March 26, 2026

Dear SCOHA League Players,

Grand Masters veteran Ron Cooper is being welcomed into the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend and we are all excited to see Ron join the ranks of many esteemed players over 80 that have achieved this tremendous feat. His many years in SCOHA is celebrated by every one of us and many are lucky enough to call Ron a friend on and off the ice.

Some facts you may or may not know about Ron: His first pair of skates were at age 3. There has to be a photo of him wearing those! His minor hockey roots began in Sunderland back in 1945 which saw him also play in Whitby until 1959 where he moved on to the University of Manitoba in ’61 before tearing up the Stelco leagues as a gritty goal scorer. His SCOHA career began in 1997 where he now calls his home and we are beyond grateful to see him every week.

There are only about 500 Canadians who can say they have played hockey past 80, majority will never lace them up past 60 so this goes to show how much this amazing induction means to Ron, his family and friends.

There is a pickup game scheduled this Saturday, March 28th at the Waterloo Recreation Complex at 101 Father David Bauer Drive in Kitchener at 1pm where Ron and his fellow 80+ players will watch Ron score a hat trick and celebrate like he’s done it a hundred times.

For those not attending the events this Saturday, make sure to congratulate Ron Sunday at the arena.

Congrats Ron and his biggest fan, his wife Sheila. Just from what I see each week, he has no signs of slowing down any time soon!

Chris Marttila

SCOHA  

Well folks, the semi finals are all set for this weekend. Ticket sales are through the roof thanks to Shoppers Drug Mart offering a 2-for-1 deal if you buy either Advil or Anacin. What a weekend of action as all teams left it all on the ice. Let’s dive into the deep end and recap what the hell happened.

Before we start, a few weeks back I accidentally rewarded Joe DeFaria the Grand Masters Player of the Week when it should’ve said Brian Deanes. We filed a correction notice to Hockey Canada and they in fact recognized Brian’s great game and approved the reversal so congrats Brian on a great performance! Sorry about that!

United Division:

Bruins 4 Leafs 1: Steve Ditta great thing by potting a pair of goals as the Bruins beat up the Leafs 4-1 and paved their way into the semi-finals with a big win over their original 6 rival. Braden Lapointe and Joe “shoeless joe” Shulist also lit the lamp for the B’s who are on a mission to lift the cup in a few weeks. Leafs were missing Johnny Hockey, John Carvalho which was evident in their offensive approach. Nick Grivich did all he could, scoring the lone Leaf goal in a losing cause. Brad Stone, a pending free agent this summer, played well in the Bruin net, looking laser-focused when the camera came back after each commercial break.

Flyers 7 Blackhawks 3: Flyers were led by their Mongolian Rain Forest sniper Ryan Haslam as he shot a pair of goals and added a tuna helper leading his team to a big 7-3 win over the Blackhawks. Duane “from the far away planet of” Marzi also earned his keep with a pair of highlight-reel goals for the fellas in orange (Le Fellas de L’Orange if you will). Jeff “lemon meringue” Pye threw hit hat into the ring with a goal and an assist which garnered a few cheers from the rather boisterous announced crowd of 3. No one claimed the 50/50 draw so it will carry over to this week’s game.

Masters Division:

Senators 3 Sharks 1: This game was pretty even throughout. All 4 goals were scored in the 2nd frame with Steve Watt getting the eventual game winner as the Sens beat the Sharks 3-1. Marc “double-stacked cheese chalupa from Taco” Bellehumeur chipped in with a goal and 2 assists for the winners while Chris Scott had the lone Shark tally. Both “Defenders of the Diagonal Dwellings” made several amazing saves to keep things close before the Senators pulled away for the victory.

Bruins 5 Leafs 2: The Bruins were missing 5 guys but managed to fend off a pesky Leaf team to the tune of 5-2 in front of a robust announced crowd of 4. Richard Forster and Bill “aluminum” Foley both dropped a deuce while Dino Guidice chipped in with another to keep their torrid pace in these playoffs. Steve Cuthbert filled in and stopped everything but 2 and showed he can still play with the big boys. Leafs had snipes from Larry “ballroom” Litzgus and Mo Cecca in a losing cause. Both teams said to the media scrum that they understand it’s do or die this upcoming weekend and want to show their fans they will not back down. Stay tuned…

Grand Masters:

Sharks 3 Bruins 3: Missing 3 key players, the Bruins still managed to grab a point as they tied the Sharks 3-3 in a spirited affair that raised the eyebrows of many watching from all around the world. Guy “triple-flex duel-protective moisture release” Shaver, Dave Cathcart and Len “plant” Potts scored for the Sharks while Bruins had goals from Walter “2-for-1 pepperoni and mushroom from” Domingos, Nick Polimeni and Bill Curran (got him in the pool). Stick taps to both goalies Brian Deanes and J.J.MacNeil who made several tantalizing saves as old broadcaster Danny Gallivan would say.

 Kraken 3 Flyers 1: Steve Kivell scored with 1:45 left in the 1st period and it held up as the game winner as the Kraken beat the Flyers 3-1. Kelly Rintjema and Paul Buzzelli also scored for the winners while Dennis Haradyn replied for the guys in orange. This Kraken team seems to be back on track after a couple sub-par performances.

Stars 1 Blackhawks 0: Wow what a defensive battle! Both goalies, Barry Walker and Richard Paquet, played like they are entering free agency in the summer. In the end,  it was Walker who recorded the 33 save shutout as the Stars edged the Hawks 1-0. Bruno DiGiovanni scored the game’s lone goal with 7:03 left in the game then the Stars held off a ferocious attack by the Hawks. In the end it was the Stars and Flyer not qualifying for the final 4 semi-finals but will play each other anyway for one last skate in the season.

PREMIUM PLUS TOOL WORKHORSES OF THE WEEK:

UNITED: RYAN HASLAM  

MASTERS: MARC BELLEHUMEUR  

GRAND MASTERS: ALL 6 GOALIES! (WELL EARNED)        

 Have a great Friday, fellas, see you at the rink this weekend for Spotify SCOHA Semi-Final Showcase.

*** All players received an email with the player recruitment poster attached. Please pass it along to some guys who would want to play next year! Or post on your facebook page and groups so we can bounce teams up in each division! *** Thanks fellas!

Chris Marttila

SCOHA Blogologist

Well folks, the only action this past weekend was United Week 2 of round-robin action so let’s have a look at what the hell happened.

Flyers 5 Bruins 3: Ryan Haslam of the local law firm Haslam, Haslam and Haslam scored the eventual game winner with only 4 minutes left as the Flyers fended off the Bruins 5-3. This game almost came to a boiling point but give credit to the referees and the players for calming things down and playing a pretty damn entertaining hockey game. Dylan McInherny scored 2 seeing-eye goals for the guys in orange and Adam Briggs put the Bruins on his shoulders with a goal and 2 hamburger helpers. For the Bruins it was Braden Lapointe, Joe “shoeless joe” Shulist and Jordan (don’t call me Glen) Campbell who dented the twine in a losing cause. In the end there were 30 minutes in penalties, not sure if that’s a playoff record, will have to rummage through the file boxes full of old dusty game sheets to find out so ya, not gonna happen.

 Leafs 5 Blackhawks 2: The Hawks gave the Leafs a battle but fell a bit short 5-2. Missing their sniper Kevin Scime, Hawks were behind the 8-ball right off the hop but gave it their best. 5 different Leafs lit the lamp, including Jesse Dunham who is a pending free agent and will be seeking a lucrative, long-term deal in the neighborhood of 2mil a season. John Brindle (john be quick, John jumped over the candlestick) and Ron Cybalski scored for the Hawks who will look to get their resurgence back on track next game against the tough Flyers. Hawks have been missing their workhorse Walt Blagdon. His tenacious forecheck mirrors no one and they hope he slides back into the lineup before the end of the season.

Well, that’s an abbreviated United recap. In lieu of only United teams playing this week, we will reward the Premium Plus Tool Workhorses of the Week to a guy from each game:

ADAM BRIGGS  

PETER DENEW  

Have a great rest of the week, folks!

Chris Marttila

SCOHA Blog Guy

Well folks, nothing beats the excitement of playoff hockey, I don’t care how old you are. United Division playoffs are nuts. Last place Blackhawks have a war chest of ammunition to power through the grind of the post season while the Leafs and Bruins, powerhouses throughout the regular season, look to get back on track this weekend.

United Division:

Flyers 5 Leafs 1: This was a calmer game than expected. Flyers continue to rule the roost when it comes to statement games, something the Haslam’s wear on their sleeves each and every week. Flu or no flu, you play against the fellas in orange, you know what type of game you are lacing up for. 5 different players lit the lamp for the Flyers as they trounced the Leafs 5-1. Jesse Dunham had the lone Leaf goal as they plan to sit down and review the tape to get prepared for week 2 of round-robin action this Friday. Leafs were missing a key cog in the wheel, Kyle Relf who is as reliable as they get. Kyle could play a few shifts with a black sock around his eyes and still fire the damn puck around, changes the ceiling for the Leafs when he is on his game. As for the Flyers, I think they have their guy in Anthony Quaglia in net. His pre-game meal of meatball wellingtons is a bit odd but to each their own.

Blackhawks 5 Bruins 2: And just like that the pucks are going in. Hawks folded up the Bruins like grandma folds the very corner of the napkin to dab her face. Ignores the rest of the napkin, just needs the corner. Ryan “swiss” Chard dropped a deuce for the winning side while the Bruins got a goal from what looks like the letter S on the game sheet, it isn’t a 5 because they don’t have a #5 but it doesn’t matter, they lost anyway. This Bruin team will be ok, they are just getting warmed up. Zach Peachey, got him in the playoff pool, also scored in a losing cause. Let’s be honest, the Bruins were missing Matt “window” Sills. This guy can play the damn game the right way, not a guy that would rather make a line change than hustle back to defend. His effort when in the lineup is second to none.

Masters Division:

Senators 5 Bruins 3: Steve Watt notched a pair of major league snipes and Brock Hotrum added a goal (with 1 second left in the 1st) and 2 apples as the Senators skated past the Bruins 5-3. Past SCOHA journeyman Steve Cuthbert spared in net for the Bruins and kept them in it for the most part. Shots were 14-11 for the Senators (thanks timekeeper) but both teams had plenty of chances in close. Good game by both Veterans of the Vented Verandas” , Cuthbert and Scott Mlekuz. Bill “aluminum” Foley did his usual things out there. A few toe drags, all out hustle each shift and oh ya, chipped in with 2 goals. Dwayne Kavanagh has about 12 goals in his last 3 games with his Wednesday and Sunday SCOHA stats combined. Must be the Jolt Cola he chugs before heading onto the ice surface.

Sharks 1 Leafs 0: I watched this one on my tablet, the score has nothing to do with the tempo this playoff game offered up. A late goal with 3 minutes left by Joad Durst lifted the Sharks to a 1-0 triumph over the Leafs. More ups and downs than a stolen Pamela Anderson vhs tape. Shots were 22-11 Sharks but Leafs goalkeeper Sandro Morrone stole the show in net. Let’s be honest, folks, Sharks goalie Bruno Santanato has has a real good season. Despite apparently tweaking a groin at the midway point of the game, he loomed large in the Shark crease to help secure the shutout. Well deserved. Not sure I am a fan of the bright yellow jerseys the Leafs wore but hopefully the sun shines brighter next game.

Grand Masters Division:

Kraken 1 Stars 0: Steve Kivell plays better when the pressure is on. He cooks ribs in the oven on broil for 4 minutes, now that’s pressure. He scored the eventual game winner with 6 minutes left in the opening period then the Kraken, led by Joe DeFaria between the pipes, cruised to a 1-0 victory. Kraken coach Terry Gudgeon after the game said, “We played a pretty dull defensive playoff game that the fans don’t really enjoy but we are here to win the damn cup. We promise there will be more goals next game, you can bank on that.” Stars coach and GM Chris Barratto commented on the lousy Zamboni effort in his end of the ice that saw the young driver leave a stripe in the middle of the ice. We are still awaiting decision on the protest.

Blackhawks 2 Sharks 2: The Sharks rallied around Ernie Dunston’s 2 goal performance and left the rink satisfied with a 2-2 tie against the powerhouse Hawks. Blackhawks had goals from Nathan Seepersaud and Lee Paule, who skated in his 489th career playoff game, tying Flyer great Reggie Leach in that department. 13 total goals in the 3 grand masters games, now that’s defensive playoff hockey, quick math at the top of my head, that’s an average of 4.3333333333 goals per game.

Bruins 5 Flyers 3: This Bruin team has made some great strides as the season went on. They have now won both round-robin games thus far and have a stranglehold on 1st place. Al Roshko, not the cop from Dukes of Hazzard, scored a pair while Terry “hitman” Hughes scored a highlight reel goal with 9 seconds left in the 1st period as the B’s beat the Flyers 5-3.  Flyers kept this one close with Ghislain Piche’s 2 goal performance but they ran out of gas late. Hope they can muster up a win and stay in the hunt for the 4 spots in the semi-finals. We will have to wait and see.

PREMIUM PLUS TOOL WORKHORSES OF THE WEEK:

UNITED: RYAN CHARD  

MASTERS: STEVE WATT  

GRAND MASTERS: AL ROSHKO  

That’s all from this end of the ice. Masters and Grand Masters are off until the 22nd but there are 2 massive United games Friday night. 8pm first puck drop, come on out and catch the action. Drink and Wing specials up at the canteen. See you there.

Chris Marttila

SCOHA Reporter-in-Chief

Folks, Let’s call a spade a spade here, Grand Masters goaltender Joe DeFaria can not only stop a damn puck but he can be an offensive catalyst as well. Joe picked up a primary assist in the Kraken’s game last Saturday that still has fans talking. His rookie card just skyrocketed over $8.00 so get a hold of one before ebay catches wind of it.

Well folks, just like that another regular season is winding down. I would be winding down on a beach in Cuba this week if it wasn’t for an orange guy but we will leave that discussion alone for now. Not the time or the place, I despise that saying..

Good news from our finance department! According to Questrade, SCOHA shares are up 12% since it was announced that our games will be on Apple Tv+ next season.

Well folks, winter is sticking around for a while longer. Groundhogs are a bunch of liars. Another storm coming this week that will bring ice all over the damn place.

I don’t know about you but Olympic hockey is at a level never seen before. Canada came out of the chute and blasted the Czechs while the Yanks are looking strong against Latvia early on in their opening match. This should bode well for the return to action of Masters and Grand Masters divisions this weekend after a pause for the snorefest we called Superbowl. Turns out Grand Masters Mike Vanderzee followed along with Bad Bunny’s lyrics pretty easily as he is fluent in downtown Spanish.

Well folks, I can’t make this stuff up. After giving some bigtime props to Gord Johnson last week for his first goal of the season, doesn’t he go out there and score again this past weekend. If anyone parlayed this on their ScohaBet app, you must’ve won some serious bucks! Great job, Gord, let’s keep this damn streak going this upcoming weekend.

Hey folks, Welcome to 2026, the year of the Fire Horse according to the Chinese horoscope. A fire horse? Ai says it signifies intense energy, enthusiasm and transformative change. Well if that holds true, the 2nd half of the SCOHA season should be one for the ages. Attendance and merchandise sales are up, we are now on all the Ontario betting sites and TSN is in the last phase of discussions to acquire our broadcasting rights from cable14 for an eyebrow raising $49 for 5 years. Details to follow.