Good afternoon SSBHL Family and Friends!

Hope you had a great labor day weekend and enjoyed the Monday Holiday!

Some Great games last week and I appreciated the temperament and attitudes of the matches. Love to see the Teams all playing solid fun Hockey with no drama or antics. We had some exciting games to that were all pretty close in score! Lost of offense this week! we are officially 30% done with the season, Still lots of time left to flip the script if you are struggling or to add onto an already successful season!

With that said, Lets embark onto the Top performances of the week!

Offensive Engines of the Week

#1 Offensive Player of the Week – Matt “Swan Song” Swan (Smokey Joes, Captain)
When the Smokey Joes need a spark, their captain always seems to rise to the occasion. Matt “Swan Song” Swan put on a clinic this week, piling up 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points in a statement 10–6 win over the Stick Figures. His highlight moment came when he evened the score at 2–2 with a jaw-dropping individual effort: winning a faceoff clean, blowing past the entire defense, and finishing on a forehand–backhand breakaway that brought the bench to its feet. Swan was an unstoppable engine all night long—leading by example and reminding everyone why he’s one of the league’s most feared scorers.

#2 Offensive Player of the Week – Aidan “nighthawk” Lovett (Mustangs)
Aidan “Nighthawk” Lovett lived up to his nickname this week, dealing the Hooligans one blow after another in the Mustangs’ 9–4 victory. Lovett tallied 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points, but his dagger came with just 36 seconds left in the first period. Pressuring the defense, he buried a clutch goal to make it 3–0 heading into the second—completely flipping the game’s momentum in his team’s favor. From there, Nighthawk kept dealing, carving up the defense with passes and sustained pressure. A true tone-setter, his all-around performance secures him the #2 offensive slot.

#3 Offensive Player of the Week – Matt Avenia (Spiders)
Even in defeat, Matt Avenia showed no signs of slowing down, powering through with one of his best games to date. Logging 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in a 5–7 loss to the Stone Hands, Avenia nearly flipped the script in the third period with a momentum-shifting power play goal that brought his team within striking distance. Avenia was barreling through the defense all night, creating chances and dragging the Spiders back into the fight. It was a standout performance that locks him in as this week’s #3 offensive force.

Top Tier Defensive Dynamos

Top Defensive Player of the Week – Brendan “Bulldog” Merrick (Stone Hands)
Few players embody grit like Brendan “Bulldog” Merrick. In the Stone Hands’ 7–5 win over the Spiders, Merrick was everywhere—chipping in a goal and an assist while being an absolute menace defensively. He ran down every loose ball, threw himself in front of shots, and hounded opposing forwards with relentless forechecking. The Bulldog never stopped barking, and his nonstop motor was the backbone of the Stone Hands’ gritty victory, cementing him as this week’s top defensive dynamo.

#2 Defensive Player of the Week – Matt Connolly (Mustangs)
Matt Connolly earns his spot at #2 thanks to his incredible two-way effort in the Mustangs’ 9–4 win. With his team short on bodies, Connolly logged marathon shifts and still managed to deliver on both ends of the rink. His ability to transition from defense to offense in a heartbeat was on full display, capped off by a goal and an assist to go with his defensive presence. Connolly’s endurance and versatility proved invaluable, making him one of the night’s true workhorses.

#3 Defensive Player of the Week – Matt Leary (Spiders, Captain)
Sometimes it’s not about the scoreboard—it’s about the effort behind it. Matt “Leary gave everything he had in the Spiders’ 5–7 loss to the Stone Hands. Missing key teammates, Leary balanced his lines, logged heavy minutes, and still found a way to chip in an assist while leading by example. He worked his tail off shift after shift, showing grit and determination that went far beyond the stat sheet. Captain Leary embodied leadership under pressure, securing him the #3 defensive nod.

Stingy Goaltending

#1 Goalie of the Week – Nick “Big Nick” Bonofiglio (Spiders)
It was a historic night in net for Nick “Big Nick” Bonofiglio, who faced the heaviest shot total of the season—60 rockets fired his way. Undeterred, Big Nick turned aside 54 of them for a jaw-dropping .900 save percentage. Though the Spiders ultimately fell 5–7, Bonofiglio’s resilience and composure under an avalanche of shots was nothing short of remarkable. Calm, collected, and constantly bailing out his squad, Big Nick showed why he’s one of the league’s toughest backstops.

#2 Goalie of the Week – Dan Harding (Mustangs)
Dan  Harding lived up to his name in the Mustangs’ 9–4 win over the Hooligans. Facing 30 shots, he calmly turned aside 26, finishing with a .867 save percentage. Harding didn’t need to be flashy—just rock solid. He was calm under pressure, consistent in his positioning, and gave his team the stability they needed to play free and fast in front of him. A steady, reliable effort secures him the #2 goalie spot this week.

#3 Goalie of the Week – Jake Deehan (Stone Hands)
Jake “Glove” Deehan rounds out the goalie rankings with a fiery performance in the Stone Hands’ 7–5 win. Facing 32 shots, Deehan stopped 27 for a .844 save percentage, but it was his aggressive style and one highlight save that had everyone buzzing. In the second period, he flashed the leather with a lightning-quick glove save that robbed a sure goal and swung momentum squarely in his team’s favor. The  mix of aggression and flair earns him the #3 goaltending nod.

Standings so far….

1)       Mustangs: 3-0-0 / 6 Points / 26 GF / 13 GA / +13 GD

2)       Stone Hands: 3-0-0 / 6 Points / 24 GF / 15 GA / +9 GD

3)       Smokey Joes: 1-2-0 / 2 Points / 20 GF / 22 GA / -2 GD

4)       Hooligans: 1-2-0 / 2 Points / 13 GF / 19 GA / -6 GD

5)       Spiders: 1-2-0 / 2 Points / 16 GF / 24 GA / -8 GD

6)       Stick Figures: 0-2-1 / 1 Point / 13 GF / 19 GA / -6 GD

Upcoming Matches This Week for 9/7/25

9:00am Stone Hands at Mustangs (Key Matchup: Howard Troughton Vs Aidan Lovett)

10:30am Smokey Joes at Hooligans (Key Matchup: Matt Swan Vs B-Mack)

12:00pm Stick Figures at Spiders (Key Matchup: Brad Wall Vs Nick Bonofiglio)

Thank you all and looking forward to seeing you this Sunday!

-Dan H