Over 30 Hockey League

Week of March 12 (Game 1) – After going 0-1-1 in their last two games, HABitual Complainers were determined to start another winning streak that hopefully would carry them to another championship heading down the stretch run.  Led by the offense of the Portuguese Power line of Medeiros-Defrancisco-Leite, HABitual Complainers broke open this game with two quick goals in the second period in pulling away from Broken Promises by a score of 4 – 1.

In the first period, three minutes in, it was the second line of HABitual Complainers that scored the game’s first goal as Brian Kehoe buried his shot out front, on a pass from Joe Carlton and Tony Bono.  How determined were HABitual Complainers to score in the first period?  Very, as they threw 14 shots on net!

After surviving the offensive onslaught in the first period, Broken Promises grabbed the momentum back as John Mastrocola used his speed and quickness from out high, set up by Luigi Derenzes and Umberto Biancardi, scoring only thirty seconds into the period.  However, less than a minute later, unfazed by this, Tony Medeiros converted from point blank range as he was set up by Dominic and Jason Glista.  Less than two minutes later, Dom scored in tight as he was set up by Tony and Tony Bono to break this game wide open in favor of HABitual Complainers.

Heading into the third period, HABitual Complainers had a 28-18 shot differential in their favor and it showed as goalie Scott Rosato for Broken Promises was under fire all game long, but managed to keep his team in this game.  Halfway through the period, Dominic scored as the Portuguese Power line put an exclamation point on this victory!

Heading into their bye week, HABitual Complainers moved back into sole possession of first place overall in the standings.

Week of March 12 (Game 2) – Do you believe in miracles?  Yes!  Facing playoff elimination, in the midst of a six game losing streak, and missing five players Island of Misfit Toys was facing an uphill task.  Led by the will of captain Matty Iannello, Island of Misfit Toys sent an emphatic message to Consigliere that they would not clinch that final playoff spot at their expense, with a character building 3 – 2 win.  Island of Misfit Toys is still alive with three games to play!

Needing some sort of miracle start to this game, Island of Misfit Toys got just that as Carlos Machado scored 2-goals in less than a minute in the last two minutes of the period.  On his first goal, after taking a pass from Naz and Bill Abcunas, Carlos scored on the right wing.  He followed that up with his second goal after taking a pass from Matty Iannello and Naz again down the right wing.  To say that Consigliere was stunned was an understatement.

In the second period, Consigliere made their push back to tie this game.  Less than thirty seconds into the period, Rick Cassano banged home a rebound of a Gino Tammaro shot on a pass from Mike Luise.  Five minutes later, Gino scored off the wing as he was set up by Joe Mancinelli.  Momentum had clearly swung back in favor of Consigliere as they took it to the short-handed Island of Misfit Toys team.

Breaking News

Breaking News:  We interrupt our regularly scheduled “Trash Talk” to bring to following special report.

It took 9-games over the course of 11-weeks… but Island of Misfit Toys was able to squeak out a 3-2 win over Consigliere.  We’ll have more continuing coverage and reaction during our 6:00 broadcast. 

Now back to the forum…

Trump’s Wall

Here is a perfect example of why we need Trump to build that wall.

Do we really want “illegal” players that are not on the roster competing for our hockey jobs that we pay good money to play in such a prestigious league?

Last week HABitual Complainers Captain Jim Barber was summoned to the timekeeper’s box to explain who #66 was?  Knowing that Mario Lemieux does not play in the league and no one in the league should be wearing #66 and tarnishing the NHL Legend by wearing #66… It was quickly determined that John “Don’t call me Mario” Colucciello was not listed on Broken Promises roster.

“Undocumented” players should not be allowed to play until they are legally rostered and have a “green card”… and by “green card” we mean they paid $240 in green cash to league like the rest of us.

Unfortunately it’s another case of an “Undocumented Illegal Player” sucking off the system thanks to a bureaucratic high ranking official not doing his job.  This high ranking official’s only job is to make the weekly roster and scoring sheets.  That’s it… one job, and yet he screwed his own team up. 

Legally we cannot divulge the official’s name… so we’ll give him a secret identity to hide behind… and since the Nixon Administration already used “Deep Throat”, we’ll call our bureaucratic high ranking official the “Pretender”.

Thankfully John’s “illegal” status did not affect the outcome of the game.., because John’s “playing” status typically has no effect on the game thanks to his highly unsuccessful “blind behind the back passes.”

Two “Balls” Presentation

League Director Bill Abcunas had two “Balls” in his pocket last week… which is funny because typically wife Kellie Abcunas has them in her pocket along with his spine, but that’s what you get when you get married to a Canadian Fan.

Last week’s contest between HABitual Complainers and Broken Promises had League Director finally “doing his job” and presenting a few players with their ceremonial milestone achievement award.

Ball #1:  Umberto “Papa Smurf” Biancardi was presented with his “100^th Shot” of his career… What? Wait… Sorry, his “100^th Point” of his Over-30 career.  I know it’s hard to believe if only took Papa 14-seasons to hit a 100 with all that fore-checking speed. 

Now needing just 55-goals for 100-Goals… We’ll see you again in a 8-years Umberto when we present you with the 100-Goals Ball in 2024-2025 seasons

Ball #2:  Dominic “The Franchise” DeFrancisco was presented with his 100-Goals and 200-points milestones.  Dom is the Uranium that powers the “Portuguese Power” Plant.  He just needed the right “Plant Manager” to make his Championship dreams come true.

“Machardo” is Portuguese for…

Checking Google Translate we learned “Machardo” is Portuguese for “Not going down without a fight”

Carlos “We’re not mathematically eliminated” Machardo is not ready to call it a season just yet.  Although he’s not officially affiliated with the real “Portuguese Power”, Carlos made it clear that if his goaltender would “Get up” and make the saves he needed to make.., Carlos would in-turn bury his chances in the offensive zone and prolong their inevitable demise for one more week.

Not Making History

Not wanting to be a negative reference in the Over-30 History book as being the only team to go an entire season “winless”… It took the souls of six (just 6) brave men (and no woman) to break the streak that no player wants to be part of.

No Colleen, No Jamie, No Ray, No Mike, No George and No Serigo… should have equaled “No Chance in Hell” that the Island of Misfit Toys could pull off a must win against the only other team that has not clinched a playoff berth yet, and Consigliere could have single-handedly killed the “Toys” season with a win yesterday. 

But, instead Consigliere will be a footnote in the Over-30 History Book as the “only” team to lose against the Spring 2016 Island Of Misfit Toys

The Magnificent Seven

Congratulations Matty Iannello, Carlos Machado, Shawn Wyatt, Jim Clarke, Mike Nacas, Bill Abcunas and goaltender Billy Gardynski Sr… you saved face and gave yourselves a sliver of hope.

Championship Robe?

Defending Champion Tony Medeiros voiced his dismay last week for the recently award “RED” Championship jackets.  It seems Tony does not like the team’s choice to go with the team color “RED”

So Tony has his own Championship Robe???

The debate is, what did Tony do to get fitted for his Championship Robe?

Did Tony;

A)   Get a procedure to add “Passing” to his game?

B)   Getting his “Portuguese Power” Tattoo removed?

C)   Finally fulfill his end of the bargain by giving the “CodFather” one of his kidneys for allowing him to marry into the Leite Family.

Goaltending 101

Not satisfied with his recent 2015 Winter Season Championship and Leading Goalie Award… not to mention he won the first ever “Goalie of the Month” Award (this season).

So what does Jeff Deharo do… sit back and eat chips to lock up an award?

No… Jeff attends “Goaltending 101” and stays after last week’s his 4-1 victory to hon his craft and work with Sandra Glista’s Goaltending Coach who has been likened to the “Dumbledore” of goaltending.

While Jeff worked with his newly acquired coach on stopping the long shot (a known weakness) for Jeff… Billy Gardnyski Sr was working with his Goaltending Coach on how to properly blame the defense.

Championship Trophy Facts #7 & #99

Pat “I’m a reformed Goon” Pirone and Ed “I’ll never retire” Nigro not only are the top two “winningest” players in the league of all time… they are actually championship pioneers.

Pat has the distinct honor of being on the 2^nd team to win the now 3’-7” trophy.  When Pat won the trophy back in the Spring of 1993 (23-years ago) with the Gangreene Slugs the trophy was a small block of wood with an oversize cup on top measuring just 1’-7”.

Ed was on the 3^rd Team (Also Gangreen Slugs, no affiliation) to win the cup back in Winter of 1993

Pat is the first of only two players to ever have his name etched on the trophy with 4-consecutive championships … Ed is also in another exclusive club of 3-pete Champions.

So congrats to Pat Pirone and Ed Nigro… Championship Pioneers!!