Over 30 Hockey League

The question this week is; are the Goombahs going to pitch a perfect game and finish the first 1/3 of the season at 0-5?  Their last opponent for this 1/3 is the Justice League and this reporter is calling it now… Justice League 5 – Goombah’s 3 with Paul Sequeira #1 Star of the game with 2-goals & 1-assist.

M.I.A.

Another tell tale sign that the Goombah’s are in freefall is that Steve Iacoviello had been out on IR with an undisclosed injury and their top defenseman Jason Carrien has been M.I.A. both in the games and after the games.

We noticed last week that after the Goombah’s were dismantled by Captain’s Mutiny Jason got the hell out of Dodge as it was noticeably quiet for the 5:30 & 6:30 games.

Our speculation is that he doesn’t want to stick around to see fellow Defenseman Mike “Shutdown Defense” Naczas record another assist and increase his lead over Jason in the Leading Defenseman Race.

“That a minus #6… That a minus”

Leading Defenseman?

Speaking of Leading “Defenseman”.., what are we calling Brian “Cappy” Capodilupo this season?  He’s listed as the Leading “Defenseman”, but yet he’s been promoted to a forward?

Is “Cappy” now a defenseman who identifies as a forward?  If so, what are his new pronouns?

Uncharted Waters

Meanwhile Captain’s Mutiny is sailing in uncharted waters with their 2-2 start to the season and sitting in an unfamiliar 4^th place.  This week they face the Devil’s Disciples in a championship rematch and a loss will drop them down to fifth place and closer to where they are familiar with.

If they do win it will be without some key players this week as Captain Matty Iannello is currently on the high seas of the Caribbean seeking treasure within the cruise ships casino.  Early reports are coming back that Tony Rolli and Playoff MVP Marty Makarewicz are out this week.  The Devil’s Disciples should be licking their chops at the opportunity to jump up another spot in the standings.

Momentum Swing

We googled “Momentum Swing” to get their take and we found this;

The meaning of momentum-swinging in this context, means a particular turning point in the battle. The phrase 'momentum-swinging battles' conveys that before, one group in the battle had the upper hand, but now, the other group are more powerful.

Last week the Devil’s Disciples controlled the momentum swings in their 4-4 tie.

First Vulcan Grip winger Pedro Fontes opens the scoring at (8:55) in the 1^st period… then 41-seconds later Rich Pelletier (8:14) scored for Devil’s Disciples.  Then Pedro (0:58) scores again to make it 2-1… and then 16-seconds later Tony Medeiros (0:42) scored to make it 2-2.

Vulcan Grip controlled the 2^nd period with a 4-2 lead going into the 3^rd until Tony (1:44) and Rich (0:53) both scored their second goals of the game just 23-seconds apart to tie the game and earn their team a hard-fought point for Devil's Discples in the standings.., but they easily won the momentum war.

Civil War

Last week there was a little bit of commotion following the Vulcan Grip vs Devil’s Disciples OT tie.

Hockey is a very competitive and heat of the moment sport.., and tensions can rise following a loss, because everyone knows when you’re winning it’s fun; but losing gracefully is an artform.

Last weeks “Momentum Swings” challenged Vulcan Grip as a team with finger pointing leading to “Civil War” within the organization.  We asked Captain John Kelleher for a comment on how he plans on dealing with the potential dissension as the team leader;

Well said John… You’re a true Captain and leader. 

So let’s all remember there’s 11-games left and a playoff run.., it’s to early in the season for in-fighting.

New Over-30 Trick

We all know about a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” when a player collects a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. Or; the “Pat Prone Hat Trick” when a player scores 0-goals, 0-assists and gets (3) offensive zone penalties.

Now we have the new Over-30 “Dr Rob Hat Trick” when you score at least 1-goal, 1-assit and record 1-penalty in the same game.  We’re all glad to see Rob Sheridan back playing in the Over-30 League.., but Rob’s not happy about the Over-30 officiating as last week he completed his newly named “Dr Rob Hat Trick” with a slash on Mike Duggan’s hands. 

Sorry Rob, a lot have things have changed over the years while were absent., but “Marginal calls” is not one of those improvements.  But look on the bright side.., you’re still playing a game that we all love to play in our 40’s, 50’s or even 60’s.  So have fun and enjoy the comradery because as you know we all have to go to work on Monday morning (even the Referees).  Oh and also; nice goal last week!

Times Ticking

Come on Dave Costa… the first third ends today.  After your 4:30 game it will be 5-games down and 10 to go (and minus any weekend trips to Florida).  Do you really think you can bury another 5-goals like you did last season?

Last season in 14-games (5-goals, 9-assists)… So far this season 3-games (0-goals, 2-assists).

Gary “Stonehands” Goodwin shattered his 6-goal challenge by scoring 13-goals.., yes the same Gary that spent like 20+ seasons on the “Curse Listed” and was the team “jinx” for any team he was on prior to the 2010 Bad Call team.

Times ticking Costa… Gary “Shattered” his Pink Shirt Challenge.., we are starting to think you might not even put a crack in the glass.

Year of the…

If you’re Chinese.., 2023 is the “Year of the Rabbit.

If you’re Gary Wurlitzer.., 2023 is the “Year of the Rabbit Foot”

Gary started the Spring 2023 by winning the “FREE Season Raffle” so now he’s playing with “Double House Money” as he already won the Winter Championship with Captain’s Mutiny and he doesn’t have to pay a dime for this season.  That’s a classic “Win – Win”.

Now to add to his 2023 “Season of Luck”..,  Gary has been awarded the #2 Star (twice) and won an Five Guys Player of the Week award.  Now he is the first player to qualify got the 2023 Spring Challenge as he’s double last years points total (so far).  See the updated 2023 Spring Challenge page.

Could Gary be the new Ray Dow of the Over-30 League by winning all the raffles and challenges.., we’ll see on April 15^th if his name is drawn for the 2023 Spring Challenge winner.

Sympathy Votes?

Disclaimer:  The following commentary is not a knock on Dave Giusti… this is a knock on the collective heads of the weekly “Star Voters”.

How does Dave Giusti get the “#3 Star” in his 5-4 loss to the Roadrunners?  Oh wait Dave must have faced like 40 or 50 shots.., Nope 29-shots and 5 went by him including the GWG for the Roadrunners.  Was the "#3 Star" because he came within 7-seconds of a tie?

We are becoming a league of “Blue Ribbons & Participation Awards” for everyone.

Rob Sheridan 2-Goals, 1-assit.., one of those goals was a featured as a highlight goal on ESPN last Saturday night.., and not even (1) vote for the Star of the Week.  Marquee players seem to always get screwed by the Voting Committee in both (Stars & Awards).

To those with voting powers... Don't "Mail in" your ballot or copy off your peers.., Take your time and look at all the names on the ballot (their accomplishments) before you color in one of the circles.

#MPM (Marquee Players Matter)

Overtime Rule

Just to clarify the Overtime Rule…, Overtime is 4-on-4 for 5-minutes (4-minutes running) and the last minute is stop time.  Unless a penalty is called, then the 1-minute powerplay is STOP time as the advantage to ending the game increases.  Once the penalty is over, running time resumes until the 1-minute mark.