Over 30 Hockey League

Week of March 24 (Game 1) – For both teams Fool’s Gold and Team Cherry, playing each other head-to-head and tied in the league standings for that final playoff spot, this was a “must win” game.  Fool’s Gold was looking at the final week of the season and having that bye week as motivation to earn as many points.  Team Cherry was looking at putting together a winning streak instead of playing five hundred hockey down the stretch.  Both teams earned valuable points as Team Cherry pulled out a dramatic comeback 4 – 3 overtime win over Fool’s Gold.

In a wide open first period with each team generating scoring chances, it was Fool’s Gold striking first five minutes in as Niko Vramis was set up out front by John Colucciello.  Three minutes later, Team Cherry’s Jason Carrien was set up by the passing of Mark Stickney and Dan Broderick tying this game.

The lone goal scored in the second period belonged to Fool’s Gold as Sergio Costa converted a sweet pass from Mauro Coluccillo halfway through the period.

Heading into the third period, even though leading on the scoreboard, Fool’s Gold was ahead mainly due to the stellar play of goalie Sean Roach.  Only sixteen seconds into the period, Cooch converted a bang bang pass in close from Niko giving his Fool’s Gold team a commanding two-goal lead.  As the period played out, things looked bleak for Team Cherry.  With just over two minutes to play, Matt Farrell who was making plays all game, was in the right spot at the right time to bang home a rebound of a Jason slap shot giving life to his team.  With forty-four seconds to play and the goalie pulled for an extra attacker and a bad line change by Fool’s Good taking place, Matt struck again from the high slot after Dan alertly took advantage of that bad line change to pass to Ron Aquino who spotted Matt wide open for the game tying goal.

In overtime, it was Jason emerging as the hero as he was set up by Mark on the left side high slot who’s shot was partially stopped by the goalie, but the momentum was enough to get through on a partial screen for the game winner.  The dramatic comeback win propelled Team Cherry into third place in the standings.

Week of March 24 (Game 2) – With a chance to once again move up into a tie for first place, Trojan Horse played perhaps their most complete game of the season with a dominating start, scoring three goals in the first period and cruised to a 5 -2 victory over the free falling Blues Brothers team, who appear to have lost its team mojo this season.

Right from the start, Trojan Horse played with purpose as they scored the game’s first three goals of the period.  Just over three minutes in, Shawn Miville made a highlight reel move, as he was sent in by Nick Romano and Jim Barber, lifting the ball over the defenseman at the center off-sides line then proceeded to beat the goalie top corner far side from the left wing.  Only ten seconds later it was Angelo Deluca surprising the goalie from the right wing off a pass from Rick Cassano.  Two minutes remaining in the period saw Jim score off the wing, as he was set up by Nick and Shawn.

Two minutes into the second period saw Cappy score on a bomb from the right point, set up by Nick as the route was on.  Desperately needing a momentum swing, Blues Brothers got a goal from Tim Hickey as he was set up by Tony Medeiros and Mike Luise.  Six minutes later, Dave Costa jumped into the offense from the point and buried his chance on the power play as he was set up by Tony and Dominic Defrancisco.

Gold vs Cherry

The pre-game hype was worth the price of admission alone as Team Cherry (last year's basement dwellers) are fighting for their playoffs lives against Fools Gold (this seasons potential playoff-less team)

Fools Gold looked like they were not "fooling" around last week as an early goal in the first seconds of play in the 3rd period put Fools Gold up 3-1.., and they had their opponent on the ropes and sighing at the thought of another game slipping away.

But.., not so fast.., as our "White & Gold" team took a page out of Boston's own "Black & Gold" team play book.., titled, "How to come from behind for the win"

The late addition of Matt Farrell is starting to pay off dividends for Team Cherry.., and with Jason Carrien's Over-30 career on the line.., they are going to need a full team assault for their last two games.., as this season could be decided on April 14th as to who goes home and who goes on to face the #1 seed.

Post Dated Checks

Fact:  In 1985 Comedian Jim Carrey once wrote a post-dated check for $10 Million Dollars to be cashed in 1995.., and true to his prediction, he cashed it 10-years later after earning 10 Million Dollars for Dumb & Dumber.

Fact: In January 2018 Jason Carrien started carrying a post-dated check he wrote in his pocket for "One Playoff Guarantee" to be cashed on April 14, 2018.

Despite the cries of "Retirement”  from his critics in the stands.., Jason is not going down without a fight as the lanky defenseman with the wingspan of an Albatross scored the game winning overtime goal to earn his team the extra point and moved them into 3rd place.., which coincidentally is also 1-point away from last place.   

Quote of the week

"Jason Carrien could potentially be the first player to retire from the Over-30 League before actually turning 30" 

What's Wrong Here?

This week’s photo submission comes from an anonymous viewer who captured (2) head scratching moments with one click of the camera.

Upper Management at Mylec won't like seeing this picture.., but has Dan Broderick dropped his lucrative Mylec endorsement?

Perhaps all the "Slapshot" talk vs Mike Naczas has the Hall of Fame Inductee reaching waaaay back in his garage for a vintage MONTREAL wooden stick that was most likely purchased while some of the younger Over-30 Players were just starting High School.

The other inquiring image in the photo is.., why is Gary "Stonehands" Goodwin playing Defense?

Gary has great hand-eye coordination for a man with hands of stone.., but putting Gary back on defense takes away for his aggressive and often reckless fore-checking.

Sure Matty Iannello moved his drafted defenseman Derek Powers to forward.., but we're not convinced doing the same with Steve Medeiros and dropping Gary back is the correct move.  

But then again only one person in this league has his name on a banner hanging in Leominster, so who are we to question the legend that is Dan Broderick.

Ray's Challenges

Meatloaf always said "Two out of three ain't bad".., but for the current "Pink Stick Bag Challenger" Ray Dow.., "Two out of three is bad"

1) There's no chance in hell beats the 5-goal challenge with just 2-games left - That's Bad!

2) Ray's challenge is also going to cost him $20 for loosing.., because someone bet a Andrew Jackson with the League Director that he would beat the challenge - That's Bad!

3) The one Good thing for Ray.., is he's beating his own personal weight loss goal;

Unconfirmed medical reports attribute most of Ray's weight loss to both eating right and his Saturday Night Bulimia.

Sure, Ray has changed his diet.., but it's the Saturday Night Bulimia bouts that really helped with Ray's weight loss.   

Every Saturday night Ray goes home and throws up to the thoughts of him asking Billy to take the unofficial "Cooch, Cooch, & Niko Challenge" last year.

Listening to those Italians argue about why they lost has turned Ray off to any type Pasta, Pizza or Pastry associated with Italians.., so Ray turned to “Non-argumentative Salads” as his comfort food.

With Ray needing 3-Goals to complete his "Pink Stick Bag Challenge" and only 4-pounds to meet his weight loss here's this week’s odds for the next three weeks;

Ray Scoring 3-goals: 100-1

Ray Loosing 4-pounds by Bulimia: 3-1

Ray Loosing 4-pounds by Diet: 7-1

Song Dedication

I'm Casey Kasem and we got this letter from a listener;

Dear Casey,

When I was drafted by my Over-30 hockey team it was a joyous occasion seeing that I was going to be playing some of the best Portuguese Players in the league.  Guys like Dominic DeFrancisco, Tony Medeiros, John Leite and Dave Costa.

Then after tragically losing our replacement goalie Dave Guisti who started the year 2-0 with 8-periods of shutout hockey.., that is until some "Prick" fell on him and he has been out ever since.  Well, except for that time he came back to play against that same "Prick" and we lost again and went back on permanent IR.

Last season we lost in the championship game 5-4.., and started this season as an odds favorite to be back in the finals.., but since our 2-0 start things just went very awry.

We have earned only 1-point in the last 5-games and are now in jeopardy of not making the playoffs as we fight to stay out of last place.

So Casey, can you please play a song that sums up our 2018 Spring Season

Signed an Anonymous Blues Brothers

Well "Anonymous" here's your request..,

5 on 4, 4 on 4, 4 on 3??  

Is there a mathematician in the house?

What a cluster F&@K trying to figure out the penalties that preceded the overtime period between Fools Gold and Team Cherry.  

I guess when you’re battling to stay out of the 5th spot garden style basement apartment with no view or hopes of a playoff berth.., you want to take the time to get the penalties straightened out.  But for F&@K's sake.., it took less time to play the overtime period than it did to explain it to the multiple players surrounding the referees, players in the box and the Director himself.  

Got it Right!

Greenhorn Referee Ric Aylwin and Head Referee Jon Picard get the giant "Kudos Award" for their team effort in reversing a potential penalty on Trojan Horse.

Always eager to get on the dek.., Rick Cassano jumped ship early and hit the dek running before his Captain Jim Barber could get onboard.   

Ricky who quickly realized his errant ways jumped back on the ship moments before a defensive clearing attempt hit the captain and was called for a "Delay of Game Penalty"

Thankfully Head Referee Jon can count to five a lot faster than Greenhorn Ric.., and when they got together Jon set the newbie straight.., as there wasn't 6-players on the dek when the ball made contact with the Captain.

Jon also said he read the forum piece about Ric's groupie and on how he had a "quick whistle".., so Pic just tried to reassure the greenhorn to remain calm and not blow his whistle so quick.., maybe count 2-Mississippi's or something (Right Cooch?) 

#Trending

Anyone who is anyone has been seen wearing a Romano Construction tee shirt.., that is anyone who wears XXL or XXXL because Nick Romano has a surplus of them.  

Last week Don the timekeeper was sporting his new red Romano tee shirt, as Nick Romano now has the Timekeeper and the Assistant League of Director Mike Naczas in his back pocket.  With Don on the take.., looks like Nick will be serving less than 1-minute Penalties in the future. 

Also trending are the players who now endorse Vulcan Sticks.., we spoke to Vulcan CEO and VP of Sales John Kelleher who just signed Alex Leone to a long-term deal.., and Mr Kelleher is super excited about the new lot and design change that's coming out soon.  Rumor has it he's taking pre-orders and the webmaster signed an exclusive deal for stick #1 of the new lot.

Dance Contenders

Two teams have already had their tickets punched for the big dance April 21st.

Maybe One and Trojan Horse have both clinched playoff berths.  

Last week Matty Iannello sporting a black eye from a deflected shot.., took time out of his busy schedule (on his BYE week) to stop up and tell the League Director his "fake news" standings and website were not correct as his team has already clinched a playoff berth and wanted it immediately displayed in the standings.

Scoring Update:

With only 3-weeks to go.., only 12% of the players (7 out of 54) eligible have officially qualified for the Over-30 Annual Spring Scoring/GAA Challenge:

Qualified

Angelo Deluca

Colleen O'Connell

Jim Clarke

John Carey

Joe Mancinelli

Dan Broderick

Umberto Biancardi