Over 30 Hockey League

Article 241 October 5, 2013

Game results and Player(s) of the Week

Week of September 28, (Game 1) – The last two remaining undefeated teams in the Over-30 league faced each other, in a match-up of teams chasing history in the Over-30 league.  Blame the Girl, looking like the early season favorite team, and the Golden Oldies, still looking for their first win of the new season, played to a 1 – 1 overtime tie.  According to captain Dan Broderick of the Golden Oldies, his team is chasing history by trying to become the first undefeated Over-30 team in a regular season, not by recording 12 consecutive wins, but by posting 12 consecutive ties.  The good news for the Golden Oldies is they didn’t experience déjà vu all over again and give up leads of 4-1 and 5-3 late in the game and allow the opposition to score with seconds to play in their game.

For the third straight game, Blame the Girl scored first in the first period as Gary Goodwin was set up out front by Dominic Defrancisco and Jon Pickard.  Both teams had scoring chances in this period, but goalies Bill Gardynski Jr. of Blame the Girl and Matt Anctil of the Golden Oldies shut the door.

In the second period, the Golden Oldies made the most of their limited scoring chances as John Kelleher scored an unassisted goal with less than a minute to play in the period.  What stood out in this game was how both team’s defenses were controlling the game, not allowing either team to generate some consistent offense.  Even though there were a decent amount of shots taken by both teams, scoring chances were at a minimum.

In the third period, Blame the Girl pushed the pace and the offense, opening up the game by outshooting the Golden Oldies by a two-to-one ratio.  However, no goals were scored.  In overtime, Blame the Girl failed to capitalize and take advantage on a 4-on-3 power play late in overtime, and settled for the tie.  Even more frustrating for Blame the Girl was they never recorded a shot in the entire overtime.  For Blame the Girl it was a lost opportunity to win their third straight game; for the Golden Oldies, it put an end to scoring five goals in a game only to fold in the end and settle for another tie.

Week of September 28, (Game 2) – In a game played between two evenly matched teams, Cuckoo’s Nest took advantage of Joe Shannon’s two third period goals to just get by White Lightning by the score of 4 – 3.  With the win, Cuckoo’s Nest moved back to a five hundred record for the season and into second place overall.  For White Lightning, after earning their first point of the season last week, they still are in search of their first win of the season.

In the first period, both teams traded scoring opportunities, yet the defense of both teams were blocking or deflecting other shots from getting through to the net.  With just under a minute to play in the period, Niko Vramis found a seam between the defense for a partial breakaway and roofed a shot on the short side giving White Lightning the early lead.

Early in the second period on a power play, Matty Iannello found himself on the right wing and was set up by a cross rink pass from Ray Nickerson to even this game at a goal apiece.  A minute later, with some strong fore checking by the first line of White Lightning paid off as Derek Shaw scored out front, set up by Scott Young and Dave Curcio, giving his team the lead once again.  With just under three minutes to play in the second period, Nick Romano scored off the right wing side as he was set up by the hustle and passing of Rick Cassano, tying up this game for Cuckoo’s Nest.

Early in the third period, Joe Shannon scored off a slap shot from the right wing that picked the low far side of the net as he was set up by Matty Iannello and Ray Nickerson.  With just over three minutes to play in the game, Derek Shaw scored a blue collar goal out front by muscling in his own rebound off a shot from Mike Surette from the point.  However, less than a minute later, Joe Shannon ended it as he took a cross point feed from Brein Sullivan and unleashed a bomb from the left point, through a screen, that caught the low short side corner.  That was two clutch goals from Joe Shannon that were perfectly placed!

Matty Iannello was heard complaining pre-game that he was a little sore after getting “rear-ended” by some guy on Route 1.  Details are still a bit fuzzy… not sure if it was a car accident or a rendezvous at The Avalon Motel.  In either case; Ice it, Lube it… do whatever you have to do, because the great one is 28^th on the leader board (and dropping).

In baseball a “Tie goes to the runner”… Golden Oldies can thank John Kelleher who happens to be the only “runner” on the team.  John scored the only goal to preserve their undefeated record thus far this early in the season.  For player/owner and team captain Dan Broderick this is all part of his master plan for his team.  Dan wants to go 0-0-12 and be the only team (in league history) to have an undefeated season without a single win and get into the playoffs with 12-points.  With Matt Antcil letting all those last minute goals… it’s an achievable plan.  Dan said if by chance they are winning late in the game, he plans to pull Matt and play for the tie.

Speaking of Matt Antcil.., there was a compliment paid to you (from the dek) while the game was going on.  Another legend of the game Jon Pickard said “Matt had to pick today to play the best game on the season so far.”  Way to go Matt… no last second heroics for Blame the Girl

The week… Blame the Girl (without the girl playing) was called “Blame Tony Medeiros”.  Tony missed an easy tap in (for the win) from defenseman Jon Picard, or as Jon said after the game “Even Barber would have tipped that in” – (Whoa! Don’t lump me in there Jon) I won a jacket with you (and your advice all season)… let me share your championship words of wisdom with your team. “GO TO THE NET!!”

Oh!, and since we are pointing fingers… you can also “Blame Mike Hollingsworth”  During the last few seconds of the game fellow defenseman Pic give you the ball at the point… then Pic gets cocked and loaded and waits (and waits, and waits) for a return pass so he can blast in the game winning OT goal… but the return pass never comes.

Instead Mr. Hollingsworth tries to force it down low to Tony Medeiros, who did nothing all game except spray shots all over the place.  Big Mike you have to give that back to the 10^th greatest player in the league.

One last thing about that 1-1 tie… Can anyone tell me why Dominic DeFrancisco was sitting on the bench for the last minute (plus) of the game?  The kid is only one of the best players in the league and while Tony who was just “Spraying and Praying” shots all over the place for an hour missed his opportunity (tap in) for the win.  For shame…(Mr. Goodwin)… For shame.  It reminded us the Cam Neely and Kevin Stevens benching in 1996.  When we asked Dominic about Gary’s decision not to have him out there for the last minute… ``First of all, if he thinks that I'm not good enough to play on this team, to help the team win hockey games, that's his decision and his opinion,'' DeFrancisco said. ``I know that my opinion doesn't mean much to him. But that was a pretty bush- league way about going to do something.”

Nick Romano were you watching?  Nicky did you see it?  Did you see how Niko Vramis stole the ball and went in all alone on a “breakaway” and went upstairs on your goalie Scott Rosato and SCORED!  Maybe you might want to consider adding an “O and V” to your first and last name and become… “Nicko Vromano”.  Then maybe you might have a shot a burying a perfect scoring opportunity for once.

Niko had one of the best ESPN Top-10 moments of the season when he stole an attempted Brien Sullivan (D-to-D) pass to Mike Fleming.  Niko laid out the stick, tipped the ball forward and finished his efforts with a Sweeeeet goal.  When we asked Niko about the goal, he said “Those are the kind of plays that happen when you’re not playing with family.”   Though he wouldn’t name anyone in particular, our speculation is his unnamed family member has "yet to score a goal this season"… and according to Mike Naczas… “He won’t.”

If you paid with a check… put a hold on it through your bank.  If you paid with cash… file a rebate claim.  I guess everyone (except) the players on Blame the Girl have wasted their $240 this season.  According to BtG’s undocumented captain Mike Naczas… They (Blame the Girl) are going to (and I quote) “Run away with it this season.”  It that a prediction or a jinx… we’ll all find out in 13-weeks (stay tuned!)

This week Matty Iannello was heard telling the Assistance League Director Mike Nacas to shut up… in regards to Mike always yelling at Cucko’s Nest phenom Nick Romano to “Shoot the ball” or yelling at Jeff Deharo to stop one.

After a few words between periods, Naz had to remind the great one of who he was yelling at (in particular the guy that hands Matty a free Dunkin Donuts Gift card at least once or twice a season).  As far as Naz our resident sideline trash talker goes… we reached out to his teammate Jon Pickard for his thoughts and etiquette on trash talking

Jon Picard  - “Never crosses the line”

You may have noticed before and after our games last week… The North American Gay & Lesbian Roller Derby Tryouts was taking place.., which one of the requirements is to have ample tattoo coverage.  Rumor has is that Kellie tried to go upstairs before the game to set-up and was told that this was a “private event” and that she would have to go back downstairs.  Apparently they noticed her wedding ring and lack of ink.

Inspired by pre- and post-game festivities our 10^th best player in the league Jon Picard went home and composed a little song in hopes of winning over one of those “toughies”...  I think he had a thing for the one they called “Spike” – Well, we will let Jon tell you all about it in his song to her.

We got our hands on his video … and for Pete sake take Ray Nickerson’s advice and go get yourself a shave and a haircut.

Cupid hits Jon Picard with an arrow… Looks like Jon is in love with a derby queen.