South Shore Ball Hockey League

12th Week Spring 2026 Final Write-Up, Prince Cup Awarded!

Good afternoon, my beautiful SSBHL Community.

We have finally arrived at the end of the line for the SSBHL Spring 2026 season. It was a great ride to the finish line. We had so many great games and fun battles to watch and play through throughout the season.

I want to extend a thank you to all the players who sincerely make this such a special league to play in and manage. You made my job relatively easy this year with minimal behavioral issues, especially lol. I don’t think I had to send out a single email this season to scold bad attitudes or behavior, so I am genuinely happy to see everyone getting along and simply playing the game.

A very big thank you to every Captain this season for their hard work and sacrifice. Taking time to round up their players each week, acquiring flex players when needed, setting lineups, keeping their squads in check, and everything else that comes with the role. It isn’t always easy work, but without that effort, this league doesn’t exist.

A big thank you as well to Karri Cookson for supplying the award cookies this season and the Finals cake, which was incredible! If you're in Foxborough, please check out her bakery, Sweetness Honey & Bakery!

And last but certainly not least, thank you to our league admins who supply help whenever needed, provide insights in Discord, and get to the rink early to do chores like sweeping the rink and clearing sand off the playing surface to make it safer for everyone.

AKA Brendan O’Brien!

Please give him a thank you when you see him. He is an absolute angel of a person.

One final thank you goes out to our beloved and dearly departed Ronald Prince. He would be proud of everyone this season and all of their efforts.

Anyway, enough with the hearts and flowers. Let’s jump into the Prince Cup wrap-up.

PRINCE CUP FINALS
Spiders (1) vs Mustangs (2)

Mustangs Win Spring 2026 SSBHL Prince Cup
Final Score: 10-1

In a matchup featuring arguably the two best teams in the league all season long, it was a game many people had been looking forward to watching.

What was expected to be a battle of giants featured the number-one seeded Spiders, owners of the league’s best goal differential, taking on the number-two seeded Mustangs, a team loaded with multi-faceted scorers and relentless hustlers.

The Spiders, who finished in 6th place last season, had risen from those depths to become the best regular-season team in the league.

Standing opposite them were the Mustangs, whose Fall season ended in a brutally disappointing semifinal exit against the 4th-seeded Smokey Joes, who had barely scraped into a playoff spot. Ironically, the Mustangs had been the number-one seed with the best goal differential that season.

A tale of two teams battling for the ultimate prize.

Only one could take home the Prince Cup, while the other would leave with nothing but shattered dreams.

1st Period

The match started with both teams testing the waters, neither side really gaining an edge early.

There were a few low-danger shots from the point, plenty of missed attempts wide of the net, and both teams appeared to be feeling each other out.

However, the Mustangs would draw first blood.

Defenseman Gianni fed a pass over to Captain J-Mac, who entered the zone near the blue line and fired a quick wrist shot that caught goaltender Dan Harding off guard, giving the Mustangs a lead they would never relinquish.

Only a few minutes later, J-Mac would set up defenseman Cullen Crocker, who threw a wrist shot toward the net from the point. The shot deflected in front and found an opening to increase the lead to 2-0.

Trying to change the momentum of the game, the Spiders increased their forechecking pressure but accidentally got caught with a tripping penalty on forward Jordan Cookson.

The penalty gave the Mustangs another scoring opportunity and a chance to extend the lead even further.

And that's exactly what happened.

After a deflected shot created a loose ball in front, it landed directly on B-Mack’s stick in the slot, and he buried it to extend the lead to 3-0.

That would be the score heading into the 2nd period.

2nd Period

Going into the 2nd period, more of the same continued.

The Spiders missed several quality opportunities, while the Mustangs continued generating dangerous chances.

The Spiders even received two power-play opportunities and failed to convert on either one. In fact, the Mustangs generated several quality scoring chances while shorthanded.

The Mustangs were the best special-teams squad in the league this season, and it was on full display in this game.

Later in the period, the Spiders once again found themselves needing to kill a penalty and once again failed to do so.

J-Mac scored on the power play, assisted by Gianni yet again, to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Spiders would finally get on the board thanks to a wild deflection in front of the Mustangs net from Tim Aktas-Osburg, assisted by Brian McDermott, making the score 4-1 and potentially giving the Spiders some life.

Unfortunately for the Spiders, that momentum lasted only moments.

Once again, the Mustangs rushed into the offensive zone, and once again J-Mac found himself point-blank in front of the net. Off another feed from Gianni, he scored to make it 5-1 and immediately crush any momentum the Spiders had generated.

It simply seemed like goaltender Dan Harding couldn’t stop a beach ball in this matchup.

Easily one of the toughest outings of his season.

The Mustangs continued applying pressure throughout the period and never let up.

J-Mac would strike yet again, sneaking in on a breakaway and scoring off a feed from Bronson Zawaduk to close the period at 6-1.

A very difficult deficit to overcome.

3rd Period

The 3rd period offered no relief for the Spiders.

The onslaught continued.

On a 2-on-1 rush, J-Mac and B-Mack entered the zone together. Joey slid a cross-crease pass over to Brendan, who fired it toward the net.

In a desperate attempt to make the save, Harding dove across and got a piece of it with the glove, but the ball still found a way in.

7-1.

The Spiders would receive another power-play opportunity, but once again it was neutralized by the outstanding defensive awareness and structure of the Mustangs.

Later in the game, B-Mack threw a sharp-angle shot toward the net, and somehow it found a hole and slipped through to make it 8-1.

Apparently, the Mustangs still didn’t feel safe with a seven-goal lead.

With roughly four minutes remaining, they attacked once again.

B-Mack led the rush, with his defensive partner joining the play. A shot off the boards created a loose ball, and Cullen Crocker found it first and buried it to make the score 9-1.

With only three minutes remaining and an eight-goal lead, the Mustangs wanted to complete the double-digit dismantling of the Spiders.

And they did.

J-Mac found a wide-open Gianni late in the game, and Gianni blasted home one final goal to make it 10-1, which is where the score would remain.

Top Players of the Finals

Joe MacKenzie (J-Mac)
4 Goals / 3 Assists / 4 PIM / 1 Power-Play Goal
7 Points

The Prince Cup MVP and the driving force behind the Mustangs' championship victory.

Brendan MacKenzie (B-Mack)
3 Goals / 1 Assist / 2 PIM / 1 Power-Play Goal
4 Points

An absolute workhorse all game long and a constant threat every shift.

Gianni Sciola (G)
1 Goal / 3 Assists
4 Points

Outstanding from the back end and instrumental in driving offense while maintaining strong defensive play.

Cullen Crocker
2 Goals / 1 Assist
3 Points

Made the most of every opportunity and delivered a huge Finals performance.

Manny DeBettencourt
1.00 GAA / .963 Save Percentage
27 Shots Against / 26 Saves

A rock in net and a massive reason the Mustangs were able to slam the door on the Spiders.

That wraps up our Spring 2026 Finals!

A huge congratulations to the Mustangs on a dominant performance and a well-earned Prince Cup Championship.

Great work by the entire squad.

They were by far the best team throughout the playoffs and absolutely earned the right to lift the Prince Cup.

I’m looking forward to a little offseason rest, but prepare yourselves...

Next season is right around the corner.

Rest up, recharge, and I’ll see you all soon.

Signing off for Spring 2026,

Dan Harding

Thank you.

Good afternoon SSBHL Crew and Community!

Sorry for the delay on the recaps and top performers. Between work and just life being busy, I’ve struggled to get to these write-ups in a timely manner this season.

As a result, I am going to tie Week 10’s doubleheader regular-season closeout and the 1st semi-final games into this one write-up.

This one will be slightly different, as instead of doing top performers for Week 10’s doubleheaders, I’ll just go over some quick game recaps and key moments within the matches. For the semi-final games, I will go over top performances and some game recap. I’ll also be going over our award winners within this write-up as well, which Karri Cookson was kind enough to make custom cookies for.

Normally, Ronnie Price would have made some kind of nice gifts for the winners as well, but due to his passing, we don’t have that this season. Come next Fall season, I’ll set aside some of the extra league fees for a little something for the award winners next season, so I apologize for the lack of trophies or sticks this season, which is what Ronnie did for us last season.

But, let's jump into the last games of the regular season, which determined who made the playoffs for some teams and who got knocked out!

Game 1 and 2 Doubleheaders – Smokey Joes vs Mustangs
8:30 AM and 9:25 AM

Game 1 – 8:30 AM: Mustangs Win 7-3 Final

In a must-win scenario where the Joes needed at least 1 victory out of the 2 games, they were looking to clinch yet another playoff spot. The Joes have never missed the playoffs since the introduction of 5 teams.

Yet with the Stick Figures climbing the standings and closing in on the Joes' spot, a win was desperately needed for Smokey Joes.

However, it would not come in the first matchup against the Mustangs, who came out with intensity and speed and absolutely blitzkrieged the Joes in the 1st period, taking a commanding lead and never looking back, scoring 5 goals in the opening period alone.

The Joes would add 2 more goals, but the Mustangs held firm and closed out the match with a 7-3 victory.

Some of the top players I noticed in the game were Thomas Schindler, who finished with 1 goal and 2 assists and played a great game from start to finish. On multiple occasions, Thomas would forecheck in the offensive zone, steal the ball away, and either dish it off for an easy assist or go on to score a goal himself.

Another top player was Brendan MacKenzie, aka B-Mack.

B-Mack was the definition of speed and attack all game long. He went into the dirty areas of the rink, grinding out hard plays and harassing opposing players nonstop with unrelenting pressure from the opening ball drop to the final buzzer.

B-Mack ended the game with 2 goals and 1 assist.

Game 2 – 9:25 AM: Mustangs Win 8-4 Final

In the second game of the day for the Joes and Mustangs doubleheader, the Joes looked to be the better team early and jumped out to a 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd period, feeling good about their chances.

However, it was in the 2nd period where the Mustangs would once again crush the Joes' momentum, exploding for 4 goals in the period alone.

And who else would be the facilitators of this offensive explosion?

That's right, the MacKenzie brothers duo of Joey and Brendan.

B-Mack contributed 1 goal and 1 assist, while J-Mac chipped in 1 goal and 2 assists in the period alone. They were also supported by Bronson and Gianni, who each scored as well.

Meanwhile, the Joes could only muster a single goal from Ryan Doherty and entered the 3rd period trailing 4-3.

Unfortunately for the Joes, things didn't get any better in the final frame.

Once again, the Mustangs erupted for 4 goals in the 3rd period while the Joes managed only 1.

The final score ended at 8-4, and the Mustangs closed out the regular season with 2 big wins to secure the 2nd seed in the playoffs.

Top players to mention in this game would be Joe MacKenzie, who finished with 2 goals and 3 assists for a total of 5 points.

The second player would be Brendan MacKenzie, who ended the game with a cool and collected 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points.

One final player worth mentioning would be Smokey Joes Captain Matt Swan, who did his best to keep his team in the game. Swan finished with 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 total points.

Now, the Joes would need the Stick Figures to lose at least 1 game in order to stay alive in playoff contention.

Game 3 and 4 Doubleheaders – Stick Figures vs Mothmen
10:20 AM and 11:15 AM

Game 3 – 10:20 AM: Stick Figures Win 4-3

In a very strange matchup against an extremely depleted Mothmen squad, a new captain would step up to run the show.

Karri Cookson, in her debut as team captain, was faced with the difficult challenge of running a team of her peers. However, those peers were almost exclusively flex players.

With only 2 roster players attending, the rest of the lineup was filled with 5 flex players. A difficult challenge to make work.

The Moths still put up a great fight in Game 1.

Statistically eliminated from playoff contention, they wanted to play spoiler for the Stick Figures, who needed both wins in order to knock the Joes out of a playoff spot and claim the position themselves.

In the 1st period, the Sticks claimed an early 2-1 lead. The 2nd period brought more of the same, as they stretched the lead to 4-2.

The Moths would get one back but ultimately fell just short in Game 1, losing 4-3.

Impactful players in that match included flex player Al Burbank, who posted 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 total points and was involved in virtually all of the Stick Figures' offense.

The other standout player was on the opposite side of the rink, Jordan W., who finished with 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points.

Game 4 – 11:15 AM: Stick Figures Win 6-4

In a massive game for the Stick Figures, a victory would officially knock out the Smokey Joes and secure a playoff spot.

After starting the season at 0-4 and sitting dead last, the Stick Figures had a chance to do the impossible and steal a playoff berth.

They started off exactly how they needed to, taking a 3-1 lead into the 2nd period.

However, the Moths would claw their way back into the game, narrowing the score to 4-3 heading into the 3rd period.

In the late stages of the final frame, the Moths tied the game at 4-4 with only 4:32 remaining, and it looked like a nightmare scenario might unfold for the Sticks.

However, the captain of the Stick Figures would not let this opportunity slip away.

Jeff Beattie scored to reclaim the lead at 5-4 with just 2:44 remaining and later added an empty-net goal to secure the victory and playoff berth with a 6-4 final score.

The biggest player in the game was once again flex player Al Burbank, who repeated his Game 1 performance with 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points.

Once again, he proved why he is one of the most reliable flex players available whenever you can pick him up.

Jeff Beattie also had a tremendous game despite battling a neck injury the entire time. He managed to score 1 goal and add 2 assists for 3 total points while helping lead his team to the playoffs for the second season in a row.

Games 5 and 6 Doubleheaders – Spiders vs Marshfield Gators
12:10 PM and 1:05 PM

Game 5 – 12:10 PM: Spiders Win 5-2

This game was only relevant in terms of playoff seeding.

With both teams already having clinched playoff spots, it was simply a matter of where they would finish and who they would face in the semi-finals.

The Spiders came out strong and jumped to an early 2-0 lead.

The Gators pushed back in the 2nd period, scoring twice while the Spiders managed one of their own, making it 3-2.

However, the Spiders would add 2 more goals in the 3rd period to close this one out by a final score of 5-2.

The top player in this game was Aiden Lovett, who had an unreal performance with 4 goals and 1 assist for 5 points.

Considering the Spiders only scored 5 goals, Aiden had a hand in every single one of them.

The other standout player was goaltender Dan Harding, who held his ground against a strong push from the Gators. Harding faced 39 shots and stopped 37 of them, finishing with a .949 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA.

Game 6 – 1:05 PM: Spiders Win 5-2

In the final regular-season game of Spring 2026 SSBHL, the Spiders once again defeated the Marshfield Gators by the exact same score as Game 5.

The Spiders jumped out to another 2-0 lead in the 1st period.

The teams traded goals in the 2nd period, and then the Spiders added 2 more goals in the 3rd while the Gators managed only 1.

Final score: 5-2.

The top player in this one was once again Aiden Lovett, who recorded 4 assists and finished the game with 4 points.

Ryan Gurley also had a fantastic outing, scoring 2 goals and adding 1 assist for 3 points.

This would wrap up the regular season and officially cement the playoff seeding.

FINAL STANDINGS FOR SSBHL SPRING 2026

SPIDERS: 8-2-0 / POINTS: 16 / GF: 59 / GA: 34 / GD: +25 (Seed 1)

MUSTANGS: 7-3-0 / POINTS: 14 / GF: 54 / GA: 48 / GD: +6 (Seed 2)

STICK FIGURES: 5-4-1 / POINTS: 11 / GF: 51 / GA: 45 / GD: +6 (Seed 3)

MARSHFIELD GATORS: 5-5-0 / POINTS: 10 / GF: 40 / GA: 46 / GD: -6 (Seed 4)

SMOKEY JOES: 4-5-1 / POINTS: 9 / GF: 42 / GA: 57 / GD: -15 (Out)

MOTHMEN: 1-8-1 / POINTS: 3 / GF: 38 / GA: 54 / GD: -16 (Out)

Playoff Matchup Semi-Finals…. (6/7/26)

Spiders vs Marshfield Gators – 9:30 AM
(Key Matchup: Aiden Lovett vs Matt Connolly)

Mustangs vs Stick Figures – 11:00 AM
(Key Matchup: Manny DeBettencourt vs Brad Wall)

Semi-Finals Matchup Game #1
Spiders (1) vs Marshfield Gators (4)

In a single-elimination matchup, the Gators would sadly be without one of their most trusted and best players, putting them at an immediate disadvantage. To make matters worse, one of their top offensive players, Matt Connolly, was playing through an injured hamstring.

A very difficult hill to climb against the statistically best team this season.

Early in the game, the Spiders wasted no time. In the 1st period, they exploded for 3 goals while simultaneously giving up none.

Starting off the scoring was Jordan Cookson off a great pass from Aiden Lovett to get things going at 1-0.

The Spiders would strike again in similar fashion. This time, Aiden Lovett would be the goal scorer off a great pass from linemate Ryan Gurley, increasing the lead to 2-0.

One more time, the Spiders would score, this time from Ryan Gurley off an assist from Jordan Cookson for the 3rd goal of the period.

Starting off the 2nd period, the Spiders would once again strike quickly off another goal from Ryan Gurley, assisted by Spiders Captain Matt Leary, making it 4-0.

Not much later, Gurley would once again show off his offensive skill this season by finishing another goal off an assist from Aiden Lovett, making it 5-0.

The Spiders would wrap up the 2nd period with yet another goal from Gurley, once again assisted by Lovett. In the 2nd period alone, Gurley recorded all 3 goals.

With a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the 3rd period, the Gators would need a miraculous comeback to pull off a major upset.

They would manage one goal from Matt Avenia, who was a staple of the Gators' offense all season long. The goal was assisted by the injured Matt Connolly, making it 6-1.

Unfortunately, that would be all they could manage.

The Spiders would score again from Aiden Lovett, assisted by (unknown as of now), making it 7-1.

One final time, Ryan Gurley would score from a sharp angle off an assist from Steve Swi, bringing the final score to 8-1.

With the victory, the Spiders advanced to the Prince Cup Finals while eliminating the Marshfield Gators from playoff contention.

Final Score:
Spiders 8
Marshfield Gators 1

Top Offensive Player of the Game:
Ryan Gurley

Gurley put together an absolutely insane performance, scoring 5 goals and adding 1 assist for a total of 6 points.

Top Defensive Player of the Game:
Jordan Cookson

Cookson shut down a multitude of opponents in his own end while also contributing offensively with 1 goal and 1 assist, finishing with 2 points.

Top Goalie of the Game:
Dan Harding

Though he didn't face a huge volume of shots, Harding was excellent when called upon. He stopped 28 of 29 shots faced and finished with a .966 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA.

Semi-Finals Matchup Game #2
Mustangs (2) vs Stick Figures (3)

In the second semi-final bout, we had one that many people were looking forward to witnessing.

The high-powered offensive unit known as the Mustangs, led by Joey MacKenzie, would be tested against the gritty underdog story that climbed back from the grave, led by the tenacious speedster Jeff Beattie.

Starting off in the 1st period, we witnessed exactly the strategy we expected from the Mustangs as they came out with speed and intensity.

The opening goal came from defenseman Cullen Crocker, who got in alone off a beautiful feed from Chris Novo and buried it to make the score 1-0.

With about 7 minutes left in the period, the Mustangs would strike again as B-Mack scored off an assist from his brother J-Mac to increase the lead to 2-0.

However, the Stick Figures would answer back with a goal from Shane McNamara, assisted by Matt Hocking, narrowing the gap to 2-1.

But the Mustangs wouldn't let that slide.

With only :48 remaining in the period, Gianni would score off an assist from B-Mack to extend the lead to 3-1 heading into the intermission.

In my opinion, the 2nd period was the defining stretch of the game.

The Stick Figures came out strong and opened the scoring with a goal from Jeff Beattie, assisted by Matt Holleran, narrowing the gap to 3-2.

About a minute later, a two-minute minor penalty was called on defenseman Gianni, giving the Stick Figures a massive opportunity to swing momentum in their favor and potentially tie the game.

Instead, the exact opposite happened.

While the Stick Figures attempted to push offensively on the power play, Mustangs Captain J-Mac broke into the offensive zone, found some open space, and buried a shorthanded goal to completely drain the life out of the Stick Figures.

The goal made it 4-2 and proved to be one of the biggest turning points of the entire game.

The Stick Figures would respond with another goal from Shane McNamara, assisted by Jeff Beattie, but the Mustangs would score twice more in the period, one from Bronson and another from J-Mac, extending the lead to 6-3 heading into the final frame.

Sadly for the Stick Figures, the scoring dried up completely in the 3rd period.

They were blanked by goaltender Manny DeBettencourt while the Mustangs added two more goals, one from Bronson and another from Gianni.

The Cinderella story of the Stick Figures had officially come to an end.

The Mustangs advanced to the Prince Cup Finals and earned themselves a date with the top-seeded Spiders.

Final Score:
Mustangs 8
Stick Figures 3

Top Offensive Players of the Game:
Brendan MacKenzie & Joe MacKenzie

B-Mack finished the day with 1 goal and 3 assists and was an absolute beast from the opening whistle.

He ran down every loose ball, jumped into every possible play, and consistently outworked the Stick Figures in all areas of the rink.

B-Mack ended the day with 4 points and was a major reason for the Mustangs' victory.

J-Mac also finished with 2 goals and 2 assists, one of which was the pivotal shorthanded goal that completely shifted momentum.

Personally, I believe that goal was the difference-maker in the game.

The Stick Figures were pushing back hard, and had that power play gone the other way, we may have had a completely different outcome.

Joey was also picture-perfect as a leader, guiding his team with passion and ferocity while keeping everyone focused and composed.

Top Defensive Player of the Game:
Gianni Sciola

Gianni was outstanding from start to finish and played a very smart, disciplined game.

He also managed to score 2 goals from the back end, which is always a huge contribution when your defensemen can provide offense while still locking things down defensively.

G has been through plenty of playoff battles and knows exactly what it takes when it comes to postseason hockey.

Top Goalie of the Game:
Manny DeBettencourt

Manny had an excellent game and was tested often throughout the matchup.

He faced 45 shots and stopped 42 of them, finishing with a .933 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA.

Manny's second half of the season since the trade has been a major improvement. He has looked increasingly confident with his new squad and will look to keep that momentum going against the high-octane offense of the Spiders in the Finals.

SSBHL SPRING 2026 AWARD WINNERS

MVP:
Aiden Lovett

Best Defensive Player:
Matt Leary

Best Goalie:
Dan Harding

Joe Godfrey Award:
Jeff Beattie

6th Man Award:
Ryan Jennette

Arty Reynolds Award:
Jeff Beattie

With all that, we are officially caught up!

We now have our Finals matchup determined.

The stage is set for an intense, high-octane battle between the 1st and 2nd seeded teams in the Spring 2026 Prince Cup Championship.

The Spiders vs the Mustangs.

These teams split their regular-season meetings.

Game 1 went to the Mustangs in a thrilling 7-6 victory.

Game 2 went to the Spiders by a score of 7-4.

The margin between these teams is razor-thin, and this matchup could truly go either way.

It's going to come down to who wants it more.

Who's willing to go the extra mile?

Which player is going to rise to the occasion?

And who's going to crumble under the pressure?

Prince Cup Championship Finals
6/14/26 – 10:00 AM

Spiders (1) vs Mustangs (2)

Key Matchup:
Aiden Lovett & Ryan Gurley vs J-Mac & B-Mack

Thank you!

-Dan Harding

8th Week Spring 2026 SSBHL, Final Playoff Push!!!

Hello and good afternoon SSBHL Community!

Sadly, once again, last week was a wash as Mother Nature really doesn’t want that last game on the schedule played! Both weeks we came up to the final matchup, and both times it rained them out. Joes vs. Mustangs, Sticks vs. Moths, and Spiders vs. Gators seem to be cursed matchups that the hockey gods don’t want to happen. Hate to rain on their parade, but it’s happening!

This coming week is now a doubleheader as a result of the rain delays! It’s going to be a long day, so best get some good sleep, eat well, stretch out, and buckle in! Games will be slightly shorter to accommodate fitting 6 games into one day.

Each period will be 12 minutes long, with the clock stopping in the last minute of the 1st and 2nd periods. In the 3rd period, the clock will stop in the final 2 minutes of the game.

Your teams will play back-to-back, so here is how it lines up now:

Joes and Mustangs will play starting at 8:30 AM for the 1st game and 9:25 AM for the 2nd game.

Sticks and Moths start at 10:20 AM for the 1st game, and the 2nd game is at 11:15 AM.

Then Spiders and Gators will start at 12:10 PM for the 1st game, and the 2nd game will start at 1:05 PM.

I am aware this isn’t ideal, but in the best effort to maintain the playoff schedule, this is sadly what must happen. It can’t be helped, and it is what it is.

With that said, I never got to Week 8’s Top Performers write-ups. I kind of had a feeling we were going to get rained out, so I dragged my feet. But better late than never!

Let’s jump into Week 8’s best players of the week.

All-Star Point Production

#1 Offensive Player of the Week – Shane McNamara (Stick Figures) [3 Goals / 1 Assist / 4 Points]

We have a first-time top performer this week, and not only is he in the Top 3, but he lands at our #1 offensive player of Week 8.

Shane McNamara of the Stick Figures was putting on a goal-scoring clinic and put together a devastating hat trick against the depleted Mustangs squad.

Shane’s 1st goal would come in the 2nd period toward the middle of the frame when he got a partial breakaway on the left-hand side of the dot. He brought it in on his backhand, switched to his forehand, and at the dot threw the ball toward the net and beat the goalie five-hole to reclaim the lead at 2-1.

Later in the 2nd, as the period was winding down, Matt Holleran would battle for the ball in the middle of the rink. Shane, seeing the open space, moved into a good position for Matt to feed him the ball. Shane, with a clean break on the net, patiently waited for the goalie to open up and once again slotted it home five-hole for his 2nd goal of the game!

Later in the 3rd period, Shane would pick up an assist and return the favor to linemate Matt Holleran with a slick feed into the slot, and Holleran completed the goal to earn Shane the helper.

To finish off his day, Shane would score once more off an assist from defensive linemate Dan Gately, who brought the ball into Gretzky’s Office and fed Shane a point-blank pass in front of the net. Shane didn’t make a mistake and buried it to complete the hat trick and conclude his fantastic performance.

Shane ended the day with 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 total points, resulting in his best game of the season! Great work, Shane! Keep up the scoring!

#2 Offensive Player of the Week – Matt Holleran (Stick Figures) [2 Goals / 2 Assists / 4 Points]

Speaking of the Stick Figures, our 2nd-place offensive player this week is none other than Stick Figures Assistant Captain Matt Holleran.

Matt was also a pivotal part in the destruction of the Mustangs in Week 8’s game.

Matt started off his day in the 2nd period with his forward linemate Shane. While drawing defenders toward himself, he simultaneously pulled them away from Shane. The moment the opening appeared, Holleran fed him a perfect pass that Shane completed for a goal, earning Matt the assist.

His next point would come in the 3rd period to help extend the lead, with a very blue-collar grinding goal in front of the net off his backhand. The ball popped into the air and somehow found its way past the goalie for his 1st goal of the day.

His next goal was pure skill and patience. After receiving a pass from Shane, Holleran shot it into one of the defender’s feet. Matt would follow it up, grab the loose ball, and get a breakaway, tricking the goalie into committing to the right side, only for Matt to switch to his backhand and tuck it home on the left side. What a beauty!

His last point of the day came off a great assist. He brought the ball behind the net, and his captain and defensive linemate Jeff found space right in the slot for an easy goal.

Overall, Matt ended the day with 2 goals and 2 assists, totaling 4 points. A great match and also his best game of the season as well! Excellent job!

#3 Offensive Player of the Week – Ryan Gurley (Spiders) [1 Goal / 3 Assists / 4 Points]

Our final offensive player slot goes to Spiders forward Ryan Gurley, who has had a stellar season all year long.

Gurley was an assist machine in Week 8, creating unique offensive opportunities for his teammates all game long.

Starting off on the very first goal for the Spiders, Gurley received a great pass from Aiden Lovett. Gurley then drew the defender away from the slot, and Ryan Jennette noticed the open space. In the very same second, Gurley fed him a perfect pass right onto the stick of Jennette, who buried the first goal.

Only a few minutes later, Gurley again dragged a defender toward himself and slipped a pass into open space in the slot for linemate Brian McDermott, who slapped at the ball in the slot. Although the goalie got a piece of it, it wasn’t enough, and it went in for Brian’s first goal of his SSBHL career, adding another assist to Gurley’s day.

Early in the 3rd period, Gurley once again worked some playmaking magic. With elite flex defenseman Tito covering him, Gurley drew him in, beat him into the corner, and at the same time saw Lovett streaking into the slot. Gurley fed him a pass that Lovett put top shelf into the goalie’s water bottle for his 3rd assist of the day.

Gurley would wrap things up off an assist from Steve Swi. From his own defensive end, Gurley launched a wild shot down the rink that curved considerably, fooled the goalie, and slipped in five-hole for his 1st goal of the day.

Gurley ended the day with 1 goal and 3 assists, closing out the day with 4 points. Overall, a fantastic game for Gurley on the playmaking front!

Draining Defenders

#1 Defensive Player of the Week – Ryan Jennette (Spiders) [1 Goal / 1 Assist]

This week, our best defensive player is Ryan Jennette of the Spiders, who was a force from start to finish.

Jennette was a wall of frustration and aggravation to the Smokey Joes, especially Captain Matt Swan. Multiple times throughout the match, Swan would try getting around Jennette or throwing the ball through his feet with no success.

Not only that, but Jennette also opened the scoring with the Spiders’ first goal of the game off a slick feed from Ryan Gurley.

All game long, Jennette was blocking shots with his feet, constantly breaking up odd-man rushes, and injecting himself into the offensive play by jumping down and performing perfect rotations with his linemates for smooth transition play.

His defensive IQ was also on full display, as every time danger began forming in the defensive zone, Jennette was right on top of it to disrupt the play.

Ryan would also earn a nice assist on a dump-out from behind his own net. The Joes defenseman could not gain clean possession, and Aiden Lovett jumped on it and fired home a wrist shot that beat the goalie clean.

Overall, Ryan Jennette ended the day with 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points, while also logging multiple blocked shots, defensive breakups, and strong offensive-zone possession time!

#2 Defensive Player of the Week – Jeff Beattie (Stick Figures Captain) [2 Goals / 0 Assists / 2 Points]

The Sticks continue to stay in the playoff race due in part to the position changes and production of players like Jeff!

Jeff started the season as a forward, but his recent move to defense has really paid off. His production has seemingly increased in the points category as well.

Not only do his speed and athleticism contribute greatly to the team’s defensive game, but he is also a scoring threat from the blue line and has the stamina to sprint back into his own zone and break up opportunities.

This has been key in the recent success of the Stick Figures.

Jeff started out the game with the first goal of the game off a low, quick shot from the point that beat the goalie five-hole to give them the early lead.

Much later in the 3rd period, even though the game was relatively safe, Jeff would strike again. He sprinted in front of the net, with linemate Holleran spotting him and feeding him a perfect pass. Jeff would pot home the goal to extend the lead to 7-2.

Jeff was also incredible in his own zone, applying constant pressure and maintaining a strong presence on the rink. Nobody had any room to breathe in his defensive zone while he was out there.

With his agility, speed, defensive IQ, and ability to jump into the offense, he’s quickly becoming one of the best defenders in the league and will look to keep the pace going into Week 10’s doubleheader.

#3 Defensive Player of the Week – Stephen Ritz (Gators) [1 Goal / 1 Assist / 2 Points]

In Week 8, we saw a defensive clinic put on by the entire Marshfield Gators squad.

Between Captain Josh Charmatz, Brendan O’Brien, and Connolly occasionally rotating back from forward, the whole team was dialed in and limited shots across the board.

One player on the blue line who really stood out was Stephen Ritz, who has been a backbone player for the Marshfield Gators all season long.

Ritz, who has also missed no games this season, has been the definition of dependable and reliable, with solid defensive play, positioning, and the added benefit of occasional point production from the blue line.

Against the Moths in Week 8, Ritz helped extend the lead in the 2nd period with a fantastic snipe from the slot. After receiving a slick pass from Matt Avenia, Ritz stepped into the shot and buried the wrister.

On the final goal of the game, Ritz spotted a streaking Matt Connolly breaking free up top and fed him a terrific lead pass. Connolly carried it into the offensive zone and ripped a blocker-side snipe.

Ritz ended the day with 1 goal and 1 assist, giving him a nice 2-point game.

The Gators’ success this season is due in large part to players like Ritz stepping up and locking things down on the blue line. He’s going to be relied upon heavily in this week’s doubleheader against the first-place Spiders.

Overall, great work!

Grand Goaltending

#1 Goalie of the Week – Nick Bonofiglio (Gators) [GAA 1 / SA 33 / SV 32 / Save % .970]

Back in our Number 1 Goalie spot this week is the dependable Marshfield Gators netminder, Big Nick Bono!

Nick was once again fantastic in his matchup against the Mothmen and slammed the door shut, allowing only a single goal on 33 shots.

Nick was a wall the entire game. Any shot from the point, slot, or wings was calmly stopped and controlled by the composed goaltender.

Nick’s performance this season has been very strong. He has faced the most shots in the league at 331 and has stopped 289 of them, resulting in a very respectable .891 save percentage.

He has been the reason the Gators have won several games this season, and with perfect attendance, he has been reliable, dependable, and a goalie his team can lean on in difficult games.

Nick ended Week 8 with an insane .970 save percentage, the best of the week.

Nick is going to be tested hard tomorrow in his matchup against the Spiders. With players like Aiden and Gurley charging the net, it should be a great matchup to watch.

#2 Goalie of the Week – Dan Harding (Spiders) [GAA 2 / SA 49 / SV 47 / Save % .959]

Coming in at the 2nd-place slot this week is Spiders goaltender Dan “DH” Harding, who was stellar against the always-dangerous Smokey Joes, the same team that thwarted his squad in last season’s playoffs.

Harding came into the game looking sharp from the opening whistle. After facing a barrage of shots early, he stood strong and weathered the storm.

That is, until later in the 1st period when he surrendered a strange low-side goal.

Throughout the season, Harding has looked solid and has faced the 2nd-highest shot total in the league at 318. He has stopped 289 of them while allowing only 29 goals all season.

That gives him a sparkling .909 save percentage and a GAA of roughly 3.63.

He has been an engine of consistency for the Spiders when needed and has shown he is locked in this season with his eyes firmly on the prize that escaped him last year.

In Week 8 specifically, Harding faced a massive 49 shots and stopped all but 2, finishing with an excellent .959 save percentage and a GAA of 2.0.

All in all, a great game and a strong performance against a very dangerous offensive team.

#3 Goalie of the Week – Brad Wall (Stick Figures) [GAA 2 / SA 36 / SV 34 / Save % .944]

It feels like almost every write-up since Week 4 has included Brad Wall somewhere in the Top 3 performers.

He has been nothing short of incredible since his trade. The numbers do not lie.

Brad has been on a revenge tour and has been putting together outstanding performances week after week.

This season, Brad has logged more minutes than any other goalie. He has faced 273 shots and stopped 245 of them, giving him the best save percentage of his career so far at .897, just a hair away from .900.

Brad also owns the best GAA in the league at 3.47.

Against his former team, the Mustangs, Brad got a little revenge of his own by stopping 34 of the 36 shots he faced and maintaining a stingy 2.00 GAA as his team cruised to victory.

Brad has had a storybook season since the trade and would love nothing more than to break the hearts of the Smokey Joes by helping his team sneak into that elusive 4th-place playoff spot.

This week’s doubleheader will require two wins if the Stick Figures want a realistic shot at making it happen, and with Brad backing them between the pipes, they certainly have a chance.

Standings so far…

1st Place – Spiders: 6-2-0 / Points 12 / GF 49 / GA 30 / GD +19 (1st Seed)
2nd Place – Gators: 5-3-0 / Points 10 / GF 36 / GA 36 / GD 0 (2nd Seed)
3rd Place – Mustangs: 5-3-0 / Points 10 / GF 39 / GA 41 / GD -2 (3rd Seed)
4th Place – Smokey Joes: 4-3-1 / Points 9 / GF 35 / GA 42 / GD -7 (4th Seed)
5th Place – Stick Figures: 3-4-1 / Points 7 / GF 41 / GA 38 / GD +3 (2 Points Behind 4th)
6th Place – Mothmen: 1-6-1 / Points 3 / GF 31 / GA 44 / GD -13 (Eliminated)

Upcoming Doubleheader Games…

(5/31/26) 8:30 AM – Smokey Joes at Mustangs
(5/31/26) 9:25 AM – Mustangs at Smokey Joes
(5/31/26) 10:20 AM – Stick Figures at Mothmen
(5/31/26) 11:15 AM – Mothmen at Stick Figures
(5/31/26) 12:10 PM – Spiders at Gators
(5/31/26) 1:05 PM – Gators at Spiders

Make sure you are all well rested, energized, and I would not party too hard the night before!

Should be a fun way to end the season, and I’m looking forward to the playoffs!

Thank you all!

Dan H

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