Over 30 Hockey League

Week of March 2 (Game 1) – Things are looking up for Mixed Nuts as their season seems to have turned the corner from their earlier struggles due in part to playing short-handed as they broke open a close game with a three goal outburst in the third period to pull away from Coach’s Corner by a score of 6 – 3.  For Coach’s Corner, it is now seven games in a row without a win and time is running out on their chances to make the playoffs.

Just over a minute into the first period, Mauro Colucciello scored the game’s first goal set up by Dave Costa and Matty Iannello as Mauro remained hot scoring his 7^th goal in his last five game.  However, only twenty seconds later, rookie Nick Doherty, playing his first shift for his new team, took a breakout pass from John Mastrocola and Dan Broderick to score his first-ever Over-30 league goal.

In the second period, with Mixed Nuts picking up the running game and pace, fill-in player Dave Parquette also scored his first-ever Over-30 league goal four minutes in set up by the defense of Dave Costa and Jamie Kehoe.  Coming right back two minutes later, John was sent down the wing by Luigi Derenzes to re-tie this game for Coach’s Corner.  For John, it was his 5^th goal in the last four games.  The key goal of this game was scored with forty-four seconds left in the period as Ron Aquino took a great feed on a 2-on-1 from Dave Parquette on a perfectly placed shot.

The third period belonged to Mixed Nuts as they extended their lead two minutes in as Ron was set up by Dave Paquette and Jamie making this a two goal game.  However, three minutes later saw Angelo Deluca get set up by John and Paul Correia to get back within a goal.  Any momentum for Coach’s Corner was quickly put down two minutes later as Ron completed his hat trick, set up by Dave Costa and Matty Iannello.  With thirty seconds to play and the game pretty much over, Tim took a pass from Dave Paquette and Matty and scored into an open net then heard a chorus of boos reign down on him for his actions.  Could it be that the Scoreboard Pub fans were calling his goal a bush league goal?

Week of March 2 (Game 2) – This game was played with a certain “edge” for the duration with plenty of intensity and physical play.  In an up and down game, both teams generated scoring opportunities, but it was the Rhinos who scored early in overtime to stun Black Hole by a 3 – 2 score.

Early in the first period, less than two minutes in, Rick Cassano was sent down the left wing by the passing of Sergio Costa and Jason Carrien and beat the goalie clean, scoring the game’s first goal. 

The second period featured no goals scored, but, the highlight of this period was Black Hole killing off a 5-on-3 penalty early in the period thanks mainly to goalie Jeff Deharo who made 4 timely saves from different looks by the Rhinos.  This game could easily have been tied up if not for Jeff’s stellar play.

The game remained a one-goal game heading into the third period until George Medeiros committed to going to the dirty area of the net and banged home the tying goal just under five minutes in off the passing of John Kelleher and Steve Medeiros.  A minute and a half later, the Rhinos took the lead as fill-in player Ray Dow scored from the right point on a laser bomb that found the low far side of the net.  With time running out and heading on to a power play, Black Hole wasted little time re-tying this game as Joe Mancinelli won the faceoff that Sergio Costa passed back to Jason over to Steve Iacoviello whose rocket top corner shot cleanly beat the goalie with just under two minutes to play.

Unfazed by the momentum swing, the Rhinos regrouped in overtime to win the game forty seconds into overtime. Niko Vramis who played an impressive complete game was rewarded for his efforts all game as he took the passing of Shawn Miville and Steve from the point at the top of the crease, and with his back to the net took a no look shot through his legs that beat the goalie low far side.  Is this the moment that Niko finally broke out as an impact player?

First Impressions

What’s the quote; “You only get one chance to make a first impression”.

For new recruit Nick Doherty his first impression was off his first shot that resulted in his first "official" goal of the season and his Over-30 playing career.

We're still waiting on a comment from Goaltender Sean Roach to see if Nick's goal was actually earned, or was it a "Welcome to the Over-30 League Gift".  Either way, welcome to the league Nick.

Oh and along with your first goal comes your first loss (we never said it was going to be easy).., but we're very interested in seeing how the remainder of the season plays out for Coach's Corner (if and when) their whole team shows up. 

Trade Impacts

Recent roster adjustment teams Mixed Nuts and Coach's Corner met head-to-head just one week after Tony Bono was traded to Coach's Corner and Nick Doherty was claimed off the waiver wire.

League Officials were eager to see how these two teams improved with their newly acquired players.  The first 4-goals were back and forth before Ron Aquino decided to have his best game of his season and score the next 3 of 5 goals for a 6-3 Mixed Nuts victory.

We're confident that Tony Bono will add defensive stability that Matty Iannello needs down the stretch.., and Nick Doherty will add much needed speed and scoring touch for Coach's Corner.., (the only question is) 

Is there enough games left in the season for Coach's Corner to make a push and sneak into the playoffs again this season?

Fiddle & Diddle

From 1953 to 1990 Boston Celtic Players would "Fiddle & Diddle" with the ball.., if the late Johnny Most was calling last weeks game for Coach's Corner his raspy voice would be heard describing Paul Correia as "Stumbling & Bumbling" as the typically sharp winger had his toughest game of the season falling over his two left feet.

Nice Hawaiian Punch

Hey Dan Broderick, how would you and the rest of Coach's Corner like a nice Hawaiian Punch?

That's what we're calling it when Ron "The Flying Hawaiian" Aquino scores a hat trick.., "A Nice Hawaiian Punch" as that "3-Goal Punch" was the difference in the game for Mixed Nuts vs Coach's Corner.

Order #5

After last week’s lost to Mixed Nuts we saw Dan Broderick pull into Prince Pizzeria to order dinner after the game. 

We heard through the grapevine that Dan ordered a "Hawaiian" Pizza and asked them to burn it (just like "The Flying Hawaiian" burned him a few times down the right wing).

When they called "Order #5 for a burnt Hawaiian Pizza".., Dan asked them to just throw it on the floor so he could take a turn running by it.

Scare em'

Dan Broderick's a nice guy.., but you'll never hear him beg or plead with his players.

And.., if that's not scary enough; With just 5-Games left we can now start talking about the weekly Playoff Magic Number.., so (Larry) tell them what this week's Magic Number is... Larry? "14-points".

With just 3-points in the standings Coach's Corner needs to subliminally change their team name to "Panic Time"

Sticky Icky - Icky Hickey

Urban Dictionary defines the term "Sticky Icky" with the following 3 definitions;

• Highly potent ganja with a gummy (sticky Icky) texture

Hey Rasta man gi mi a blast on that sticky icky

• A good bud of Marijuana

I got the sticky-Icky

• The result of spilling a glass of Kool-Aid all over yourself

Rats! I just spilled my Kool-Aid resulting in a sticky icky

The Over-30 Hockey League defines "Icky Hickey" using the following 3 definitions;

• Someone who can't control their urge to score empty net goals. 

You see "Icky Hickey" padding his stats with those empty net goals

• Back-to-back weeks of slapping the opposing team while they are down.

They pulled their goalie for the extra attacker.., but then they got "Icky Hickey" just like the other team last week.

• A Punk-Move or a Bush-League Play. 

He could've easy dumped the ball into the corner but decided to "Icky Hickey" them and rub their noses in the loss

Point -Counterpoint

Point: Black Hole Goaltender Jeff Deharo played a stellar game in net last week.  Jeff was the undeniable difference between a 1-goal loss in overtime and a complete blowout.., especially with the entire shorthanded situations Black Hole found themselves in (including a 5-on-3)

However...

Counterpoint: Jeff needs to reel in his emotions towards his own teammates who share the same common goal in winning hockey games.  Nobody likes losing.., nobody like making mistakes (that's why they call them mistakes) and nobody especially likes losing and then getting chastised after.  Always take something positive away from the game.., and that positive was a point. 

1-for-10

The fill-in referee for the 6:00PM game must have been getting bonus pay (per penalty) as the 2nd game had a record 10-penalties called last week that included (4) High Sticking Penalties.

The surprising stat is that for ALL of the penalties that were logged on the game sheet there was only (1) lone Power Play Goal.

With less than 2-minutes to play and down a goal.., Black Hole called a time out and contemplated pulling their goalie for 6-on-4.., but it was voted down. Off the face off draw Steve  Iacoviello blasted a top corner PPG just 5-seconds after Jimmy Clark hopped into the sin bin for hooking.

GWOTG

Towards the end of the 3rd period Carlos Machado was already chalking up the 5th tie of the season for the Rhinos in their historic season of ties.., but Niko Vramis is sick of making"His-TIE-ry" and was in the right place at the right time to bury the GWOTG

Jinx Streak

The Curse of the League Director continues for another week for Black Hole Captain Jim Barber.   

For the second week in a row Jim has gone goalless and pointless following Bill Abcunas' vile mockery of Jim's Award-Winning and Championship-Winning Black Vulcan Stick.

To further prove that the jinx is real.., after being called for a marginal penalty 2-weeks ago.,, last week just 30-seconds into Overtime the webmaster took an errant Shawn Miville stick to his eyebrow.., or as Rocky one requested "Cut me Miv" 

Marketing Idea

Vulcan CEO John Kelleher might want to talk to his Marketing Manager and see if there's a market for Vulcan Lacrosse Sticks.., last week in the Rhino's vs Black Hole that had (4) High Sticking Penalties.., and those are just the ones that we caught.   

There was so many High Sticks in that game that the spectators thought they we watching a lacrosse game.

Reverse Idiom

Last week saw a real time idiom for Coach's Corner Captain Dan Broderick as he lived the idiom of "You win some and you lose some".., except Dan did it in reverse order.

After losing his 4th game this season and dropping to 0-4-2-1.., just past the midway point of the season Dan had a moment to feel the feeling of actually winning something.

Dan Broderick was the lucky winner of the Bruins tickets.., but there is another potential Mueller investigation on the docket as the drawing winner (Dan) had his ticket drawn out of a bucket (by coincidence?) from one on his own teammates Colleen O'Connell.  

In today's society we must first blindly accuse and then investigate for any collusion.

We hope you enjoyed the game Dan.., and we hope you took a pad and paper with you to take some notes that you can share with your team on Saturday on how to come back from a an early 2-0 deficient.., and more importantly how to tie and then win a game with less than 40-seconds to play.

Pollin' With Sasquatch 

Last week in the PUTA Forum Mike Surette was complimented for his recent goal scoring streak.., but took offense to the writers insinuating he's an "Average" player and wanted the webmaster to print a retraction or as Mike called himself "Slightly Above Average".   

Since the webmaster doesn't print retractions.., he forwarded Mike's comments to the Forum Committee and they have issued the following question for our voting audience:

How would you rank Mike Surette's playing?

• Tournament Level Player
• Slightly Above Average
• Average
• Slightly Below Average
• A defenseman with an underdeveloped Slapshot