Over 30 Hockey League

Article 225   December 8, 2012

Game results and Player(s) of the Week

Last week we witnessed two teams heading in opposite directions.  In Shannon We Trust won their third straight game and remained undefeated in their last four games, moving into second place overall by themselves in the league standings.  For the Portuguese Pretenders, after playing .500 hockey in their first seven games and still in the thick of the playoff race, they have since lost four straight, officially being eliminated from the playoff race.

Week of December 1, (Game 1) – It was being billed as a the most important game of the season for both Midas Touch and the Portuguese Pretenders, as the result would have direct playoff implications.  Either these two teams would stay in the playoff race, or one team would move on and another would be eliminated.  It was the latter result that would be the cold hard facts as Midas Touch defeated the Portuguese Pretenders by the score of 3 – 1.

After a scoreless first period, at the four minute mark of the second period, Jim Barber (yes that Jim Barber as this is not a misprint) of Midas Touch scored the game’s first goal in tight as his shot hit the goalie in the mask, then rolled down his neck, then rolled down his back and dropped into the net (anything to avoid that pink stick bag I guess).  With just under a minute left in the second period, Angelo “Kato” Delucca scored from behind the net, as his shot caromed off the back of the goalies leg to give Midas Touch a commanding two-goal lead.

Three minutes into the third period, Tony Medeiros gave his Portuguese Pretenders some hope when he found the top corner of the far side on a shot from well out (a great shot).  However, instead of the Portuguese Pretenders gaining some momentum from that goal, it was the Midas Touch team who upped the pressure to put this game away.  Before the Portuguese Pretenders could pull their goalie, Angelo struck again from the wing, as he was set up by John Desmond and Mike Florentino, both of whom had two assists in this game.

Week of December 1, (Game 2) – In a statement game, In Shannon We Trust dropped the hammer down on the Wanna Be’s, as they posed a convincing win by the score of 5 – 1 to move into sole possession of second place overall.  For In Shannon We Trust they remained undefeated in their last four games played (hottest team in the league).

Umberto “Papa Smurf” Biancardi, last week’s winner of the Dunkin Donuts Player of the Week award, put his In Shannon We Trust team in the lead in the last minute of the first period.  Three minutes into the second period, defenseman Umberto Baldassarre moved down from his position on the point and scored from the high slot to tie this game up.  From there however, it was the Matty Iannello show.  With three minutes to play in the second, Matty set up Joe Shannon on the power play to score the game’s killer goal. 

In the third period, Matty kept his foot on the gas pedal and didn’t let up, scoring a goal and setting up two others to seal the win for his team.  In Shannon We Trust played a classic ball control style (especially Joe Shannon on defense) to slow down the aggressive style of the Wanna Be’s.  Statement game indeed!! 

Let’s set the stage… 2-games to go and (3) goals required for Jim Barber to avoid being the first recipient of the “Smiling Pete Lodi Pink Stick Bag Challenge”… because per Matty Iannello (6) goals “Is not a push!!” Technically Midas Touch has (3) games left, but Jim will be attending his company Christmas party and thinking about the goals he may (or may not) have scored during his wasted opportunity.

League Veteran and Dek Hockey Hall Of Famer Dan Broderick tried his best to knock Jim out of the challenge completely with a vicious stick to the head. Dazed and confused Jim shook it off long enough to return the favor and BLAST a beautiful slot pass from teammate Angelo “Kato” Delucca off the head of goaltender Bill Gardynski Sr. The last time we saw a shot to the head like that was while watching the ” Zapruder Film” (Google it).

With only (1) game to play … Jim missing that empty net goal against On My Own could be the one to haunt him next season.

"Oh the humanity…"

Joe Shannon might have relinquished his role as part of the former BIG 3 (aka the Holy Trinity Line) of Shannon-Iannello-Nickerson.., but Joey has never relinquished his cannon of a shot from his new home at the blue line. Keep piling on the goals “Mr. All-Time Goals Leader.”

OMG PAT PIRONE!!.., You’re are so lucky that the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l pass that Umberto “Papa Smurf” Biancardi gave you for a simple one-timer/goal.., came off the stick of Papa and not from Ray Nickerson because you would be still getting an earful on how you muffed his potential assist. Maybe it was the head cold you claimed to have had.., but for us spectators watching, it was comical seeing a WIFF like that.

Oh and Pat… we know you clinched a playoff berth with that win, but did you have to hug goaltender Alby Luise like you just won another jacket. Easy big guy.., you’re in the playoffs, but you need to win it all before doling out hugs like that.

Speaking of Umberto… It’s always fun watching Umberto vs Umberto, because seriously how often to see (2) guys named Umberto battle for a dek hockey ball. I have to say it’s about the same odds as winning Powerball.

Thankfully Umberto Baldassarre finally stepped-up and scored a goal for his Fantasy Team Owner… and as Jim says to his staff everyday “muchas gracias de nadda”…, thanks for nothing!

Was it April Fool’s day last Saturday… Cause someone was playing a joke on Brien Sullivan when they told him to go play center instead of his normal defensive role. It was very weird seeing Brien square off in the faceoff circle against the best draw-taker in the league; Mr. Mark Stickney. Hey, for what it was worth.., You seemed to hold your own and didn’t look out of place (too much), like fellow teammate Dan Broderick who was out of place… In the penalty box!

As it becomes more and more apparent that the 2012 NHL season will never become a reality… the Over-30 League has redirected the viewing audience to the;

The premise behind this individual challenge is simple.  Jim’s offensive goal scoring has gone south ever since the Over-30 league moved away from Tewksbury and the Olympic-sized rink where Jim could outrun anyone.  However, times have changed and back to the smaller rink upstairs at Hockeytown.., his league goal production has diminished.

We thought that the time that Jim spends updating the website also played a role in his lessened goal production, but, everyone knows that he never has any free time to actually update the website.  So, Jim was thrown a challenge to prove us all wrong.  Jim has to score 7 goals this season or else, starting in the spring season, he will have to carry onto the rink with him his new pink stick bag (ala smiling Pete Lodi), courteousy of the Over-30 league.  

For those of you who are counting, here are the game by game weekly running totals for Jim’s chase for pink stick bag glory.  This table will be posted on the website on a weekly basis (not!) so that you can all place your side bets and have a good laugh at Mr. Barber’s expense.