Happy New Year
Goodbye 2021 as the first half of our 30th Anniversary celebration is in the history books. The “Wow” factor will continue into the second half with more surprises and awards.
Also known as the “Season of screw-ups” by the New Regime (Jersey Screw up, Banner Screw up, Stats Screw ups… etc) but the overall “successes” vastly outweighed the “screw-ups.”
We did a lot of cool things last season and many of those fresh new ideas will continue into future seasons. The individual player photos for the website and the use of the banner for the awards are just two examples. This season we would like to try and get “TEAM” photos.., as it was tough to get a team to have all their players show up the same week. This season will try to accomplish that.
The special 30th Anniversary championship jackets will be in shortly for Omerta.., and the new race is on to see which team will win the second version.
A final 2021 thank you to Kellie Aylwin, Mike Naczas, Jim Barber, Ed Nigro, Scott Young, Ric Aylwin, Mike Dube (and those who filled in timekeeping).., along with Todd Bryson for their commitment to the “Wow” factor, the leagues success and weekly operations.., without all of you we would still be a parking lot game.
One Last Time
As always we start the new 2021 Spring Season forum with our last “congratulation” to the 2021 Winter Season Champions… Omerta. This is the last time you’ll hear that word (unless you repeat of course)
Captain Ray Dow is now part of the exclusive “Captains Club” reserved for those first time captains who win a championship during the inaugural captaincy. Next up for Ray.., the “Captains Back-to-Back Club” with the same team. That is a little more exclusive club and a slightly tougher one to join.
Congratulations to Paul Sequeira.., Paul had a great rookie season that was capped off with a championship title and playoff MVP award.
Kudos to Manny Nunes who ran like a duck but scored like a sniper to capture his second straight scoring title with 35-points.
Dave Guisti continued his Olive Pits winning ways by capturing another “Best Goalie Award” and his 3rd championship in four seasons.
Ed Nigro who also rode the Olive Pits train to his 3rd championship in four seasons extends his league leading 17th Championship on the All-time leader list.
Jon Picard proves his critics wrong (again) as he wins back-to-back championships as the “always the bridesmaid and never the bride” as an “Assistant” Captain.., and furthermore keeping his promise (and commitment) that as long as he is playing in the league Jim Barber will never win another championship.
Lastly Omerta… you are going to be the first recipients of the new 30 Anniversary “Letterman” style championships jackets.., question is: Can you go back-to-back and horde the “one-off” jackets to yourselves? We’ll find out in April 2022
Waiver Wire
The 2022 Spring Season waiver wire has a few interesting transactions to start the new year.
Top Secret:
Welcome back Joe Shannon… as the former “fill-in” player for Top Secret actually played 10-games and is eligible to have his 2021 Winter Season stats count towards his all-time stats. After their loss in the finals, Top Secret Captain Jamie Kehoe signed Joe to 4-month extension contract through April. So that means Joe Shannon is back in the Over-30 League baby.., and chasing Matty Iannello for his former all-time goals record.
ReUnited:
John Colucciello has received Doctors orders to shut it down for another season. Temp-to-perm replacement player Mike Duggan is now a permanent player replacing “Cooch” on the ReUnited roster.
Also for ReUnited Niko Vramis has been designated for reassignment to the inactive list and his roster spot will be filled by a new rookie Tony Rolli. Tony comes highly recommended and is expected to be an impact player to help breathe new life into a team that started 0-6
Gold Miners:
Who said dreams don’t come true… even though Steve Witkus moved out to western mass, he’s always wished he could come back and play in the Over-30 League. This season Steve is getting his wish as he is being added to the Gold Miners roster to replace Shawn Wyatt. Hopefully now Paul Correia can cheer for a team with a winning record.
After a playoff meltdown Mauro Colucciello has opted out for the rest of the season.
Shawn Wyatt is going to miss the second half of the 30th Anniversary Season as he is going out on IR for hand surgery. We don’t know which hand or if it’s a hockey injury, 12 ounce curling injury, or like so many of us carpal tunnel from being married. Either way.., good luck Shawn. No one will miss you more than Matty Iannello.
Talk about a scoring upgrade.., former DC United and USA Masters player Lee Nogler has been added to the Gold Miners roster. Opposing goalies might want to double up on the underwear when facing Lee.., as he has a cannon for a shot.
Expansion Team
The Spring Season we’re expanding the competition once again… no we are not adding a 7th team.
This season we are expanding the Portugal and Italy rosters to include 5-forwards, 1-defenseman and a goalie.., (and) we are adding a new team to the competition. No not Team Ireland or Team France.., no not Team USA or Team Canada.
This season we are adding “Team Mongrel” to the competition... and since we don't have a team flag we had to improvise.