Over 30 Hockey League

Week of February 3 (Game 1) – Heading into this game, there were some skeptics who doubted the success of Maybe One at the start of the Spring 2018 season.  What they forgot to realize was never doubt the Great One and his leadership.  For the second week in a row, Maybe One overcame a two goal deficit and defeated another top contender in Trojan Horse by the score of 5 – 4 in overtime.  With the win, Maybe One remains in sole possession of first place in the standings.

After a scoreless evenly played first period by both teams, Trojan Horse struck first a minute and a half into the second period, as Walter Maslak was set up out front by the passing of Nick Romano and Jim Barber.  Halfway through the period, Maybe One scored two goals in less than a minute as Pat Pirone remained hot, scoring his third goal in the last two games as he was sent down the left wing by Joe Mancinelli and Alex Leone.  This was followed by John Carey scoring from the point on a set up by Matty Iannello.  On the ensuing face off, Angelo Deluca’s surprise shot past the white clearing line caught the goalie napping to tie the game.  With just under a minute to play in the period, Umberto “Papa” Biancardi came out of nowhere to score two goals in ten seconds to give Trojan Horse a commanding two goal lead and a momentum swing heading into the final period.

In the third period, Trojan Horse was cruising to victory and had this game well in hand but failed to close it out late in the third period as first Matty scored after being set up by Ray Nickerson with three minutes to play.  This was followed by Maybe One taking advantage of a power play that saw Joe score in close off the rebound of shots by Matty and John.  This goal came with only thirty-seven seconds left to play.  Riding the momentum swing into overtime saw Matty score the game winning goal off a pass from Ray that the goalie initially stopped but the ball rolled off the goalie and trickled into the net with just over a minute to play.

Comments coming from the sidelines were quick to question the lack of “in-game” adjustments by Trojan Horse by keeping their best offensive player and threat back on defense the entire game, even while winning this game.

Week of February 3 (Game 2) – With Blues Brothers missing its best forward and captain, their top two defensemen and another player, they were ripe for defeat.  However, someone forgot to tell the players on the rink as Blues Brothers came back to earn a well-deserved tie with Team Cherry resulting in a 1 – 1 tie.  Team Cherry had its chances to score but couldn’t finish or make plays on offense.

After a scoreless first period, Team Cherry scored the game’s first goal as Paul Correia scored an unassisted goal with two minutes left to play in the second period.  Both teams tried generating scoring chances but they turned out to be saved by the goalies that resulted in one-and-done chances for each team.

In the third period, the hustle of Tim Hickey paid off for Blues Brothers as he took advantage of a defensive turnover to score an unassisted goal three minutes into the period.  As the game headed into overtime, both teams took advantage of the open space on the rink in a wide open back and forth style.  Defense was sacrificed by both teams as they tried scoring the winning goal.  However, the play of goalies Jake Deehan for Team Cherry and Sandra Glista filling in for Blues Brothers shut everything down and turned aside any scoring threats.

Umberto if you ever wanted to see video of you fore-checking.  This is almost a stride for stride simulation.

Sympathy Award

Unlike the speedy "Lil John" Mastrocola.., Umberto Biancardi will never win a 5-Guys award for his "Hustle".., but the awards committee shafted Umberto last week by awarding a player who was cut with 4-minutes left to play.  

Listen to this sentence carefully from last week’s game sheet.., “Umberto Biancardi shocks the opposition by scoring back to back goals ten seconds apart late in the second period.”

If that’s not coffee or at least cheeseburger worthy… then we don't know what a catch is anymore in the NFL???  ~Chris Collingsworth

Thankfully his team named him the “Trojan of the Week”.  Congrats and our apologies Umberto… Now you and Jeff Deharo can start a support group for “Players not recognized for their efforts by the awards committee”

Instead Jason Carrien gets the new "5-Guys  Sympathy of the week award" because he returned to action after his trainer Mick stitched up a cut over his eye and wrapped his head in tape.

Before Jason could return to play he had to go through Referee Jon Picard's Concussion Protocol.

After a brief pause Pic declared.., "He's Ok, he’s still an idiot.., line 'em up."

Accident Recreation

Since we don't have the same NHL budget that would allow us to televise the Over-30 League.., we rely heavily on free internet interpretations of the actual incidents.  

The latest involving a Defenseman on Defenseman assault.., whereas Jason Carrien was fore-checking as depicted by the kid in the video.., before he was assaulted by the league premier windmill defenseman Mike Naczas and as the video will show.., Naz' reckless spinning motion style of defense

Person of interest

After his assault our Over-30 Investigation Unit printed out a lineup and ask Jason Carrien if the person that assaulted him was in the lineup;

After trying to remember the 51st and the 52 States... he asked if this was another trick question because they look like same person and that he couldn't conclusively pick which one depicted his assailant more accurately

6-More Weeks

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow a week ago which means six more weeks of "Winless Hockey" for Team Cherry

Lil Mean One

Doctor Pepper has their "Lil Sweet" .., and thanks to perfectly framed photo.., the Over-30 League now has "Lil Mean".., "He's a mean one... little Jeff.., he he he"

"Lil Mean".., Jeff Deharo was watching John Mastrocola accept his 5-Guys Award for "Hustle".., and you could hear him taunting.., "I should be accepting that award"... "I hope your burger had mad cow disease"... "I post a shutout and he hustled... Big deal"

The Over-30 Drive Thru

Ray Dow spent his BYE week getting “fu@&ed” in the Over-30 Drive Thru.

In the absence of Jason Glista and Dave Costa..,Ray was asked (and agreed) to fill in for Blues Brothers as a premier defenseman.  The problem; much like an overbooked JetBlue flight.., that same offer was whored around the league and Jamie Kehoe was offed the same starring role.

So.., unbeknownst to Ray who trained all morning for his fill-in role.., showed up to hockeytown "Ret to go"

Then before Ray could even put his equipment on.., he was told "Thank you for coming but your services were not needed.., Jamie is filling in

Not out coached

When Matty Iannello sends the reassignment orders that transfers Derrick Powers from Defense to Offense and moves a hobbling Scotty Young from forward to defense.., he's a perceived as a genius. 

However; when the self-proclaimed winningest captain Jim Barber is short 2-Defenseman and opts to go with Shawn Miville on Defense (based on Miv's eagerness play back).., Jim is perceived as being “out coached” in the 5-4 Overtime loss.

Like Kid Rock one said "All the crackheads, the critics, the cynics.., and all my heroes at the methadone clinic.., all you bastards at the I.R.S..,"

What.., what was my point.., I lost track.

Oh yeah, putting Miv back on defense was not being out coached.., Trojan Horse was up 4-2 with less than 4-minutes to play.., and still 4-3 after Matty scored a goal in response to the taunting from the bench for Angelo to stay on Matty.

But; the real backbreaker came as Shawn launched a 30-foot high clearing attempt (in front of his father we might add) that hit the netting resulting in a stupid delay of game penalty (aka Suretteing) that put Miv in the box and let Maybe One score a powerplay goal to tie it.