Hammers Beer League Origin Story

 

As told by Gunsey, the Hammers Historian:

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The Dark Years (1988 – 1998)   

Although painful to remember, the story must be told.  Coincident with the birth of the Hammers was their entry in a newly formed over-30 hockey league that was to play at the NVO in Boxborough.  With no real time for planning or recruitment, the first Hammers roster was cobbled together and adorned with game jerseys that were rescued from the ABYHA dumpster.  This was a fitting beginning for what was to come. The Hammers were a principled bunch, and they took the over-30 guideline as law.  This, we now know, was their first mistake.  After the first few games that ended with double-digit score differentials, an article in the league newsletter had a comment from the Commissioner: “The Hammers are a great group of guys, but what they really need are some “young” 30 year olds.”  Undaunted, the Hammers ignored the advice of the Commissioner and racked up an impressive 0-16 first season.  The games were embarrassing, but the beers were cold, and that was enough.  The Hammers valiantly fought on season after season through roster changes, in-game goalie retirements, the Pylon Brothers, league scandal, and fiscal shortfalls.  It all seemed magical.

 

A New Dawn (1999 – 2012) 

To those not paying attention, the millennium arrived and nothing seemed to change with the Hammers.  The perennial cellar dwellers were averaging 3-4 wins a season, and had only shamed one team to quit the league after suffering a humiliating loss to the Hammers on a cold winter night.  But, Captain and GM John Prendeville had hatched a brilliant plan that was going to take a mere generation to unfold, if only he could live long enough.  Heeding the early advice of the former league Commissioner, Gunsey stumbled upon a strategy of pure brilliance: recruit young 30 year olds from the youth hockey teams that he and Gary Piantedosi were coaching.  Slowly, the likes of Matt Chiasson, Jimmy Bernhard, Mke Sawyer, and Curt Giansante, were added.  The results were staggering, but mostly on the psyches of the young players. 

 

The Championship Years (2012 – 2014)

Ignoring the evidence and sticking with his plan, it took a mere 13 years for the Hammers to win their first league championship in the summer of 2012.  Further additions of youngsters that included Kevin Daigle, Tony D’Augustine, Stevie Lenkauskas, Jeff Rautiola, Greg Smith, Ricky Metcalf, and James Vesty had shifted the league paradigm and now the Hammers were perennial contenders instead of “stat night”, as some teams called their games with the Hammers of old.  The acme for the Hammers was the 2013-2014 winter season, when they captured the league championship on a magical night in March.  Some thought it was the apocalypse, but the Hammers knew better.

 

Changes and The Torch is Passed (2015 – present)  

Time was marching on, and as much fun as the ride was, Gunsey knew that Father Time was catching up.  What had begun as a thirty-something with more desire than skill had now become a fifty-something liability.  It took a couple more years, but Gunsey was able to dupe Matty and Curtis into taking the reins and running the Hammers.  The Hammer assets were transferred, a retirement party was held, and the second chapter of the Hammer history began.

 

Epilogue 

And so there you have it.  The Hammers are now in young, capable hands and the next generation is making their mark in hockey history, one loss at a time.