The season did not end without a bit of controversy. Three teams finished with an admirable 10-6 record (Zero Pucks Given, Mighty Pucks and Team Supremo) and it came down to the tiebreaker of best point differential to decide the last two playoff spots. 

Teamo Supremo played a solid season and earned the respect of the league, unfortunately they did not qualify for the playoffs; it came down to point differentials, and their 11 +/- couldn’t match the  Mighty Pucks’ 55 +/- or Zero Pucks Given's +65. Just two weeks earlier they swept The Pucks and nearly ended their season. And back on Feb. 18th, Mighty Pucks swept Zero Pucks Given. All three teams had a terrific season, but alas, only two could be chosen for the coveted playoffs. Teamo Supremo finished 10-6 and lost only one match to a non-playoff team. Our hats off to their play!

Mighty Pucks (#6) bounced back from back-to-back losses to Teamo Supremo and swept the other two-time championship team, EarthQuates (#4). These guys face off in round one of the playoffs on March 15 at 8pm. EQ is the higher seed, having a better record and a higher point differential, but The Pucks swept them head-to-head in the regular season. EarthQuates’ husband and wife duo, Jeremy and Lisa VonBlohn are both playing at top-notch level. Their killing numbers are IDENTICAL:

Mighty Pucks have many weapons of their own, but Kevin Boswell is having a banner year. He led the league in points per game at 12.8. Wow!

​Only one of these teams can move on and fight for a third title. This will be a five-game backyard brawl!

Tuesday night Zero Pucks Given (10-6) takes on NOMFIC (11-5) in a series that will be a skilled chess match of strategy, finesse and flexing of that shuffle muscle.

ZPG (#4) had a solid season, splitting with some very tough teams. Their claim to fame this year has to be walloping Shuffle Me Timbers (#1) in an awesome 21-3 victory, showing that the number-one seed team is human after all. They also split with Cool Hand Luke and NOMFIC in the regular season, meaning they can do well in a five-game series against any team.

NOMFIC (#4) has to be one of the most impressive turnaround teams of this—or any—season. The veteran squad started the season 0-3 and finished the last thirteen games 11-2! Needless to say, NOMFIC is playing their best shuffleboard right now and still unable to brush that chip off their shoulder. Their last loss was a 21-20 nail-biter to the Walter & Roberto Show and one would expect any loss to be very close. En fin, no walkaways; this will be an exciting series.

The level of play in ABL shuffleboard is certainly on the rise. Jeremy, of the EarthQuates, summed up the state of the league perfectly, “the championship teams are not getting worse, but the league is getting better.” Watch for some new teams to step it up in the post season. 

It's the playoffs. Past records mean nothing. It's put up or shut up time. May the best team win. Best of luck to the squads competing for the Winter 16’ Lord Shufflepuck Trophy.