“30 Years in the Making”
WOW what a game! It was a great finish to the first season celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Over-30 league. The two teams playing in the Finals, Omerta, the consensus favorite and number two playoff seed led by their first-year rookie captain and Top Secret, the surprising team of the playoffs who previously upset the number one playoff seed, went to double overtime to crown a champion. Omerta jumped out to an early lead, built up a three lead early in the second period, survived an impressive comeback by the underdog Top Secret team, before winning the game and the championship in double overtime for a thrilling 4 – 3 win.
Throughout the season, both teams struggled early playing 500 hockey. After opening the season going 4-4 (either blowing out their opponent or getting blown out), Omerta went 5-2 the rest of the way to finish as the number two playoff seed. For Top Secret, after treading just above 500 hockey at the start of the season, they ended the season going 1-4 (mainly due to not having a full roster or players getting injured). It was two teams trending in opposite directions heading into the playoffs. During the season, Omerta went 2-1 against Top Secret.
Coming into this game, Omerta definitely were the consensus favorite, as they had Manny Nunes the league’s leading scorer, Dave Giusti the best and most consistent goalie all season, plenty of team speed, and last but not least, having Pic back on defense controlling the game both on defense and offense. A minute and a half into this game, Omerta moved the ball quickly around the perimeter as Pedro Fontes had the ball down in the left corner, passing the ball up to Pic on the left point, who quickly passed it over to John Howland on the right point. John’s slapshot through a screen of bodies out front found the back of the net, giving Omerta the early lead. That goal shifted the momentum over to Omerta who controlled the play throughout the period until Pedro scored on a set up by John with a minute and a half left in the period. It was all Omerta and the score reflected this. At the end of the first period, Omerta had a two-goal lead, while holding an 11 – 8 shot advantage.
For Omerta, the second period continued much like the first, as just over a minute into the period, Omerta passed the ball around the perimeter and Ray Dow unloaded a bomb of a slap shot from the left point, that Manny gathered the rebound and set up Paul Sequeira in the high slot. While falling down, Paul still managed to beat the goalie low far side to put Omerta up by a commanding three goal lead. The game had every indication that this would be a runaway as Omerta continued to press on offense, while limiting the offense of Top Secret. Omerta was continuing to control this game and was coasting with little pushback from Top Secret who needed a spark or something to get them back into this game. They got it in the form of Carlos Machado who was shifted up front and immediately paid dividends. With less than a minute to play in the period, the passing of Joe Shannon over to Jamie Kehoe on the right point resulted in a rebound that found the stick of Carlos in the high slot, who buried his chance, giving his team some much need life. At the end of the second period, Omerta still had a two-goal lead, while holding a 20 – 15 shot advantage. But now Top Secret had momentum.
Heading into the third period, Top Secret was still in this game, but one could clearly see that Omerta was clearly in control. As the period played out, both teams shortened their benches (Top Secret by default as Joe Shannon and John Mastrocola got injured; while Omerta’s was by design as Pic stayed out on defense the entire period while the other defensemen rotated individually). Three minutes into the period saw Carlos score again from the high slot, set up by Tony Fosco, making this a one-goal game and putting the pressure on Omerta to close this out. Both teams had some quality scoring chances as the period played on but both goalies (Sean Roach and Dave Giusti) stood tall and make the key saves. With their goalie pulled, Top Secret scored with forty-eight seconds left in the game, as Mark Stickney found himself at the right side of the crease as Alex Leone’s shot went through traffic out front and off Mark’s blade over the goalie’s pad tying this game and sending it to overtime. At the end of the third period, the game was tied at 3 – 3 and Omerta held a 31 – 24 shot advantage.
The first overtime period was played fast and furious as both teams had their chances to end this game as play went back and forth. Both teams played all out, while both goalies stopped everything coming their way. For Omerta, their best scoring chances saw Ray have two wide open slapshots from the left point that were denied and Manny had his wide-open shot from twenty feet snuffed out. For Top Secret, their best chance came on a 2-on-1 with Matt Farrell and Doug Sedille that was perfectly played by the lone defense and resulted in a shot never getting to the net. After the first overtime, the game was still tied, with Omerta holding a 39 – 29 shot advantage.
In the second overtime, six and a half minutes in, saw Paul take a pass from Manny in the slot that beat the goalie to set of a celebration and relief by Omerta as they outlasted a Top Secret team that hung around and had just as much chance to win this game. In the end, injuries to multiple players on Top Secret caught up to them and impacted their play in this game, while they never had an answer to the play of Pic controlling the game for his team. The final score was Omerta defeating Top Secret 4 - 3, with Omerta holding a 41 – 31 shot advantage.
On the way to the Finals, after a first-round playoff bye, Omerta held off Loose Cannons 3 – 2 as Manny broke a tie with a heads-up unassisted goal with fifty-three seconds to play, sending his team to the Finals.
For Top Secret, in the quarterfinals, they outlasted a tough Gold Miners team 4 – 2 with a balanced scoring attack with goals from four different scorers. In the semi-finals, they upset and shocked the number one playoff seed Last Call 3 – 2, with a goal in overtime from the unlikeliest hero in Steve Medeiros whose shot was initially stopped by the goalie but went up and over the goalie’s shoulder dropped into the crease and rolled into the net.
For his overall play and 2-goals scored in the Finals (including the game winner), rookie Paul Siqueira was named the Playoff MVP. Paul finished with 3-goals for the playoffs.
For Ray Dow, it was just what the Don ordered in becoming a “made man” in his first attempt at running a team as capo. Looks like all those sit downs this season with his trusted consigliere Dirty Dick Dow finally paid off.
Congratulations Ed Nigro on your 17th championship securing your league leading place atop the championship pedestal.
Congratulations to first time winners of the league championship Mike Roberto, Paul Siqueira, Pedro Fontes and John Howland. Historically, this now adds to the growing league numbers of 58 teams winning a championship, 223 players who have won a championship, and 666 engraved names on the trophy.
Congratulations to the Omerta team on winning the 2021 winter season of the 30th anniversary celebration of the Over-30 league. Players include: Captain Ray Dow, Jon Picard, Manny Nunes, Paul Siqueira, Nick Romano, George Medeiros, Pedro Fontes, Mike Roberto, Steve Silveira, John Howland, Ed Nigro and Dave Giusti.
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