The Boston Gold Kings won an overtime thriller Saturday night at John A. Ryan Arena, 6-5 over the Norfolk Mallards.
But, before the game details take over this column, lets catch up on who the Boston Gold Kings are and the league they play in. For those still learning about the league and the team, the following (re)introduction: the Power Play Senior Hockey League (PPSHL), is comprised of teams in a close range demographic throughout central New England. This is a Full contact Pro Style hockey league where players will get to continue their hockey journey without the feeling of settling for men’s league hockey. Teams play on the weekend only, occasionally Saturday & Sunday, but typically one day or the other. Teams are individually owned and operated by owners, not by the PPSHL.
Current teams
Boston Gold Kings
Holyoke Paper Men
Hudson Valley Reapers
Norfolk Mallards
Salem Sasquatch
The Gold Kings are essentially Watertown’s team, despite being “Boston.” Since their inception, the Gold Kings have played their games (as well as practiced) at John A. Ryan Arena and have been a presence at local events such as Faire on the Square. They also work hard at being a positive citizen in the community, and on Saturday night, in game five of the still early ’25-26 season, the Gold Kings stuck to their model by honoring the Military in pre-game festivities.
Included in their efforts was: the presentation of the Color Guard courtesy of the Shutt Detachment Marine Corps League & VFW Post 1105, a ceremonial puck drop by Lincoln Rocca, young son of parents and proud veterans of the U.S. Army, Tony & Kendra Rocca, and the introduction of four hockey players on the ice Saturday night who have served, three with the U.S. Army and one with the National Guard. The Gold Kings also ran an auction and raffle, with proceeds going to Operation American Soldier. This was a wonderful show of support and appreciation by the Gold Kings, and kudos to them!
On to the hockey game! The Gold Kings entered the evening with 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 OT loss. This was the second meeting with the Norfolk Mallards (8-1 Gold Kings back on November 7, at Norfolk) — Norfolk entered the game 1-3 on the early season. The 16-game regular season schedule, by the way, began on October 11 and ends March 7, 2026, with playoffs to follow. And, in case you missed it, your Boston Gold Kings are out on a mission to repeat as PPSHL Champs.
In net Saturday night for the Gold Kings was Evan Morelli, the 30-year old from Saugus who played at Plymouth State back in the day, is a rookie in the PPSHL and is a consultant in “real life” away from the rink. This was Evan’s first start of the season, and despite allowing five goals, he was certainly among the best Gold Kings on this evening. He made a number (greater than half-dozen) of sparkling saves, face to face with a Norfolk player, separated by only a stick and the puck. Both goalies, as a matter of fact, were left “naked” many a times, left to stand on their head or let the goal count pile up. It made for entertaining action, but is a precarious way to win hockey games.
That said, the Gold Kings scored 55 seconds in, Player/Coach Matt Baldino beneficiary of a Mallards turnover and knowing just what to do with it. Goals by Ernazar Isamatov and Brandon Garneau made it 3-0 and what seemed liked would be a comfortable lead going into the locker room. But, a silly roughing penalty by Kings defenseman Derek Clark handed Norfolk a power play with 1:32 left in the period. There’s an unwritten rule that a hockey player should never shoot a puck on net after the whistle blows. Technically this is what happened, but it was milliseconds apart, and Clark didn’t need to send a message — but he did, and his after-the-whistle hit brought a response — from the referee. Twenty-nine seconds later a Mallards power play goal made it 3-1 after one period.
Period Two was wild and wooly. The Gold Kings scored 2:25 in to make it 4-1. Thirteen seconds later the Mallards made it 4-2. The teams traded goals again and with a period to go it was 5-3, Gold Kings. The third period was a mix of Norfolk playing better hockey and Boston either tightening up or just trying to cruise to the final buzzer. Either way, they became careless with the puck, and a second goal by Viola of the Mallards, on the power play, at 13:46, tied the game at 5.
At 15:51, all heck broke loose. A hard check on Baldino along the boards had Dave Mackenzie of the Gold Knights coming to his defense. When the dust settled after fisticuffs and other extracurricular fun, the officials sent three Gold Knights and four Mallards to the penalty box, and inexplicably gave the Gold Kings a 5-on-3 power play advantage for two minutes. And Norfolk, after much protest to no avail, played large and killed it off. Still tied at 5 and overtime in reach, Tony DiCostanzo took an interference penalty. And so, with a minute four left, and two power play goals already in the bank, the Mallards were one bounce away from an impressive comeback and a 6-5 win on the road.
The Gold Kings killed the penalty through regulation. OT is 3-on-3 hockey, so the power play continued 4-on-3 for 56 seconds, but the Mallards could not put one past Morelli. Finally at full strength, 3-on-3 hockey ensued. The always-dangerous CJ Grinnell, especially in open ice, found himself in the Mallards zone, made a few nifty moves and hit the post with what could have been the game-winner. The puck and number-one-pair defenseman Shawn Savela then found one-another and Savela knew what to do with it, potting the game-winner 1:25 of overtime. A fun night of hockey complete, the military rightfully honored, and the Gold Kings back in first place, all was right with the local entry in the PPSHL. Next home game? Saturday, December 20th at 7:35 p.m.!
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1 2 3 OT – F
Norfolk Mallards 1 2 2 0 – 5
Boston Gold Kings 3 2 0 1 – 6
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1st Period
Boston 1 Norfolk 0…. Matt Baldino @ :55
Boston 2 Norfolk 0…. Ernazar Isamatov @ 9:30
Penalties @ 10:20… Boston, C.Baldino & M.Baldino, minors
Norfolk, Rakes, minor
Boston 3 Norfolk 0…. Brandon Garneau @ 14:40
Penalty @ 18:28… Boston, Clark, 2:00
Boston 3 Norfolk 1…. Keenan, PP Goal @ 18:57
Penalties @ 20:00… Boston, McNally, minor
Norfolk, Rakes, minor
2nd Period
Boston 4 Norfolk 1…. Nick McNally @ 2:25
Boston 4 Norfolk 2.… King @ 2:38
Boston 5 Norfolk 2…. Cam Cordio @ 6:37
Penalties @ 10:20… Boston, McNally, minor
Norfolk, Messom, minor
Boston 5 Norfolk 3…. Viola @ 9:06
Penalty, @ 13:19… Boston, Savella
Penalties @ 19:05… Boston, Clark, minor
Norfolk, Briffet, minor
3rd Period
Penalty @ :39… Norfolk, Towey, minor
Penalties @ 3:24… Boston, Doherty, J., minor
Norfolk, Pagano, minor
Boston 5 Norfolk 4…. Rakes @ 9:55
Penalties @ 12:51… Boston, Garneau, minor
Boston 5 Norfolk 5…. Viola, power play goal, @ 13:46
Penalties @ 15:51… Boston, C.Baldino, M.Baldino, MacKenzie
Norfolk, Mastroianni, Halloran, Piela, Kennan
Penalty @ 18:56… Boston, DiCostanzo, 18:56, minor
Overtime
Boston 6 Norfolk 5…. Shawn Savela @ 1:25