Over 30 Hockey League

Week of March 13 (Game 1) – In a game that featured plenty of back-and-forth play between both teams, Drama Queens came back from three deficits with a third period surge to defeat Shockwave by the score of 5 – 3.  In the process, Drama Queens locked up 1^st place overall in the standings and prevented Shockwave from clinching that final playoff spot.

Shockwave came to play in this game as they came out running and attacking the defense of Drama Queens.  The relentless pressure paid off as Tony Medeiros was set up by Dominic Defrancisco and Rich Pelletier for the game’s first goal just over a minute in.  With just over two minutes left in the period, Drama Queens answered from an unexpected source as Tony Bono, usually playing defense, took a pass from Shawn Wyatt and Manny Nunes and roofed an in close goal scorer’s shot top corner for the equalizer.

In the second period, each team scored twice keeping this game tied.  Just under a minute into the period, it was Dominic being set up by Rich to retake the lead.  Three minutes later saw Shawn score a blue-collar goal out front off the passing of Cooch and Manny.  Only thirty-four seconds later, Tony took a pass from Dominic and Dan Broderick, moved to his right across the blue line and beat the goalie on a rocket shot top corner from out near the benches.  However, in keeping with the flow of this game, Drama Queens re-tied the game with a minute left in the period as Joe Carlton broke in on a 2-on-1 with Manny, set up by Tim Hickey and buried his shot, once again re-tying the game.

The third period saw Drama Queens pull away while catching a break off a scramble out front.  Just under two minutes into the period saw Tim gain possession of the ball off consecutive shots saved by the goalie, and while the goalie was down and out and trying to get back into position, threw a shot on net that just eluded the goalie for his team’s first lead of the game.  Three minutes later saw Manny score an unassisted insurance goal to cap off the scoring.

Week of March 13 (Game 2) – In a game that quickly turned into a blowout, the lack of offense and missing their best player on defense proved too much for Olive Pits to stay in this game and keep up with the speed, quick strike scoring, and balanced two-line attack of Jake-O-Lanterns, resulting in a lopsided win of 6 – 0 by Jake-O-Lanterns.

In the first period, the speed of Jake-O-Lanterns was on display as they simply swarmed all over the defense of Olive Pits who had trouble keeping up.  With just over two minutes left in the period, George Medeiros was set up by the cycling of Angelo Deluca and Gino Tammaro to open the scoring.  A minute and half later saw Pic get set up by Matty Iannello, increasing the lead to two goals.

The second period saw Jake-O-Lanterns increase its lead with three more goals and take full control of this game.  Three minutes into the period, it was Nick Doherty being sent in alone on a breakaway by the passing of Steve Silveira and Pic.  Two minutes later, Todd Bryson got into the scoring as he was set up out front by Gino and George. Even while playing short-handed had no affect on the offense of Jake-O-Lanterns as Nick was set up by Matty and his shot cleanly beat the goalie, as the rout was on.

1st Star

Manny Nunes

3rd Star

Jon Picard

Trending Up

Thank you to all the Over-30 players for replying so quickly to the 30^th Anniversary Draft Form request.

Less than a week after asking.., we already have enough returning active players, fill-in players (that we looked at), and with the 2020 COVID-19 opt-outs returning.., we have enough players to (potentially) make a 6th team for our 30th Anniversary Season.

The League Director and Webmaster had to chase down a few stubborn players.., but the numbers are trending up and… (as of this moment) … we have enough players for a potential 6th team and a possible 4:00 start.

There is a lot of work behind the scenes that has to take place over the summer.., and when the season ends on Saturday April 10th.., there are “no days off” as we start working on the new season Sunday April 11th followed by a board members meeting April 18^th.., and this will continues all summer long until the September season starts.

Part of that preparation is that we confirm players who are 100% committed to the draft.., which allows the Over-30 League to sign a new contract with Hockeytown committing to the 3rd hour of play.

So there is going to be two more checkpoints before the final draft and jerseys are ordered and the league commits to Hockeytown.

Checkpoint #2 - Player Verification: There will be an online summary of the data collected (Player Name, Draft Position, Jersey size and 3-numbers). Each player needs to find their name and verify their information accurate and submit “OK”.., that’s it 2-minutes of your time.

Checkpoint #3 - Final Commitment: This going to come late Spring to verify you’re playing status and enter you into the draft.

Failure to comply with these checkpoints might have you winding up on the “Waiting List” rather than the “Draft List”.

Why are we doing this now?

There is a lot of excitement surrounding our 30th Anniversary and the potential of a 6^th team as we really want this season to be a momentous occasion for both our league and our players.  To accomplish this, we need to have all these pieces in play before this season winds down in 3-weeks.  So (again) thank you again for your quick replies.

Spring Day

Tis the season.., no it’s not Christmas. It’s Spring 2021 and “Punxsutawney Bill” saw his shadow.., which means only 21-days until the end of the season.

With 2-weeks of regular season to play.., there’s still an open seat at the playoff table.

With Shockwave on their last BYE of the season.., Snow White needs to beat The Jake-O-Lanterns to continue their stint on life support.

Otherwise the Jake-O-Lanterns will be immortalized in the Over-30 Fairytale Book as the team to pulled the plug on Snow White and ended her playoff dreams only to sleep forever?

Top D

“Fun Fact” of the season.., the “Top 3” Defenseman in the league have all brought the negative 2020 mojo into 2021

First the young gun Jason Carrien calls it a season with a lower body injury (leaving Snow White on life support) for a playoff berth.

Both Jamie Kehoe and Dave Costa have been on IR with undisclosed injuries for the past several weeks now.

Which means; players like Mike Surette and Steve Medeiros are now the leading candidates for this season’s MVD.., let that sink in.

Stay Brown

Everyone knows the bathroom jingle “If it’s yellow let it mellow.., if it’s brown flush it down”.., Hey Jake Brum, you’re not playing like “Shit”.., but we do like you staying brown to semi-match your team.

We know goalies like to flaunt their vast jersey collection and the Portuguese players all love seeing you in the Red & Green Motherland Jersey .., but last week’s brown Jersey was a better fit for the Drama Queens.

Like the Most Interesting Man in the World would say “Stay Brown My Friend”

Impressive Scoring

Drama Queens had some impressive and creative goals last week.

Tim Hickey scored his 3rd goal of the season with a beautiful wrap around goal and exactly 3-minutes later (to the second) Manny Nunes had some crazy Portuguese spin move and went 5-hole on Sean Roach.., and even Tono Bono went top corner to start the Drama Queens scoring.

Smelling Salts

With Snow White on the Bye week.., we sure hope Shockwave’s loss to Drama Queens last week doesn’t come back to haunt them.  They have had Snow White on the ropes for weeks now and have failed to deliver that “knockout punch” with a single measly little point.

Last week Tony Medeiros came out “punching” with a “body blow” in the opening minute of play and Dominic DeFrancisco “answered the bell” in the 2^nd  by landing a “left hook” .., which Tony followed that with another “upper cut” halfway through the 2^nd period that would have made Marvelous Marvin Hagler proud… but that was it for their offense.

After that it was all “smelling salts” for Shockwave as the Drama Queens continued their league domination on their way towards becoming the “undisputed champs”.

Why all the boxing references?

RIP Marvelous Marvin Hagler (3-13-21)

67-Fights, 62-Wins and 52- Knockouts                 

Overthrown

As predicted Nick Doherty has overthrown Dave Parquette and Ray Dow (during their absences last week) for the top spot in the scoring race.., but can the “on-paper” Captain Matty Iannello overthrow him during the last regular season game?

In a meaningless game for Jake-O-Lanterns can Matty and Nick play on different lines.., so we can see if the “Great One” has it in him to steal another last minute title?

Brown Bagging

Dave Costa had the right idea last week showing up with a 40oz of Corona concealed in a brown bag.., he needed it to get through watching the Jake-O-Lanterns destroy Olive Pits 6-0.

We now know that Dave’s nagging IR injury is not forearm related.., because he can still do 40oz curls

Flight Path

We obtained secret footage of Olive Pits quest to become the first team ever to have a “team three-peat” and their “flight path” into the record books...

Embarrassing Loss

Last week’s matchup between Jake-O-Lanterns and Olive Pits was not only an embarrassing loss.., it was just plain ugly in the end.

3-players were suspended for 1-game for an altercation that should never happened with 90-seconds left to play in a 6-0 blowout.

Stop, Look and Listen

We are all taught to “Stop, Drop and Roll” if you ever catch on fire… for the Over-30 League we recommend to all players in the “heat” of the moment you “Stop, Look and Listen”.

“Stop” – arguing or debating… “Look” for your Captain… and “Listen” to what he’s trying to say.

Another Suspension

Last week we saw our second “Abuse of Official” on the game sheets which triggers an automatic 1-game (minimum) suspension.

The league is getting real serious about a players conduct both physical and verbal towards the league officials and other players.  In the heat of the moment emotions can get the best of you… but questioning a Referee’s bias is unacceptable. 

To question a referee’s integrity… is indirectly questioning the League Directors integrity.  So let’s end the banter of Mike Naczas being a secret double agent for Jake-O-Lanterns.  Sometimes you may think his calls are full of shit… but we assure you he’s not full of pumpkin seeds.

Final Clarity

To be clear;

If; a referee adds “Abuse of Official” to the game sheet.., you’re gone for 1-week (minimum)

If; you get into an altercation and punches are thrown.., you’re gone for 1-week (minimum)

If; an altercation becomes physical and a player and/or league official’s safety and well-being is put at risk.., you’re gone for 1-week (minimum)