Over 30 Hockey League

Week of March 30 (Game 1) – In a game that had first place implications, Gang Green was looking to separate themselves from Black Hole, however, one team (Black Hole) came to play while another team (Gang Green) came out flat and got outworked right from the opening faceoff.  Black Hole jumped out to a five goal lead and barely held on during a furious third period comeback to pull out a 7 – 5 win.  This game was played with a playoff edge to it.

In the first period, Black Hole jumped out to a quick two goal lead.  Three minutes into the period, Jim Barber found his Vulcan mojo magic as he was set up by Joe Mancinelli.  Four minutes later, Matt Farrell scored as he was set up by Naz and Joe.  With a minute and a half left in the period, Gang Green got back into this game as Cooch scored set up by Mike Surette and Tony Mastrocola.  However, Jim silenced that momentum twenty seconds later with his second goal.

The only scoring taking place in the second period was early as Matt took advantage on a power play, set up by Naz, just over a minute in.

The third period saw the rout be on as Black Hole extended its commanding lead with two more goals.  Thirty seconds into the period saw Shawn Wyatt convert a rebound of Jason Carrien and Sergio Costa’s shots, which was followed by Matt completing his hat trick a minute later set up by Jim and Joe.  With just over six minutes left to play, Gang Green mounted their comeback as Cooch was set up front by Tony and Cappy, followed by twelve seconds later Pat Pirone ripping a shot from the high slot past the goalie set up by Ed Nigro and Dominic Defrancisco.  Immediately after that on the ensuing faceoff, Gang Green lost Dominic for the game for three penalties.  Instead of devastating the team it appeared to energize them to play harder as they kept the surge going.  With five minutes left Papa was set up by Ray Nickerson behind the net who scored on an impossible angle from behind the net on the goalie!  Forty five seconds later saw Brian Kehoe set up by Ray score making this a one goal game.  With the goalie pulled and less than twenty seconds to play, Cooch won the faceoff clean back to Cappy whose slap shot was blocked twice out front by a mass of bodies and the rebound was passed up by Matt to Joe for the open net goal ending this dramatic comeback.

Week of March 30 (Game 2) – With Gang Green losing their game, Mixed Nuts had a prime opportunity to keep their winning streak going and extend this to five games and move into a tie for first place overall.  They did not let this opportunity slip past them as they were led by a rookie in defeating the Rhinos by a 5 – 2 score.

At the start of the game, the Rhinos got exactly the start they were looking for when John Kelleher ripped a shot from the left wing off a Jason Glista outlet pass for the early lead.  Unfazed, Mixed Nuts scored the next two goals to take the lead as Dave Costa scored an unassisted goal from the point that had eyes two minutes later.  With just under two minutes left in the period, Dan Hill was set up by rookie Dave Parquette, who’s point shot beat the goalie for his first goal of the season.

In the second period, Tim Hickey flew down the left wing, set up by Dave and Jamie Kehoe, and this time did not misfire with just over a minute to play in the period to extend the lead for Mixed Nuts.

The Rhinos got back into this game with five minutes left as George Medeiros went hard to the dirty area of the net to redirect the pass from John and Niko Vramis making this a one goal game.  However any momentum was quickly halted twenty-three seconds later as Jamie blasted an unassisted bomb from the point past the goalie.  With the goalie pulled, Dave rounded out the scoring set up by Matty Iannello with forty-five seconds left to account for the final score.

Gametime

Dion Sanders wanted the nickname "Primetime".., and now the players from Black Hole have given their top defenseman Jay Carrien a new nickname.., "Gametime" 

Because, that's when they know if Jay is playing (or not).

Reverse The Curse

With his Vulcan Black Stick shelved for the foreseeable future.., Black Hole Captain Jim Barber reverted back to his Generation 2 Vulcan in an attempt to not got "O-F'er March".

League Director Bill Abcunas tried to jinx the Siver & Red Generation 2 stick.., but surprisingly something magical happened.., his touching of Jim's Stick (pre-game) ended up reversing the curse as the captain had 2-goals and an assist after having 2-weeks off.

Double Jeopardy

After losing $20 bucks to "The Mauro Colucciello Charitable Foundation" there's one player who just needs one more goal to get a refund from the League Director.  

Now it's (double or nothing) with two games left and there's only one category left on our Jeopardy Board.., so I'll take; "One More Goal" for $20 Alex

Answer; This player scored 13-goals last season and needs just one goal to win back his money from a crooked suckers PSBC bet

Question: Who is... ??? ??????

Lead Squandering

We're still puzzled at last week's running time debacle between Black Hole and Gang Green.

In a heavily dominated game by Black Hole.., just two minutes into the 3rd period Black Hole scored their 6th goal to go up 6-1 which triggered running time.., and what should have been a cruise control ride to victory.

However; after Dominic DeFrancisco made a spectacle of himself and got ejected from the game.., it was just the motivation the gang of green needed.  After Dom’s ejection they went on a 4-goal streak sending Black Hole into 2:24 of hockey hell before they called timeout and collected themselves to try and preserve the win.

Penalty Upgrade

Shame on you Dominic DeFrancisco.., you upgraded and turned a simple 1-minute penalty into a 5-minute Game Misconduct and then upgraded the upgrade into a game ejection all at once.

You're a leader.., not a tantrum thrower.., we already have guys in the league whose job is to do that.

Luck of the Irish

Just so you know.., there was a picture hanging on the visitor bench of Tony Medeiros all dressed up in his Irish Costume.., and both teams (Black Hole & Mixed Nuts) were victorious in their games last week.., just sayin'

Maybe Coach's Corner might want to hang it up behind their bench this week.., or better yet have Tony wear that same costume under his jersey and try a little luck of the Irish.   

You only have 2-games left.., you have nothing to lose (well except the last two games) but other than that.., nothing to lose for trying to channel some Irish luck for a win.

Question of the week

Last week we witnessed Black Hole Defenseman Jason Carrien dry heaving into a barrel sparking a debate and this week's player pole question of the week.

What caused Jason to dry heave into the barrel?  Was it;

• Dehydration?
• An errant loogie lodged in his throat?
• The goal that Umberto "Papa Smurf" Biancardi scored on Jeff Deharo?
• The running time lead that Black Hole almost squandered?

Raise Your Hand If?

Sorry Rick Aylwin You already had plenty of verbal abuse.., so we wanted to make it official with some written abuse.

Per Rule 7. Article 5. Paragraph 3, of the Over-30 League Rule Book stats that; "No referee shall place his arm up (as to insinuate a delayed penalty) if the net becomes dislodged"

The only time you raise your hand is.., if you're SURE

Cherry Popped

Congrats Dan Hill you popped your Over-30 Goal Cherry last week on a blast from the point.., and in doing so removed yourself from the category of "Defenseman without Goals"

Since we are talking about players without goals.., here's a list of players (all Defenseman) who have still yet to bury the biscuit.., and their chances of burying a goal before the regular season comes to an end.

Defense Wins Championships 

If that statement is true.., then by all accounts Mixed Nuts whose defense scored 3 out of 5 goals last week will be getting fitted for a new championship jacket on April 27^th.

Dave Costa, Dan Hill, and Jamie Kehoe all buried goals in their 5-2 win over the Rhinos.., which then made us look at the defensive stats and to no surprise Mixed Nuts’ Defense is on the top of the heap.., See for yourself below;

Over-30 Hattrick

The "Over-30 Hattrick" can be accomplished in many different ways.., and in players like Ed Nigro an "Over-30 Hattrick" means that Ed showed up to 3-straight games.

However last week we would like to congratulate Dave Parquette on his first "Over-30 Hattrick" with a Goal, an Assist and a Penalty. 

With the addition of Dave to the Mixed Nuts lineup.., look for these guys to be in the finals.., which means that now 3-teams are now battling for that 2nd seat at the finals table.

Temptation

All the negative press about Tim Hickey and his thirst for empty net goal must have gotten to him.., because he blatantly declined the temptation at an empty net opportunity last week in the weaning minute of last week's bout with the Rhinos.

White Lines

No we are not talking about the 1983 Rap Song by Sugar Hill Gang and their "Rang-dang-diggidy-dang-a-dang"

We're talking about where most hockey games in the Over-30 League are either won or lost.  Those (2) white lines that span from the defensive zone to the offensive zone is like the Bermuda Triangle for a lot of teams and players.

You want to win hockey games and be successful?  Then you better learn how to navigate through though zones without coughing it up and turning it over.., and listen to your teammates telling you to "Get the line".   Nothing is more frustrating than watching turnovers occur in those 2-zones.

Now go get a piece of cardboard for the floor, your old Adidas and a Kangoo Hat and take a trip back to 1983 with a little "Rang-dang-diggidy-dang-a-dang"