As we begin the new 2013 Over-30 Winter Season we wanted to address a few concerns and welcome a few players back.
First… Mr Pat Pirone, despite your persistent nagging, it’s a fairly new tradition to not release the full rosters until the eve of the new seasons. Team Captains are notified of their individual rosters, but only a select few confidants have classified roster information and are sworn to take the oath of Omertà, the mafia code of silence.
Welcome back to the Over-30 league Rick Hudson (The Bushwacker lives). You’ll see lots of familiar faces and players who are long past their prime, so I’m sure you'll fit right back in.
After completing his 6-month Anger Management Classes, Mauro Colucciello graduated class Valedictorian and is looking forward to his brother’s blind (behind the back) passes. Mauro is returning with his 12-step sponsor and blue-line defender Luigi DeRenzis.
We also have a new rookie player this season, Chris Ponte. We asked a few players if they knew anything about Chris Ponte and his style of play... but all we kept hearing was "Who the F%&K is Chris Ponte?"
Last but not least… Welcome Back Matt Iannello. Even though you haven’t left, we always have to welcome the great one back... as one day, those retirement rumors will be sadly true.
Franco Grutti is still checking the Over-30 league website, still smiling knowing that Dave Curcio still can’t win a championship without him. Especially since Dave led his team to back-to-back Championship Games… only to leave Hockeytown with back-to-back heartbreaks.
Some upcoming season league notables:
There is no bigger story line for this upcoming season that the potential for the great one Matt “Matty-I” Iannello to take-over and surpass Ray Nickerson for the all-time leading points scorer. Ray has held this title for as long as this reporter can remember.., and all those assists that were never given to Ray over the years have now come back to haunt him. Matty is now within striking distance with only 11-points separating "The Greatest All-Time Whiner" Ray Nickerson and "The Greatest Of All-Time" Matt Iannello. Stay tuned as we monitor this race all season long.
Alby Luise has returned to guarding the blue line… instead of letting in goals shot from it. Oh and Alby, you still owe Jim Barber $10 bucks for giving up that weak ass goal from Tony Bono with 27-seconds left to play in the season and thus continuing Jim Barber’s rein of the Pink Stick Bag.
Speaking of Pink Stick bag Challenge… This season’s challenger is none other than the great "Pretender" himself; Scott Young. The challenge for Scott this upcoming season.., 14-points. Get on the scoring sheets 14 times and win a $50 Gift Certificate from Pure Hockey. Register 13 (or less) and you take over for Jim.
Joe “Turtle” Mancinelli is going on 16 seasons played and still with no Over-30 championship jacket to his credit. His supporting cast this season... Dan Broderick and the rest of Golden Oldies. Mr Broderick feels his team has a good shot to win a championship now that he has replaced all the Portuguese players with Italians. So... to Dan and the rest of his WOPS we say... Buona Fortuna!!
We will also be watching this season’s Player Milestones and achievements
Achievable:
- Ray Nickerson needs 18 assists for 600 career assists
- Joe Shannon needs 5 goals for 500 career goals; 4 points for 900 career points
- Nick Romano needs 5 goals for 300 career goals
- Mark Stickney needs 6 assists for 300 career assists
- Tony Medeiros needs 9 goals for 200 career goals
- Ricky Hudson needs 1 point for 300 career points; 10 assists for 200 career assists
- Joe Mancinelli needs 5 goals for 100 career goals
Longshots:
- John Desmond needs 28 points for 100 career points
- Dave Curcio needs 25 points for 400 career points
- Joe Mancinelli needs 25 points for 200
- Dominic DeFrancisco needs 22 points for 100 career points
- Rick Cassano needs 17 assists for 100 career assists
- John Colucciello needs 15 points for 300 career points
- Scott Young 14-points to avoid carrying a Pink Stick Bag.
With all that said… Good luck to all the Captains and their team:
Jim Barber – Shooting Stars
White Lighting – Scott Young
Cuckoo’s Nest – Matt Iannello
Golden Oldies – Dan Broderick
Blame The Girl – Gary Goodwin