Over 30 Hockey League

Week of November 10 (Game 1) – Coming into this game the question left unanswered was could Coach’s Corner take the momentum from winning their first game of the season last week and use that successfully to start a new winning streak?  Standing in their way was the red hot first place team.  The momentum was short lived for Coach’s Corner as Mixed Nuts won the game 3 – 1 with a methodical and efficient performance.

At the start of this game, what didn’t help Coach’s Corner was missing two players from their first line as well as one of their top defensemen. On the other hand, Mixed Nuts was playing mostly with a full roster and used it to their advantage.

After a scoreless first period, Mixed Nuts opened up the scoring as Mark Stickney, playing like a rejuvenated player, scored the game’s first goal, set up by the defense of Brien Sullivan and Jamie Kehoe three minutes into the period.

Entering the third period in a one goal game, Mixed Nuts was playing smart hockey waiting patiently for a defensive mistake to take advantage of.  They were rewarded three minutes into the period as Mauro Colucciello was set up out front by the passing of Matty Iannello and Tim Hickey opening up a two goal lead.  Four minutes later, Mauro scored a big insurance goal as he was set up by Mark and Jamie essentially sealing this win.  All that remained was to see if goalie Sean Roach could hold on and record the league’s first shutout of the season.  However, those dreams were dashed by Nick Romano who ruined the shutout when he scored with only twenty-eight seconds to play, set up by Angelo Deluca and Ray Dow.

With the win, Mixed Nuts maintained possession of first place overall in the standings, while Coach’s Corner failed to take advantage of moving closer to the team right above them in the standings who was on their bye week.

Week of November 10 (Game 2) – With both teams missing key first line players, this game shaped up as a defensive battle between two evenly matched teams.  After a sluggish start, Black Hole had an offensive outburst in the third period to easily pull away and win the game over the Rhinos by a score of 5 – 2.  With the win, Black Hole has now won four straight games and moved into sole possession of second place in the standings.

Only a minute into this game, things started out positive for the Rhinos as Niko Vramis found a seam out front, set up by Alex Leone and George Medeiros for the game’s first goal.  However, four minutes later, Shawn Wyatt set up shop at the top of the crease and buried his shot off the passing of Mike Luise and Sergio Costa.  Two minutes after that, Jim Barber cashed in on a pass from Sergio to give Black Hole the lead.

After a scoreless and back and forth second period with both goalies stopping everything thrown at them, Black Hole was still controlling this game and dictating the play in the third period.  Halfway through the period, this was still a one goal game.  With four minutes to play in the game, Jim scored his second goal of the game, set up by Sergio and Jason Carrien.  Just over a minute later, Jason broke in from the point, receiving a pass from Sergio in the corner, and beat the goalie cleanly.  Twenty seconds later, the rout was on as Sergio got rewarded and was set up for a goal by the defense of Jason and Naz. 

Frustration set in for the Rhinos as they played the last two and a half minutes without a goalie looking for a spark.  With just over a minute to play, John Kelleher scored from the right wing, set up by Alex and Steve Medeiros.

After his 5 point outburst, Sergio now finds himself atop the leading scorer’s race with only 4 games to play.  Can Sergio keep up this scoring pace the rest of the way and make league history as the new Portuguese Power?  If so, the doubters will be asking themselves “can you smell what the Serg is cooking?” 

Baker’s Dozen

With 4-games left.., unfortunately Coach's Corner has become the measuring stick for the weekly Magic Number.

With their loss last week... the new Magic Number has been lowered to 12-points to clinch (with tie breakers).., but if you order yourself a Bakers Dozen (13-points) you are guaranteed a playoff berth. 

Which means Mixed Nuts and Black Hole can clinch a playoff berth if either team wins outright.., (or) Mixed Nuts can also clinch with a tie.

Final Lap

Rev' up your engines.., two laps are complete and this week we start the final lap of the season around the league.

The middle 1/3 of the season saw the teams go;

Mixed Nuts 3-1 (6pts)

Gang Green 0-4 (0pts)

Rhinos 1-2-1(3pts)

Black Hole 4-0 (8pts)

Coach's Corner 1-2-1 (3pts)

Hey Gang Green and Coach's Corner.., In case you missed the announcement at the beginning of the race.., "Gentleman START your engines".., you have 4-games left to play for your playoff lives.

BFD!

Jeff Deharo wanted to pass along his congratulations to fellow Goalie Dave Guisti for winning his recent 5-Guys Award as Jeff knows first-hand it's not easy for a goalie to winter weekly awards. 

But Jeff also wanted to pass along a giant "BFD!" to the award voters and presenters.., 

"Let me get this straight, Dave gets an award for letting up 2-goals in his first win of the season.., BFD!.., I posted shutouts in the past that went unrecognized by the awards committee.., and now they pass out awards for players "hustling" and now goalies who let up TWO goals?"

TBT & TBJ

Facebook has TBT (Throw Back Thursday) where you post old throwback photos of yourself.

The League Director Bill Abcunas is borrowing that idea but with a hockey twist and a $50 prize.., TBJ (Throw Back Jersey) for pre-game warmups 

So go into the basements, up into the attics or out in the sheds and find those old jerseys.., and put it on pre-game and reminisce about the days when you were 20-years younger, 5 MPH faster and 30-lbs lighter.

Stay Thirty Pisano's

I don't always take a week off from hockey to wear my Italian speedo on the beaches of Florida .., but when I do.., I like to drink Peroni.

We asked our resident Portuguese drinker Dave Costa if he ever had a Peroni.., to which he quickly replied.., "Drink it?  I thought those Italians put it on their Pizza.., who drinks a Peroni?"  

0+0=?

Walter Maslak.., here is a math problem we hope you can solve. 

   0 Goals

+ 0 Assist

= ? Points

and by “solve”.., meaning get yourself on the damn board.  You played 5-games and have nothing to show for it.  

Do we need to have your cousin Sandra Glista fill in one week so she can give up a mercy goal for you?

Or.., do we start cheering for Colleen O'Connell to get healthy enough to come back and play a couple of the remaining games and let her show you how to do it?

Nominee Push

Get your game on.., it's almost that time of the Awards Committee to meet and discuss this seasons nominees for;

• Season MVP
• Season MVD
• The Bill Mayne Memorial Award
• Over-30 Achievement Award.

Unlike the Leading Scoring and Leading Goalie Awards that are based solely on winning the top spot in each of those races.., these awards are presented to the player(s) who;

• Are an impact player for their team and have the stats to back it up.
• Player(s) that have exceeded their preseason draft expectations.
• Player(s) that lead by example through leadership, competitive drive, and sportsmanship throughout the entire season.

You have 4-weeks left to impress the judges.., and we hear the Lithuanian Judge is the toughest one to impress.

Bye Week Good News

The good thing about Gang Green having the BYE last week.., they didn't lose.

Lack of Discipline

We heard that Dan Broderick is working on a new book.., "The Art of Benching" with the forward being written by Steve Casper.  

Last week we noticed Coach's Corner players come strolling in late with their team fighting for their playoff lives.  Maybe Dan needs to let a few players ride the pine ala Steve Casper and his infamous 1996 benching of Cam Neely and Kevin Stevens

You can't blame traffic.., because the old expression goes; 

"If you show up on time.., you're late" 

Let's start getting to the rink early.., get dressed, Stretch out.., and warm up your goalie.  Your first shot on net shouldn't be your warm up shot. 

Streak Over?

Was it over when the German's Bombed Pearl Harbor?  Nothing is over until Coach's Corner says it over.., but what is over is their 1-game winning streak.  

Instead of building on a momentous win.., key players were missing from the lineup last week and it proved to be another game that slipped away.

Grant it.., they were playing the 1st place team.., but it was 1-0 going into the 3rd and if Dan Broderick had more reinforcements that was a win-able game.

Championship Pullover 

Todd Brunson.., let's focus on official hockey league business for a minute.

Your chances of you being a hero by being the guy that introduced the "New Championship Pullover" are better than your odds of winning one.

You could be the guy that changes Championship history and tradition.., or the guy who let the opportunity slip away and have more disappointed players picking colors for a jacket that will go straight to their closet.

Todd.., Talk to Billy.., don’t screw this up for one of the other 4-teams.   Billy has a looming deadline (otherwise he's sticking with tradition for another season)

Tabletop Goal

Did you guys catch Shawn Wyatt's (Spin-O-Rama) goal last week?

Shawn looked exactly like a tabletop hockey player (but without the pole up his ass).., as he barreled down the right wing and somehow (spun and shot) in the same motion and picked the top corner on Scotty Rosato

Bush League (Part Duex)

Just one week after witnessing two "Punk Moves" and "Bush League" goals.., Nick Romano and Jim Barber were back scoring legit goals for their teams. 

Nick Romano's came a little too late in the 3-1 loss.., but at least Nicky broke up the shutout with 28-seconds.., unlike his counterpart Jim Barber who earlier in the game scored 2-legit goals before succumbing to temptation and collusion with the Assist League Director Mike Naczas to try and help his captain score an empty net goal for a hat trick in his team's 5-1 win.., but Carlos Machado single-handily shut those attempts down.

4-More?

There's a new betting line brewing in the Over-30 League for the final four games of the season.  The back alley bookies are taking bets on who will get 4-goals first in their final 4-games to achieve their personal goals.

John Coluciello who needs 4-goals to beat his current Pink Stick Bag Challenge.  He has 2-goals or his required 6-goals.

Or..,

Jim Barber (with 10-goals) who's chasing a personal best of 14-goals (beating his previous 13-goal season set back in the Winter 2007 season)

Jim 2:1

Cooch 1,000,000:1

Neither 4:1

The two will face off this week.., in what amounts to a must win for Gang Green who's currently in a downward spiraling 4-game losing streak.., while Black Hole comes in riding a 4-game winning streak.  

One of these two streaks will end this week.

Continental Security Footage

The league has obtained security footage from The Continental Restaurant on Route 1 north.