Over 30 Hockey League

Week of March 16 (Game 1) – With their playoff hopes fading with each passing week, directly as a result of not having won a game after eight weeks, Coach’s Corner faced a must win game to salvage their season.  However, the Rhinos had other plans to not become the first team to lose to Coach’s Corner this season, as they broke open a close game in the third period pulling away with a 6 – 3 victory.  Mathematically, Coach’s Corner remains alive, just barely!

In an evenly played first period, it was the Rhinos who scored first as Derrick Power scored his first goal of the season, being in the right place at the right time to receive the passing of Shawn Miville and Steve Medeiros, five and a half minutes into the period.

In the second period, the offense heated up for both teams that saw each team score twice.  Two minutes into the period saw Derrick’s hustle passing to Steve who found Shawn open out front for a goal.  Coach’s Corner quickly responded to get back into this game only seventeen seconds later as Angelo Deluca scored an unassisted goal.  Four minutes later, Nick Romano tied this game, set up by Dan Broderick and Todd Bryson.  A minute later, the Rhinos regained the lead when Jim Clarke’s partially screened shot from the right point set up by Shawn found the back of the net.

The third period was where the Rhinos grabbed the momentum and pulled away.  Three minutes into the period saw George Medeiros being left alone at the crease for an easy tap in rebound goal off a high shot from Shawn that the goalie had trouble holding onto.  Nick made this a one goal game again two minutes later set up by Angelo.  However, Shawn took over the last three minutes of this game by scoring twice; the first goal scored out front off the rebound of shots taken by Steve and Chris Ducharme; and Shawn completed his hat trick with an open net goal scored with a minute and a half to play.  For Shawn, it marked the first time since game 3 of the winter 2018 season that he had a multiple goal game……………..welcome back Miv it has been long overdue!

Week of March 16 (Game 2) – This game was being billed as a battle of heavyweights between the league’s top two teams in the standings.  However, the hype did not live up to expectations as the short-handed Gang Green team ran out of gas in the third period only to watch Mixed Nuts run away with a convincing 5 – 1 win.  Message sent loud and clear by Mixed Nuts.

In the first period, making his return to the league saw Tony Mastrocola score five minutes into the period on a misfired shot that fooled the goalie, on a set up by Dominic Defrancisco and Brian Kehoe.  Two minutes later, Mixed Nuts responded to tie the game as Tim Hickey was sent in all alone by a sweet pass from Matty Iannello who received the ball from Dan Hill and scored.  Tim will deny this but he too misfired on his shot as it rolled off his stick and found the back of the net.

The second period scoring belonged to Mixed Nuts as Dave Parquette was set up by the passing of Mark Stickney and Tony Bono for the go ahead goal seven minutes in.

The third period was owned completely by Mixed Nuts who scored three unanswered goals to pull away.  A minute and a half in Dave took a pass from Jamie Kehoe and scored the highlight goal of the season so far, going down low behind the net, sliding the ball through the defenseman’s feet, getting bumped and falling down still twisted to shoot the ball back short side for the goal (was that Doug Sedille we just witnessed?).  Just over a minute later saw Matty take a pass from Tim and Dave Costa down low to score a power play goal.  Rounding out the scoring saw Matty take a pass from Tim and Dan on a breakaway down the left wing to beat the goalie clean far side.

Yes, Tony and Tim we did say the word “misfire” on both of your goals!

Best Team Spirit Award

First there was "Trojan Player of the Week Award".., then we had the "Rhino Player of the Week Award" which seemed to have fizzled out with all the Rhino ties and Shawn Miville's absence on the DL.

But; now we have the Award to end all Awards.., and quite frankly the funniest of all the "Team Spirt" awards.

Look What I Found

They often say "It's better to be lucky than good".

For Rhino Goaltender Scotty Rosato.., it's both.

Scotty is always in the hunt for the leading goalie award because “he's good”.., but last week we watched as Paul Corriea blasted a slapshot directly into Scotty's glove (without him moving it) and he then Scotty gave it that dramatic goalie flip like he meant to save it.., and that's where we say "he's lucky".., as even the referee said "look what I found" after his dramatic save.

#FinishStrong

In a time when you basically throw the word "Strong" after any tragic event and you coin a new hashtag phrase.

Coach's Corner’s season is nearing in on becoming a catastrophic event and 12-players are on the very edge of playoff elimination.., but there is still plenty to play for.

1) Playoffs - They are not officially eliminated from the playoff picture just yet.., but if Black Hole wins just 1-point in their last remaining 4-games or Coach's Corner loses one more game (it's over for Coach's Corner playoff hopes)

2) Pride - Don't finish the season winless.., and become a factor of where teams finish in the standings.., aka the spoiler team.

3) Draft Value - When the Over-30 League Director sits down in July for the 2019-2020 seasons.., how do you want him to rank you in the draft?

4) Do it for Dan - The guy is a living legend for Christ Sake.., don't hand the guy a winless season.  We'd have to fact check about 40-years’ worth of hockey history to see if Dan ever had a winless season.., and based on his reputation.., we think it may be a first.

He's Back!

Shawn Miville is back even though he's not 100%.., but his 60% is better than most players 90%.., and his 50% is better than a lot of players 100%.., and for some his 40% is better that your 110%

Well if I remember my percentages and ratios from math class it equates to; Miv is just plain better than you.

U-G-L-Y

Welcome back Tony Mastrocola who returned to action and will finish the season with Gang Green.

Tony wasted no time scoring the only goal for Gang Green.., but man was it "U-G-L-Y he ain't got not alibi it's ugly"

Tony's misfire on a semi-breakaway that fooled both himself and Rhino goaltender Scotty Rosato and it just trickled by Scotty.

Not to be outdone; Tim Hickey took a precision Matty Iannello pass and turned it into his own ugly goal that somehow wobbled past Jake Deehan

Passing Debate

After watching Matty Iannello’s precision passing.., a debate broke out in the Statler & Waldorf Luxury Suite.., as Ray Dow, The League Commissioner and The Webmaster all debated after Ray’s simple exclamation.., “Matty is the greatest passers that I’ve ever seen”

The Webmaster seconded that comment.., but the League Commissioner blatantly disagreed and the debate was on.

Turnstile

Hey Mike Surette did Dave Parquette put 2-quarters in your pocket last week before he turned you into turnstile?

He made an inside-out move at the line that was worthy of the .50 cents it cost to “turn and burn” you on his way to a sweet ass goal.

After Dave toasted the big man.., the youngster made another move down low to toasted Jake Deehan to complete that sweet ass goal that all started with 2-quarters and a turnstile.

Upgrade Costs?

We want to know what Matty Iannello had to pay the league commissioner for the upgrades to the already red hot Mixed Nuts team.

Matty and his red hot team of Mixed Nuts are taking full advantage of his new upgrades as Dan Hill and Dave Parquette are both becoming impact players for "The Great One".., so much so that Mixed Nuts players are casting votes for Gary Goodwin as Season MVP.

Rearview Mirror

Hey Dominic DeFrancisco.., while you're racing towards the finish line for the scoring race (don't look in your rearview mirror).., the red #17 car is fast approaching and looking to pass you on the inside of the track during the final lap of the season.

Suretting

When was the last time you saw all 4-penalties in a game get called for "Delay of Game" and 3-out-of-4 of those was for called for "Rule 67"

Last week Gang Green vs Mixed Nuts saw three top defenseman (Dave Costa, Brian Capodilupo and Jamie Kehoe) all get called for "Suretting" and the guy that had the penalty named after him (Mike Surette) played all his minutes on the dek.

For the new players.., please familiarize yourself with "Rule 67"

Rule 67 (Suretting)

A Delay of Game penalty shall be called on any player who (on his own) shoots the ball FROM ANYWHERE IN THEIR OWN DEFENSIVE ZONE INTO THE PERIMETER NETTING ANYWHERE surrounding the rink, causing a stoppage in play.  

No warning shall be given to the offending player and that player shall be given a 1-minute minor penalty for Delay of Game.

The only exception to this rule for a non-goalie player that WILL NOT result in a Delay of Game penalty is if;

• Any player shoots the ball directly into the penalty box area or onto the player bench area.
• The ball is deflected into the netting.
• The ball banks up off the surrounding plywood or plexiglass and goes into the perimeter netting.
• The ball is shot from a faceoff into the perimeter netting. 

For these infractions, a face off will take place at the nearest face off. 

23 and Me

Attention all you Portuguese players there is a potential fraudster amongst you.., someone pretending to be Portuguese.   

You guys might want to all chip in for a “23 and Me” kit and get cheek swab from this guy;