Over 30 Hockey League

Article 250 December 7, 2013

Game results and Player(s) of the Week

Week of November 30 (Game 1) – In a wide open back and forth shootout, Cuckoo’s Nest defeated the Shooting Stars, behind the strength of captain Matty Iannello’s offensive contribution, by the score of 5 – 3.  With the win, Cuckoo’s Nest moved in sole possession of second place overall in the league standings.

If we needed any indication of just how unpredictable and wide open this game would be, we didn’t have to wait long as each team scored less than a minute into the first period.  Only twenty-one seconds in, Ray Nickerson scored from the left wing on a slap shot as he was set up by Joe Shannon to set the tone and give Cuckoo’s Nest the early lead.  Twenty-two seconds later, John Mastrocola was set up in front by the cycling efforts of Sergio Costa and George Medeiros to tie the score.

In the second period, Cuckoo’s Nest pulled away, mainly due to the magic of Matty Iannello, in a span of two minutes and twenty seconds, scoring three consecutive goals.  First, it was Matty scoring an unassisted goal.  This was followed by a highlight reel goal by Shawn Wyatt as he crashed the net sliding for position in time to re-direct the pass from Matty and Ray Nickerson into the top corner.  Less than a minute after that, Ray Nickerson scored his second goal of the game off the left wing as he was set up by who else but Matty I.  A minute after this offensive outburst by Cuckoo’s Nest, Sergio Costa closed the gap to two goals by scoring from the high slot, set up by George Medeiros.

The third period saw both teams’ trade goals within the first minute, similar to what we witnessed during the first period.  This time, John Mastrocola scored twenty seconds in, assisted by Sergio (the new Portuguese Power of the Over-30 league?), to make this a one goal game.  However, that momentum was cancelled out when Joe Shannon scored thirty-seven seconds later on an ensuing power play, set up by that guy again Matty, to account for the final score. 

Week of November 30 (Game 2) – November 30, 2013, a day in a season that will no longer live in infamy in the Over-30 league for the Golden Oldies.  After multiple last second heartbreaking loses, the Golden Oldies finally kicked that winning door down and walked into the winners circle by defeating the White Lightning team by a score of 4 – 3.  And a Turtle shall lead them to the Promised Land should be the motto after this game.

After a scoreless first period, the Golden Oldies got on the board first, scoring two goals just over two minutes apart.  Anthony Lauletta’s rocket into the short side top corner from the right wing got things started, as he was set up by Joe Mancinelli and Umberto Biancardi.  Next, after Umberto used his mind to psyche out the defenseman and force a turnover, passing over to Anthony to return the favor and set up Joe for the game’s second goal.

Grab a coffee… or a beer and for most of you old bastards your reading glasses... and enjoy our make-up double issue of the P.U.T.A Forum

Two weeks ago;

Well it looks like Blame the Girl took a vote… “All those in favor of finishing the season undefeated say “I”…. and “All those looking to lose once before the playoffs say “Dive”.  After tallying the votes the “Dives” have it.  Rumor has it Tony Medeiros was the deciding tie-breaking vote and after the My Brother’s Keeper disaster… Tony eagerly pulled the “Dive” lever in the voting booth.

After the meeting was adjourned… Blame the Girl just had to figure out how to take a dive and in the best interest of Tony (and the team) they would lose inconspicuously and gracefully. 

Unfortunately loosing gracefully was never discussed during the team meeting as Blame the Girl posted the ugliest (borderline disgraceful) loss of the season.  Somewhere between the 14-Penatly calls totaling 25-minutes and the 2-ejections… a hockey game broke out.

For those “Season MVP” Judges… Dominic DeFrancisco tainted his All-American/Portuguese image, along with fellow teammate and also Season MVP candidate Billy Gardynski Jr as they gave the judges something to think about when casting their vote for 2013 Winter Season MVP. 

Chasing history Billy Gardynski Jr was on pace to catch the All-time GAA of 1.14… but after last week’s performance we can only assume that not only did Billy place a bet with an East Boston bookmaker that Blame the Girl will lose… he also took the over at 7-goals as he gave up 5 out of the first 6 goals of the game.  Rumor has it Billy bet $100 to lose… and $500 on the over.  Shame on you Billy, but enjoy your $600 bucks.

To prove our theory that Billy had zero interest in winning… the most talented and decorated goalie… winning the Leading Goalie Award 4 out of the last 7 seasons… let Steve Oppedisano undress him down low as Steve popped in his only goal of the season.  I guess the saying is true… “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.” ~ So enjoy your nut Steve.

Congratulations White Lightning… you did what 10-teams before you tried to do; beat Blame the Girl… and you did it so gracefully and eloquently.  Oh Wait… you guys posted 8-penalties and had two players ejected… which also resulted in a one game suspension for a former goon.

During the dismal performance of Blame the Girl… we couldn’t help but notice a blurry figure standing behind the glass wearing a red jacket and ball cap…the mystery heckler was heard yelling at Assistant League Director Mike Naczas… all we could hear was the heckler yelling between the foggy glass panes was… “MINUS-1… MINUS-2… MINUS-3”

So was Blame the Girl vs White Lightning… a great victory or a horrible dive?  You decide.

With that recap behind us… there was an ice breaking moment in (Game 2) for the goal-less wonder they call Cooch.  It only took John Colucciello 7-games to finally light the lamp.  Perhaps Las Vegas was right when the put the original betting over/under line at 1-goal.  What a disappointment.

Last week;

Here comes Matty I… fresh off a 4-point game and win.  A few years ago Matty “The Great One” Iannello was 5-points behind Dave Curcio in the scoring race with just a few weeks to go.  Matty ended up passing Dave and stealing the Leading Scorer Award (again) during the last week of the season.  Well there is just 2-weeks left to play and once again Matty is just 5-points behind Dave Curcio and Dominic DeFrancisco… Could “The Great One” steal another title? 

Golden Oldies… Finally… For once… (and barely)… hung onto a lead to post their first win on the season. However, it wasn’t without a bit of drama.  With 3:07 left to play in the 3^rd and up 4-1… the wheels on the bus started wobbling.  Dave Curcio pops in a goal at 1:48… then just over a minute later teammate Nikko Vramis lights the lamp with 35-seconds to play.  You could almost hear Dan Broderick moaning “Dear Lord, Not again”… but with a last second 75-foot slap shot desperation attempt from Dave (deep in his own zone).  The booming shot knuckled and just barely… Missed… (BUZZZZ) Game over… and Congratulations to Dan Broderick and the rest of Golden Oldies.

White Lightning was flying high… and then quickly brought back down to earth the following week.  Coming off a high of being the first team the previous… only to lose the following team that was winless.

Ok let’s address this… Blame the Girl loses their first game; the following week Golden Oldies wins their first game of the season.  Both teams can contribute the fate to a lone superhero, a masked man (who shall remain nameless)… a “Fill-in” and someone who does not want the accolades along with being humble enough to remain quiet during both inaugural events…Congratulations to Mr…. shhhhhhhhh (it’s a secret).

With only 2-weeks left to play… One team clichéd first place, another team clichéd a spot on the couch for the playoffs… while the reaming 3 teams are separated by one point and it will come down to the last week to finalize the 4 playoff seeds.