Over 30 Hockey League

Week of February 11 (Game 1) – All good things must come to an end, including winning streaks.  After winning their first three games of the season, Yellow Submarine came crashing down hard as they played short-handed and generated very little offense (12 total shots; 1 shot in the first period).  Sour Grapes was more than happy to provide the beat down, winning in a rout by the lopsided score of 7 – 2.

In the first period, Sour Grapes had their running game going and it showed as they completely dominated Yellow Submarine, outshooting them by a 11 – 1 margin!  Just under three minutes into the game saw George Medeiros crash the net to collect a rebound of a Rick Cassano shot and give his Sour Grapes team the early lead.  Five minutes later saw Rick score out front as George returned the favor and set him up.

The second period saw more domination by Sour Grapes, scoring three unanswered goals, outshooting their opponent by a 21 – 6 margin after two periods.  Three minutes in, Rick scored his second goal of the game, set up by the timely passing of George and Sergio Costa.  A minute later, on the power play, Chris Chiavelli scored his first goal of the season, as he was set up by Dave Costa and Dan Broderick.  With two minutes left in the period, Dan (who earlier had broken his relic 1998 Mylec stick) scored using a new wooden stick, as he was set up by Dave and Steve Medeiros.

Knowing that they had generated zero offense and trying to make of game of this, Yellow Submarine, found new life, three minutes into the third period as Brian Kehoe hustled his way to the front of the net after receiving the pass from Matty Iannello and Ray Nickerson.  Undeterred, just over a minute later, Sour Grapes answered right back with Gary Goodwin (Stonehands actually scored?) beating the goalie after being set up by Dave and Angelo “Otak” Deluca.  On the ensuing faceoff, only fourteen seconds later, Matty found himself in the high slot, converting the passing of Ray and Bob Snyder.  Once again, unfazed by this goal, Otak capped off the scoring, set up by Steve, and in the process run his scoring streak to three games scoring a goal (what Pink Stick Bag Challenge?).

Week of February 11 (Game 2) – For the first ten minutes of their game, Shark Attack had the Pylons on the ropes with an aggressive running game and fore check that generated some prime scoring opportunities.  Problem was that the Pylons remembered that it would take a complete thirty minutes to determine the outcome, while Shark Attack failed to remember.  That patient strategy paid off as the Pylons came out on top in the end, winning the game by a score of 5 – 2.

The first period saw Shark Attack keep the pressure on the defense of the Pylons which resulted in Joe Carlton being set up out front by Mike Luise, to give his team the lead with eighteen seconds to play in the period.  However, on the ensuing faceoff, after making a key block of a scoring opportunity, Mike Naczas found Shawn Miville open on the left wing and his shot from inside his clearing line curved past a surprised goalie to even the score only ten seconds later.  That goal accomplished two things.  It woke up the Pylons offense and running legs, and it stunned Shark Attack.

Taking full advantage of this surprising turn of events and momentum swing, the Pylons took advantage of some defensive turnovers to score the next four unanswered goals.  Four minutes in saw Pat Pirone score an unassisted goal on a breakaway after forcing a turnover at the blue line.  Three minutes later had Joe Mancinelli scored out front off some timely passing by Tony Mastrocola and Pat.  Only ten seconds later off the ensuing faceoff, Anthony Lauletta picked off a clearing attempt and his deflected pass was batted out of mid-air by Shawn.  Two minutes later, Pat converted a rebound attempt of shots by Steve Witkus and Joe to give his team a commanding four-goal lead.

Portuguse Barber?

This week’s top story is not hockey related… Its fashion related.  

What the hell was going on with Sergio Costa's head?  The hecklers in the Waldorf & Statler Luxury Suite were speculating that is was a misplaced divot from a 9-iron swing… while others called it a bird’s nest or roadkill, and some called him “Serg Sperling”

I've heard of the "Portuguese Power"... but never witnessed the creation of a "Portuguese Barber" 

That hairdo last week earned Sergio a new nickname courtesy of the Simpsons.  He is now known as "Sideshow Serg" for this copycat hairdo.

Mamma Mia!!

Mamma Mia… was it Gino Tammaro that was holding back fellow Pisano Rick Cassano all this time.   Rick is on fire this young season as he is tied for 2^nd place with Shawn Miville in the “most goals scored” with 5-goals and that’s only one behind the leader Matty Iannello with his 6-goals on the season.   

There you go Ricky... Your name was mentioned in the same sentence as two of the greats of the game.

Now enjoy your bye week off and see if that cools you down.

Don't Blame the Stick

Thank God Tim Hickey changed his stick after he let up the 2nd goal of the game... Otherwise that first stick would have had to continue to be part of the 5-unanswered goals Yellow Submarine gave up before finally scoring on Jeff Deharo in the 3rd.   

Tim and "both" his sticks gave up an uncharacteristic 7-goals total while his biggest competition for The Leading Goalie Award, Jeff Deharo was only facing 12-shots down the other end.  

At one point we thought we saw Jeff on his phone booking some fictitious conference that always coincidentally happens at the end of the season when the goalie race is tight.   Jeff you and that little travel gnome can book Vegas for late April... You should have the award locked up by then.

Major Costs

Aside from losing playing time while sitting in the penalty box for 5-minutes and hurting your team (or maybe not), we calculated the cost associated with serving a five-minute major for slamming your stick.

The cost to serve a 5-minute major is now $3.47 and potentially a replacement stick depending on how hard you hit the stick.  Tack on another $20.83 if you get suspended for the following game and your potential costs (with stick) could almost reach $100, that is unless you’re Dan Broderick and Matty Iannello and you still use a $20 Mylec.., but those players don't slam their sticks, they lead in a time of disparity  

Long Shot Petition

There is no truth to the rumor that the goalies are secretly collaborating to draft a petition that would ban Shawn Miville from taking Slapshot's... from his own zone.

Last week was another example on Shark Attack Goalie Alby Luise as his shot from 10-feet into his own zone found its way past Alby… we can’t but wonder if Alby would have been allowed to use Jeff Deharo’s towel if that somehow may have prevented the goal from occurring.

Regardless… Shawn's shot with his new CCM tacks 75 flex stick even scares him.   The shot from the black and yellow cannon is not only scary fast, but it also breaks, dips, bends, screens and even loop-de-loops on a goalie making it almost impossible to stop.

Shawn, please help our goalies retain the confidence and stop shooting long shots that break 6-feet left to right.  Otherwise we need you to start using a mylec or an old high school one piece plastic molded stick.

Doubling the Scorers

Before last week’s game… Sour Grapes only had 3-players that recorded a goal for them. 

Last week’s blowout performance more than doubled to the league average of 7-players that have recorded goals for their teams.

Despite their uncharacteristic blowout Yellow Submarine leads the league with 8-players who have scored while Shark Attack is treading water with just 5-players and sad to say one of them is their Captain Jim Barber

Bye Week Blues

Shark Attack has yet to win a game after returning from their bye week.  0-3 last season and the woes continue this season as they were blown out of the water 5-2 by the Pylons to bring Bye Week record to 0-4.

Only Matty Iannello and his Yellow Submarine have won their game following the bye week.., thus making returning teams just 1-3 this season.  

Let's see how 11-Guys, 1-Ball does this week after an unofficial Portuguese holiday or as Tony Mederios likes to call it "Rum Chata Week".., when he starts drinking early on Saturday and doesn't have to get off the couch to help Scott Young win another "token" championship jacket.

WWBBD

What Would Bill Belichick Do?   

Shortly after a league email went out to all players stating that all games were going to be played last week despite the snow… Pat Pirone called the webmaster to ask if the games were still on??? 

Pat's dementia moment and reasoning was that Hockeytown was closed on Thursday for a NorEaster and that somehow that was carried over to Saturday.

The webmaster knowing Pat Pirone was his pending opponent for that night’s game could have (or should have) seized the opportunity to remove Pat from the bout and say "yeah Pat games are cancelled tonight"

Instead the webmaster feeling confident after their first win of the season, told Pat that the games “were on” and to "bring his A-game" that he would need it against the newly confident Shark Attack.

Well Pat brought his "A-game" and extinguished any hope of a Shark Attack winning streak... So should have the webmaster lied to Pat and remove a player from the game, like a coach Belichick strategy?

As it turns out Pat went on to score 2-goals and 1-assist to win the Dunkin Donuts Player of the Week Award.

Top Goalie Prospect

With all of the goalies (except Jeff Deharo) battling a high GAA this season with (3.67, 3.67, 3.75 & 4.0) the league is looking at a new top prospect for next season.

Rumor has this goalie prospect will go high in the draft and one of our veterans will be left hold his "poop" bag from the sidelines.