Over 30 Hockey League

Two More Inductees

This weekend we honor two more inductees into the Over-30 Hockey League Hall of Fame.

These two are legends from the past…, they were part of one of the biggest historical events in the leagues 30+ year history with Bad Call (aka “The Curse Busters”) and Gary Goodwin owes them both a debt of gratitude.  If it wasn’t for them…, there would be no “Perfect Season” for Gary (or the rest of the Roadrunners).

Who are they?

Come up Friday before the 5:30 game…, to see Franco Grutti and Dave Curcio be honored and inducted as two iconic veterans of the league.

Voting Ballots

Don’t forget to cast your vote for the 2023-2024 Over-30 Hockey League “Mylec Player of the Year”.  If you haven’t cast a ballot yet…, please see Mike Naczas or Bill Abcunas for a ballot. 

There is only a very limited time to vote, so please do so on Saturday as we need to figure out the results and get the Mylec swag for the winner.

Over-30 Hockey League

2023-2024 Mylec Player of the Year

Choose you “TOP 3” (Only)

Place your ranked votes #1, #2, #3

Playoff Hockey

Someone in upper management made the comment… “Last week’s games almost had a playoff vibe to it”.  All three games were competitive (no blowouts) and the leagues in-game adjustments is helping to further spread the competitive balance.

Just remember one thing, as we wind down towards the playoffs…, Matchups are key!

Royal Substitute

Last week we witnessed the return of Tommy Gallagher to the Over-30 League…, even if it is just a possible “temp-to-perm” fill-in position for Royal Family…, it was good to see Tommy wearing “Property of the Over-30 League” by flying the Royal Family colors.

Much like the rest of us aging 50+ year old veterans, Tommy still has the moves and a high hockey IQ to be an impact player in this league… and just like Kurt Warner, Tommy was recruited to return while in a Supermarket (but not bagging groceries like Kurt)…, he was convinced that the Over-30 League has slowed down with (13) 60+ year olds still playing and having a good time…, and would be a perfect time to return to action.

This week is a bigger challenge as Royal Family looks to capitalize on the momentum of beating the #1 seed Black Magic and now will try to make it two-in-a-row for their first 2-game winning streak since (well… for the last 26-games)…, as they have never won back-to-back games in both seasons so far.

The question is: Can Tommy (and whatever goalie is filling in this week) help them navigate their first winning streak with a win… and do it against his former Team USA teammate Rob Sheridan?

Stevie “Wonder”

Way to go Steve Silveira…, its nice to see you reclaim your defensive skills and help quarterback the 3-1 upset over Black Magic by factoring in all three goals and earning yourself the “Defenseman of the Week” award.

Maybe this week you can work on you scoring touch and put a goal in the net to replace that “0” in the goal column to compliment your 7-assists on the season.

But remember what’s more important… a two-game winning streak is up for grabs today.

Flattery

Don’t look now…, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Patrick Spencer should be flattered that his teammate Derrick Power is copying his now trending “Fishbowl” look.

Derrick is also seeking protection from all of those uncalled Over-30 high-stickers…, with all these helmets in the league can someone get a GoPro mounted on one so we can get a firsthand look at what the Referees are actually missing out there.

Stonehands

Did anyone else catch the Royal Family GWG that beat Black Magic?

With the nickname “Stonehands” it’s very fitting for Gary Goodwin, who typically chokes under pressure on the easiest of goals. 

But aside from his spot-on nickname, Gary’s former baseball playing days makes it look so easy..., when he’s effortlessly batting a seemingly impossible goal out of mid-air.

With the hand-eye coordination of an intoxicated ninja…, Gary makes the tough goals look easy…, and the easy goals - go unscored.

Write Him Off

“Write him off… close it up…, lights out…” …, it’s over!!!

What’s over you ask?

Mike Duggan and his quest for 30-goals this season and/or his bid for a 20/20 season… it’s over… both of them… done!

We heard a rumor that “Do-ggan” broke his “Quest for 30-goals” stick during the week while playing in a meaningless Hockeytown league.  One thing we know about hockey players is that they are incredibly superstitious (just ask Joe Carlton) about his HABitual Complainers shoestrings season.

With the “Quest for 30-goals stick” in the dumpster, or quite possibly a landfill by now…, Mike went on to score only 1-goal (granted it was the GWG in OT) which is great for fantasy hockey points…, but with 3-games left and sitting on 22-goals & 13-assists… combine that with the fact that he’s playing Black Magic with his breakaway nemesis Scotty Rosato in net…

We’ll let Mr. Shatner tell you how it’s going to end…

New Challenge?

With the 30-goal season and/or his bid for a 20/20 season both in the dumpster with his stick…, there is a new challenge that Mike Duggan could make a bid for…, but it’s going to take him a year to complete the challenge (if he can do it).

Two weeks ago “The Great One”, Matty Iannello made his return to Hockeytown to visit the players, collect some hugs and sign a few autographs (post-surgery).  Matty who holds several scoring records (Most All-time Points, Goals, Assists, 18-Scoring Titles…etc) just to name a few…, but he also holds the record for the “Most consecutive scoring titles” with (5) from 2008-Winter to 2011-Spring and it could have been (9) if Franco Grutti and Doug Sedille didn’t get in his way. 

But as for the official Hall of Fame Records, Matty’s (5) consecutive is the current record.

With Mike Duggan just 3-weeks away from claiming his 3^rd scoring title in a row…, “The Great One” is getting a little nervous about losing his consecutive streak to the young “Do-ggan”

So don’t be surprised if after Mike wins his 4^th consecutive scoring title during the 2024-Winter season…, that sometime in January 2025 (to prevent his 5^th consecutive win) on or around the same time (as the 31^st year anniversary) of this incident…, we see a repeat of this memorable Olympic event.

Except this time, it won’t be Jeff Gillooly and Shane Stant with a telescope baton…, it’s going to be Dan Broderick and Matty Iannello with a cut down Mylec stick.

Some records weren’t meant to be broken… You’ve been warned “Do-ggan”

ENG

If you don’t have a “C” or an “A”…, you’re not allowed to debate or argue calls.  It should also be mentioned that you shouldn’t have the power to pull the goalie for an extra attacker either.

We watched as “non-lettered” defenseman Bill Abcunas motioned and pulled his goaltender Scotty Rosato way too early (like before the ball was even deep in the offensive zone) and as a result…, Mike Luise immediately crammed that decision right down his throat with an ENG and his 4th goal of the season to tie the number on his jersey.

#NotYourTeam5

Cleanup

Next time you’re in the supermarket and you hear over the intercom “Clean up on Aisle #33”… wait and see if Paul Sequeira comes around the corner with a mop and bucket.

We watched last week as he “cleaned up” the mess from his teammate Lee “I can’t hit the net” Nogler made after missing the net completely with a shot that ricocheted off the boards and back to Paul who whacked home the rebound. 

Sure, on paper it looks pretty… #3, #33, #44 (but it wasn’t)

Shotgun

When describing the velocity of Lee Nogler’s shot, you hear the expression “He has a cannon for a shot”…. But I think we need to change that and say, “He has a shotgun for a shot”…, because, although powerful (like a shotgun) his shot sprays all over the place (like a shotgun)…, and tracking his shots could be compared to a shotgun spray pattern.

So yeah, maybe sometimes it hits the intended target and maybe sometimes an innocent bystander gets struck…, either way don’t be in front of his shotgun shot…, and certainly we recommend you take some advice from Bull Durham’s “Crash” Davis and…, “Don’t’ Dig In There”

Talent Chain

If you want to get easy points in this league, we always say “Pass the ball to someone with more talent than you”…, then sit back and collect the assists.  Ray Nickerson made a career out of feeding Matty Iannello and Joe Shannon the ball. 

Last week the ALD Mike “Get me the Assist” Naczas did just that… he made a play at the line…, sent a pass over to his defense partner (with more defensive talent) Dave Costa…, who in turn sent a pass down low to his forward (with more scoring talent) Garvin Chan who buried his 3^rd goal of the season.

Who would have thought that Mike Naczas would be tied for 6^th on his team in points?

Watch List

A few weeks ago we issued a public warning to Chris Torres about playing hard and fast (but not reckless)…, turns out we had the wrong guy.

Last week the league added Mark Stickney to the “Watch List”.  Just minutes into the first period Mark dropped George Medeiros with a backhanded ball to the face drawing blood on the little fella and forcing him to sit for a period.

While the players were standing around George waiting for him to either get up, or start drawing a chalk outline around him…, it was discovered that this is a weekly occurrence whereas Mr Stickney takes out an opposing player.

If George doesn’t score 7-goals… part of that blame is on Mark for taking him out of action for a period.  Let’s go George, 3-games (2) goals… #KeepScottyPink

Painful Votes

We know it pains the “AARP Award Counsil” to award Jim Barber the “AARP Player of the Week”…, just as much as it pains the “Stars Committee Members” who voted Jim the #1 Star for White Lies’ after their 4-2 win over the Tealsters Union.

But the truth is with 2-goals and 1-assist the blacklisted webmaster must play more like a “Bubble” player and less like a “Brownbagger” to be recognized and get an award from his voting peers.

Going Dark

Hecklers Row was noticeably quiet last week…, what (or who) was ironically missing last week to cause Hecklers Row to be on their best behavior?

That’s right…, the “Unofficial” Players Union President Jason Carrien was attending the Bruins game and let’s just say it was peaceful over there.

With Jay expected to miss this week again, it will be the 2^nd straight week that Hecklers Row has gone dark with the absence of Jay… and no Mike Naczas we don’t need a substitute stand in.