Author: Ken Herren

The new season brought a few new faces to the Jokers of Doom roster, including goalie Matt Dutily, forwards C.J. Lupoli and Delfo Tringali, and defenseman Aaron Duncan. Unfortunately the overall results continued to resemble last season with a major struggle to put the ball in the net. Miraculously the Jokers and opponent Charlestown Chiefs both had 31 shots on goal, but almost all the quality chances were with the Chiefs, including a hat trick from Sean Miller. The Jokers could just never break through the stout Chiefs defense, with most of the shots coming from lengthy distances or tough angles. Dutily’s first game as net minder came with many point blank shots, so the Jokers will look to tighten the defense and generate some offense in the next game vs the YellowJackets.

The Jokers of Doom took a somewhat short handed squad into Friday night’s tilt with Charleston Chiefs with 3 available subs. Through 2 periods the Jokers held their own and findings themselves down 1-0 entering the 3rd period. In the 3rd, the Chiefs would add two more goals to go up 3-0 before the Jokers fought back with goals from Kevin LaPrade and Devon Sylvester to pull within 3-2. Alas, the Chiefs would grab a 4th goal and later add an empty net tally to make the final score 5-2. They will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive on Thursday versus the 0-5 Crusaders.

The Jokers of Doom had dropped their first 3 games of the season by scores of 2-1, 6-2, and 3-1. They were desperate for a win last night vs Big Fish and short on players with only a single bench player. The score was 0-0 after the first period but in the second period Mike Bradigo finally broke through with a shot from the defensive point. It was a bit of a change up but it found it’s way to pay dirt. Later in the second Chris Dickinson picked off a wayward clearing attempt and fed a nice pass down low to Kevin LaPrade who fired a quick wrist shot past the goalie. The second period would end 2-0. In the third, the tired Jokers were trying to hang on when a loose ball and scramble in front of the net produced a Big Fish goal. The score was now 2-1 and the opponent pulled the goalie and attacked the net but in the end it was not to be as Jokers goalie Fernando Gomez withstood the barrage and preserve the victory.

Notes: The shorthanded Jokers had a lineup of Ken Herren, Chris Dickinson, Jim Brunetti, and Kevin LaPrade for offense and Richie Orsini and Mike Bradigo on defense… the Jokers were out shot 30-19… Frank Melillo was eligibile to return from his 3 game suspension but was unavailable for the game… next game is Saturday July 8 at 1:00pm vs Springfield Chiefs

The Jokers of Doom welcomed back a couple of teammates of the past in the season opener  as defenseman Pete Hughes, winger Ray Glowicki, and center Kevin LaPrade returned for the summer. It was not a happy return though, as the new-look Jokers were a bit short on players and couldn’t overcome the Vikings in a 2-1 loss. Overall the team played well including out-shooting their opponent 30-19 but couldn’t punch through a second goal after taking a 1-0 lead on a Glowicki put-back off of a rebound in the second period. Ken Herren squandered two quality chances missing high on a cross goal pass from Devon Sylvester in the 2nd and firing a breakaway shot low and just wide of the net in the 3rd. The Jokers kept the pressure on even getting a power play and a 6-4 man advantage with their net empty for the last minute but couldn’t capitalize.

Notes: Fernando Gomez got the start in net and stopped 17 of 19 shots… Frank Melillo served game 1 of his 3 game suspension from last season’s playoff game melee… Jokers next take on the Tomahawks Thursday June 15 at 10:00pm.

The Jokers of Doom played very well at the end of the spring 2017 season to secure a playoff spot. Unfortunately, they ended up in the 4th position and a date with top seed Springfield Chiefs. Things did not go well from the start as the team found itself down 1-0 quickly in the first and couldn’t stop the onslaught as the lead eventually grew to 6-0 before Ken Herren finally flipped in a goal mouth pass to make it 6-1. A violent scuffle in the 3rd period would result in the ejection of 2 players including veteran Frank Melillo. The game would end with a final score of 7-1. The Jokers will look to improve in the upcoming summer session which will include an 8 team division. Captain Jim Brunetti is working the phones hard to fill out the roster.

It’s over. The Jokers rode a 4 game win streak into a playoff berth and had a chance to improve their standing to 3rd place in the division with a win or tie versus Charleston Chiefs. Although the momentum was there the effort was not in a lackluster 6-2 thumping. After being down 2-0 after one period there was signs of life as the deficit would only be 3-2 after two periods on goals by leading scorer Josh Berrelli and Dave Dreschler on a nifty intercept and quick shot goal. It would all fall apart in the decisive 3rd period on 3 goals by the Chiefs to close it out. Once again shots on goal were hard to come by as the Jokers could only manage 17, getting out shot overall 31-17. With the loss, the Jokers find themselves in 4th place and a very tough matchup versus the number 1 seed Springfield Chiefs on Tuesday May 30 at 8:00pm. In their single game during the season, the Springfield Chiefs won, 7-5.

Notes: Fernando Gomez made 25 saves and ends the regular season with a 3-3 record and will be the starting goalie in the playoffs due to Tim Fisher not having enough games played… Jim Brunetti, Ken Herren, Rich Orsini, Jimmy Dowd, Josh Berrelli, Frank Melillo, and Devon Sylvester all confirmed to return next season… Rumors of a Kevin LaPrade return also continue to swirl, no comment from captain Jim… Top 3 scorers: Berrelli 17 points (14g, 3a), Dreschler 14 (5g, 9a), Herren 10 (6g, 4a).

The Jokers of Doom came into their Tuesday night game against the YellowJackets looking to extend their winning streak to 4 and also further solidify their playoff hopes. The first period was fairly even until Frank Melillo slid home a rebound in front off of a shot from defensemen Chris Dickinson with only 30 seconds left in the period. In the second period captain Jim Brunetti extended the lead to 2-0 knocking in a cross goal pass from Dave Dreschler. Later in the period Dreschler would add another unassisted goal off of a turnover making is 3-1 after two periods. Things would also get heated in the 2nd as leading score Josh Berrelli would get into a shoving contest resulting in game misconducts for both players. With much of their speed gone, the Jokers tried to hang on in the 3rd period but it was not to be as the YellowJackets would score 2 goals with the second coming with the goalie pulled and only 19 seconds left in the game. The playoff hopes seemingly were dimmed but the team remained confident heading into OT and that confidence translated into a huge victory as Ken Herren settled a aerial cross rink pass from Devon Sylvester and fired home a quick wrist shot. Herren would say after the game, “we have a lot of trouble with this team despite their record, but this was a huge win for us and there is one game left and playoff destiny is in our hands”. The Jokers now stand in 3rd place with 10 points, just ahead of the Vikings (10 points) due to their 5 wins versus 4. A win on May 22 versus the 2nd place Charleston Chiefs would lock up a playoff berth. As of this post they can finish anywhere from 2nd to out of the playoffs altogether, stay tuned!

Notes: Rich Orsini’s 8 game penalty-less streak ended with 3 PIM’s… John Deluca is now tied with Berrelli with 4 total penalty minutes… Goalie Tim Fisher will be unavailable for the final game, making him ineligible for the playoffs.

The Jokers of Doom headed into Saturday’s contest with the Vikings with a shorthanded squad as several members were out partying with Matt Harvey including captain Jim Brunetti. Turns out the Vikings may have also had several members at the same event as they were only able to muster 4 players and a goalie. As such, the Jokers agreed to play a 4 on 4 game with 2 subs available. This game would also mark the triumphant return of Jimmy Dowd (1 goal, 3 assists) and he didn’t waste any time notching the first goal of the game with his patented quick slap shot from the wing about 20 feet out. The first period would end with only that one goal on the board. In the second the Jokers would pad the lead with two more goals including Ken Herren’s 5th goal of the season. The period would end with the score 3-0 although the shots on goal were a relatively even 20-17 for the game. The Jokers would pull away in the final period piling on 4 more goals, eventually resorting to dump ins after the score reached 7-0. The team will look to extend the winning streak to 4 games against the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday May 16 at 9:00pm.

Notes: Regulars John Deluca, Rich Orsini, Chris Dickinson, and Tim Fisher all missed the game… Fernando Gomez notched his first shutout with 23 saves… Defenseman Devon Sylvester racked up 3 assists and now has 5 assists on the season… After the game a team spokesman announced no suspensions were imminent for any of the missing players and the matter was closed.