Over 30 Hockey League

This holiday season Hammertime is celebrating using “Rob with no job”.

Bill Belichick likes to say “Do your job”… But this season Rob Sheridan has “No Job” and has officially shut it down for the 2024 Winter Season.

Two weeks ago, Rob notified the leagues human resources department to give his  official notice that his intent is to finish 2024 on the couch…, and make a Matty Iannello type return for the 2025 Spring Season starting in January.

We asked Hammertime Captain Jim Barber for a comment on Rob’s decision to shut it down and he said that (he) and Lee Nogler “felt (robbed) of a season without Rob”.., and will be inquiring about a refund and a possible 2025-2026 do over.

Temp to Perm

Congratulations Anthony Petrillo and Jon Brown…, your paperwork cleared and your official “Temp to Perm” status is complete for the 2024 Winter Season.

Anthony has been assigned to Hammertime (Fulltime) and Jon is joining M*A*S*H as both players are permanently filling in for the remainder of the season due to long term IR designations.

Rob Sheridan shut it down for the entire season for Hammertime…, and John Mastrocola and Paul White have both been placed on the M*A*S*H indefinite IR list.

Anthony and Jon will remain on their respective teams throughout the remainder of the season and are both eligible for the playoffs as well.  Your dedication to the league as a fill-in hasn’t gone unnoticed…, and we’ll look to keep you playing in 2025 after reviewing the IR Report and Waiver Wires.

Last Minute Scratch

Hammertime has lost another player to the indefinite IR list.  After a lengthy stint on the short-term IR, Dale McIsaac tried to make a comeback last week and despite a solid performance in net, he ended up losing 4-3 to Mike O’Neill.

Dale has submitted the required paperwork and has chosen to shut it down for the remainder of the season and playoffs… and will join his teammate Rob Sheridan for a fresh new start in January 2025

Hammertime will now make the use of the leagues “official” substitute goalies Mike Viera and Steve Taddonio respectively for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

Match-ups

This is it… down to the wire… 2-weeks left and there is still a lot on the line.

Both Dominions and Phoenix Rising have locked up the BYE week.., but neither team has locked up 1^st place as it all could come down to this week’s 6:30 game between the two powerhouses. 

A tie and a Dominions blowout in their first two meetings…, but with a Dominions win, they will lock up first place (which is Dominic’s least favorite seeding)

This year there is no “Middle of the pack”…, it’s the “The Haves and the Have Nots”

The “Haves” locked up their BYE week and the “Have Nots” aka “The rest of the pack”…, is all over the map, and the scenarios are endless.  Just 1-point separates 3^rd to 6^th with all four teams only winning either 4 or 5 games all season so far.

There’s a lot riding this week... as we wind down the 2024 Winter Season…, who is going to be the team that faces (arguably) the hottest team of the second half in M*A*S*H in the first round of the playoffs.

Fresh New Idea

Another “Fresh New Idea” gets unveiled this week.

Instead of trying to recap two weeks’ worth of Over-30 Hockey story lines… and with the holiday Thanksgiving edition here.  We decided to mix it up a little and just give you the top story headlines for the past two weeks, and you can write your own stories in your mind.

Dave Norton returns and scores a $20 goal for a board member

Tommy Gallagher teaches goaltender Mike Viera about FAFO!

Eddie Chin sweeps the floor through numerous falls

Giving Thanks!

As we sat around the Thanksgiving day table putting on 5-lbs for this week’s games and many of us probably having one last turkey sandwich before firing the bird into boiling water for Turkey soups…, Several players were thankful to the “hockey-turkey gods” this year.

You all should have received the leagues official Thanksgiving email from the League Director Bill Abcunas…, now let’s dive a little deeper into the players.

First up… “The New Regime”

Tony Medeiros is thankful he’s become a made man in the Over-30 League as the 3^rd member of the “New Regime” on the Board of Directors.  Tony’s vision, experience, and dedication is going to take the leagues fundraising and charity events to new levels.

Mike Naczas is thankful that Tony wears the same size hat as him…, as Tony is now a key player in the fundraising efforts and the sale of raffle tickets…, we just need to teach him about player photos and that it’s ok to disagree with the League Director.

Jim Barber is thankful to have a 7^th swing vote at the Board of Directors meetings.  Tony is now the equivalent of Pennsylvania, as you need his vote to win a debate.

Next up… “The Captains

M*A*S*H Captain Jamie Kehoe is thankful that Tommy Gallagher came out of Over-30 retirement to bring veteran leadership and his Team USA skillset to the rink.  He’s also thankful that Mark Stickney isn’t confusing his Centrum Vitamins with his Cialis.  Mark’s B12 pills have him playing like a much younger 50-something and not a 60-something centerman.

Hammertime Captain Jim Barber is thankful that BC football season is almost over and is really looking forward to the 2025 season with a full team that includes Elder Lopes and Rob Sheridan.

Dominions Captain Dominic DeFrancisco is thankful the League Director gave him another stacked team this season and will be even more thankful if they win a playoff game this time around…, and Dom owes a special thanks for getting Chris Torres in the draft.

Phoenix Rising Captain John Kelleher is thankful that Matty Iannello had a “Great” team of doctors that are focused on the new “MIGA Movement” as once again they are working towards “Making Iannello Great Again”. 

Azores Express Captain Dave Costa is thankful he has properties in Florida and Portugal, so he doesn’t have to witness his team’s losses in person.  Costa prefers to be drinking in the “Azores”, while his team is back in Saugus derailing an “Express” loss.

Barney & Friends Captain Angelo Deluca is thankful he finally left his Paisano’s and ventured off on his own. He replaced Ricky Cassano & Gino Tammaro with a couple of upgrades in Leo Trombley & Mike Duggan, but his biggest thanks are for the drama-less goaltending of Scotty Rosato.

Now for… “The Players”

Dominions

Manny Nunes is thankful to be able to relax and just have fun playing hockey again.  Manny is playing a rejuvenated style of hockey and rumor has it he is thrilled to be playing for his fellow Portuese Captain Dominic DeFrancisco.

Chris Torres is thankful he’s the fastest guy in the league, on the best team in the league and enjoys speeding past the league’s senior citizens on his way to his defenseman leading 9-goals and 13-points.

Sean Roach is thankful he accepted the “Blind Goalie Challenge” as he’s a shoe in to keep fellow goaltender Scotty Rosato wearing pink for another season.  Sean is also thankful to have Chris Torres leading his defensive core who combined with Dominic DeFrancisco’s backchecking have the lowest goals allowed (so far) with 32.

John Hines is thankful that the 2024 Players Jamboree championship win and a MVD Award helped turn him from neon green to neon yellow with both captains being the same Dominic DeFrancisco.

Derrick Power is thankful that he is the hardest working forward with no goals. 

Hammertime

Lee Nogler was thankful to be playing with Rob Sheridan…, and Rob Sheridan was thankful to have a high caliber player like Lee Nogler on his right wing…, but together they will have to give thanks in 2025 as the league looks forward to what that tandem pair will potentially do on the rink.

Patrick Spencer is thankful he finally learned how to play hockey with a fishbowl on his head.  For a while there…, the league was worried about Patrick’s decline in play.  This season Pat has learned to light the lamp (a lot) with 13-goals (one off the league lead of 14).

Jimmy Clarke is thankful to be back in the league after a year off… and, will be even more thankful if he can get that donut out of the goals column before the season is over.  Jimmy has played 54-seasons and only has had a zero-goal season 10-times (maybe 11) if he can’t sneak one in during the last two games.

Elder Lopes is grateful BC football games are almost over, and he can be a regular weekly contributor to Hammertime and actually start earning his “A”.

Barney & Friends

Mike Duggan is thankful the pressure of a 4^th consecutive scoring title is over with, now he can focus on getting ready for the playoffs.  He’s also thankful for getting married and that one of his friends, we’ll call him “Judas”, for letting the cat out of the bag on Mike’s new nickname.  Donny Maccini likes to call him “Doo-gan”…, but Mike’s mother prefers to call him “Poopsie”… thank you for the material Momma Duggan. We always say, “The Forum writes itself”.

Leo Trombley is thankful for the passes Mike Duggan gives him on a weekly basis that he uses to miss wide open net opportunities with.  Leo should be in double digit goals by now, but instead he’s missed double digit whiffs opportunities from “Poopsie”.

Ray Nickerson is thankful for all this time off…, now instead of “slash first, ask questions after… or threatening referees for assists”…, Ray can focus his Saturday nights for the ladies.  Just remember the Cialis warning Ray… “If it last more than 4-hours seek medical attention”

Mike Surette is thankful he’s not playing for Jim Barber

M*A*S*H

Tommy Gallagher is thankful he ran into Jim Barber at the Chelmsford Hannaford and convinced him to come back to the Over-30 League after dropping names like Rob Sheridan, Dan Broderick and Lee Nogler during his recruitment pitch.

Steve Silveria is thankful for his request to play defense with Mike Naczas was honored in the off-season.  We know the once perfect duo made history…, but of all the players Steve could have requested to play with… he picked Naz?

Mike Naczas is thankful he didn’t write 6-goals on that napkin on that fateful summer morning of predictions.  With 2-weeks left, now the ALD wishes he just put a “1” on the napkin.  Maybe “Naz-tradamus” was predicting the number of team wins (instead of goals) when he wrote “5”.

Dave Giusti is thankful he played better than everyone else in front of him during that 0-7 stretch.  Dave was part of the reason for all those losses, but also the main reason they weren’t all blowouts.

Rich Pelletier is thankful that he figured out how to combine his two loves into one state…, He’s now “scoring” and saving gas.

Azores Express

Mike Luise is thankful he joined the 500-goals club to go along with his 500-assists.  “Mr Team USA” is only the 3^rd player in league history to score 500-goals to join Matty Iannello (561) and Joe Shannon (528)

Alex Leone is thankful he scored his first goal of the season a few weeks ago and got his name removed from the “Players with ZERO goals” list.  Alex hasn’t had a zero-goal season since Spring 2020 with Olive Pits.

Gary Goodwin is thankful that he gets to celebrate another year of “Sparkplugs” with the “Perfection Boyz”…, Gary is definitely the “Mercury Morris” of the group leading the season tradition…, and he’s already looking forward to the 2025 Spring Season celebration.

Ron Aquino is glad the election season is over, so “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” can get back to playing hockey and looking for rats in the City of Boston.

Phoenix Rising

Matty Iannello is thankful for his 1400-points and to Dominic DeFrancisco and his 11-point league over Mike Duggan…, whose rein of “Leading Scorer Award” will stop at 3-consecutive (two shy of “The Great One”) and his 5-consecutive.

Eddie “The Chin” Chin is thankful this season he gets to experience greatness firsthand by playing with the “Rising Phoenix” himself Matty Iannello.  “The Chin” man is probably going to end up having a career season when the 2024 Winter Season comes to an end.

AJ Larabee is thankful he learned how to read…, as he’s commented on how he likes to read the weekly forum…, and AJ had plenty of time to do so after going into hiding for 3-weeks straight, right after giving up 5-goals and 8-goals in back-to-back weeks.

Mike O’Neill is thankful he didn’t mean it, when he said he was “Coming for records”… but, he could have been “Coming for records” if he first focused on “Coming each week” as right now he could be tied for 1^st instead of tied for 11^th.

Dan Broderick is thankful for another season of playing in the Over-30 League.  Dan who turned 67 right before the season started is our version of the “Ironman” Cal Ripkin. 

The “Real #5” just needs to bury a goal as he hasn’t scored a goal since 2018.

Final Thanks

True to the great divide that is the United States of America… 50% of you will love the finals thanks of 2024… and 50% of you will hate it.  We don’t care which side you are on, as we are all Americans and want to give “Thanks” on Thanksgiving…, and in the holiday spirit, let’s enjoy some turkey and a little dance!!

@myt_panther Video credit to Donald Trump Jr. 🇺🇲 #nationallampoonschristmasvacation#thanksgiving #humor #trump #trump2024 #trumptrain #movieclips #myt_panther ♬ original sound - 𝔽ℝ𝔸ℕ𝕂👷🏻‍♂️🇺🇸

Our Condolences

The Over-30 league would also like to send our condolences to Broderick Family.

Last week Dan and his siblings lost their mother Johanna on Sunday. 

Our beloved mother, Johanna C. Broderick formerly of Listowel, County Kerry Ireland and Everett, peacefully left us on 11/24/24. Beloved wife of the late Timothy Broderick.  Devoted mother to sons Daniel of Everett, Tim and wife Stephanie of Tewksbury, Michael and wife Toni Ann of Burlington, John and partner Patricia of Saugus, and Kevin of Saugus. Loving sister to Philomena and Teresa, predeceased by other siblings, Noreen and late husband Michael, Mary, Bridie, Margaret, Pat, and Mick.  Loving grandmother to her grandchildren, Michael Ryan and wife Emily, Janelle, Patrice and husband Wilfred, Gavin, and Nicole. Also, survived by a host of family and friends. Johanna's passions were family/friends, cooking, gardening, and her love of Irish music.

Contributions to the Glaucoma Research Foundation https://glaucoma.org , a cause close to her heart, are appreciated.

Well Wishes

The Over-30 League would like to wish Mike Costa a full and speedy recovery.

Mike (a painter) fell off a ladder last week…, reports say that he broke his back and neck and was on life support in tough shape at a Boston Hospital.

Several of the Over-30 players know Mike and we want to send our well wishes to him and his family.