Over 30 Hockey League

#10 Inductee

Please join us at the center dot this week at 5:30PM, as we honor another of the league’s original pioneers, and the 10th inductee into the Over-30 Hall of Fame with Rick Lavoie.

Rick was an original season one veteran and one of the most successful playoff hockey players with a winning percentage of 89% (9-Finals & 8-Championships) which could be a record for a player playing 29-seasons during his 15-year span in the league.

Ironically, Rick who wore #10…, is now the 10^th player to be inducted into the hall.

Balance Due

This is a reminder to all players with an open balance…, please visit the registration table to take care of any unpaid business…, otherwise, you will not be able to continue playing until you have a zero balance or an agreed arrangement to pay.

Oh, and if you need a reminder about paying:

Officially Cold

After starting the season with an impressive run of 8-0-1 and the hottest team in the Over-30 League… Dominic DeFrancisco and his “Dominions of minions” are now officially one of the two cold teams…, after two straight losses.

Losing to M*A*S*H 2-1 and following up the biggest upset of the season with a 4-2 loss to a “Duggan-less” Barney and Friends.  This week they face a team they changed temperature rankings with in Hammertime, who won their last 2 games to get within 1-game of 500 hockey and are now one of the two hot teams.

Penalty Clarification

Last week we watched as Lee Nogler went down behind the net…, and for Lee to go down it could only be one of two reasons, he was tripped, or he got high-sticked (as no one in the league can put Lee on his ass) without either of those two events happening.

So, for clarification, Lee was the victim of a high-sticking penalty by Jamie Kehoe that draws an automatic 1-minute penalty (if the Referee sees it).  Then we check for blood and assess another minute for a “Double Minor” (same as the NHL).

Lee was questioning why there wasn’t a 2.5 penalty (or a major) called for drawing blood…, and wanted additional compensation for leaking his blood on the floor.

The ruling follows the NHL with a double minor for blood drawing…, a major penalty is only assessed at the referees discretion, as to the intent or a deliberate act that warrants a major penalty. 

All major penalties are reviewed by the league for additional disciplinary actions including suspensions or expulsions.

Dominion Material

With some of the league’s elite players absent to celebrate Mike Duggan’s wedding nuptials…, the league was forced to use replacement scab players.

Dominions captain Dominic DeFrancisco thought he could capture lightning twice in a bottle by using his former Roadrunner “perfection” players Mike Naczas and Gary Goodwin as replacement fill-ins.

Sorry Dominic, there will be no “sparkplug” celebration after that disappointing loss…, and for the record, those two are not Dominions material. 

Key Matchups

We always talk about key matchups going into the playoffs… Typically that entails seedings and team matchups

Last week we watched another key matchup in hockey (Offense vs Defense)…, And to be more specific Colleen O’Connell versus Tony Mederios.

Colleen was all over Tony to the point that he had to switch wings just to score his lone goal of the game because Colleen had shut him down previously… Including almost putting him on his ass in front of the Directors Luxury Box Suite.

We asked Colleen about getting older and playing a little more relaxed…, and how she doesn’t worry about being the only girl in the league…, and she summed it up perfectly in a song;

Buzzer Beater

Barney & Friends only needed 19-minutes and 59-seconds to hand the Dominions their second straight loss of the season.

“Jersey” Joe Carlton had himself a buzzer beater last week when he scored the GWG with 1-second left to play in the 2^nd period.

Hopefully Joe’s “buzzer beating” continues in the spring and he gets his confirmation email reply for the 2025-2026 draft in before the deadline buzzer too.

I love You!

With Mike Duggan down on the Southshore saying “I love you and you love me” with his new wife Rachel… Barney & Friends were holding down the fort and getting a much-needed win without their star forwards.

Mike Duggan and Leo Trombley were on their way to a drunken night of celebration…,  while Angelo De Luca and Scotty Rosato stayed behind to do the heavy lifting for the “Purple Friends”.

Captain Angelo assisted on (3) of the 4-goals his team scored…, and goaltender Scotty did his best “Black Magic” voodoo on Sean Roach…, hoping that he blows up and loses the “Blind Goalie Challenge”.

Highspeed Lane

Shame on you Gino Tammaro…, save those little bursts of speed for the younger defenseman like Jason Carrien, as you’re lucky he was busy getting drunk when you blew by his teammate and our very own “legend” Dan Broderick.

Gino tied the game 1-1 late in the first period after we watched him fly by “the old man”… it was like watching a “little old man” trying to drive his Model T Ford in the highspeed lane, while Gino passed him in a Ferrari using the shoulder and was texting at the same time.

Sure, Dan has an “EZ PASS” in his windshield and can’t travel in the highspeed lane anymore…, but that guy knows how to use his stick and cause a traffic jam in front of his own net.

OT Redemption

All hail “The Great One”…, “Mr. 1400-points”…, All hail Matty Iannello!

So how does the self-proclaimed “Great One” follow-up on his record breaking 1400-points? 

He single-handedly choked on a 3-on-1 that thankfully Jason Carrien wasn’t there to witness.  Any 3-on-1 that includes Matty and Garvin Chan should statistically be a 85% chance of scoring… Matty reduced it to 0.0% after flubbing Garvin’s drop pass.

But, don’t get too happy at Matty’s fails…, as he and Garvin made up for it in overtime when “Matty-I” ripped a snapshot from the faceoff circle to beat Jake Deehan.

Eye Test

We are going to have to ask the older players (60+) to take an eye exam, prior to the start of the season.

For the second time this season, we watched a well-seasoned veteran (aka a 60-year old) battle for a “phantom” ball that was nowhere near them.

Before being called for interference Nick Romano battled for a ball that was not there…, similar to Pat Pirone hacking at Dave Giusti for a ball in the crease (that wasn’t) in the crease.

Rumor has it that next season the league is considering putting them all on one team and calling them “The Magoo’s”.

“Yeeeaahhh Cap!”

With a few superstars missing for both teams, it was Brian “Cappy” Capodilupo who had a huge highlight goal to tie the game and make it 2-2 in the 3^rd.

It happened again, another momentum swing…, and the “Season of giving back” continues as another quick goal was “given right back”

While the PA announcer was still announcing the 3^rd goal of the game by “#99 Jose Silva” …,  he didn’t even get to finish Jose’s last name before “Cappy” dipped down low and blasted a one-timer from the high slot to make it 2-2 just 10-seconds after Jose scored.  

Can I get a “Yeeeaahhh Cap!”?

In-game Debate

With five seconds to play in the period and a score of 2-2… and the draw and the offensive zone… Do you pull your goalie for the extra attacker?

Last week, Phoenix rising captain John Kelleher did his best “Helen Keller” impersonation as he ignored chanting from the owner suite of “Pull the Goalie!”

So, you make the call:

Would you pull your goalie with 5-seconds left and 200ft away?

Most would say “Yes”…, but considering the timekeepers and equipment, those 5-seconds could easily turn into 8-seconds or even 90-seconds of players yelling “Clock”

“Raiders” of the Lost Ark

They always say don’t miss an opportunity; it may never happen again.

But for another street hockey icon and legend Doug Sedille, he missed his opportunity to celebrate “Bushwacker” style after scoring his 1^st and potentially only goal of the season.

After pairing up on the scoresheet with his fellow “Raiders” of the Lost Ark, Lee Nogler who assisted on Dougie’s go-ahead goal with 9-seconds left to play in the 1^st..., we were waiting for the infamous celebration dance.  But it never happened.

Which makes us wonder if Doug just forgot how to celebrate goals (since he doesn’t score that often anymore) or he didn’t want his kid seeing his Dad’s old moves…, but whatever the case, here is what you missed out on:

Huge Saves

Last week’s second overtime bout…, would have never gone to overtime if it wasn’t for the two goalies.  With Dale McIsaac still out on IR for Hammetime, Scotty Rosato doubled up to help solidify his second win on the day with countless saves that won’t go against his personal stats.

At the other end of the goaltender Dave Giusti is making a case that if M*A*S*H takes a run at the title that he will a major part of the reason.  Dave has been playing some great goaltending (despite the wins and losses) and the standings…, if Dave can continue to make key saves and his offense (which is starting to click) does their job, they can become a serious contender come December.

Laser Show

Once again John Cary was seen selling tickets to his one-man laser show at the Hockeytown Planetarium.

After a back-and-forth game of exchanging goals…, It was going to take another period of hockey to decide the winner…, but not without a little drama.

One of our eldest statesmen who does not play even close to his age, took an interference penalty with just 23-seconds left to play in a 2-2 tie.

Unfortunately for M*A*S*H, one of their best faceoff drawing centerman Mark Stickney had to start the overtime period as a spectator in the penalty box.

With the 3-on-3 overtime policy…, Hammertime gets to start the OT with a 4-on-3 advantage.  Unofficial “A” captain Lee Nogler motioned to his captain to get “Shooter McGavin” aka John Carey onto the floor for the draw in the offensive zone.

Just like Lee drew it on the whiteboard…, Anthony Petrillo wins the draw to Lee, who slides it over to John , who rips a top corner goal for the win.

Typically, all the big-name players go first… But last week the league director had a hunch that “Eddie Chin for the win”…, but he didn’t put his money where his mouth is and instead put his $1.00 on Garvin Chan.

We’ll say it again… “Hey Eddie, start making room on the mantel”…, this reporter is predicting an Over-30 Lucite Award in your future.

New Blood

Only took less that a period for the newest Aylwin family member on the dole to join the long list of timekeeper screwups. 

Welcome Joe Aylwin to the Over-30 League as one of the new official timekeepers for the league.  Yes Joe, Ric and Kellie are all siblings, so don’t bother arguing with them, you’ll get out voted 3-1 (Just like Billy does)

Also, Joe, we must warn you…, players are very sensitive about the clock, posting goals, and making sure you don’t knock the very sensitive wiring out of whack.

There are five things you need to know about timekeeping in this league.

1)    You will get yelled at by the players.

2)    Keep your finger on the buttons.

3)    Head Referee Jon Picard likes to squeeze all the balls.

4)    Your star votes don’t count (it’s all political awards).

5)    Most importantly – you don’t get paid for “overtime”.

BOD Debate

We had a Board of Directors debate last week that they took to the streets for clarification and settlement.

When counting the number of players you have for the game…, Do you count the goalie?

Bill Abcunas has a habit of saying you have (8) tonight…, which really means you have (7) because he counts the goalie in that (8).  Mike Naczas and Jim Barber say you never count the goalie (it’s a given).

Some of you got it right and some of you got it wrong…, but everyone knows that #GDM (Goalies Don’t Matter).  So, stop counting them.

Defense School

It’s not too late to sign up for the new Bill Abcunas “School of Defense” as classes just started last week with his first student being the ALD Mike Naczas.

Bill will teach students how to;

• Read the plays in front of you.
• Jumping up into the offense.
• Earning and not begging for assists.
• Patience and outlet passes.
• How to score 5-goals in a season.
• The art of drawing a penalty.
• Subliminal and undetected dirty plays.

If I was “Naz”…, I would pay particular attention to the 3^rd & 5^th bullet points…, as we are down to the last 4-games of the season and you still have some uncashed checks your mouth wrote over the summer.