Over 30 Hockey League

Week of November 3 (Game 1) – In a highly intense and physical game played, Black Hole broke open a very close game in the third period, opening up the offense and scoring four times, to pull away from Mixed Nuts by a score of 7 – 3. In the process, Black Hole put an end to Mixed Nuts four game winning streak while extending their own winning streak to three games.

In a back and forth first period, the only goal scored was by Coach’s Corner as Joe Mancinelli scored just over two minutes into the period, set up by Mike Luise and Sergio Costa.

In the second period, Black Hole extended their lead as Rick Cassano scored only four seconds off the opening faceoff as he was set up on the wing by Mike.  Needing a momentum shift to get back into this game, Mixed Nuts got it from Mike Delorey who scored two minutes later from the point, set up by Gary Goodwin and Ron Aquino.  Three minutes later saw Mike Luise score grabbing that momentum back for his team, set up by the defensive passing of Jason Carrien and Naz. Two minutes later, Mark Stickney made this a one goal game after converting off the passing of Mauro Colucciello and Jamie Kehoe.

The third period saw Black Hole break open this close game and pull away from Mixed Nuts.  Three minutes in, Sergio took a pass from Jim Barber and buried his chance.  Three minutes later saw Mike receive a pass from Jim giving his team a two goal lead.  With a last offensive push, Mark scored off his own rebound with traffic out front for an unassisted goal with just over a minute to play.  Frustration and emotions spilled over after this goal with a confrontation out front that went on for a good minute.  With Mixed Nuts pulling their goalie, Mike sealed the victory with forty-six seconds to play, giving his team a three goal lead.  With only twenty-seven seconds left to play, Jim scored into an open net opening up the question of “bush league play” or helping his team win?  More about this later in this week’s Forum.

Week of November 3 (Game 2) – With both teams stuck in a prolonged losing streak, something had to give with one team breaking that streak and emerging on a winning streak.  With almost a full roster, Coach’s Corner came out running and took advantage of some timely scoring to defeat Gang Green by a 5 – 2 score.

In the first period with both teams running and generating some prime scoring chances, it was Coach’s Corner who took advantage as Angelo Deluca opened up the scoring three minutes in, set up by the defense of Dan Broderick and Luigi Derenzes.  Four minutes later saw Paul Correia bury his chance in close on a set up by Tony Medeiros.

In the second period, only a minute in saw John Carey take a feed from John Colucciello and Brian Kehoe down the left wing and beat the goalie.  Before any momentum changed teams, Coach’s Corner answered right back only twenty-seven seconds later by Paul on a set up by Angelo out front for a top corner strike.  Not letting up and grabbing total control of this game, Angelo channeled his inner Kato and answered again, this time with a minute and a half to play in the period, as again the defense set up the goal from Dan and Ray Dow.

Gang Green, as expected made their offensive push in the third period which paid off two and a half minutes into the period as Ray Nickerson was set up on the left wing circle by John.  Over the next few minutes, Gang Green stormed the net but there was goalie Dave Guisti standing tall, making timely save after timely save keeping the score in favor of his team.  With only ten seconds left to play, Nick Romano scored into an open net opening up the earlier question of “bush league play” or helping his team win?  More about this later in this week’s Forum.

With new confidence from their first win, will we see Coach’s Corner go on a winning streak? 

There were two major stories from Week #9… None bigger than Dan Broderick and Coach’s Corner getting their first win on the season.., (and) the Over-30 League  saw two longtime veterans Nick Romano and Jim Barber get accused of "Bush League" goals which is addressed in the “Point – Counter Point“ Segment of this week’s PUTA Forum

Magic Number 15

With their first official win last week.., Coach's Corner (finally) put 2-points in the "Win" Column and with Gang Green falling like a skydiver with no reserve chute.., we take a look at the playoff picture and NAZtradamus' prediction. 

The new Magic Number this week is 15-points (to clinch) without having to look at any tie breaking scenarios. 

It's still early to call and conceded any playoff.., but if Dominic DeFrancisco doesn't right his ship quickly Gang Green will be NAZtradamus' 2nd prediction to go south on him.   

NAZtradamus picked Gang Green to win the division.., but it's looking more like might hang on for dear life 4th place or a potential playoff eliminating 5th place and thus earning themselves 2-extra Saturdays of Christmas shopping

Korean Baby

If North Korea and South Korea got married and had a son they would surely have call him Paul Correia

Paul's mother would be the kinder and gentler South Korea.., while his father would be unpredictable North Korea who at any given moment will fire a missile top corner over Scotty Rosato's shoulder

Wow.., did Paul launch an absolute Korean Missile of a shot last week on Gang Green fill-in goalie Scotty.

That "THUD" of the ball hitting the inside padding of the net is what Coach's Corner Captain Dan Broderick and Assistant Captain Ray Dow want to hear more of.., and less sounds of the boards and glass being hit.

Fung Wah Bus

With a comfortable lead in the standings.., and a magic number of 15.., Mixed Nuts Captain Matty Iannello decided to take the week off and take a Fung Wah Bus trip to Connecticut with bus load of Asian Pai Gow Poker players and the old-lady Bingo players.

With Matty abandoning his team to sit a Roulette Table in Connecticut.., we're left wondering was he betting on "Red" or "Black".., because if he was betting on "Red" he was probably losing to "Black" (just like his team was back home)... and just like Roulette (Sorry Dominic) no one really bets on "Green".., we're putting our chips on "Sand" to make the playoffs.

Testofen Tempers

It looks like a few Over-30 players are buying into those Frank Thomas commercials where he's pushing those Testofen riddled pill called Nugenix.

That's just what the league needs more Over-40 & Over -50 year old players running around high on Testofen thinking they are tough guys as tempers flare at the littlest of incidents.

If your prick stopped working a while ago.., do go popping these pills and taking your impotent anger out on the rest of us guys with working pricks and a job to go to on Monday.

We're not playing for the Stanley Cup.., we're playing for an obsolete jacket (soon to be replaced by something more desirable ~ if Todd Brunson doesn't screw it up).

Just remember Monday is a workday and no one wants to go to work with a cross-check to the back, a slashed hand, a chopped foot.., or a black-eye story because of a Frank Thomas commercial.

And like Carly Simon sang "if you think this story is about you.., you're not vain (you're right).

Marked Man

According to the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse winner Dave Costa.., remember when 1990's Action Star Steven Segal was once "Marked for Death".., and after last week’s empty net goal by Jim Barber with less than 30-seconds left to play in a 6-3 game.., the Black Hole Captain is also now "A Marked Man"

We asked Dave for a post game comment on Jim and his minute antics;

We just not sure if Dave was more upset with Jim's "Punk Move" at the end of the game or the fact that 3-goals earlier that Dave hasn't seen someone steal the ball like that since Johnny Most famously shouted.., "Havlicek Stole the ball".

BLAM Rally

Jay Carrien was home making signs for this weekends "BLAM" Rally as Jay is protesting why he got screwed out of yet another point.

Jay wants the Referees and Leagues Front Office (including the statistician) that the Bush League Assists Matter.

Analytics

Billy Bean and the Oakland Athletics perfected it.., Alex Cora and the Red Sox won a World Series by it.., what are we talking about "Analytics"

There is a goalie and 11-players drafted for each team.., which means there will be times when a player gets short-shifted, pulled for situational hockey, or moved temporarily to another position.  

The key is recognizing when you're that player and your number is called to sit, switch, or move to forward (or to defense) or in Ray Dow's case play goaltender and allow the "Analytics"of the game and situation at hand to happen.

Of course you can't spell "Analytics" without "Anal" and you might feel like you are getting screwed.., but instead of being "butt-hurt" about it.., recognize that the "Team" is playing for a "Win" and you might not agree with the Captain's decision.., but they are entrusted to do was best for the (team of twelve) and not a (player of one).

Any long standing veteran player of the Over-30 league will tell you to never ever violate this inner code; which brings us to the latest code breakers of the Over-30 league, Jim Barber and Nick Romano.

With his team leading by a 6-3 scorer with 27-seconds to play, Jim Barber deliberately backhanded the ball into an open net.  With his team leading 4-2 with only 10-seconds to play, Nick Romano shot the ball into an open net. Both players justified their acts as helping their team win the game. 

The Counter Point - "Empty Net Reasons"

And this is for the questions that don't have an answer
The midnight glances
And the topless dancers
The can of freaks

Cars packed with speakers
The g's with the forty's
And the chicks with beepers

We're not quite sure what Kid Rock was singing in Bawitdaba.., but the unanswered question Kid Rock should have asked is;

Is scoring an empty net goal with less than 30-seconds "Bush League".., a "Punk Move" or "Retribution"?

The Webmaster and Black Hole Captain Jim Barber along with Coach's Corner Nick Romano have been accused of partaking in the first two.

It used to be called "Picardiatis" named after former Over-30 Player Jimmy Picardi.., which is the greedy art of scoring meaningless points during the waning seconds of the game.

In a letter received by the counsel of the defunct Law Office of Feinstein & Forlizzi.., representing the two most hated players of Week#9 we would like to offer some reasoning and a defense for our clients and their greedy last second goals.

• Reason #1: (Blame Others).., if the Referee's didn't screw us out of assists all season long we wouldn't have to steal cheap points.

• Reason #2: (Chasing Ron).., Like everyone else in the league we are all chasing "The Flying Hawaiian" Ron Aquino in the standing race.

• Reason #3: (Tie Breakers).., After wins, loses and head-to head.., the next tie breakers for the playoffs are "goals for" and "goals against".., so make sure you make your team beats your opponents in those categories as well (Bill Belichick would do the same).

• Reason #4: (Personal Best).., After having a personal best 5-game scoring streak ended by League Shenanigans.., it's time to get another one going as Jim Barber is chasing his personal best 13-goals in a season.., and in a short 12-week season "EVERY" goal counts.

• Reason #5: (Playing 30-minutes).., We asked Nick Romano why he buried his empty net goal with 10-seconds left and said; "I'm out here to score goals and they pulled their goalie to try and score on us. If you don't like empty net goals, then don't pull your goalie.., furthermore if Pat Pirone wants to play until the whistle.., then I'm going to play until the buzzer and play the full 30-minutes of the game (with or without) their goalie in the net.., that's their choice!