Over 30 Hockey League

Week of January 5 (Game 1) – New season, new beginnings!  Last season it took Coach’s Corner 6 games before they earned their first point of the season.  With the new season, Coach’s Corner didn’t wait and started off the season on a positive note as they earned a point in a 2 – 2 tie with the Rhinos.

Missing two of their three players from their first line, the Rhinos came out attacking led by their captain John Kelleher as they outshot and out chanced Coach’s Corner but failed to capitalize on the scoreboard.  Both goalies Dave Giusti and Scott Rosato were locked in and easily turned aside scoring chances for both teams.

In the second period, the fans watching the game finally got their answer to which player would score the first goal of the new season.  Prior to the game, Tony Bono was telling guests in the Stadler & Waldorf luxury suite that the smart money should be on him.  However, everyone looked at the grunt, blue collar player and told him thanks but no thanks, we will go with a name player instead.  Six minutes into the period, Tony proved them all wrong as he was set up out front by Nick Romano.  A minute and a half later saw John Kelleher take a pass from Derrick Power and beat the goalie far side.  Forty-six seconds after that saw Angelo Deluca convert the passing of Tony and Dan Broderick to give Coach’s Corner the lead.

In an evenly played third period, Coach’s Corner took an ill-advised penalty and the Rhinos cashed in on the power play as Steve Medeiros saw an opening off the right point, walked in and beat the goalie cleanly to the short side as he was set up by Jason Glista.

In overtime, the Rhinos had the edge in play but goalie Dave Giusti weathered the storm to preserve the tie.

Week of January 5 (Game 2) – After a four week layoff and missing the playoffs, captain Dominic Defrancisco and the Gang Green team came back with a vengeance making a statement and putting the league on notice that they will be a different team this season.  Led by Dominic and Ray Nickerson, Gang Green routed Mixed Nuts in a 9 – 3 blowout win.

In a wide open first period by both teams, it was Mixed Nuts who opened the scoring as Jamie Kehoe was set up on the left point by Matty Iannello and his bomb cleanly beat the goalie only a minute into the game.  Five minutes later saw Dominic hustle his way out front to convert the rebound of Ray’s shot.  A minute and a half later, Mixed Nuts regained the lead as Mark Stickney found a seam as he was set up by Jamie out front.  With less than thirty seconds to play in the period, on a power play, Ray scored his first goal on a sniper shot top corner far side, set up by Dom and Cooch to tie the game.

In the second period, Gang Green scored four unanswered goals to leave no doubt that they will be a tough opponent to play against.  Less than a minute into the period, Pat Pirone scored out front set up by Cooch and Brian Kehoe.  Just over a minute later, Ray scored top corner again as he was set up by Cooch.  Two and a half minutes later, Cooch scored off a pass from Brian.  Thirty seconds later, the rout was on as Brian was set up by the passing of Dom and Ray, breaking this game wide open. 

The third period was all Gang Green who didn’t let up as a team and played hard the whole game.  Four minutes into the period, Ray completed his hat trick, scoring top corner in close off the passing of Dom and Cappy.  A minute later, Gary Goodwin was set up by Jamie to slow down the blowout.  However, it was only temporary as three minutes later, Dom was set up in close by Brian, followed by Mike Surette scoring from the left point with thirty seconds to play, set up by Ray and Dom.  Simply stated, this was a good old fashioned ass kicking by Gang Green!

2019 First Goal

Despite what NAZtradamus and William the Great predicted.., it was an exciting race between Nick Romano and George Medeiros for the first goal of the season.  

Both players had point-blank and exciting chances.., but they both waited too long as it was Tony Bono who grew tired of watching a pair of #21's keep missing their opportunities as Tony ended up notching both honors with the “First goal of 2019” by scoring the “First goal of the 2019 Spring Season”.

Unsportsmanlike Penalty?

The first penalty of the season goes to Angelo "Kato" Deluca for slashing.  If the referees really want to send Angelo a message.., instead of giving him a penalty for slashing.., give him an unsportsmanlike penalty for "Not Passing".

Hey "Kato" if you want to beat your Spring Scoring Challenge of 16-points and have a chance at your own "Leading Points Scorer" award.., "PASS THE DAMN BALL!!" (Quicker!!).  So many times we see you beat a player (or two) cleanly.., only to cough it up and kill the offensive attack you were mounting.  

Angelo Remember this equation;

Quick Moves + Quick Decisions + Quick Passes = Leading Scorer (and that could be you)

Man Down!

Don't worry George Medeiros, no one saw Colleen O'Connell box you out and knock you on your ass.., (oops sorry) we did see that.

Apparently along with her rehab Colleen must have been hitting the gym because she dropped George like a bad habit.

Pink stick bag cursed?

We all remember on September 22, 1972 when the Brady Bunch went on vacation to Hawaii. While there, Peter and Bobby stumble upon an ancient Tiki Idol that some locals believe brings bad luck to the person who is touching it.

You'll never forget this sound;

Most of us remember that.., well except for Matt Farrell and maybe Jason Carrien.

Well according to Mauro Colucciello he's floating the idea that the now infamous "Pink Stick Bag" maybe cursed.

• Matty Iannello's first attempt at it put him out for the season with an ankle injury. 
• Ray Dow is always complaining about something hurting
• Johnny Mastrocola hasn't had a season when he didn't go down with an injury
• Tony Mastrocola had to have hip surgery
• John Colucciello lost his challenge from an ankle injury, but according to John he would have "Crushed it".., but we say "Doubt it"

And before he even played one game Mauro Colucciello missed his opening season game with a foot injury.

Snakebitten 

It wasn't his constant bitching that earned Niko Vramis some press this week.., it was he constant missing.

By our unofficial count.., Niko should be leading the league in goals after the first week if he wasn't Snakebitten so much.  We watched shot after point blank shot miss the net, some which included wide open shots.  

If Cousin Mauro Colucciello can't beat the now family challenge of 6-goals.., we might have to offer it up to Niko and see if he can stink it up too! 

Perfect Season Start

This could be the season… we heard Dan Broderick say it; “This is the only League where you can go 0-0-12 and finish 3^rd”… it looks like Coach’s Corner might just be testing that theory with the first game 2-2 tie to the Rhino’s.

So while Dominic DeFrancisco looks to keep his perfect season going.., Dan is working on his version of a perfect season by telling all Captains… “We don’t care if you beat us… but just make sure you do it in overtime”

Making Greatness

Matty Iannello was overheard telling Tim Hickey that if he just shows up every week he will make him the leading scorer this season... Look what I did for Umberto "Papa Smurf" Biancardi. 

Matty said he could make anyone great.., and that he could even "Make Mush Great".

When asked.., "Why don't you focus your efforts on Gary Goodwin and make him great?.”  His reply was “Have you seen him play..,  No one can make Gary great, not even The President and he’s Making America Great Again”

The Green Monster

Fenway Park is home to the Green Monster.., but if Dominic DeFrancisco keeps playing like he did on Week #1 we might have to start calling him "The Green Monster"

The Gang Green Captain had a lot of time off to reflect on his dismal (playoff missing) season and judging by his first game back.., he's putting the rest of the league on notice.  

Sea of Green

Take a look at the Week #1 scoring sheet between Gang Green vs Mixed Nuts and you will see a Sea of Green all over the scoring sheet as 23-Points were handed out last Saturday to almost everyone wearing green. 

What happened John Carey?  You were the only player to miss out on the “Points Buffet” that Mixed Nuts was serving.

If Brian Kehoe can commit to a full season and become a top line winger with Ray Nickerson and centerman Dominic DeFrancisco.., then this top line is going to "Do Damage" as the Red Sox did in 2018.

League Apology

We would like to apologize to Brian Capodilupo for the league's substitute referee and his lack of calling a blatant penalty on Tim Hickey for violating the 2-stick policy.

Mixed Nuts Defenseman Jamie Kehoe dropped his stick late (very late) in the 3rd period of an already embarrassing 9-3 loss.., his winger Tim Hickey decided to pick his stick up and walk it over to Jamie.., but then quickly dropped it when he heard the cries of "Two Sticks!!"

Instead of a trip to the penalty box, Timmy eluded having to sit in the sin bin because of a lazy referee who didn't want to file the necessary paperwork to charge Timmy with a two-stick violation and tarnish his record.

When Gang Green Assistant Captain Brian Capodilupo (who has the authority to question and talk with a referee) questioned the call.., he was given some lame excuse as to why there was no call.

John Colucciello offered his defense to the referee's and said it wasn't called because he didn't hold it for more than 3-Mississippi's.

We reached out to the League’s Referee Union for a comment.., but off the record they said "The game was already almost over and a complete blowout.., and there was no sense in calling a penalty.., we just wanted to get the game over with before Jeff Deharo walked off again"

So were sorry Brian.., you were right.  “Rules are Rules” and what kind of message are we sending to the kids that are watching (from below the glass).., "Oh look you can use two sticks in this league".., or.., "Wow those referees are blind and/or lazy"