The league started as a dream, back in the early 90’s. Friends that I grew up playing street hockey with (and against) were searching for a place to host our own organized league.
The idea was to start small with 4 teams and eventually grow to 8-10 teams.
Even though we were not professional athletes getting paid to play, we were still athletes with a deep passion for this game. We just wanted to play and compete against each other.., as well as against the very best this sport had to offer.
As kids who grew up playing street hockey, anywhere and everywhere, the game was our passion, as we each got to play out our fantasy of imitating our childhood heroes on the ice in the NHL.
Our games started as neighborhood against neighborhood, but quickly expanded as we welcomed outsiders. Games would last for hours as we all dreamed about being the next Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Derek Sanderson, Gerry Cheevers, Ken Dryden, Bobby Hull, Stan Makita, Jean Beliveau, the Big M, Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe, Jacque Plante, Brad Park, and Jean Ratelle. To us, the NHL would always be the “original six.”
As a player, I participated in the competitive tournament circuit, playing with and against some great hockey players that included some professional NHL players.
It was Ray Richard of the Leominster Rams, perhaps the classiest individual to ever play this sport, who provided me with the inspiration to create and organize this league.
Ray told me that “hockey is the greatest game there is, requiring so much of you as an individual, in a team sport.” He explained that you need speed, strength, endurance, skill, conditioning, intelligence, emotion, and passion, but most of all you needed your teammates. Once you play this sport, the passion for the game gets into your blood, and will stay with you, long after you leave this game. His philosophy (which still holds true), have stayed with me ever since.
With an organized league concept constantly swirling in my thoughts, the Old-Time Hockey Over-30 League began to evolve and take shape. The league would be founded around Ray’s inspiration to me, along with his hockey wisdom and philosophy.
The principles to which the league has strived to follow include;
- Having fun while playing
- Provide the best competition
- Facilitate an overall league balance utilizing a draft system
- Showcase individual skills and abilities
- Strive to maintain the team concept
All while at the same time recognizing the individual, reward excellence, and ultimately to play and win the coveted prizes of “the jacket” and “the Over-30 trophy.”
The Over-30 league began its first season back in September of 1992. The early years saw the league playing its games up at Hockeytown USA in Saugus, MA.
Over the years, the league has played its games in such locations as the Greater Boston Indoor Sports Center (Revere, MA), Acton Indoor Sports (Acton, MA), Newton Indoor Sports (Newton, MA), and Sports World Indoor Center (Tewksbury, MA).
Presently, the Over-30 league has come full circle, with games now being played back at Hockeytown USA (Saugus, MA) and currently, the league has 5-teams with over 65 players participating, with player ages ranging from 30 to 53.
The players may have gotten older, slower and bigger around the waist, but they will be the first to tell you “if you want to play in the very best hockey league around, you want to play in the Old-Time Hockey Over-30 Hockey League.”
Bill Abcunas
League Director of Operations
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