Over 30 Hockey League

Week of January 30 (Game 1) – After playing three straight games as a team short-handed with their captain out on IR and John Kelleher filling in on defense, Broken Promises finally got things in order, as their captain made his return, they had two full lines (John finally got to play some offense) and this became the Mauro Colucciello show, as they defeated the Island of Misfit Toys 4 – 2.

Broken Promises got off to a very fast strong start in this game as they swarmed the Island of Misfit Toys repeatedly in the first period, generating scoring chance after scoring chance that paid off with 2-goals scored in just over thirty seconds halfway through the period.  Both goals came off the stick of Mauro, as he was set up on his first goal by the fore checking of John Kelleher and John Mastrocola, then by Nick Romano on his second goal. 

In the second period, Sergio Costa took advantage of a defensive turnover to score only two minutes into the period and quickly change the momentum of this game.  Broken Promises had their chances offensively but the fill-in goalie of Island of Misfit Toys stood his ground keeping this a one-goal game.

Needing a change in momentum to retake control of this game, Broken Promises took advantage of a defensive turnover as Mauro ripped a shot from high on the right wing, on a pass from Alex Leone, giving his team a commanding lead.  However, only two minutes later, Ray Nickerson scored an unassisted goal to bring his team back into this game.  With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, another unforced defensive turnover by Island of Misfit Toys led to an unassisted Nick Romano goal to seal the victory.  Not having the Great One there for Island of Misfit Toys played a major role in their lack of offensive production.   

Week of January 30 (Game 2) – After jumping out to a three goal lead after one period, Labatt Blues barely held on to hold off a furious comeback and defeat the short-handed HABitual Complainers team 5 – 4 in overtime, to move into a tie for first place overall in the standings.  What is scary for the rest of the Over-30 league is that HABitual Complainers played this game missing the Portuguese Power duo on offense as well as their top two defensemen.

It was all Labatt Blues in the first period as they coasted in scoring four goals to take a commanding lead in this game.  Defenseman Steve Iacoviello scored his first goal of the season on a bomb from the left point, set up by Shawn Miville and Walter Maslak only a minute and half in.  Halfway through the period, Shawn scored back to back goals as he was first set up on a breakaway by Anthony Lauletta, then again set up by Anthony and Dan Broderick.  Joe Carlton answered back only twenty seconds later on a rocket from the slot which was answered late in the period by Mark Stickney scoring from the slot, set up by Anthony and Walter.

Little did everyone know that this game would start to change in the second period for HABitual Complainers as Labatt Blues played a sit back style and stopped attacking, content to rest on their three goal lead.  HABitual Complainers scored halfway through the period to gain some much needed momentum heading into the third period as they were slowly and surgically taking over this game.

Little did anyone know how quickly the momentum would swing in favor of HABitual Complainers at the start of the third period.  In a span of less than two minutes, Steve Medeiros scored his first goal of the season set up by Joe that was quickly followed up by John Leite scoring the tying goal set up by the hustle of Brian Kehoe.  HABitual Complainers were swarming the defense of Labatt Blues the entire third period pressing for the go ahead goal and came very close to scoring multiple times.

Tournament Effects by Ray Dow

With Dracut hosting their version of a 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament last weekend, players from the top two teams (and some from the basement) were noticeably absent and it effected their respective teams. 

Three teams effected by what we are calling Tournament Effects by Ray Dow.

Ray drafted a talented core of Over-30 players to represent the Over-30 League.

First Up... Island of Misfit Toys.  When drafting for a 3-on-3 tournament that only uses half the dek... your first round pick has to be "The Great One" Matty Iannello.   With limited fore-checking and the shrunken dek this becomes the ideal arena for one of the most prolific passers in the game.

Aside from Matty being absent... one-half of their defense was missing as well.  Jamie Kehoe and Colleen O'Connell but were respectively replaced by two equivalent defenseman in Bill Abcunas and Mike Naczas (We'll let you decide which one was Jamie's equal and which one was Colleen's equal).

Another replacement player for Island of Misfit Toys was Billy Gardynski Jr, who filled in for (Dad) Gardynski Sr.., which normally we would consider that a dramatic upgrade, but Over-30 bylaws state that anytime Jr fills in for Sr... “He must play down to Sr's level” and thus let up a minimum of 4-goals so that Island of Mistfit Toys won't get a false sense of what playing in front of what a stable goalie feels like.

Side note:  Billy Gardynski Sr was not absent due to the tournament... Ray Dow is not that crazy.  Sr is out on IR nursing a super-secret injury.  This reporter speculates that he might have “sprained his pride”.

The result of missing their captain, half their defense and fill-in goalie playing to “below his standards” resulted in a 4-2 loss and another week in the basement for the toys.

A much bigger impact from the tournament... Four top players (and Ed Nigro) were missing for HABitual Complainers.  Ray was able to sign Dominic DeFrancisco and Jason Carrien to his All-Star roster, while Jason Glista was also representing the Over-30 in Dracut.

When you combine that loss of talent not to mention Tony Medeiros missed with an unauthorized absence and Ed Nigro not present to shut down Shawn Miville as he's successfully done in the past... It was an epic comeback for the water-downed HABitual Complainers who battled from down 4-1 only to lose in OT.

Her Winning Ways

Back-to-Back Over-30 Champions Colleen O'Connell and Jamie Kehoe continued their winning ways by winning the 3-on-3 Co-ed Division.  Colleen won both the Co-ed and Woman’s Championship bracket.

Meanwhile Jamie also added another championship to her accomplishment as she won the Co-ed Division with Colleen.  Rumor has it Jamie is looking to ink a sponsorship deal with both Revlon and the Midol Corporations.

Phoenix Rising

Rising from the ashes of the Over-30 League former defenseman Paul White inked a one-day contract with Ray Dow to complete his All-Star team of:  Ray Dow, Matty Iannello, Dominic DeFransico, Jay Carrien, Jon Picard and Paul White.

Unfortunately this “Motley Crue” lost in semis.

Aye Aye Captain(s)???

If you have kids… or watch Nickelodeon you will get the following song.  If you chase kids away like a few people we know… then you might not get the reference.

With Broken Promises hitting the dek with (2) Captains and a wannabe Captain, we thought it would be fitting to sing about them. 

Are you ready kids? "Aye Aye Captain(s)????"
I can't hear you! "AYE AYE CAPTAIN(S)???"

Ooooooooohh...

Who drives a plow truck and plows for me?
"Nick-y Ro-mano"

Works for Demoulas and striked for FREE!
"John-ny Kell-eher"

If unfinished offense be something you wish
"Scot-ty Young"

Then drop on the dek and flop like a fish!
"Brok-ken Prom-ises"

READY?

"Brok-ken Prom-ises"
"Brok-ken Prom-ises"
"Brok-ken Prom-ises"

"Brok-keeeen Prom-isssesssss"!   (Insert Flute ending here)

Returning to play

Welcome back from IR Scotty Young… from the pace and effort your team put fourth last week, it’s apparent you are the shot in the arm they needed to right that ship.

Avoiding a Referee Strike… Mike Naczas is making his way back to playing his typical “Get that shit out of here” defense.

Bill Abcunas… We’ll he has one toe in the water testing the temperature while evaluating the play of Mike Naczas.  Don’t screw up Naz!!

New Whiner Award

With the goalies continuing to whine that the only way they can win a Dunkin Donuts or Five Guys award it to post a shutout.  The league announced a “privately funded, non-sanctioned” monthly goalie award to recognize the goalies and their thankless effort.

This is actually another new fresh idea for the league that came from a non-board member who has league influence… and we feel it’s actually a pretty good idea.

After all… you think it’s easy having someone like Shawn Miville blasting a ball at you 90 mph… or Pat Pirone chopping at your hands while claiming he didn’t hear the whistle… or 11-guys on the beach blaming you for their defensive breakdowns and their lack of offense.

The award will be privately selected by a board using the SWAG Calculations Method (Scientifically Wild Ass Guesses) along with game impacts and what the players do in their community to promote positive goaltending.