Over 30 Hockey League

Week of April 6 (Game 1) – This game featured two teams trending in opposite directions, as Mixed Nuts was riding a five game winning streak while Coach’s Corner was languishing in a five game losing streak.  One team was hot, the other was not.  In the end, the hot team stayed hot as they overcame an early deficit breaking open a close game in the second period in winning by a 7 – 4 score.  In the process, Mixed Nuts clinched 1^st place overall in the standings.

Needing something to happen early to turn their fortunes around, Coach’s Corner made things happen by jumping out to an early two goal lead.  Five minutes into the first period saw Paul Correia get set up out front by Nick Doherty and Dan Broderick.  Three minutes later, Paul scored again set up in close by Nick.  Unfazed, Tim Hickey used his speed to get open on the wing and score a minute later, set up by Matty Iannello and Dave Costa.

The second period belonged to and was owned completely by Mixed Nuts as they simply put on a ball control scoring clinic.  Three minutes into the period, Dave Parquette tied the game as he was set up by Tim and Dan Hill.  A minute later on an ensuing power play, Nick Romano scored an unassisted goal; this would be the last lead Coach’s Corner would have.  The next three minutes swung the momentum and game in Mixed Nuts favor as they simply dominated.  A minute and a half later saw Dan Hill score set up by Jamie Kehoe and Matty.  A minute later saw Tim score set up by Mauro Colucciello and Matty.  On the ensuing face off nine seconds later, Mauro buried his chance at the far post set up by Tim and Matty.

Just over a minute into the third period, the rout was on as Mauro scored his second goal on the power play, set up by Dave Costa and Jamie. Two minutes later, Nick scored his second goal to breathe some life into Coach’s Corner, set up by Paul and John Mastrocola.  However, Matty scored only twenty two seconds later, set up by Dave Parquette and Mark Stickney to account for the final score.  

Week of April 6 (Game 2) – In the second game, Black Hole was looking to keep pace with Mixed Nuts setting up a winner take all game next week for first place overall.  However, someone forgot to tell the Rhinos that they were standing in the way as they scored the game’s last four goals to win going away in a 7 – 2 rout of Black Hole.

Right from the opening faceoff of the game, the Rhinos served notice that they had come to play as a team this game.  A minute into the first period, George Medeiros hustled his way to get open and score as he was set up by Niko Vramis and Shawn Miville.  Two and a half minutes later, Jim Barber scored his 10th goal of the season, as he was set up by Matt Farrell and Joe Mancinelli.  However, the Rhinos started to take over this game as a minute and a half later saw Carlos Machado score set up by Niko and George.  This was followed with twenty seconds to play in the period as Shawn scored set up by John Kelleher.

Needing something to get their team back into this game, Sergio Costa did just that only a minute and a half into the second period as he was set up by Jim and Joe making this a one goal game.  The key goal of this game was scored with just over a minute to play in the period as George hustled to the dirty area out front of the net and was in the right place at the right time to tip in the passing from Carlos and Niko.

The third period belonged to the Rhinos who simply dominated play.  Two minutes in saw Shawn score his second goal set up by Carlos and George as the rout was on.  After killing off a 5-on-3 power play, George scored his third goal on a power play, set up by Niko and Shawn.  With just under a minute to play, Carlos scored his second goal off the passing of John and George. 

Closed for the Season

Like an Ice Cream Stand closing its doors in December.., the time has come to shut down the PUTA Forum for season.  All the jabs and puns come to an end as we focus on the last 2-games of the season. 

We hope you all enjoyed the 2018-2019 Forums as we always say “The Forum writes itself” and forum would not exist without you and the league antics.  All of the old forums are archived per season… so if you’re bored over the summer and have your face buried in a phone… try Goggling your name and “Over-30 Hockey League” and see what pops up from your past

Until next season… here are a few parting jabs.., and more importantly good luck to all the teams playing in the playoff season (and remember)… you only have to play your two BEST games to win one of those new fancy pullovers.

Playoff Dinner

The table has been set for the 2018 Spring Season Playoff Dinner.

Today’s games are meaningless for playoff seeding as Mixed Nuts has clinched the #1 spot and this year’s winner of the Presidents Cup (aka 1^st Place Dunkin Donuts Gift Card) and the Rhino have a lock on the #4 spot thus meaning that; Mixed Nuts vs Rhino’s and Black Hole vs Gang Green will take place next week.

Race Night

It's Saturday Night Race Night this week.., so get pumped up early by watching some classic racing movies like; Talladega Nights.., Days of Thunder.., or if you're Matt Farrell its Cars.., 

This Saturday Night it's Race Night in Saugus at Hockeytown

First up in the pole position is the Leading Scorers Race which has several cars going into turn #4 with their foot on the gas and the finish line in sight.

What's the expression.., "When the going gets tough.. "The Great One" gets going?"

With Dominic DeFrancisco and John "I'm a Failure" Coucciello off with the bye week.., "The Great One" himself; Matty Iannello took full advantage and posted a 5-point night to take scoring lead going into the final week.

With meaningless games at hand… Mixed Nuts, Gang Green and Black Hole should be feeding their leading horse in the scoring race (and forget about the outcome) it’s all about points this week.

Our second featured race of the evening is a little more controversial as it's sometimes better to park your car in the pit then go out and risk hitting a wall and crashing your chances of taking the top spot.

Goalie Chicken.

With the two top goalies only .05 apart before last week's games.  Both Sean Roach and Jeff Deharo are playing a game of Goalie Chicken and took the week off so neither of their GAA would go up.

Pressure Points

The difference between the "Leading Scorer" and the "Leading Goalie" Race is the goalies have a lot more pressure to perform (but yet) greater control over of the outcome of the race.

For the forwards.., it's easy just get goals and assists and when the last buzzer of the season sounds hopefully you have enough points to top the list and win the glass prize.

However; the goalies have a unique advantage to controlling their destiny.

For the goalies is all about the GAA "Goals Against Average" and it only takes one bad game to throw your average into the garbage.   

Taking the terminology from baseball the Over-30 has adopted a new term we are calling “Walk Off Goal” which refers to the point of the game when you need to walk off the dek to stop the Goal Odometer from going up.

This week Sean Roach has a “Walk Off Goal” number of 3… which means the 4^th goal Sean gives up will take his GAA out of the lead.

Perfect Attendance Award

This was the season of Pink Slip and layoffs due to lack of attendance

With the end of the regular season for the Rhino’s.., we have a couple of blue ribbon awards to hand out as; George Medeiros, Jim Clarke, and Captain John Kelleher all had perfect attendance this season

These players could also earn themselves a ribbon this season if they show up this week for their last game of the regular season. 

Matty Iannello, Dominic Defrancisco, John Colucciello, Angelo Deluca, Brian Capodilupo, Sergio Costa, Ray Dow, Tony Bono, Shawn Wyatt, and Colleen O'Connell

New Award

Ed Nigro is the 2018-2019 Spring Season winner of the new “Scotty Young Phantom Season Award” which goes the player who plays the least amount of regular season games while his team has continued success without him.

2019 Tax Refund

With April 15^th looming.., and despite the 7-2 loss last week to the Rhino’s, the only highlight for Black Hole Captain Jim Barber was getting a tax refund from the League Director.., as he bet that Jim would not score 10-goals this season. 

Thanks to Scotty Rosato slow glove hand the webmaster was able to get his $20 back from Bill Abcunas' sucker bet on Mauro Coucciello "No Challenge (Challenge)” by getting 6-measly goals for his PSBC

Bobble Head Night

We thought it was Paul Corriea bobble head night by the way Paul came out firing for Coach's Corner and jumping out to a quick 2-goal lead.

We had high hopes thinking this could be the miracle week for Coach's Corner who was taking on Mixed Nuts without their #1 Goaltender Sean Roach in net.

Unfortunately the only head bobbing after Paul's 2-goals was Coach's Corner Captain Dan Broderick as his consistently bobbled his head as a beaten man this season.

Girly Scream

Wow.., did everyone hear Matty Iannello scream like a little girl after he was hit by a Jamie Kehoe shot from the point??

After winning the drawn cleanly in the offensive zone.., Matty took two steps in the wrong direction and got plunked by Jamie.., in case you missed it.., it sounded exactly like this;

Sands of Time

The sand in the hour glass is about to run dry on the Sand Color Team known as Coach's Corner.

You are about to hand Dan Broderick his first ever "Winless Season".., and forever be known as "The Little Team That Couldn't"

If Gang Green has an ounce of decency in their body they should throw Coach's Corner a bone and take a dive.  

Here are a couple of suggestions on how they could do that;

• Everyone call in sick and watch Game 2 of the Bruins
• Mike Surette challenges the entire team to a pre-game drinking contest.
• Everyone switches sticks; Righty plays Lefty (and) Lefty plays Righty
• Ray Nickerson takes the team out for Chinese Food

Otherwise.., here is a scientific calculation to the actual chances of Coach's Corner winning the last (and final) chance of the season to put 2-points in the win column

Coach's Corner chances of winning; 1/12 = .083%  (or as Ray Dow says “So you’re saying there’s a chance….”

Space Photo

This week in the news was a top story of the first ever photograph of a Black Hole.., but apparently NASA doesn’t monitor the Over-30 website because if they did they would see that photographer Bill Abcunas already captured a photo of Black Hole;