Over 30 Hockey League

Week of February 9 (Game 1) – Apparently both the Rhinos and Coach’s Corner are trying to make Over-30 history this season by becoming the first team(s) to set a record for most ties in a season as no previous Over-30 team in the 27 year existence of the league has ever posted 4 ties in a season!  The odds are in favor of the Rhinos making history first.  Coach’s Corner erased a two goal deficit in the third period to settle for a tie with the Rhinos by a score of 4 – 4.

In the first period, the Rhinos set the early tempo to this game, scoring two goals in less than two minutes as Chris Ducharme scored his first goal of the season unassisted halfway through the period.  A minute and a half later saw Niko Vramis get set up by John Kelleher to give the Rhinos a two goal lead.  Needing a spark, Coach’s Corner got just that thirty seconds later as Nick Romano was set up by the passing of Tony Medeiros and Todd Bryson to cut the deficit to one goal.

Two minutes into the second period, some relentless fore checking paid off for Coach’s Corner as Todd scored his second goal in in two games, set up by Tony, tying this game.  Five minutes later, Jim Clarke made a heads up play at the blue line converting a turnover on the hustle of Chris and John and threw a wrist shot on net that eluded the goalie once again giving the Rhinos the lead.

In the third period, only forty-five seconds in, we witnessed Coach’s Corner scoring into their own net as Nick broke up Niko in the left corner and accidentally threw a shot on his net that went past his surprised goalie as Niko took credit for the gift goal.  From here, it was the John Mastrocola individual show for Coach’s Corner.  Three minutes into the period John was set up by Angelo Deluca and Dan Broderick and buried his chance.  With just under a minute and a half to play in the game, John struck again, this time being set up by Paul Correia and Ray Dow to account for the final score.

Week of February 9 (Game 2) – I don’t care how much skill a player has, or fast he can run.  Time catches up to all of us as hockey players and for the third week in a row, Mixed Nuts played with only two player substitutes on their bench and it caught up to them again as they let a two goal lead slip away and watch Gang Green comeback in the third period for a

3 – 2 win.  It’s not the offense, defense or goaltending that is the problem for Mixed Nuts; it is not having players!

In the first period, Mixed Nuts was making it look too easy and were on the verge of breaking this game open only a minute into the game.  Only thirty seconds in, Dave Costa scored off a rebound off the passing of Matty Iannello and Gary Goodwin.  Just over thirty second s later, Mauro Colucciello was in the right place at the right time to convert his fourth goal of the season off the passing of Dave and Matty.  Surprise and shock for Gang Green was the result of this early onslaught.  However, captain Dominic Defrancisco does what he does best, led by example and settled his team down and they re-grouped.  This paid off with just under three minutes to play in the period, as Brian Kehoe took a pass from Dominic and Pat Pirone and made this a one goal game.

After a scoreless second period that saw gang Green out play Mixed Nuts; but, they couldn’t solve goalie Sean Roach in net as Sean made some timely key saves for his team. 

Returning To Action

Shawn Miville returned to action last week after spending 6-weeks on the DL.

Now.., yes Shawn did make his return to the dek but not the scoring sheet (yet).  Shawn put himself on the equivalent of a "pitch count" as he cautiously returned from nursing a lower body injury. 

If fact Shawn is being so cautious about his return that our very own defensewoman Colleen O'Connell looked like more like Jason McCourty running down and slapping a touchdown pass out of the hands of Brandin Cooks.., as she ran down and beat Miv to the ball (and took it from him).

Keep in mind.., he may be slow (running) until he's back ton100%.., but his shot hasn't lost and any MPH's.  Rhino players should still be feeding Shawn for those deadly one-timers.

Oh and some guy name Gary Goodwin finally made his first appearance.  We asked Mixed Nuts Captain Matty Iannello about Gary's return.., and he said "I didn’t even know Gary was on my roster.., and we're on to Dan Hill" 

Added Pressure

With Shawn Miville on the DL, the Rhino's were without their team spirit leader and motivational speaker that resulted in a 1-1-2 start to the season.

Now with his presence back on the bench guys like Chris Ducharme are feeling the pressure to step up and bury some goals and start earning that Rhino Team Spirt Award.

Last week Chris popped his Over-30 Cherry by finally scoring his first goal after 10-games.  Could this finally be the awaking that the Rhino's need to get off the “tie track” and onto the “winning track”?

Talked about Goals

John Kelleher missed the net by 3-feet but somehow bounces of the boards and right to Niko Vramis to stuff it home.., it looked ugly but it counts.

Then Niko Vramis threw either a shot (or a pass).., whatever it was that deflected of Nick Romano's stick and past an awkwardly falling Dave Gusti.

Umberto "Papa Smurf" Biancardi was in the right place at the right time to bury his first goal (and GWG) of the season.

Johnny Mastrocola had some pep in his step last week as the chants of "Do Something" turned into Johnny actually “Doing Something" as he lit the lamp for the (2) most important goals of the game.., the last two that earned Coach's Corner a tie and game point.

High Five Tie?

Seemed a little awkward watching Coach's Corner celebrating the tie (like it was a win) after the 3rd period buzzer sounded.  

We were left scratching our heads and wondering if they knew they still had to play an OT period.., but as Captain Dan Broderick preaches.., those points from a tie will make the difference when you're trying to sneak into the playoffs (like they did last season).

Making "His-TIE-ry"

For the record; Many teams have had (3) ties in a season.., but no team has ever had (4) ties.., and after only 5-games the Rhino’s already have (3) ties.

Could the Rhino's be on the verge of making "His-TIE-ry" this season?

Saying Thanks

Remember when Matty Iannello made Umberto "Papa Smurf" Biancardi a household name and helped “Papa” have the best two seasons of his Over-30 career?  In fact the Chinese Restaurants had to reprint special placemats to declare that 2017 was “The Year of The Smurfs”

So how does “The Blue One” so graciously repay "The Great One" who made you.., why you knock him on ass because now you are opponents!  

We all had a good laugh as Umberto put Matty on his ass last week right in from the Statler & Waldorf Luxury Suite.

Muppet Humor

Hey Mauro Colucciello.., 

“What did the Number TWO say to the Number THREE?” 

“FOURget about FIVE!”

The cheers from the Statler & Waldorf Luxury Suite we’re “Stuck on Four” as the inevitable is bound to easily happen.., as 6-goals is barely a challenge for you.  But, we all laughed and said wouldn’t that be great if he was stuck on (4) for a while.., before you start missing games for golf.

But then again… you have Matty Iannello on you team and he’s made a living just passing the ball to an open guy hanging around in the slot waiting for a one-timer

Bad Mojo?

Every hockey player knows you don’t mess with superstitions and you don’t change your mojo.

So the players on Mixed Nuts can blame their Captain Matty Iannello for their loss last week.., the the tipping point and momentum swing can be traced to the moment Matty flung his baseball hat onto the bench.  From that point on it was all Gang Green and (3) unanswered goal for the win.

New Recruits

With the “Pink Slips” flying off the League Directors Desk thanking players for their services (but we need commitment) letters.., it’s now time to look at a few players from the infamous waiting list to get a chance to show their value, talent, personality and most importantly (you guessed it)… “Commitment”

Here’s a couple of bullet points for the new pledges;

• Review our "Zero Tolerance Policy" on the homepage
• Don’t try and impress the judges by being a one-man show
• Show your value to the team
• Keep you emotions in check
• Grabbing the ball is a penalty
• Slamming you stick in frustration is a penalty
• Shooting the ball into the netting (while in your defensive zone) is a penalty
• Only players with a “C” or an “A” can debate calls with the referees
• This is an invitational league.., leave any attitudes in the car and have some fun playing in one of the longest, continous, organized (and documented) dek hockey leagues.