Over 30 Hockey League

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Our first Nor Easter of the season hits New England this weekend and the pending extreme winds and rain has league officials cancelling the games for safety concerns.

It shouldn’t be an issue playing hockey games indoors, but shame on Hockeytown for not properly addressing the leaking roof.  We’ve seen too many wipeouts on regular rainy days and with the “Nor Easter” word being thrown out by Meteorologist, The Board of Directors voted to postpone this weekend’s games.

The Board will decide on either a makeup date (or a game credit) in the form of a “store credit” towards future balances.

All in the Family

Looks like the walkout is over and his strike demands were met as we welcome back Ric Aylwin to the Referee workforce. 

Like him or hate him, mostly hate when he’s wearing stripes making calls against you or your team… but you can’t accuse him of being bias.  Ric’s return immediately raises the credibility and standards bar for the other Referee’s in the league, and he doesn’t put up with all the drama either… so don’t be surprised if he rings you up (if you don’t shut up).

With Ric back dropping faceoffs… it’s a CBS Saturday Night reunion of “All in the Family” with brother Joe Aylwin shaving precious seconds off the timeclock, and his sister Kellie “Aylwin” Abcunas keeping the shots stats for the goalie’s fragile egos.

"Iceberg, right ahead!"

With Captain Jim Barber and Assistant Captain John Hines out for Week #2 it was up to the lone Assistant Captain Mike Naczas to take the ship’s steering wheel.  Unfortunately for Naz it was a warning from Titanic Lookout Robert Fleet, when he infamously called out "Iceberg, right ahead!"

Naz and the rest of the Canadian Geese (including two fill-ins) went down with the ship in a 7-0 blowout to the Leafpeepers.

Moral of the story… If you want to be a “Captain” you must learn how to steer the ship.

Total Recall

Jim Barber and the rest of the Aged to Perfection NBHL Team want the league to recall Gary Goodwin’s goal and assist he scored against the Canadian Geese last week. 

Gary was supposed to be at the Marge Martin Sports Complex in Township NJ last weekend helping his fellow Massachusetts Legends 45+ Championship Team battle for a national title, but according to rumors “Stonehands” was reportedly “Banging-a-Uey” before the Tappan Zee Bridge in NY.  Either Gary didn’t want to pay the $7.25 to cross, or he thought it would be easier to return home and score goals and assists in a week that had every team being watered-down.

“Shutout “*”

Dave Giusti posted the first shoutout of the season (but) maybe we need to add an “*” to it, since the team (he) shutout had basically only (1) real scoring threat, and against a team that only had enough offense to muster up 23-shots on net and some of those might have even been courtesy shots.  So maybe Dave faced like 17-shots in the first “Shutout *” of the season.

Also, speaking of shots on net, is it a coincidence that Pedro Fontes led all shooters with 11-shots and 2-goals, and his fiancé sits right next to the game statistician and shot tracker?

Earned Shutout

Sean Roache joined Dave Giusti on the “Goalie Shutout List” with his 25-saves performance last week.  Now I know what you’re asking… why should Dave get an “*” for his 23-save performance and shutout but not Sean who faced 25-shots?

The difference is Rob Sheridan.  Anytime Rob is on the opposing team there is a 90+% chance that Rob will not allow the goalie he’s shooting against to get a shutout.  Thankfully for Sean, but unfortunately for Rob, he was centering the “Helicopter Line” playing with “No Wings” to help him fly.

Cinco de Goalo

After his dismal Week #1 with only 5-shots that resulted in 0-goals & 0-assists, Mike O’Neill was back in the driver’s seat with his 6-point performance (5-goals & 1-assist) to put him on the top of the leaderboard after he celebrated “Cinco de Goalo”

Typically, Rob Sheridan will shut down the opposing team’s biggest threat, but he was too busy trying to ruin Sean Roach’s shutout, so he had no time to shut Mike down. 

Turns out, Mike was the only player to shut Mike down as he factored in every goal (except one) because he was on the bench catching his breath.

New Saying...

We have a new saying in the Over-30 League… “Don’t count your Chickenhawks before they win a championship”.  This could be the year; this could be the team.  Angelo De Luca might actually “Win one for the Gipper (and Max).”

You have a championship Goalie in Sean Roach and his last (2 out of 3) Championships. A couple of proven Championship winners (especially) Leo Trombley… all he does is win championships and national titles… and the NBHL Tier 1 player Mike O’Neill.

Angelo, if you don’t win a championship with this team… the league will expect your “C” on the League Director’s desk first thing in the morning on April 1^st 2027.

Greene’r Pastures

“The grass is always “Greene’r” on the other side”…. Especially when you’re Rob Greene and you’re standing on the “Greene’r” side. 

Rob is off to “Greene’r Pastures” since he moved away from his previous two-time captain Angelo De Luca. 

How excited is Rob to be on his way to a legit shot at a championship with his new captain Dominic DeFrancisco?  Excited enough to score two goals for his team including the GWG in the absence of their top scoring threats.

Defense Wins Games

“Jersey” Joe Carlton was his team lone offensive goal scorer and the first defenseman to start the games scoring. 

Between Joe and Rob Greene, the defense scored three out of the four goals scored last week.  That puts a whole new spin on the phrase “Defense Wins Hockey Games”  and that couldn’t be truer last week as Dominic DeFrancisco was the lone offensive goal scorer in the late game.

Dom Trick

Leave it to Dominic DeFrancisco to score the first “Dom Trick” of the season.

What’s a “Dom Trick” you ask?  It’s like a Gordie Howe Hat Trick but without the fight.

Dom had a Goal, Assist and a Penalty in his team’s second win on the season.  Two games in and two wins… is it too soon to say “Perf….shhhhh” it’s a long season, still 15 games to go for a shot at a repeat performance.

NBHL Champs!!

Congratulations to the NBHL 2026 Tier 3 Champions, the Boston Rattlers.  They dropped their first game on Friday, but that was their only loss on their way to the Tier 3 Championship.

Current Over-30 Players Lee Nogler, Nick Doherty, and Leo Trombley, joined (fill-in) players Cam Long and Mike Viera (MVP) in raising the cup in New Jersey. 

Steve Iacoviello, who allegedly gave up his spot earlier in the season for a better defenseman, still wants a championship ring from the Rattlers Organization.

Other past and present notables from the Over-30 League were Jason Carrien (Tier 3 Champ) and officially rostered by the NBHL as a 2026 Rattler but didn’t play in the tournament was GM Mike Duggan (hurt), Dave Costa (cut) and Jose Silva (unknown) and another former player Mike Travassos (unwilling to travel)… All get to have the cup for a day as well.

Congratulations to the NBHL Tier 3 Champions… The Boston Rattlers (and Ike)