“Mutiny uprising complete, all hands on deck, as Captain’s Mutiny pulls off a playoff run upset”
Captain’s Mutiny made playoff history in becoming only the third league team in 31 years to finish in last place and sweep the playoffs to finish as league champions. Only Nap Time from the winter 1997 season and Huff and Puff from the winter 2004 season had pulled off the feat before them. Cast as the team that everyone was already writing off as having no shot to even win a playoff game, Captain’s Mutiny surprised them all by pulling off the stunning achievement. In the Finals, Captain’s Mutiny twice pulled even in the first period from one-goal deficits, then shut down Devil’s Disciples in the third period to pull away with a 6 – 3 win.
Devil’s Disciples was also a surprising finalist as they finished as the number 4 playoff seed, playing mostly 500 hockey during the regular season. During the playoffs they upped their team game, getting contributions from all their blue-collar players, got solid goaltending, while their defense controlled most of the play with ball control that allowed their offense to get their running forechecking game going. Playing a huge X factor during the Finals for the Devils was not having Lee Nogler playing due to an injury. For Captain’s Mutiny, they finished as the last playoff seed and were mired all season with goaltending problems and consistency, winning only three games all season. Like their opponent, they got contributions from all their blue-collar players, got solid goaltending, found a way to jump out to multiple goal leads during their previous two playoff games, while their defense played solid positioning and blocked a lot of shots.
Coming into the Finals, both teams matched up well against each other, while both goalies only gave up an average of 1 goal against per game. One of the big questions was if captain Matty Iannello would be able to play from a lower body injury (he did, more on his contribution later).
The first five minutes of the game had people asking what happened to both goalies making the routine saves and playing a big role in this game. Four goals were scored during this time as both goalies were definitely fighting the ball. In a game that featured plenty of “unexpected” outcomes, only twenty-six seconds into the game, Mike Roberto was set up twenty feet out above the right faceoff circle by Mark Stickney and Tony Medeiros to score the game’s first goal, beating the goalie cleanly. It marked the first time in three playoff games that Captain’s Mutiny did not score first. Four minutes later, Captain’s Mutiny countered as Gary Wurlitzer (who hadn’t scored a goal all season) scored when it mattered most, set up by Marty Makarewicz and Jason Glista. Only twenty seconds later, Pat Pirone ripped a shot from the right-wing boards, set up by Rich Pelletier and Ray Dow, to give his team the lead. However, the lead was short-lived as Captain’s Mutiny’s Shawn Mulcahy was set up on the point during a power play by Elder Lopes and Matty Iannello to once again tie this game. Then, with five seconds left in the period, captain Matty I made the game’s momentum changing call from the bench. Matty put himself on for a faceoff in the left circle and cleanly won the faceoff back to Elder right in his wheelhouse that he ripped past the goalie with only two seconds to play in the period. It was a huge moment in the game and a big “wow factor.” At the end of the first period, Captain’s Mutiny had a 3 – 2 lead while outshooting Devil’s Disciples 9 – 7.
As the second period began, you can tell that Devil’s Disciples were still rattled by that last second goal. The lingering effects of that stayed with them on a seeming harmless play thirty-three seconds into the period. With an attacking mentality, Captain’s Mutiny forechecked on the defense of Devil’s Disciples deep behind the net and corners by Gary and Don Maccini. Marty got control of the ball in the deep left corner near the goal line and quickly turned throwing a shot on net that surprised the defense and goalie and somehow trickled into the net for a big two goal lead. From that point on, the momentum of this game changed over to Captain’s Mutiny. Their goalie and defense took over. Every time that Devil’s Disciples tried moving into the defensive zone of Captain’s Mutiny, there was their defense throwing the ball back out, quickly and smartly. Devil’s Disciples caught a break at 4:04 of the period as Mike Roberto threw a shot from the right faceoff circle on net that went off Pat standing at the side of the crease and into the net, making this a one-goal game. For the period, Devil’s Disciples carried the play but couldn’t convert their scoring chances. At the end of the second period, Captain’s Mutiny was holding onto a 4 – 3 lead, and the shots were even at 19 apiece.
Heading into the third period, this was still either team’s game to win. The pace had picked up as the game was played faster with a back-and-forth attack by both teams. However, what had emerged was the play of Captain’s Mutiny’s team defense as they were controlling this game, blocking shots and getting the ball out quickly. What was apparent for both teams was this game would be won not by the star players, but rather by the blue-collar role players. Both teams had their defense jump into the offense when the opportunities presented themselves for scoring chances. With just under five minutes to play, Captain’s Mutiny caught a break as the defense had jumped up for Devil’s Disciples leading to Jim Barber sent in alone by Leo Trombley and Matty I for his fourth breakaway of the game (missing badly on his previous three attempts). Jim’s so called move was stopped by the goalie only to have the rebound get knocked in by the goalie’s rebound save attempt more than Jim actually scoring the goal. From that point on and holding a two-goal lead, Captain’s Mutiny stacked the blue line, blocked more shots, prevented Devil’s Disciples from getting the ball in deep and when they did, the defense quickly threw the ball back out. Rounding out the final score was Marty being set up by Leo with only twenty seconds to play for an open net goal. Final score was Captain’s Mutiny over Devil’s Disciples by the score of 6 – 3. Both teams threw 28 shots on net.
On the way to the Finals, Captain’s Mutiny upset Vulcan Grip 3 – 1 in the quarterfinals, as they jumped out to a 2 – 0 lead then held on for a 3 – 1 win, led by Marty’s 2-goals.
In the semi-finals, they went even bigger and beat the number 1 seed by a score of 3 - 1, this time jumping out to a three goal lead and never looking back, led by Leo’s 2-goals and 1-assist and the solid performance of goalie Dale McIsaac stopping 34 out of 35 shots.
For Devil’s Disciples, in the quarterfinals, they stormed back in the third period from a one goal deficit to defeat Justice League 2 – 1, led by Lee’s 1-goal and 1-assist. In the semifinals, they stepped up again to knock off the number 2 seed the Roadrunners with a complete team effort by the score of 2 – 1. Dave Wilson’s game winning highlight reel goal late in the second period, falling down on the rink and still collecting his rebound shot to roof into the net, stood up as the game winner.
For his overall play and 2-goals, 1-aasist scored in the Finals, Marty Makarewicz was named the Playoff MVP. Marty finished as the playoff’s leading scorer with 5-goals and 2-assists scored in three games.
For Jim Barber, the championship moves him into sole possession of third place overall with his 13th championship.
Congratulations to first time winners of the league championship, Dale McIsaac and Gary Wurlitzer.
Congratulations to the Captain’s Mutiny team on winning the Winter 2022 season of the Over-30 league. Players include: Captain Matty Iannello, Jim Barber, Leo Trombley, Marty Makarewicz, Don Maccini, Gary Wurlitzer, Elder Lopes, Jason Glista, Shawn Mulcahy, Colleen O’Connell and Dale McIsaac.
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