonder how Jason Carrien likes to eat his crow? 

The Untouchables

According to our insiders.., Matty Iannello's outburst and 1-minute penalty was not for "being a prick".., it was actually for roughing because according to Jimmy Clarke "No one is allowed to touch the great one".., which was the exact comment the sent Matty into a frenzy and earned him a minute in the "Pat Pirone Suite"

That commented got us thinking.., aside from Matty, who else in the league is untouchable and we came up with the following players;

• Dan Broderick - He's a living legend and Hall of Fame inductee
• Ed Nigro - The All-Time championship jacket leader
• Ray Nickerson - His nickname is "The Boss".., plus he's also a little nuts
• Mark Stickney - He's a gentleman and a scholar 
• Joe Shannon - He's fragile and if you touch him.., he'll retire (again)
• George Medeiros- He’s the smallest player in the league, but that’s not why.., its because he's just one of the cleanest and nicest players in the league.
• Colleen O'Connell - Her boyfriend's nickname used to be Jesus.., and you really don't wanna mess with Jesus?  Plus, do you want to be in the same women abuse class as Bill Abcunas who notable bowled over Colleen to score a goal or Pat Pirone who collided with Sandra Glista then said he was “Playing the ball.”   Plus the whole "MeToo" and "TimesUp" movements.., it’s just like at the Cabaret "Keep your hands off the girls"

New Style Hat Trick

Everyone knows the three types of hat tricks.  You have the regular hat trick.., the natural Hat Trick.., and the Gordy Howe Hat Trick.., now we introduce the “Nick Romano Hat Trick.”

The “Nick Romano Hat Trick” combines hockey and football as Nick is the first player to score two goals and intercept a "Pick 6".., and by "Pick 6" we mean he "Picked $6" as Nick was seen racing to collect his $6 pool winnings for picking Pat Pirone as the player to break Dave Guisti's shutout streak. 

Sorry Dave, we loved seeing your rookie debut of back-to-back shutouts which carried well into into the third.., but we here at Bushwood like a little action on the games too.

Why?

Riding high on his back-to-back start to his rookie season.., Goaltender Dave Guisti was in cruise control heading towards his third straight potential record breaking shutout against Maybe One when disaster strikes.

Maybe One Captain Matty Iannello was about to get a 5-yard penalty for encroachment on Dave's crease.., but instead he got shoved into the defenseless goalie and unable to catch his balance came crashing down on the phenom rookie sensation.

We don't have footage of the actual crash.., but we were able to obtain some iPhone footage of the aftermath;

Pending Protest Paperwork

Blues Brothers Captain Dominic DeFrancisco has petitioned the league for the official paperwork that he needs to file in regards to last week’s loss to Maybe One

Dominic is sighting the following in his official complaint;

• Matty Iannello embellished his fall into goaltender Dave Guisti that ultimately cause his goaltender to give up two goals before leaving the game in agonizing pain. 

• He is speaking with his local NAACP chapter regarding racial discrimination against the refs as (3) Portuguese players were tossed from Blues Brothers while only (1) Italian  was tossed from Maybe One.

• Dom wants to see the goal cam footage and video review (with a time stamp) of Jason Glista's game tying goal that was disallowed.  

Grievance Filing

Fools Gold Captain John Kelleher is filing a grievance with the league against Blue Brothers for use of their goalie Shaun Roche to replace Dave Guisti with 7-minutes left to play.

John is claiming that had Shaun not filled in for Blues Brothers that he would have been 100% for his own game.., instead of losing both games for both teams.

What a save!

John Mastrocola had the save of the game as he point blank rejected an attempt by Bob Snyder. 

Bob had a wide open net.., with the ball literally sitting the crease.., and before Bob could celebrate his first goal of the season. ., out of nowhere came "Lil John" (Yeah-ya!!"- WHAT??! - Okaaaay!) Mastrocola to "Rob Bob" of a seemingly empty net goal.

We asked "Lil John" about the save and to take us through it;

"I was standing around the crease trying to do my job (so Matty doesn't yell at me).., when I notice the ball sitting in the goal crease and out of nowhere comes this "waffle iron" or a "fly swatter" looking blade." 

"I didn't know what it was.., and I was scared at first.., but I knew I had to stop it.., so I counter-slapped that poke attempt clean out of there.   No one is scoring a goal on my team using a blade that looks like it’s better served for draining pasta than scoring goals.

Adios Muchacho & Arrivederci

Last week was a bad week to be Portuguese in Over-30 League especially if you played for Blue Brothers.

First Dave Costa loses his cool after getting his second penalty and quickly learns that throwing your stick in the penalty box results in a 3rd that quickly got him tossed.

Then Tony Medeiros racks up three penalties and he gets tossed.

Referee Jon Picard had to translate for the part Spanish players what it means after getting 3-penalties;

We also believe this might be the first game were a record 4th player was ejected (after the game) resulting in a one game suspension for throwing his stick after the game was over.

The second game saw fellow Portagee Sergio Costa stapling the webmaster into the boards earning him a minute in the sin bin.

Was last Saturday a Portuguese Blood moon or something?

Bring Glass Cleaner

Blues Brothers Captain Dominic DeFrancisco better bring his Maid Consuela and some glass cleaner if he wants a clear view of the game this week.  Dominic will be spending Week #5 from behind the plexiglass as a spectator if he wants to watch his team take on Team Cherry, as suspended players are not allowed on the bench. 

Dom is serving a one game suspension for violating the league's Zero Tolerance Policy.., which should put the rest of the league on notice about slamming and/or tossing your stick in frustration.

Trading Places

He's a reformed goon turned goal scorer and he's a goal scorer turned goon.., coming this Spring to a theater near you its the Over-30 remake of "Trading Places" starring "Matty" Pirone and "Pat" Iannello.

Was it a "Portuguese Blood Moon or a Bizzaro Guido Moon" last Saturday night because Pat Pirone records 2-goals while his Captain Matty Iannello cools off in the "Pat Pirone Suite" for a 1-minute roughing call.

Goal - No Goal

Despite the whining and pleading with the officials from Blues Brothers, (Yes) Jason Glista scored a goal for his team last week to tie it.., buuuuut he didn't beat the horn and that my friends resulted in "No Goal".., and this unbiased reporter was specifically watching the shot and listening for the buzzer... “No Goal!”

Worst 1st Week

Looks like Joe Carlton had a rough first week.., it's seems The Coca-Cola Corporation had the same high hopes for Joe that Team Cherry had for him and both resulted in disaster.

One of the route guys called in sick.., and Joe wanting to impress his new employer stepped up and said.., "Sure I can drive that truck.., no problem"