Article 415 - December 7, 2019
Game results and Player(s) of the Week
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Week of November 30 (Game 1) – Papa! Papa! Papa! Christmas made an early appearance for Drama Queens as Papa Smurf showed up and took over the offense for his team, scoring a hat trick, as Drama Queens beat Olive Pits 4 – 3 in overtime. With the win, Drama Queens moved into a tie for first place in the standings, while Olive Pits clinched the final playoff spot with the point.
In the first period, with the game being controlled by each team’s defense, Drama Queens scored first as Umberto Biancardi aka Papa Smurf was set up on the wing by Cooch and Don Maccini five minutes into the period.
The second period saw each team score as Drama Queens started to control the play and tempo and outshot Olive Pits by a 2-to-1 margin. With just under four minutes to play in the period, Mike Luise set up Pat Pirone (who was playing defense), who jumped into the offense and beat the goalie clean. However, with just over a minute left to play in the period, Papa struck again, as he converted Cooch’s rebound off a Mike Surette shot, giving Drama Queens the lead once again.
As the third period started, the game was being controlled by the defense with most of the play favoring Drama Queens. Forty-five seconds into the period saw Rick Cassano jump on the rebound of shots from the point by Pat and Alex Leone, once again tying this game. As the period wound down, the game looked like it was heading to overtime until with just under three minutes to play, there was Papa finishing off his hat trick, as he roofed a backhand in tight top corner, getting the rebound of Tony Bono’s shot after a key heads up keep-in play and pass from Bob Snyder. A minute later, Olive Pits came back for the third time this game as Dave Parquette was set up by the passing of Elder Lopes and Mike Luise to send this game into overtime.
As Drama Queens carried the play in overtime, with just under two minutes left, Ray Dow intercepted a breakout pass and walked in alone, deking forehand, switching to backhand (or was it a misfire and temporarily lose the ball Ray?) and roofing his shot top corner over the goalie for the game winner.
Week of November 30 (Game 2) – Spoiler Alert! With Olive Pits earlier officially eliminating Jake-O-Lanterns from the playoffs, all eyes were on Jake-O-Lanterns to see how they would play. Go through the motions or play spoiler the rest of the season? They chose the latter as they routed Shockwave by a leave no doubt 7 – 2 blowout!
In the first period, Jake-O-Lanterns came to play, especially Nick Doherty who was simply flying all over the rink. A minute in, Todd Bryson scored off the rebound of shots by Nick and George Medeiros. Three minutes later, after being taunted with trash talk by the defense, Paul Correia silenced his taunter with an unassisted goal and a stare down look. Twenty-two seconds later saw Steve Medeiros jump into the offense to score set up by Nick and George.
Two minutes into the second period, who else but Dominic Defrancisco got his team back into the game, set up by Derrick Power and Tony Medeiros. Little did Shockwave know that the next five goals would be scored by Jake-O-Lanterns. With three minutes left in the period, Cappy unleashed a bomb off a pass by Nick and Steve. While killing off a penalty with just under a minute left, Gino Tammaro used his speed to break in off the wing and score.
The third period was all Jake-O-Lanterns, scoring three times to complete the rout. Two and a half minutes in saw Angelo Deluca join the scoring fest, set up by Cappy. A minute and a half later on the power play saw Todd put back the rebound of shots from Nick and Steve. Finishing off the scoring was George getting set up by Todd out front with just under three minutes to play. Message delivered by Jake-O-Lanterns as they intend to play spoiler their last two games while also sending a message that things will be different come the spring season!
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1st Star
Umberto Biancardi
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Our Apologies
Due to a series of unfortunate events, family matters and socialite vacations we were not able to produce the weekly forum updates and trash talk… which we know many of you openly admit that you missed.
We can assure you we’re back from our setbacks and look forward to finishing the season before we go dark again for the playoffs.
However… we did want to recap the Month of November with a few of our favorite moments of the month.
~Enjoy!
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Not My Call
Despite their Week #9 second win of the season.., Jake-O-Lanterns Captain Matty Iannello was heated between periods as he tried to follow the logic of “It’s his call.., or it’s not my end” from the old unwritten Hockeytown referee code of (my end - his end)
Matty was heated that a high-sticking call wasn’t made and when he questioned the call between periods he got the standard “That’s his call”.
That reply sent Matty spinning like the reels on his new favorite Slot Machine at the Encore.., but instead of a winning combination it came up “Joker-Joker-Joker” as the explanation he received was borderline comical.
Players don’t want “my end or his end”.., they was both referees wearing orange strips to watch for penalties in “both ends” and don’t be afraid to call a penalty in either end (yours or his).
Family Collusion
For voicing his concerns about the officiating.., Matty Iannello might have just argued himself out of a couple of assist in the process.
When you have the Referee (in question) being the older brother of the statistician, who is married to the timekeeper, which makes him the brother in law to the referee in question which makes Matty.., (Well left Lord Helmet explain Matty’s relationship to the Abcunas’)
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Regardless of the family tree.., Matty was screwed out of a couple of assists and as in years past those “forgotten” or “undocumented” assists come into play at the end when Matty is battling Dominic DeFrancisco for the scoring title.
Leading Offender
A few weeks back someone got their panties in a bunch when the word “stupid” was used as an adjective to describe a foolish penalty.
Although Pat Pirone wasn’t the party in question who complained.., he is the person leading in the “Stupid Penalties” while in the offensive zone with (4) offensive zone penalties.., which sounds more like a basketball foul. But none the less.., Pat when your team is in the offensive zone trying to score.., don’t chop, slash, check, trip or interfere with the goalie.., you’re just driving your Captain nuts.
Welcome Back
The Over-30 League would like to give a warm Pisano welcome back to Gino Tammaro who was claimed off waivers by the Jake-O-Lanterns.., the speedy, slippery, grease-ball is exactly what the JOL’s need to rebuild the team integrity and add another bona fide scoring threat.
Another Punk
Hey Nick Doherty.., there’s on Over-30 term you need to familiarize yourself with.
Like others before you.., players like Tim Hickey and Jim Barber.., who couldn’t resist the urge to bury an empty net goal for their own personal stats.., in the weening seconds of an already decided 6-4 game.., Nick buries an empty-netter with 23-seconds left to play.
Welcome to the “Punk Move Club” Nick!!
I Have The... After tying his career high 2-goal season we heard this weird scream coming from one of the players on the rink...
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Derrick “I have the POWER!!” Powers scored his 2-goal this season one of which was his second GWG of his Over-30 career.
Bee Bonet
Like Jack Edwards’ likes to say.., Jason Carrien had a “Bee under his Bonet” when he was tossed from the Snow White vs Olive Pits tilt.
Some speculate that Jason had some pre-game anger that spilled over the boards and into the rink.., but before we could ask the tall lanky defenseman about it.., he was already gone.
Spin Doctor?
Where not talking about the 1-hit wonders from 1991.., That’s the new nickname for Snow White’s luckiest defenseman Luigi “Spin Doctor” DeRenzes who claims his lobbed clearing attempt from behind his own goal line somehow had some magical spin that he “deliberately” put on the ball.
It was that “spin” that caused Olive Pits Goaltender Dave Giusti to misplay Luigi’s full dek clearing attempt that turned into a Game Winning Goal with just 13-seconds to play.
The Great 5-0
Let us celebrate greatness during the month of November as “The Great One” himself Matty Iannello turned 50 and is now “The Great 5-0”.., and is now officially amongst the old people still playing in the “Over-30” League
Sabbatical
Kudos to the Assistant League Director Mike Naczas as he had to pull double duty for two weeks while the Abcunas’ took two weeks off for vacation.
Both weeks had all 4-teams playing with almost full rosters.., Cooch wore his Pink pregame Warm-up jersey both games.., Jay was ejected but not suspended.., and most of all the kids were welcomed;
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Sit Down Defense?
For a few seasons all we’ve been hearing about is Mike Naczas and his “Shutdown Defense”.., we’ll since Jake-O-Lanterns are now officially eliminated from the playoffs (3-weeks early).., we’ll start referring to you as the “Sit Down Defense”.., so go sit down!!
RSVP
The playoffs invitations have been sent out.., with 4-teams getting their invite to the December 21st, 2019 Winter Season Playoffs.
The last few weeks will determine the final seeding.., with the Jake-O-Lanterns on the outside looking in.., they can still play a spoiler roll as they look to rebuild for next season
Smurf-taculare
Umberto “Papa Smurf” Biancardi got his Thanksgiving Day “Thanks” a few days late as the speedy-winger (nope).., as the power-forward (nope).., as the blistering-shooter (nope).., as the senior-forward (yes) camped out in front of the offensive zone goal having coffee with Olive Pits Goaltender Dave Giusti and just tapping in rebound after rebound while on his way to a “SmurfTrick” and the Dunkin Donuts Player of the Week
1-Point (Take 2)
Goaltender Dave Giusti redeemed himself just one week after giving up an accidental GWG to Luigi DeRenzes 2-weeks ago that would have clinched a playoff berth for Olive Pits.
Needing just a single point to clinch a playoff berth… and again with just seconds left to play for the tie.., Dave came up huge for his team and despite the overtime loss he played a major role in clinching of the final playoff spot for his team.
Pride Week
Having nothing left to play for this season… Jake-O-Lanterns are playing for pride and a possible spoiler role for their final 2-games of the season. These next two weeks need to be used as pre-season games to formulate a team plan for the 2019 Spring Season.
They had both a 2-minute and 3-minute powerplay(s) that produced nothing in terms of a PPG.., and adding Gino Tammaro to the roster it will be interesting to see what Captain Matty Iannello comes up with for line combinations. We fully expect the JOL’s to have a better showing next season.
“Breaking” News
Snow White Captain John Kelleher got some bad news this week. John lost his top centerman Matt Farrell who is out for the season with a broken finger. Matt’s non-hockey related injury ironically came as he was shoveling “White Snow”.
We asked linemate Ray Nickerson about the loss of Matt for the season Ray said; “Billy Fu@Ked Us Again”… When we tried to explain that Billy had nothing to do with Matt’s injury, but Ray was persistent that somehow he was involved and explained; “Billy’s been screwing me out of assists, awards and championships for years… I know he had something to do with it (somehow)”
League Officials also reached out to League Leading and Snow White Defenseman Jason Carrien for comments on Matt’s season ending injury and chances of Luigi DeRenzes not winning a championship unless on Jim Barber’s team (aka the curse buster)… and “Jay, The Insult Comic Defenseman” had this to say; “Jimmy Barber is a stiff that's been spoon fed great teams. Talk to me after the championship. Until then talk to my agent for further comment.”
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