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Subscribe to our Newsletter10th Week Fall 2025 SSBHL ? Playoff Stages Are Set!
Good afternoon, SSBHL community!
We have officially concluded our regular season games! I just want to take a moment to thank everyone involved who continues to make this one of the best places to play ball hockey in the MA area. I know for a fact that we have some of the greatest humans in the region playing in our community. You all are so accommodating and willing to help out around the rink, contributing a great deal to every single game we play each week.
A very large thank you goes out to all the league admins — Brendan, Hocking, and Buckly. Brendan is a champ who’s always at the rink before games start to help sweep the sand and dirt off the surface to ensure safety. Hocking does a ton that involves guiding the refs, keeping rules and discipline in check, and assisting with reffing and stats when needed. Buckly works behind the scenes fine-tuning rules and providing insight into any issues that pop up.
A massive thank you also to all the captains this season — B-Mack, Leary, Steve-O, Swan, J-Mac, and Jeff. Without them, we wouldn’t have functional teams to field. They work tirelessly to organize and maintain order on their squads, finding replacement players when needed. I can’t say enough good things about our leadership team and how much they contribute. Again, thank you for another successful season!
With the hearts and flowers out of the way, we now have a serious matter to discuss — it’s time for some playoff hockey! Let’s jump into Week 10’s results.
🏒 Game Results
Stone Hands vs. Mustangs
Final: 8–2 Mustangs
The only team thus far to defeat the Mustangs would not repeat that same result this time around. The Mustangs, wanting revenge for the lone blemish on their regular season record, came out with offensive prowess and hunger. Star forward Aiden Lovett of the Mustangs started off the scoring with a slick feed from captain J-Mac on a one-timer.
The Stone Hands would answer and tie the game up with a goal from newly acquired Dan Campbell, who was fed a nice pass from captain Steve Wilde behind the net. That, however, would be the last time the game was within reach. From there, the Mustangs went on to score two more in the first to close out the period with a 3–1 lead.
In the second period, more of the same occurred, with two additional goals from the Mustangs and one more from the Stone Hands, putting the game at 5–2 heading into the third. The Mustangs then exploded offensively once again, scoring three more goals to close out the game with a dominant 8–2 final.
Overall, the Mustangs closed out the regular season in first place at 9-0-1, scoring 80 goals — the most in SSBHL history. Truly one of the best offensive teams ever created, and they’ll look to keep that firepower going into the playoffs this Sunday!
Hooligans vs. Smokey Joes
Final: 4–2 Smokey Joes
In a must-win game for the Smokey Joes, everything was on the line. The Joes have never failed to make the playoffs and were in serious danger of missing them for the first time ever. After being shut out last week, they needed to reignite their offensive spark. However, a determined Hooligans team looked to thwart their playoff hopes and drag them down with them.
This game had a true playoff atmosphere. Hooligans captain B-Mack picked up newly acquired flex goaltender John Correia to fill in for Manny, and he did not disappoint. Both defenses and goaltenders were perfect in the first period, allowing no goals — but that would change in the second.
Early in the second period, the Hooligans went on a power play opportunity and capitalized. Off a faceoff win from B-Mack to his flex player Jordan Cookson, Cookson fired a low, skimming shot that found its way past goaltender Andy Godfrey to open the scoring.
The lead would not hold for long, though. The Joes’ flex player Pat Sullivan received a feed in front from forward Aneel and ripped a hard shot that was initially stopped but popped up into the air, fell into the crease, and bounced in to tie the game.
However, literally seconds later, B-Mack of the Hooligans intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and ripped one past the Joes’ goalie again, reclaiming the lead at 2–1. But yet again — seconds later — forward Bronson of the Joes broke away and was denied by the Hooligans’ goalie, only for Matt Swan to follow it up, find the rebound, and pot it home to tie the game 2–2 going into the third period.
Late in the third, deep in the Hooligans’ zone, the ball was thrown into the corner and pursued by forward Bronson again, who held onto the ball until Swan found space. With a backhand feed to the right-hand circle, Swan collected the ball and wasted no time shooting — firing one above the pad and below the glove to give the Joes their first lead of the game, 3–2.
From there, the Joes played lockdown defense. With the Hooligans’ goalie pulled, defenseman Max launched a backhand shot from his own end into the empty net to seal the game 4–2. A great match between two teams laying it all out!
Spiders vs. Stick Figures
Final: 5–2 Stick Figures
Another big-time game between two teams fighting for a playoff spot — and it was a good one! Both squads came out ready to win. No more holding back — it was do or die.
The first period was filled with fantastic goaltending from both Brad Wall of the Stick Figures and flex goalie Colin King of the Spiders. Scoring finally opened up at the 11:00 mark after an offensive-zone faceoff win by captain Jeff Beattie of the Stick Figures, who cleanly got the ball back to star defenseman Dan Gately. Gately corralled the ball onto his forehand and quickly took a wrist shot from the point that found the top right corner of the goal — a perfectly placed shot to start the scoring 1–0, which is how the first period would end.
In the second period, “The Wall” finally gave a little. Spiders forward Ryan Gurley scored on a breakaway, showing slick hands as he pulled the ball forehand to backhand to complete the play and tie the game. However, the lead wouldn’t last long. Later in the period, a seemingly harmless play developed when Thomas of the Stick Figures carried the ball in and attempted a pass that deflected off a defenseman right toward the Spiders’ goalie. Thinking he had it covered, the goalie was caught off guard when the ball stayed loose — and forward Matt Holleran found it and tapped home an easy goal to reestablish the lead at 2–1.
But as hockey often goes, it’s unpredictable. Nick Provenzano of the Spiders fed a pass across the ice to linemate Ryan Gurley, who then sent a pass into the middle to flex player Jordan Wofield. Wofield went forehand and fired a wrist shot that beat Wall glove-side, tying the game again 2–2 as the period ended.
With the stage set for an exciting finish, it all came down to the third period. Early on, the Stick Figures were grinding down the Spiders’ defense. At one point, captain Matt Leary of the Spiders was down on his knees and made a sweeping play to get the ball out of a dangerous scoring situation — but forward Cam of the Stick Figures stole it quickly and wasted no time firing a wicked wrister from the point. It found a hole through the crowd of defenders and forwards, reclaiming the lead at 3–2.
Moments later, the Sticks struck again. Off a cross-rink feed from forward Thahmid, Dan Gately took the pass, spun around, and fired in one motion, finding daylight on the blocker side to extend the lead 4–2. After a timeout from the Spiders to try to calm things down, it was too little, too late. Holleran brought the ball into the attacking zone and found a wide-open Jeff Beattie for a slot shot that beat the goalie, sealing the game 5–2. The victory gave them third place and a playoff date with the Stone Hands — ending the Spiders’ playoff hopes.
🔥 Tenacious Attackers
#1 Offensive Player of the Week – Aidan “Nighthawk” Lovett (Mustangs)
All season long, no one has been more consistent, steady, and offensively dangerous than the Nighthawk himself, Aidan Lovett. In a statement game for the Mustangs, Aidan once again set the tone of dominance for the squad as he’s done all season. Having scored once in the first period, once in the second, and once in the third, along with one assist in the first, Aidan ended the day with 3 goals, 1 assist, and 4 points total.
One particular goal stood out — in the second period, linemate Aaron Gerstel had the ball at the right-hand circle and shot it wide of the net. However, Aidan, with lightning-fast reflexes, grabbed the ball out of midair, dropped it to his feet, and shot it into the open net. It was a wildly talented play requiring perfect hand-eye coordination — just a very cool moment from a wildly talented offensive player. Nice work!
#2 Offensive Player of the Week – Joe “J-Mac” MacKenzie (Captain, Mustangs)
The second player who stood out in that same matchup was the Mustangs’ captain, J-Mac. Joey was a force as always and was difficult to contain as he scored one goal in the second off a missed shot from defenseman Tito and tallied two assists — one in the first from a slick feed to Aidan, and another in the third to linemate Higgy — for a solid 3-point game.
Joey used his speed, positioning, and hockey IQ to dominate the rink in stellar fashion, sprinting past the Stone Hands defenders and making quick work of any opposition in his way. Overall, just a great way to close out his regular season with a strong performance from the captain. Bravo, sir!
#3 Offensive Player of the Week – Matt “Swan Song” Swan (Captain, Smokey Joes)
Well, never a surprise to see this guy here. Matt Swan, the steadfast captain of the Smokey Joes, needed a bounce-back performance after last week — especially with his team’s season hanging in the balance. Some big goals were required of him, and luckily for his team, Swan came through.
He potted one goal in the second period and another in the third, which turned out to be the game-winner. Swan was sprinting all over the court, doing his best to be both defender and offensive powerhouse. Up and down, little rest — doesn’t matter to him. When a big game is needed, he’s Johnny-on-the-spot.
Swan’s teams have never missed the playoffs, and he wasn’t about to start that trend now. Along with linemate Bronson, who assisted both of Swan’s goals, the two were the key offensive factors in overcoming the tenacious Hooligans and securing a fourth-place playoff spot.
🛡️ Dynamite Defensemen
#1 Defensive Player of the Week – Tim “Tito” Burke (Mustangs)
Once again, for the second week in a row, Tim “Tito” Burke grabs the top defensive player of the week spot. Tito had an incredible game against the Stone Hands, finishing with 2 goals and 1 assist for a tasty 3-point performance.
He was airlock-tight on the defensive end as well — jumping into plays to break up chances, covering holes, and helping his teammates maintain defensive structure and discipline. Tito was a one-man, all-purpose defensive shop. With his point totals rising, Tito will look to make serious noise in his playoff matchup against the Smokey Joes this Sunday. Overall, Tito finishes the season strong!
#2 Defensive Player of the Week – Dan “The Gate” Gately (Stick Figures)
Dan “The Gate” Gately was stellar in his big matchup against the Spiders. With both teams battling for a playoff spot, everything was on the line in a match for the ages. Gately came out hot from the very beginning, scoring a beautiful goal from the blue line off a faceoff win from captain Jeff Beattie. He corralled the ball, put it on his forehand, and threw a wicked wrist shot through traffic that found the top glove-side corner to start the scoring.
Gately would later score a pivotal goal in the third to drain the momentum from the Spiders — grabbing the ball, turning 180 degrees, and firing high blocker-side all in one motion. His newly developed offensive skill set is catching goalies and defenders off guard, and all the while he continues to shut down high-danger chances and block shots. With the rate he’s developing, Gately is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous defensemen in the league.
#3 Defensive Player of the Week – Max “Clamp” Schraut (Smokey Joes)
A classic Smokey Joes player, Max “Clamp” Schraut earned his nickname for his ability to lock down defensively and log big minutes. Max seemingly never tires, never gives up, and plays a hard, physical game at all times.
He tends to play with an edge — which can often work to his advantage — giving him seemingly unlimited energy. With his large frame and long reach, it’s no wonder he’s so hard to beat defensively. Max also scored the final empty-net goal from his own end with a backhand shot to seal the game. His tenacity and energy will be tested in his playoff matchup against the best offensive squad in the league, where he’ll need the performance of a lifetime.
🥅 Grand Goaltending
#1 Goalie of the Week – Brad “The Wall” Wall (Stick Figures)
In a season full of ups and downs, highs and lows, anxiety and excitement, one of the most consistent and dependable players has been Stick Figures netminder Brad “The Wall” Wall.
Brad was spectacular once again in his game against the desperate Spiders, facing a total of 40 shots and stopping 38 of them. He finished with a sparkling save percentage of .950 and a GAA of just 2.00 — his best performance of the season.
Brad saved his best for last, shutting down multiple high-danger chances from the Spiders’ star defenseman Nick Provenzano. His calm reading of plays, intelligence, and poise between the pipes were on full display. This will be Brad’s first trip back to the playoffs in a while, and he’ll be looking to build on his already great season of play. Bravo and miraculous work, Mr. Wall!
#2 Goalie of the Week – Dan “DH” Harding (Mustangs)
Back at it again, Dan “DH” Harding played a very strong match against the only team that bested him two weeks ago in a rainy shootout.
Dan faced a total of 38 shots, stopping 36 of them for a save percentage of .947 and a GAA of 2.00. Although the start of the season was a bit rocky as he worked to find his rhythm, Harding has stabilized and is now playing at a solid, consistent level again.
With a big playoff match coming up, Harding will look to hold the fort down as he did the prior week against the Joes. Ending the regular season with a .903 SV% and a 3.59 GAA — stats that reflect being part of a defensively structured team — Harding will aim to deliver a great performance in the playoff semifinal.
#3 Goalie of the Week – Andy “Wheelhouse!” Godfrey (Smokey Joes)
Another recurring trend lately has been the ups and downs of everyone’s favorite villain, Andy “Wheelhouse!” Godfrey. Andy returned to form in a must-win matchup against the Hooligans, putting together a solid performance when it mattered most.
He gave up only two goals — one on a power play and the other off a defensive turnover in his zone — but aside from that, he was rock solid. Facing 28 shots and stopping 26, Andy posted a .929 SV% and 2.00 GAA.
When he’s on his game, Andy is solid, dependable, and tough to beat. However, inconsistency has been his ongoing battle. With no more room for error and the regular season now complete, the big question remains: how will he perform in his semifinal matchup against the high-powered Mustangs offense? That remains to be seen.
Final Standings (W-L-OTL)
- MUSTANGS: 9-0-1 / 19 POINTS / 80 GF / 37 GA / +43 GD (Clinched 1st Place)
- STONE HANDS: 6-4-0 / 12 POINTS / 50 GF / 68 GA / -18 GD (Clinched 2nd Place)
- STICK FIGURES: 5-4-1 / 11 POINTS / 53 GF / 45 GA / +8 GD (Clinched 3rd Seed)
- SMOKEY JOES: 4-5-1 / 9 POINTS / 59 GF / 65 GA / -6 GD (Clinched 4th Seed)
- SPIDERS: 3-5-1 / 8 POINTS / 58 GF / 62 GA / -4 GD (Eliminated from Playoffs)
- HOOLIGANS: 2-8-0 / 4 POINTS / 34 GF / 57 GA / -23 GD (Eliminated from Playoffs)
Playoff Matchups – Sunday, 11/2/25
[9:30 AM] Smokey Joes at Mustangs (Key Matchup: Swan vs. Aidan)
[11:00 AM] Stick Figures at Stone Hands (Key Matchup: Jeff vs. Wilde)
Looking forward to an exciting playoff run this season! Let’s all remember that we’re friends at the end of the day — it’s great to be competitive and give it your all, but don’t lose control of your emotions.
We’ll also be presenting the awards this Sunday, so come watch the games and see if you’ve won!
**Thank you!
