Article 470 - April 2, 2022

Game Results and Player(s) of the Week

After last week’s games the Abcunas’ family lost one of their own unexpectedly. 

During a wellness check it was discovered that Bill’s sister Diane Abcunas had passed away.

Funeral Services were held on Thursday March 31^st and the turnout and respect for Diane was immeasurable as hundreds of Court Officers, Judges, Police and Court Employees poured through Solimine’s for 3-straight hours.

Some of you may as seen Diane a few weeks ago as she got to witness her little brothers 30^th Anniversary Season and some of the players that have dedicated years (and decades) to playing in Bill’s very successful Over-30 League.

Diane M. Abcunas, age 68, of Lynn, died peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of Mary (Mercurio) Abcunas and the late James Abcunas.  She had lived in Lynn for the greater part of her life, and was a graduate of St. Patrick’s School and St. Chretienne Academy in Salem. She also attended Salem State University. 

Diane was the Chief Court Officer at East Boston District Court, a career she enjoyed for the past 37 years. She was well-respected by her colleagues and will be remembered for her work ethic. Growing up, Diane helped at her family’s business, Bill’s Lunch, in Lynn for many years. She enjoyed yoga and running and was a proud volunteer at the Boston Marathon for over 20 years.

Above all, Diane was the heart and soul of her family, and her family meant the world to her. She went to her mother’s home every weekend morning, and the two would adventure to whatever North Shore breakfast spot her mother had decided on that day before bringing doughnuts to her nieces and nephews and shopping at Market Basket and Marshalls. “Auntie” never missed a family gathering or child’s sports game, and she was the favorite babysitter of all her nieces and nephews. Diane always put everyone else before herself, and she was happiest when giving to others.

Election Day
Last weekend we opened the voting polls for the first ever “Player of the Year” as voted on by the players.

Since we partnered with Mylec for the 30^th Anniversary… it’s being called the “Mylec Over-30 Player of the Year” with that player receiving Gloves, Shin Pads, Tee-Shirt, Hat, and a commemorative stick”

Half the league has already cast their ballot… we need the rest of you to come over to the sign-in table (in the back corner) and cast your ballot.

Today is the last day to cast a ballot as there will be no “mail-in” or online voting.

This will be your biggest vote before the mid-term elections in November.

Jamboree Sign-up
Go to the ATM.., your Bank.., or write a check for $60 (however you do it).., sign up this Saturday for the Nick Shannon Memorial Tournament. 

Stop thinking about it or contemplating… Sign up this Saturday!

It’s going to be a live draft event.., that will be entertaining on its own.

If you have never been part of an Over-30 Jamboree… you’ll be missing out on a good time and a fun Jamboree.  Not to mention some great hockey and bantering.

Sweet Sixteen
In the spirit of the NCAA and March Madness… we had our own version of a “Sweet Sixteen”

The Gold Miners didn’t need 16-players to compete against the first place team and their full roster of 11-players.  Dominic DeFrancisco only needed his “Sweet Sixteen” to take down the former first place ReUnited.

Dominic “LeDom” DeFrancisco, Elder Lopes, Brian Capodilupo, Mike Luise, Joe Carlton and Gary Goodwin were the “Sweet Sixteen” that took down the former #1 seed and league leaders with a 5-4 victory to leap frog themselves into the top spot with two games to go.

Joe vs Matty
It’s not even close anymore..,

Matty Ianello who was once chasing (and passed)  Joe Shannon for the “All Time Goals” title with 508-goals now has Joe in Matty’s rear view mirror chasing “The Great One” for his title back.

Matty came into the season with a 13-goal lead and has since extended it to 23-goals as Joe has 9-goals on the season while Matty has 19-goals and flirting with a 20-goal season (his first and only) 20-goal season since back in 2008 when he was Captain of Lords of the Rink.

20-goal Seasons
Gino Tammarro was the last player to have a 20-goal season (last season) and before then it was Shawn Miville back in 2015 and Matty Iannello back in 2008.  If “The Great One” can net just one more.., we will be looking at just our 3^rd 20-goal season in the last 14-years (28-seasons) just to give you an idea how rare a 20-goal season is.

We checked the historic stats and discovered that only 19-players have had a 20+ games seasons and it’s been done 52-times.  These active players (below) all had 20+ goal seasons and account for 22 of the 52 times it was accomplished.

Joe Shannon’s back-to-back 35-goals seasons and his 9-times (20+) goals will never EVER be erased from the history book.  “The Canteen Man” will go down as a dek hockey legend of his own and a scoring machine.

Money
Please correct us if were wrong… but Jamie Kehoe is money when it comes to clutch goals.

Last week the Top Secret Captain had the game tying goal with just 13-seconds left after a beautiful set up by Mark Stickney and Joe Shannon.

Jamie has had a couple of clutch goals from the point and the reason he’s a candidate for the “Mylec Player of the Year”… so get out and vote (and maybe for him)

OT for 2
Last week, Last Call finally earned a 2^nd point during a game.  Granted, it was an overtime win with an ugly goal.  Gino Tammaro and his unstoppable speed raced in on Top Secret Goaltender Sean Roach who made the initial save only to have the rebound ricochet of someone and sneak into the bottom corner of the net for the win.