Jokers Of Doom

The Jokers of Doom have been struggling the last few seasons. Times were tough as the losses mounted and goals were scarce. After finishing a 1-9 fall season the outlook looked grim until captain Jim Brunetti took control, moved the Jokers to F division, and signed up three brand new players: Tyler Evon, Devin Henaghan, and Eric Nero. Also added to the core were new goalie Dan Sisson as well as returning Joker Pete Johnson. A fresh new outlook was on the horizon as the excitement built for the December 15 initial game of the new season in a ten-team division against the Knights.

The new team took to the dek looking to click early and at the 7:33 mark veteran defenseman Rich Orsini lit the lamp with a right-point blast into the top corner of the net. The early positivity was dampened less than a minute later as the Knights tied it at 1 with a left circle wrist shot found pay dirt. The period would end on a high note as newcomer Devon Henaghan knocked home a goal in front and a grabbed 2-1 lead heading to the second period.

The second period would have a few scoring chances including a breakaway by other newcomer Tyler Evon but the Knights’ goalie was able to poke it away after a quick move by Evon. The next goal would be crucial and just 38 seconds into the 3rd period Ken Herren would slap home a rebound from his own wrist shot and a two-goal cushion at 3-1. A little over a minute later Evon would redeem himself as he slipped home a nice pass from Herren at the point for the 4th goal of the night for the Jokers, something the team hadn’t done in many games. Finally, captain Jim Brunetti would seal it at 2:09 as he poked home a loose ball after a scramble in front and the final 5-1 margin of victory! Brunetti would express much relief after the game with the play of the newcomers and the overall outcome of the game, “it was great to see the team gel together so quickly and getting five goals and a win was just great to kick off this new season. Hopefully we can keep it up.” The Jokers now get to enjoy an undefeated month of December as they don’t play again until January 8, 2022.

Dek hockey made a triumphant return on July 6 and the Jokers of Doom entered their first game back with an 0-3-1 record and trying to find a win, however things did not go their way in a 10-3 drubbing vs Vortex. The new rules called for two 20 minute running time periods and the Jokers fell behind about 6 minutes into the game. With only 1 sub on the bench, the Jokers could never find their stride and 2 more goals piled on quickly and by the time the period ended the game result was no longer in doubt at 7-0. Determined not to go down without a fight, Rich Orsini fired home a slapshot blast to get the Jokers on the board late into the 2nd period. Moments later he would get a gift goal on a long lift into the zone that trickled through the 5 hole. Near the end of the period Delfo Tringali would get credit for an own goal by Vortex, followed by a late goal by Vortex to make the final score 10-3. The Jokers will next look to get in the win column on July 13 vs the undefeated Honey Badgers.

The Jokers of Doom had dropped their first 3 contests to open the spring season and scoring was difficult at best with only 3 total goals all of which came in one game. Also, game 3 saw a scuffle involving high scoring wing John Venditti which resulted in a 3 game suspension so things did not look good coming into this game versus 0-1 Cinco Dimeo. The Jokers could feel the pressure and nabbed an unassisted goal by Justin Cossette (1) at 6:08 and carried the 1-0 lead into the 2nd period. The second period would see a single goal by CD to tie the game at 1 heading to the final period. Once again scoring would hard to come by for both teams and the game remained tied very late until a loose ball was picked up and wristed home by open Cinco defensemen Jay Myers with just 23 seconds left in the period. At this point things were looking very bleak for the Jokers, who had until that point survived some very good shots with big saves by Andy Pettola (39 saves). They had pulled goalie and were going to have press hard just to get a shot off. After a faceoff win the ball was dumped into the offensive zone and 6 players moved in to try to get off a shot and hope for a tip or rebound. The ball found it’s way to defensemen Rich Orsini who had little time to think and quickly wristed a shot from the top of the circle that found pay dirt in the upper corner past a screened and stunned Chris Rounds (39 saves). The Jokers would celebrate but OT still remained however neither team could break through in the OT and the game would end 2-2, but it felt like a win for the battered Jokers!

The Jokers of Doom entered the Winter season with a revamped roster after the departures of several key contributors including Rob Kurdy, Kristie Rochette, Phil Elliott, Jeremy Battye, Steve Looze, and goalie Greg Benoit. Several Joker alumni are returning to fill in he void led by Phil “Big Phil” Mrazik. In addition, Justin Cossette, Delfo Tringali, Dan Sisson, Jim Salkins, and goalie Matt Chapman all make returns to the Jokers. Unfortunately many of the newcomers could not make the opener which resulted in the lopsided result vs a strong Slugs team. The Jokers will look to have a stronger bench as they take on the Springfield Chiefs in a rare weekday tilt on Wednesday December 18 at 7:00pm. Tickets still available!

The Jokers of Doom season opener was a wild, roller coaster game against the Vipers. The first period ended with a 3-0 deficit with the Jokers playing poor defensively and getting outshot 10-7. There were numerous open players and shots and a 2-0 deficit turned to 3-0 with only 4.4 seconds left in the period on a rebound put back goal by Stan Capp. In the second period things would start to change starting with a blast from Kevin LaPrade just 1:01 into the period assisted by Kristi Rochette. Around 2 minutes later captain Jim Brunetti would cash in a quick wrist shot off of a high slot feed from Ken Herren to make it 3-2 and a large momentum shift towards the Jokers. The final goal of the period would come from Rochette as she squeezed a quick slap shot through the pads of goalie Fernando Gomez to tie the game at 3-3. The final period would see the Vipers score 2 goals and take a 5-3 lead with only 3:43 seconds left in the game. Again, the Jokers would show tremendous resolve with 3 straight unassisted goals starting with Rob Kurdy with only 22 seconds left and Greg Benoit pulled for the extra attacker. Then, only 4 seconds later after a faceoff win, Phil Elliott would send a bending wrist shot that deflected off the Vipers goalie into the net for a tie game. In the OT, Elliott would finish it off as he took a loose ball, flew across the slot and then wristed home the game winner to complete the improbable come back and a 6-5 win. Captain Jim Brunetti would say after the game, “This is a typical Jokers game, get down, come back, down again, and pull out a win. Amazing”.

Notes: Jokers were outshot in the game 31-26… Frank Melillo, and Jeremy Battye were scratches…

The team announced the signing of forward Frank Conaci, effective immediately

The Jokers of Doom hockey club has streaked to 3-0 over the last 3 games after an 0-2-1 skid saw them being on the outside in of the playoff picture. After the 2-0 shutout win on March 14, the Jokers lost the opener of a home and home to the Springfield Chiefs with a shorthanded club 5-0. In the second matchup a week later the Jokers played much better and had a 3-1 lead only to let it get away and settle for a 3-3 tie.

The next matchup against Hockey Balboa was a back and forth high scoring affair. The Jokers went down 2-0 quickly in the first period before goals by Phil Elliott and Jeremy Battye tied things up heading to the second. The second period would see one goal by the Jokers Steve Looze and they would take a 3-2 lead into the 3rd period. In the final period the Balboan’s would score 3 straight goals to take a 5-3 lead. Rob Kurdy would grab a goal with 2:51 remaining to pull within one but Balboa would snag an empty net goal with :12 remaining to ice the victory.

After the 0-2-1 skid the Jokers seemed to sense the urgency and started playing hard for captain Jim Brunetti. On April 14 vs the Hurricanes a very shorthanded Jokers team got a first period goal from Rob Kurdy as he tapped in the ball at the side of the net after a scramble and they somehow made it stand up. Greg Benoit would stop all 29 shots for his second shutout of the season.

The next game was April 22 vs the Tomahawks and the Jokers would take this contest 5-1, Kevin Laprade, Elliott, and Ken Herren would find the back of the net along with 2 goals from leading scorer Battye (who also had 2 assists) to put this one away along with 25 saves from Benoit between the pipes.

Finally, the Jokers would face the Vipers on April 27 in a key contest for both squads, the Jokers coming in at 4-3-1 and the Vipers at 4-3-0. This one would be the Looze and Benoit show as he would score all 4 goals and Benoit stop 40 shots in a 4-0 victory. It may look like an easy win however the game was scoreless all the way into the 3rd period when Herren would snag a loose ball behind the net and feed Looze in front who snapped home the goal and a 1-0 lead at 7:55. A little over a minute later Herren would find Looze again off the side boards and a slap shot over the goalie’s glove to make it 2-0. Looze would go on to add an unassisted goal and finally an empty netter to close it out. Benoit was outstanding in net stopping all 40 shots.

Notes: After the 3 wins the Jokers sit in good position at 5-3-1 and 11 points, tied for second in the division… their final game is against division leader Pure Chaos, who defeated the Jokers 3-2 earlier in the season… Jokers scoring leaders: Battye (6g, 4a), Herren (3g, 5a), Looze (6g, 0a)… Jokers PIM leaders: Duncan (4.50), LaPrade (3.00), Benoit/Orsini, (2.00)… Goalie Greg Benoit has played all 9 games with 3 shutouts and a 2.33 GAA.

The Jokers of Doom got a boost from its newest member Steve Looze in a 2-0 shutout win over Pure Chaos. Looze scored the first goal just 27 seconds into the second period after a scoreless first. After a blast from the circle by Ken Herren was stopped by the goalie, Kevin LaPrade picked up the rebound and slid a pass over to Looze between the circles who ripped home a quick wrist shot.

After two periods the Jokers were holding tightly to the 2-1 lead and held the shot advantage 15-11. In the third Rob Kurdy would deflect home an insurance goal off of a flicked pass toward the front of the net, assists went to Jeremy Battye and Looze. Goalie Greg Benoit would turn away all 6 Chaos shots in the 3rd with 17 saves in total to grab his first shutout as a Joker.

Notes: Defenseman Mike Bradigo also made his season debut for the jokers… Captain Jim Brunetti remained sidelined with a foot injury, he is probable for the next game… John Condit and Frank Melillo missed the contest for unspecified reasons.