Over 30 Hockey League

Week of January 4 (Game 1) – In a game where both teams were short-handed, it had the feel of an exhibition game.  Once again, Drama Queens were not just missing players (a trend we saw last season) but missing half their team.  Ultimately, Shockwave overcame an early deficit to score two goals in the third period in less than a minute to pull out a hard earned 2 – 1 victory.

In the first period, neither team was generating much offense until just over three minutes left in the period saw fill-in Jason Carrien score on a slap shot from the point, set up by Ray Dow and Mike Surette, giving Drama Queens the early lead.

During the second period, Drama Queens picked up the pace and the offense but could not solve goalie Sean Roach, who was single-handedly keeping his team in this game.  Little did anyone know that Sean’s efforts would pay off in the third period for his Shockwave team.

With both teams trading chances early in the third period, Shockwave got a huge boost in scoring the only two goals of the period, from unexpected players.  Two and a half minutes into the period saw Mike Roberto take a pass off the rush from John Carey on the right wing, and beat the goalie cleanly on a slap shot out near the white line.  With new found momentum on their side, Shockwave kept up the pressure forty seconds later as their fore check resulted in a defensive turnover that Jim Clarke took advantage of, scoring on a bomb slap shot from the right point off a pass from Dominic Defrancisco’s hustle.

For Drama Queens, it may only be one game into the new season, but each player on this team needs to reassess their attendance tendencies so that the team has substitute players on the bench, rather than expect the players who show up to log extra time and do more than is expected.

Week of January 4 (Game 2) – In winning the winter season championship, Olive Pits heads into the new season playing with “house money.”  The problem is someone forgot to tell the Jake-O-Lanterns team as they came into this game with a new game strategy and a clean slate.  Captain Matty Iannello moved back to defense while Carlos Machado moved up to forward, and both players had an impact in the Jake-O-Lanterns heard earned 3 – 2 win over Olive Pits.

Four minutes into the first period, a quicker first line for Jake-O-Lanterns was generating constant pressure on the defense of Olive Pits with their speed that paid off as Angelo Deluca scored the game’s first goal off the passing of Gino Tammaro and Cappy.

In the second period, Olive Pits tied the game as heads up plays by Dave Costa and Rick Cassano got the ball to Ron Aquino who snuck behind the defense and beat the goalie six minutes into the period.  However, less than two minutes later, off a defensive turnover caused by the fore checking of George Medeiros and Todd Bryson, resulted in Carlos Machado taking the ball and beating the goalie top corner far side on a sniper goal.

The third period saw both teams pick up the pace, as Olive Pits pressed the defense with some heavy fore checking resulting in Mike Luise converting in close off a scramble, set up by Dave Parquette and Alex Leone less than two minutes into the period.  Two minutes later, George Medeiros delivered the dagger as a clearing shot by Naz deep in his zone was mishandled by the defense and George was in the right place at the right time to gather up the misplay and score the game winning goal.  

1st Star

Jimmy Clarke

2nd Star

George Medeiros

They’re Off!

The 2020 Spring Season is officially underway.., and Jake-O-Lanterns takes the early lead followed by Shockwave, Drama Queens and coming up the rear is Olive Pits.., meanwhile Snow White is still stuck in the starting gate waiting for their door to open to join the race.

Decade Goal

The first goal of the 2020 decade was officially (but unofficially) scored by an undocumented fill-in player.

Jason Carrien scores the first goal of 2020 while filling in for the Drama Queens.., unfortunately for Jay his goal doesn’t count towards his stats or his 7-goal “Something Pink Challenge”.., so we’ll call it a “Practice Goal”

Unfortunately for Shockwave Goaltender Sean Roach giving up the first goal of 2020 does go on your permanent record.

Taboo

Speaking of Jason Carrien.., there are a couple of taboos that players should be aware of during the playoffs;

1. You never (ever) under any circumstances touch the championship trophy before you win it.
2. You never (ever) wear a previously won championship jacket to the FINALS game in which you are trying to win a new one.

Jay Carrien who was wearing his Black Hole Championship Pullover that night.., might as well just carried the Over-30 trophy upstairs for Billy.  #DoubleJinx

Absence Makes?

Remember; “Absence” makes the heart grow fonder.., but “Absent” makes your playing career shorter.

Right out of the gate (Week #1) there was a fair amount of absentees.., which can be attributed to either the Bruins Game, the Patriots Playoff Game, or that fact that the first installment of registration was due.

In either case.., we are encouraging players to make every effort to be there for your team and to play to your intended level of expectation as projected during the pre-season draft.

Players with too many (non-IR) absentees will be looked at carefully and have their playing status reviewed. The league wants full balanced teams competing weekly.

The Constellations 

Nobody will ever admit it.., and say they don’t care about it.., but you all know deep down inside you like being recognized as a “Star of the Week”.

Although it comes with no monetary rewards.., it’s nice to be recognized by your peers as a factoring contributor to your teams win.

So we took a look back at the 2019 Winter Season Stars and mathematically calculated the brightest and brightest stars of the season based on:

1st = 3-points

2nd = 2-points

3rd = 1-point

Then we took those calculations and came up with the Top-3 Star Constellations that Over-30 Astronomers will be adding to the nighttime skies;

“Miv the Vapueror” - Named after Shawn Miville who was the biggest and brightest star last season with (2) 1st Star and (3) 2nd Star for 12-points all while leading his team to a first place finish.

“Portuguese Hercules” - Named after Dominic DeFrancisco carried his team week in and week out with (1) 1st Star, (1) 2nd Star and (4) 3rd Star for 9-points and more impressively was nominated 6-times out of 12-games he played. It was all those damn 3rd Stars that cost him the top star

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” - Named after George Medeiros and much like the Reno Nevada slogan, George was the “Littlest Big Player on the Rink” with (3) 2nd Star and (1) 3rd Star for 7-points and was his team’s shining star despite their losing woes.

Defense Wins Championships?

Let’s see if that statement “Defense Wins Championships” holds up this season for the Jake-O-Lanterns.., as their motto last year of “3-wins gets you nothing” came true for them.

Moving Matty Iannello back on defense will help with the outlet passes and quarterbacking from the point.., but if you can’t bury the biscuit from “The Great 5-0” then you better be prepared to hear about it.

Lift Ticket?

When the leagues newest speedy Italian Gino Tammaro was paying his registration fee last week.., we were left wondering if he was paying to play hockey.., or was he thinking he was buying a lift ticket for the slopes?

Donning a knitted cap and goggles Gino looked ready to either score a Hattrick or ski down a black diamond.

Brotherly Love

Just when you thought you seen them all.., there’s another Medeiros popping up in the Over-30 League.

Fill-in Goalie Dave Medeiros (middle brother) of George and Steve Medeiros made his Over-30 goaltending debut by stepping up to the challenge of playing back-to-back games for the League Director.

Dave played an aggressive style of goaltending.., coming out to challenge shooters, playing the ball behind his net and made a lot of key saves on his way to his 50/50 tryout.

Game 1: Dave stepped in for Drama Queens Goalie Jeff Deharo who wanted to stay perfect on the season at 0-0-0 with a 0-GAA. Dave’s debut was a lost to fellow Portagee and sponsor Dominic DeFrancisco.., who look like he went soft on him by missing the net a ton of times. Dave only let up 2-goals in the 2-1 loss in his unofficial debut.

Game 2: Dave stepped in for Jake Deehan who’s 2020 New Year’s Resolution is to not finish 5th in the Goalie Race so he also took the week off to stay perfect on the season. Dave once again let up just a couple of goals this time in a 3-2 win.

Looks like Dave might be the “go-to” goalie for any absentees this season.., which means he should be getting a fair amount of playing time and will be tracked in the goalie standings but not eligible to win it.., but tracked to apply pressure to the leagues regular five goaltenders to step up their games.

Measuring Success?

With Matty Iannello dropping back on defense there are few measurable factors to “The Great 5-0” defensive experiment;

• There’s the always popular “That’s a minus” measurement.., which if used he currently at a -2.

• Then if we put aside the individual stats and focus on the team’s outcome and that has the Jake-O-Lanterns starting the season at 1-0

So we asked Matty how he measures himself against the others;

Well Matty.., considering your defensive core you might wanna measure yourself by weight and not height.

Mutt Line Recipe

I know you’re not supposed to mess with success and after their 1-0 start Jake-O-Lanterns are undefeated.., but in this reporters opinion George Medeiros should be centering Gino Tammaro and Nick Doherty to make a speedy “Mutt Line”

Mutt Line Recipe:

1-Part Speedy Pisano (Gino)

1-Part Speedy Portagee (George)

1-Part Speedy Mongrel (Nick) as we don’t know what Nick Doherty’s actual nationality is.., but he’s definitely; part goal-scorer, part shot-misser, part pass-fumbler and 100% speedster.

That would be the fastest line in the Over-30 League and loaded with scoring potential.

Champs Loose