Over 30 Hockey League

Welcome Back

It’s that time of the year again..., (The week after Labor Day Weekend)..., it’s the second unofficial end of summer (just before pumpkin spice season begins).

This is weekend we welcome all of the returning veterans and new rookies to the 32^nd season of the Over-30 League.

We have a few key points to start the season:

• This is the “Season of giving back” – More on that as we progress throughout the season..., but before we can “give back”, we need you to “pay up” with your first payment installment via the $170 deposit.
• Don’t forget for the first few weeks of the season is “Picture Day” so try and look nice for your player photo.
• Brush up on the rule changes for this upcoming season.
• We’re making massive updates to the website – More to follow on that.
• Please check the full 2023 Winter Schedule to see when you should not plan vacations (or get hurt) for the playoffs in December.

Welcome back to returning veterans: Doug Sedille, Paul White, John Hines, Tony Mastrocola… (and wait for it).., Bill Abcunas (Insert “Booooo’s” here)

2023 Rookie Camp

To the 2023 Rookie Class of Patrick Spencer, Dave Norton, Dan Poirier and Eddie Chin this is the portion of our website we call “The Forum” where we cover the previous weeks highlights (and lowlights) along with poking fun at plays during the game, notable player(s), referees and the league management. 

We also provide weekly updates regarding the league and try and give a few chuckles while calling out players in the media.

Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself in the spotlight or being ridiculed as we have a strict “No Snowflake” policy.

Summer School

While everyone was enjoying their summer off, and the 2023 Spring Season “Undefeated” Champions the Roadrunner are winding down from their high of being the first ever perfect 17-0 team… some of us in the Over-30 front office have been busy all summer.

• The League Director Bill Abcunas spends about a month and a half creating the 2023-2024 draft to be fair and balanced (and no, Jim Barber doesn’t know who you’re playing with – so stop asking him.)
• Kellie Abcunas spends weeks carefully choosing the (6) jersey pri,ary, secodary amd accent color combinations.
• The team names are kicked around until we’re happy (this year the team’s primary color is in the team’s name)
• Todd Byson designed, created, and ordered the new jerseys..., he helped create this year’s team logos with input from the board (except Freddo!).  He's designing team shorts if your team wants them (Two teams are already on order... watch for them in the coming weeks)
• Jim Barber is giving the website a much-needed overhaul (Formatting, Updating and General Cleanup) and will be completed in the fall when the OVer-30 Hall of Fame is unveiled.  This tedious work includes adding all of the player photos from the two previous years of doing individual player photos.  Jim has finally updated the 2023 Power Ranking (aka your individual career stats) - Click here to see your updated stats ---> All-time Career Stats
• Mike Nazcas spent much of his summer golfing (but helped in the end)

Team Names

Last year the team names we derived from characteristics or the team dynamics.

• Roadrunners – Fast Team
• Captain’s Mutiny – Change in power
• Goombahs – A bunch of Italians
• Justice League – A team of Superheroes
• Devil’s Disciples – A “Devilish” request
• Vulcan Grip – A nod to a league stick creator

This year we decided to base the names around the team color as a nod to the league’s beginnings; Gangreen Slugs, Blackened Fossils, Purple Peglegs, Red Grampas, The Greybeards and the Yellow Geezers.

Triva Question:  3-players playing in 2023 (32^nd) season also played in the very first 1992 (1^st) season. 

Congratulations to Dan Broderick, Mike Nazcas and Paul White who all have played in Season 1 and now Season 32

So, this year… with the team colors below our thought process was:

• Marooned – It’s tough naming a “Maroon” team.
• Tealsters Union – Try finding a team name with “Teal” in it?
• Royal Family – Still a bunch of Italians wearing “Royal” Blue
• Sandbaggers – Another tough color (Sand) to name, but its fitting.
• Black Magic – Going to need some “Black” magic with you know who.
• White Lies – “White” Lighting (used), and “White” Power wasn’t an option.

Captaincy Changes

This season Jim Barber has returned to the helm after a season off.  To further add to his “Great Captain Ever” legacy..., as his one and only season as an “Assistant Captain” he had his impressive 4th back-to-back trip to the finals and won another championship with Captain’s Mutiny.

Matty Iannello didn’t have the heart to be a captain this year..., so he’s on long-term IR.

In lieu of flowers.., send thoughts, prayers and “fine chocolates” (Per his request)

Ray Dow decided to walk the plank and step down as a Captain and return to simpler leadership as an Assistant Captain (“F’em!”).

Dave Costa always a bridesmaid and never a Bride finally will get to walk down the isle as newly appointed Captain for the Sandbaggers.  Dave who has become known as the “Draft-master General” for his MISI League and Over-30 Jamboree drafting skills was the obvious choice to fill the vacated seat by Ray. 

Dave’s promotion left an Assistant Captain vacancy that was filled by first-timer Manny Nunes for Marooned (Sorry Mike Naczas, no reward for your perfect 17-0 “get that shit outta here” shutdown defense season)

Rule Changes

The Leagues Front Office has sent a memo to all players with an attachment:

“Over-30 League playing rule changes and clarifications.”

We encourage all players to check their email and read up on these changes, but we’ll highlight a couple of the changes here:

• No More Lob Rule (Trial Season - Will Review after this season)
• Grabbing the ball is allowed anywhere on the rink (See restrictions in rules)
• Unruly Friends/Family/Fans – Aka the “Duggan & Trombley” Rule
• Double Tap Allowed – (Who cares, barely ever gets called)
• Overtime Change – Trying the NHL’s 3 vs 3 (Regular Season Only)

Lucky #13

This season the league is promoting “commitment” by rewarding a single player via a “Lucky #13” Drawing for those players who play a minimum of 13-games this season.

Based on previous attendance records..., this should be a smaller class of eligible candidates, which makes your odds of winning greater than 1-in-72 (more like 1-in-36) based off last season’s games.

So, what can you win for your commitment?

A weeks’ worth of Massachusetts Lottery drawings and scratch tickets:

• (13-Drawings) Mass Daily Numbers (Midday & Evening) Tickets - $39 Value
• (2) Mass Megabucks Doubler Tickets - $2 Value
• (7) Mass Cash Tickets - $7 Value
• (7) Mass Lucky for Life Tickets - $14 Value
• (7) Mass Lottery Scratch Tickets - $13 Value

Total Prize Package - $75 (Plus any winnings – TBD?)

Open for business

A friendly reminder that Scoreboards Pub has received its 2023 Winter Season License from the ABCC – Alcohol Beverage Control Commission with the key word being “Control” ..., (but it comes with stipulations).  Players are asked to keep the racks and coolers on the downlow.  This is a private league/rental and those who abuse the privilege may be subject to league disciplinary actions.

Hecklers Row is preparing for its second full season of heckling.  We ask that while “Heckling at Bushwood” is allowed..., we want to remind you that there are women and children present at any given time and excessive belligerent behavior, explicit vulgarity, and/or actions deemed excessive may be subject to league disciplinary actions.

Updated Rankings

It took a several hours and days..., but the 2023 All-time Power Rankings are complete.

Notable highlights:

• Surprise-surprise..., Matty Iannello is still #1 (+128) over #2 Ray Nickerson
• Ray Nickerson won’t retire until regains his assists lead over Matty (+46)
• Pat Pirone and Tony Bono are now the winningest (active) Champions (14).
• Rob Sheridan is still perfect in 4-for-4 Championship finals…, but sneaky Steve Silveira quietly just completed his 6-for-6 (100%) Championship run.
• Scotty Rosato is sneaking up on his 200^th win
• Gary Goodwin needs 3-points for 400

We’ll update you with additional 2023 season milestone and the players that have a shot a reaching them (Stay tuned)

Yesterday’s News

Once the first faceoff ball of the Over-30 Winter (32^nd) Season is dropped..., the 2023 Spring Season Champions (Roadrunners) and their “Undefeated” 17-0 record is officially yesterday’s news.

However, there will be one race that we will monitor throughout the season and that is…

“Who will be the LAST “undefeated” player leftover from the Roadrunners historical run? 

Joe Shannon doesn’t count since he went out like all heroic legends do…, he went out on top (undefeated) into the record books as a first ballot Over-30 Hall of Fame Nominee. 

Doug Morand (aka Coach) is also not eligible since he’s taking the season of to coach youth hockey.  Question is, can you teach “Perfection”?

So, who are you betting on... Who will be the last "undefeted" Roadrunner?

Remember even if their team current loses…, they must be present for the loss, otherwise they are still technically “undefeated.”

Playoff Predictions

We ran the numbers… and numbers don’t lie. 

According to our calculation below…, we totaled up all the players (per team) and their trips to the finals and more importantly how successful were those trips.

Looks like Royal Family is loaded with veteran talent and success..., but look who’s right on their heels, newly appointed Captain Dave Costa and his quest to complete the trifecta as a leader (Over-30 Jamboree Winner – MISI Champion – 2023 Winter Champ??)

With Steve Silveira also on Royal Family..., their odds of winning the championship (should they get to the big dance) would probably be hovering around 85-90% and a lock to bet the farm on for his 7^th Championship.  But first he needs to get to the finals with Angelo De Luca and Elder Lopes’ leadership.

Pink Shirt Challenge

Mike Luise has accepted his summer challenge as the next man up on the Pink Shirt Challenge.

What’s the Pink Shirt Challenge…, read about it here:

http://www.over30hockeyleague.com/pinkshirtchallenge.html

Mike’s 6-goal challenge comes during a “non-tax” season to limit his excuses in case he fails (like so many before him).  There will also be no Dave Costa shenanigans of switching positions since Mike is already a forward.

Tune in each week to see if “Mr. Team USA” can complete his challenge.

Missing Legends

“Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door…, neither is Joe Shannon or Matty Iannello.”

Joe Shannon is calling it a career and going out on top as a “Perfect Champ!”. 

Matty Ianello is going in for a procedure that may (or may not) include changing his pronouns from “Matty I-Me-Myself” to “Matty They-Them-Themselves”

Both players will be noticeably missed from the weekly games.

Building Permits

The City of Saugus has signed off on the permits to build the virtual Over-30 Hall of Fame.  The League Director is currently working with the Webmaster and both parties are excited to bring something new to the league and website.

We will continue to monitor the progress and provide updates as work continues.

Award Name Change

As you all know the Over-30 Hockey League lost another member of the family with the passing of Nelson Sousa.  This season we are honoring Nelson’s memory by renaming the weekly goalie award to the “Nelson Sousa - Lucky Goalie of the Week” Award.

The league has also added his #39 to all league jerseys.

Also: Saturday 9-23-23 (Week #3) the league will honor Nelson’s career with a special ceremony between the 4:30 and 5:30 games.  Please plan to join us (and Nelson’s family) as we present the Sousa’s with some league memorabilia in Nelson’s honor.

Are You Ready?

9-9-2023… Opening Day for the 32^nd season of the Over-30 League is here.

We just have one question: