Over 30 Hockey League

Week of January 21, first game – In a classic defensive battle, with offensive opportunities limited to a few scoring chances throughout this game, the Lunchpail Kids took advantage of the only goal scored in this game to emerge with a 1 – 0 victory over Coochie Coochie Coo.

For the second week in a row, it was all about rookie Derek Shaw scoring the key goal for his team, as he was sprung down the left wing by Dan Broderick and ripped a knuckleball shot past the surprised goalie late in the second period.  The Lunchpail Kids had numerous scoring chances in the second period and dominated play by outscoring their opponent by a 9 – 1 differential.  Goalie Bill Gardynski Sr. of Coochie Coochie Coo was the main reason that this was still a one goal game.

The strong positional play by the defense of the Lunchpail Kids in the third period negated the flashy offensive ball movement by Coochie Coochie Coo.  All that fiddling and diddling with the ball and slick passing looked pretty by Coochie Coochie Coo, but, it still only produced a measly 8 total shots on net in this game.  8 TOTAL shots!  Maybe now Cooch and the boys will understand sometimes it is all about getting simplistic with your team game, doing the little things, stop over passing the ball, getting balls in deep, and especially throwing the ball on net more often.  Then, and only then, will this team start to turn things around and go on a winning streak.  To quote the line from White Men Can’t Jump “I would rather win and look ugly than lose and look good.”

Week of January 21, second game – No Matty I at the game and they still won?  That was the comment heard by surprised bystanders after finding out that Where’s Shannon broke open a close game, only to give it all back and then score as time ran out to defeat I Padrini by the offensive fireworks final score of 8 – 7.

This was three different games rolled into one, as I Padrini and Where’s Shannon opened the game by matching each other in goals and scoring after one period, as a total of seven goals were scored to start this game.  In the middle period, Where’s Shannon scored three unanswered goals to take the lead, all in a span of thirty seconds!  Finally, in the third period, down by three goals, I Padrini responded by scoring their own three goals, including two in thirty seconds, to tie this game.  However, Where’s Shannon, grabbed the momentum and the game back with only 0.01 seconds to play as all three forwards crashed the net and a walk-on guest player somehow managed to lift the ball past the scrambling goalie and defense to pull out a crucial win for Where’s Shannon.

Multiple leaders of the offensive fireworks, for both teams, in this game were Ray Dow with 2-goals, 3-assists for 5-points, John Kelleher notching 1-goal and 4-assists for 5-points, Dave Curcio scoring 2-goals, 2-assists for 4-points, Derek Cioffi contributing 1-goal, 3-assists for 4-points, Ray Nickerson recording a hat trick, Pat Pirone netting 2-goals, 1-assist for 3-points and Ted Polonski adding 3-assists.  Phew, that was a lot of scoring and points for one game.  Another typical wide open scoring game by Where’s Shannon again!

So there he goes again!!!  That name-less, roster-less “gun for hire”, who has yet to pull the trigger (early in a season) and commit to a team.  No wonder it took him so long to get married. So, said player, had a golden opportunity breaking in on a virtual penalty shot on Bill Gardynski Sr.., and a newly rejuvenated Sr., stopped him cold in his tracks.  In my opinion..., best save of the season so far!!

Along with taking on Sr. (and loosing), infamous substitute player Bill Abcunas tried to go “Mano-a-mano” against resident faceoff jester John Colucciello.  I think John summed it up best when he told Bill to “let Mark Stickney take the draws.”  Matty Iannello might joking imitate him, and Billy might taunt him for his pre-faceoff antics, but the fact is… John wins draws.

“Who do you call when your windshield’s busted? … Call, Giant Glass!”, but who do you call when your team is “winless?”… Call, Jimmy Barber!”  Good call acting Captain Ray Dow to send Bill Abcunas to the shower, and opt for a younger, faster and better looking substitute player in Jim. Also, equally good call to Ray Nickerson who tapped Jim to play the last minute for him as Ray knew it would take a speedy fore-checking play to win the game for Where’s Shannon (and for that day, Where’s Matty?)

Hmmmm…, who else had a famous last second heroic win? 

Oh yeah, this guy....

Yeah Doug.., I too, know what it feels like to win a game in the last few seconds.

There is a new petition floating around that is seeking to have points scored by a substitute player to count towards individual stats.  So if you see Jim Barber with a clipboard asking for signatures… Don’t sign it; just tell him to start scoring for his own team.

First the was the internet craze called “Planking”, then we all had to live through “Tebowing” and now Ed Nigro and Mike Caso… seem to be starting a new epidemic sweeping the Over-30 League… “Dry Land Diving”.  Just in case you are contemplating this in a future game, here’s some inspirational moves.

Thanks Emilio Estevez.., can you bring that gun and scope to Hockeytown?

Seems the injured Mike Naczas might have a new calling… Forget his eminent pending appointment as Assistant League Director.  Naz who was filling in for absentee timekeeper Don, was also heard proving play-by-play color commentary from the timekeeper’s seat.

Why was Mike Naczas sitting in the timekeeper’s box while his team was on the dek playing?  Apparently he is suffering from undisclosed injuries that no one cares about.., including his own teammates.  Along with his play-by-play color commentary, Naz was heard whining about no one from his team even asked how he was feeling.  More importantly nobody from Where’s Shannon even bothered to get him a “Get Well Soon” card. (Editor’s note:  I care Naz.., I got you the two points you asked me for).

Lastly, someone on Where’s Shannon who shall remain nameless… wanted us to point out the fact that when Matty Iannello played without Ray Nickerson, Matty had zero points.  However, when Ray played without Matty… Ray had a hat-trick!  (Editor’s note:  It was Ray Nickerson dropping a dime on his captain).