Sandbagging until the very end!
Sandbagger definition: “Someone who deliberately misleads or deceives others about their real intentions or abilities to get what they want. To use deception to gain something.” The Sandbagger team, led by first-year captain Dave Costa certainly lived up to their name, as they stormed back from an early two goal deficit, to defeat Tealsters Union 3 – 2 in overtime. Wow what a game and what a way to end the 2023-24 year of the Over-30 league.
If any team was the hot team during the playoffs, it was the Sandbaggers, as they ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak to finish in 4th place. They continued their winning ways by extending that winning streak to six games, winning three more games in the playoffs, to win their Spring 2024 championship. In two of the three games they played in the playoffs, they came back from early deficits.
Headed into the Finals, both teams played in very close playoff games, that were played in a back-and-forth pace by the teams, and demonstrated that they could each win the close games. During the regular season, Tealsters Union held the edge over the Sandbaggers with a 2–0 record head-to-head while outscoring them by an 8–3 goal differential.
Anticipation was running high that the Finals would be a very close game between two evenly matched teams. What nobody saw coming was the unexpected start, specifically the first two minutes. What everyone was expecting was the top line of each team generating scoring chances. What nobody saw coming was the second line of Tealsters Union generating and scoring on their first chance of the game. At 8:42 of the first period, getting the ball in deep as Mark Stickney passed it to John Kelleher in the right corner, who quickly found Joe Carlton with inside position at the far post. Although covered by the defense, Joe managed to get his shot off to open the scoring. Forty seconds later at 8:02, Tealsters Union shocked the Sandbaggers with their second goal, as Ray Dow moved the ball up to Rob Sheridan, who sent away Tim Burke on the left wing. With time and space, Tim ripped a slapshot that cleanly beat the goalie far low side. It was a huge momentum shift right at the start of the game for Tealsters Union. Stunned, the Sandbaggers tried to counter, but each time, there were the Tealsters Union team playing team defense, controlling the ball by their defense, and moving it smartly out of their zone. The edge in the first period definitely belonged to Tealsters Union who were quicker to the ball, didn’t panic with the ball, and kept moving the ball out of their defensive zone smartly. At the end of the first period, Tealsters Union had a surprising 2-0 lead while both teams were even in shots, 6-6.
The second period continued to play out similar to the first period, as both goalies settled in and were stopping any scoring chances generated. This game was turning into more of a defense controlling the play rather than the offense by both teams. One observation that stood out was how smart Rob Sheridan was playing. Sacrificing his offense, he committed to playing back and was all over the rink in his defensive zone, disrupting and breaking up plays before they could get started. His quick speed and smart reads, prevented the Sandbaggers 1st line from generating any offense. If one player stood out for Tealsters Union it was Rob Sheridan (it reminded this reporter of the similar performance Mike Duggan displayed in last season’s Finals). When the Sandbaggers did manage to get off scoring chances, they missed the net. Then with 1:04 left in the second period, the game’s second biggest momentum shift occurred. Paul Sequeira was down near the left boards and passed the ball back to Derek Donegan at the left point. With a defender closing in, Derek just got the shot off, as players were at the front of the net. The bodies in front of the goalie definitely had a role is screening the goalie, as Derek’s shot found the back of the net (we believe it went off a player in front from Tealsters Union). From that moment on, this game changed, as the Sandbaggers found their running legs and ball control game, and started to ramp up the forechecking pressure. At the end of the second period, it was Tealsters Union 2 and the Sandbaggers 1, with the Sandbaggers outshooting their opponent by a 13-12 differential.
As the third period started, another observation by this reporter was that this game could play out like other games played during the regular season and playoffs for the Sandbaggers. Slow starts, get behind early, score a much-needed goal late in the second period or early third period, get your running legs going, get more shots on net, score goals, and blank your opponent in the third period. Still, Tealsters Union was in a good position as the period played out. Rob Sheridan was still winning most of the faceoffs taken deep in his defensive zone, the defense was getting to balls and moving them up to the forwards. However, the Sandbaggers were quicker on the forecheck, while the wings for Tealsters Union were being pressured by an attacking defense of the Sandbaggers, keeping the play alive in Tealsters defensive zone. The best scoring chance of the period belonged to Lee Nogler from the left side inside the white line that hit the far low post. The Sandbaggers kept coming though as Dave Costa intercepted a clear out shot, keeping the ball in the zone and found Lee on the right wing just past the white clearing line. With 2:07 to play in the game, Lee had just enough time to rip a slapshot with Rob Sheridan closing in who just missed getting his stick on the ball. Lee’s shot was high short side that the goalie stopped but the power behind the shot saw it sneak between his arm and body to go into the net and tie up this game. It was a game changing impact play at the right time that gave the Sandbaggers all the momentum heading into overtime. At the end of the third period, the game was tied 2 – 2, with both teams generating 21 shots.
The Sandbaggers completed their thrilling comeback quickly in overtime, only a minute and forty-six seconds in. With Lee Nogler taking a shift with the second line, they pinned the defense in deep with their forecheck, as Eddie Chin got the ball over to Lee who’s shot from the right circle missed the net. However, a perfect bounce off the end boards found the stick of Tony Bono left uncovered at the left side, who scored into a partially open net. Game over. Let the celebration begin as you could hear the announcer saying “Bono! Bono! Bono! Get the Duck Boats ready!” The final score was the Sandbaggers 3 and Tealsters Union 2.
On the way to the Finals, the 4th seeded Sandbaggers had a tough game against White Lies in the quarterfinals, giving up an early goal, then taking the lead, then taking the lead again in the second period and sealing the game with a late goal. Garvin Chan led the way scoring two big goals, as they won 4 – 2. In the semifinals, coming in as the underdogs, they upset the first-place Black Magic team, as they jumped out to a two-goal lead courteousy of Lee Nogler and held on in another close battle 3 – 1.
For Tealsters Union, finishing as the 3rd seed, they faced adversity right in their first game as they trailed 3 – 1 after one period and were getting outplayed. Add to that, the added adversity of losing their best player thirty seconds into the start of the third period trailing by a goal. Royal Family had this game, until Tealsters Union threw an unexpected momentum shift at them when John Kelleher and Ray Dow scored fourteen seconds apart for an unbelievable comeback, winning 4 – 3 to move on. In the semifinals, perhaps boosted by other players stepping up and gaining confidence, Tealsters Union faced an even more daunting task, as they faced the 2nd seed Marooned and leading scorer Mike Duggan and goalie Dale Mcisaac. In a wild scoring onslaught in the first period that saw five goals scored, Tealsters Union overcame a one goal deficit, took a two-goal lead in the second period and held on for a 2 – 1 win and upset.
For his efforts throughout the playoffs by scoring points in every game, with 3-goals and 3-assists, and coming up with some big plays the last two games, Lee Nogler earned the Playoff MVP award. Congratulations Lee on winning your first-ever Playoff MVP award.
Congratulations to first time winners of the league championship, Lee Nogler, Derek Donegan and Eddie Chin.
Congratulations to captain Dave Costa who won his first championship as team captain.
Congratulations to the Sandbaggers team on winning the Spring 2024 championship of the Over-30 league. Players include: Captain Dave Costa, Paul Sequeira, Garvin Chan, Lee Nogler, Tony Bono, Dave Wilson, Tony Fosco, Eddie Chin, Paul White, Naz, Derek Donegan and Dave Giusti.
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