Over 30 Hockey League

Week of February 20 (Game 1) – Players showed up to play a Dekhockey game and little did they know that a Pond hockey game would take place.  In a wide open, shoot first then play defense later offensive deluge of goals (14 total goals scored), Labatt Blues scored six goals in the second period to outlast Consigliere by a head shaking 8 – 6 final score.  Yes, there were two goalies between the pipes in this game, even if the score didn’t reflect it.

In the calm before the storm first period, Labatt Blues scored the game’s first goal, four minutes in as Walter Maslak was set up by Shawn Miville and Mark Stickney.  Three minutes later, Consigliere countered by scoring two goals in less than two minutes, as Gino Tammaro was set up by Rick Cassano and Otak Deluca which was followed by Pat Pirone scoring set up by Joe Mancinelli and Rick.

In the second period, all scoring hell broke loose as Labatt Blues broke this game wide open, scoring six goals on fifteen shots.  Accounting for four of these six goals were Shawn and Tony Mastrocola, who each scored twice.  Rounding out the scoring for Labatt Blues in the period was Anthony Lauletta who scored his second goal of the season, going five games between goals scored, and Old Man Dan Broderick.  Gino accounted for the only goal scored by Consigliere in this period.

Thirty seconds into the third period, Steve Witkus scored an unassisted bomb from the point making this a two goal game.  Halfway through the period, Shawn gave his team some breathing room, set up by Walter and Dan.  Consigliere tried mounting a furious comeback by going all out, as they scored twice on goals by Rick and Gino.  But the deficit was too much to overcome.  On a side note, by scoring a goal and adding an assist, Dan Broderick became the first-ever Pink Stick Bag Challenger to achieve his required quota of points in record time, needing only six games.  Congrats Dan, enjoy the Kelly’s roast beef and fish plate!

Week of February 20 (Game 2) – Steamrolling into this game, winners of five of their first six games played this season, HABitual Complainers got a scare from Island of Misfit Toys for two periods before pulling away with a much closer 6 – 2 win.  For Island of Misfit Toys, the losses keep mounting up as they remain winless this season.

In a tightly played first period, featuring close checking and not much space on the rink to work, Joe Carlton’s deflected slap shot from the left wing near the center line found the back of the net giving his team the early lead with less than twenty seconds to play.

Picking up the pace and scoring in the second period saw some gritty net front presence by the grunt line of Island of Misfit Toys that resulted in Carlos Machado scoring off a rebound four minutes in.  Twenty-six seconds later, Dominic Defrancisco answered right back, set up by his Portuguese Power line mate Tony Medeiros.  Less than a minute after that, Island of Misfit Toys again saw the grunt line answer off a three-on-two as George Medeiros was set up down the middle by some clever passing from his wingers, tying this game up.  However, just as he had done late in the first period, Joe scored off a counter rush with just over a minute to play, giving his team the lead and a much needed boost.

The third period was all HABitual Complainers, as they scored three unanswered goals and simply wore down the older Island of Misfit Toys team with their relentless team speed.  Brian Kehoe scored less than two minutes in, followed by John “Codfather” Leite scoring four minutes later, followed by Dominic scoring two minutes after that.

Quietly Guilty

You know when you see criminals on TV and they (and their Lawyers) say "No Comment"... because they know they are 100% guilty.  We'll it's now been 2-weeks and Shaun Miville has not be credited with his GWG against Island of Misfit Toys and the only official league response is "No Comment!"

This one lone player will champion the cause to rightfully reverse what “ALL” the evidence shows supporting the "facts" that Mark Stickney did not tip or touch Shawn's GWG goal... other than passing it to him. 

Per Joe Shannon...  "Bube" recorded the numbers wrong.

Scoring Change "Awarded"

So it seems the league is standing by their policy and not changing Shawn Miville's rightfully earned GWG against Island of Misfit Toys.

Hey Dominic DeFrancisco do you remember when you were about to win the 2014 Winter Season Scoring Title... then out of no where Matty Iannello petitioned the league to change the scoring and credited “The Great One” with an assist thus making you a co-winner?  

No justice, no peace... #GiveShawnHisGWG

Trash Day

Trash day must be Saturday's at Pat Pirone's house... because that goal last week was a garbage goal.  Typical Pat playing and poking until the whistle blows, Pat's fourth poke at pseudo tied up ball was jammed home for the goal.

For that reason... I'm out

Jay Carrien tried taking his entrepreneur "Sock Cozi" to market by selling in them in between periods with no luck.  It seems no one is interested in drinking a beer from one of Jay's socks.

With a $7.00 startup investment and no sales... it was only natural to pitch it to the sharks on Shark Tank.  Jay's only interested investor for the "Sock Cozi" was Billionaire Shark Mark Cuban who was interested in fronting Jay 100 Million for 100% of Sock-O Inc... But, just as Jay was about to close the deal he referred to Mark with a hockey nickname... you know, when you add "ie: or "s" to the name.

Sorry "Cubes" and for the reason... “He's out” and Sock-O Inc subsequently filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

Man down

Like Queen once wrote and sang... "Another one right in the nuts.., and another one down, and another one down.., Another one right in the nuts"

Steve Iacoviello is the latest victim to lose the game of chance by playing cup-less.

Fact: The little fellas makes up about .2% of the overall body... but when you get hit in the bullseye it's the most excruciating pain imaginable.  So why doesn't 100% dek hockey players wear a cup?  It's a percentage play... there's a 99.8% chance you won't get your front doorbell rung.

Hockey Villains

Claude Lemieux, Pat Pirone, Dale Hunter, Ulf Samuelsson, and now Carlos Machado joins the growing list of hockey villains.

Much like Ivan "The Terrible".., we are giving Carlos a new cool and fitting nickname... Carlos "The Antagonist" Machado because there is three parts to Carlos' game... 1-part offense, 1-part defense and 1-part getting into the opponents heads.

The Portuguese loud mouth was once Billy Gardynski Sr arch nemesis... until becoming teammates.  Now Carlos is branching out and using his Jedi mind tricks and “antagonistic” ways to wreak havoc on weak minded opponents.

After Carlos matched up penalties with Jay Carrien, he then used the 3rd part of his game to get Jay to double-up and serve an extra minute in the sin bin.  When Carlos learned of Jay's pending suspension he chuckled and exclaimed "Huh, I did better than I thought"

Let this be a future lesson to the rest of the league...  Most players are one-way players, some players have a good two-way game, but Carlos is one of the best 3-way players in the game.

One + One = Two Minutes

Per the P.U.T.A.  Week #11 November 14th - Article 300

Throwing or slamming of sticks will result in;

Minimum of Unsportsmanlike Conduct:  Results in 1-minute penalty, and opposing power play.

Possible Misconduct: Results in 5-minute penalty, no opposing power play and cannot come out until after the full five minutes and a stoppage of play.

Game Misconduct: Results in an ejection from the game (along with possible suspension.

Once again… and heed this warning;

ANY player that tosses a stick in frustration while either entering the penalty box, or the team bench after a shift will be called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

ANY player slamming the boards with their stick in frustration will be called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

ANY player who commits these types of stick infractions and is deemed “excessive” by the referee’s discretion will face potential game ejection and possible suspension.

With that said; Keep you emotions and sticks in check… as we have more and more kids along with family members watching our games.

You have been warned (AGAIN)

Tantrums = Suspensions

Billy Gardynski Sr, Mike Naczas, John & Mauro Colucciello, and now Jay Carrien joins list of recent current players who have been suspended (and not for penalties) but the ensuing tantrums that followed.

We get it... frustrations and emotions can run high, it's a competitive league.  But, it's also a league full of friends and colleagues that don't want to witness the self-destruction that occurs and embarrasses yourself (and your teammates).

Despite how egregious you feel the call was (or missed)... Despite 2-guys trying to watch 12-players... and, Despite your personal opinions... Do what is best for yourself and MORE importantly for YOUR team… Keep your composure, take your 1-minute penalty and reflect on how you can be a better hockey player once you get out of the penalty box because Tantrums = Suspensions.

How to avoid confrontations

So you find yourself ready to explode... ready to argue with an official... ready to fight another player... ready to get yourself suspended... It's all NOT worth it. 

This is a FUN and competitive sport played with friends and acquaintances who share the same passion as you in playing dek hockey as long as the bodies last us.

So when you find yourself in one of those situations... just remember and sing this song and walk back to the bench (respectfully and quietly) and with your playing status as still active.

Just walk away and sing (To yourself)... FU@K The $H!T I'm Out

Let the Clinching Begin

With Island of Misfit Toys knocking on deaths door... The magic number is 12 to clinch a playoff berth. 

Both HABitual Complainers can lockup a seed with either win, tie, or an Island of Misfit Toys loss this week.

However, Since the HABitual Complainers are going to be missing 75% of their defense, their League Leading Goalie Jeff Deharo, and their franchise player in Dominic Defrancisco.., look for Labatt Blues to be the first to punch their ticket to the big dance.

Pisano Game Plan

With HABitual Complainers missing half their team along with their League Leading Goalie Jeff Deharo... and Consigliere fresh off an 8-6 shootout loss against Labatt Blues, look for the speedy Pisano's to upset the Complainers and give them their 1st (Non-OT) loss of the season.

We reached out to HABitual Complainers Captain Jim Barber on how he was game planning for Consigliere

Jim's plan is to play a "trap game" and not the famous New Jersey Devil’s trap.  

Instead Jim's plan is to place these milk crates strategically across the dek but focusing mainly on the right wing with little Gino Tammaro can be seen speeding by.