Congratulations
“The Champs Are Here….” congratulations to Dominic DeFrancisco and his team of Dominions.
All season long they “Dom-inated” the competition up until Week #10 when M*A*S*H shocked the onlookers with their 2-1 win giving them their first loss of the season…, followed by a Week #11 back-to-back loss to Barney & Friends who were the only two teams to give the Dominions a loss during the 2024 Winter Season.
Congratulations to Pat Pirone on winning his 15th championship jacket. Pat is now just two shy of the All-time Leader Ed Nigro (17).
Congratulations to Shawn Mulcahy who had the best shift of the season in the finals by scoring 2-goals (just 35-seconds apart) to tie the game and winning himself the Playoff MVP Award. You are now in the Tom Bardiscino class of MVP winners.
Congratulations Dominions - Winter 2024 winners. Now you have a bullseye on your backs…, only (8) teams have won “Back-to-Back” championships…, the last to do it was Olive Pits (Winter 2019 – Spring 2020).
New for 2025
Attendance Monitoring: The league has always been an “invitational only” league with players being recommended (and vouched for) based not only on their skill, but a player’s character and commitment.
Jon Brown and Anthony Petrillo are two good examples of “Fill-in” players that have committed to playing each week (as a fill-in) and eventually they were worked into a rostered spot last season by filling in for players on long-term IR. They have committed to the league, and the league is committed to getting them into the league permanently.
There has never been a minimum game requirement for the playoffs (and yes) “everyone makes the playoffs”…, but that is not the message the league wants to convey to the players. The league is drafted and balanced based on skill and commitment, and players that are not committed to the league and their teammates could be re-evaluated for eligibility into future drafts.
We understand that players have work, vacations, family events, tournaments, and injuries…, but we ask that you make every effort to commit to the (11) other players on your team, that paid the same registration fee to be in a competitive and organized league…, and need your piece of the team puzzle to complete the team picture.
(Playoff Disclaimer) The League Director has the reserved right to disqualify a player from the playoffs if there is an egregious number of absentees.
Fill-in Players: With 6-teams competing, the 15-game schedule is unofficially comprised into (3) thirds (or rotations). For the first two thirds of the season (Weeks 1 thru 10), the league will continue with the practice of using “Fill-in” players from the waiting list.
During the final rotation (Weeks 11 thru 15) the usage of “Fill-in” players from the waiting list will cease…, as the “Play with what you have…” will be in effect for the final regular season meetings between all teams.
(Disclaimer - Weeks 11 thru 15), All teams with a minimum of (7) roster players will “Play with what you have…”. The only exception is teams with less than (7) roster players will be given comparable players based on the team’s needs, up to a maximum of (7) players (the minimum requirement) to compete.
Lob Rule (Update): With questions and concerns as to what is the actual “ceiling” at Hockeytown regarding the newly allowed lobbing rule last season. This season we are clarifying the rule.
Lobbing is allowed (strategically), but if the lobbed ball hits “any” part of the ceiling (from anywhere) on the rink, a Delay of Game penalty will be assessed.
The ceiling now includes the “I-Beams” as part of the penalized infraction. The resulting faceoff will be in the defensive zone of the penalized team.
Lights and the wire are still exempt from being called a penalty (faceoff center dot).
No change on lobbing directly into the “defensive zone (only)” netting…, a Delay of Game penalty will automatically be assessed. As always, the penalty box area and team benches are not subject to the Delay of Game penalty.
Faceoff Violations (New): As our continuing efforts to keep the games moving along, the league is instituting new “Faceoff Violations” and potential penalty assessments.
The Referee’s now have the discretion to toss players out of the faceoff circle for faceoff violations. Another player from the floor (only) can be used to take the draw. Referees are also watching for “jumpers and movers” during the draw.
Faceoff violations include:
- Centerman jumping too early on the draw (First offense - Warning).
- Centerman waived out of the circle (Second offense - Ejection).
- Replacement centerman commits infractions (Third offense – Penalty assessed)
- Centerman jumping out of a set position when ball is ready to drop.
- Players outside of the circle jumping offsides.
- Players moving laterally (closer to or away from) the face off dot.
All the above violations are prior to the ball dropping and will result in a whistle blowing the play dead. All faceoff violations are not debatable during the game (See your Captain)
A penalty will be assessed to any team who commits (3) consecutive violations on the same faceoff. The resulting faceoff will be in the defensive zone of the penalized team.
The player involved with causing the 3rd violation will be the one to serve the penalty.
Jokers Wild Continues
The hot new game of “Jokers Wild” or as Lee Nogler likes to call it “My Monthly ATM” will resume on January 11th, Players can start signing the backs of playing cards for $10 each. Two winners will be revealed once the board sells out (typically quickly) with the winners receiving an envelope of cash ($200 to be exact).
Remember if you see Lee’s name on the card…, buy up all the prime real estate around him.
More Giving Back
January will also have a new “Season of Giving Back” prize pack. Exact details are still in the works…, but we do know this, it will be food and restaurant related with the option to bring your old wife (or new wife) if you’re Mike Duggan. If you’re not married, maybe impress your girlfriend into thinking you have money with a nice date night dinner.
Stay tuned for more details.
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