11:03 AM, Wednesday, July 18, 2007:
News broken first at the North Buffalo Table Hockey League's website
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/NBTHL/post
I didn't think it could get any better, but it has!!!
An hour ago, I received a telephone call that woke me up. (I'm
working midz). It was my old buddy, Kevin Reardon, from Buffalo, NY.
He doesn't do e-mail. A couple weeks back, I'd sent his wife an e-
mail with information about Chicago's and New York's upcoming table
hockey tournaments. Nice wife--she passed it on to Kevin!
Kevin called me asking questions, What's it about? Logistics? What
do I think?
Mind you, with the exception of a few times when I came home from
the Marines, this guy has touched the rods only twice seriously in
30 years.
His first time back, was at Johnny Goodguy in 2005, which is about 2
hours from Buffalo. Kevin finished just out of a medal in the "C"
Division. Not bad considering he'd also just had wrist surgery.
In 2007, he and I returned to JGG. This time he was awaiting
shoulder surgery, which he still hasn't had --- due soon. He works
in the rough and tumble New York State Prison System. One of the
prisoners got loose from other guards and Kevin stepped in to fight
and subdue the convict.
Anyhow, since 2005 I've learned a few things. The day of the
tournament I passed on what I could given the amount of time to
Kevin. Now any great player can take information and immediately
implement it. Me, it takes awhile. But, Kevin implemented it and
earned 3rd Place in the "B" Division.
I'm excited, because in the waning years of our old North Buffalo
Table Hockey League, which had about 21 players over the years,
Kevin had surpassed me.
Here's a little about him from a booklet our league created in 1982,
two years after our league ended. The NBTHL played games with three
5 minute periods, stop clock, referees and face-offs on all dots. We
also experiemented with 5 minute games, setting up a special
division one year to do so. And, one of our players, me, went to an
international tournament, The Burlington International, 1978
(however, it turned out to be on the Munro not Coleco, which we
played).
Note: This chapter is part of a document copied verbatim with
spelling and grammatical mistakes and is from the original type-
written document completed in 1982, which was written from
accumulated original notes and first-hand accounts of the players.
"Kevin P. Reardon, maybe the greatest player in the history of the
league. Kevin has set many offensive records and is thee offensive
player. His quickness and ability to move the puck faster than
anyone else has helped him to score more goals than anyone in a
single game or in an entire season. Kevin has earned four
Championships, seven Ross trophies, and is the only person to be
unbeaten and untied in a season. The height of his career came in
League Ten when he won all of his twenty four games and also became
the first player to score over three hundred goals. He also
narrowly missed winning the Vezina trophy by seven goals. Kevin is
working currently part-time and going to college."
You can read more and learn more about this league at
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/NBTHL/
While Kevin specifically didn't want me to play him up, I am
excited. This guy is a great table hockey player and a lifelong
friend. When I had zero money for about 10 years, he'd help me out.
Which is why I bought him up a custom Coleco from Carlo Bossio,
replete with both Buffalo Sabres logos and mentions Kevin's awards
and our old league. (Incidentally, this is how Bill Galatioto, now
of NYC but formerly of Buffalo and one of our players in our NYC
league recognized his old friend too by seeing Kevin's name on the
game in NYC).
I've known Kevin since we were 10 years old. His dad, French
Canadian, taught all of us kids to ice skate and play ice hockey on
our backyard rinks before his very young death from cancer. Kevin's
a solid blue collar guy and was an exellent ice hockey player.
He's also graciously accepted to play in the Stiga tournament as
well, a game he's never touched.
While Kevin honestly does not expect to win the Championship in
Chicago, I can assure you some of you will be finishing lower in the
standings.
Bottom line: Kevin Reardon is going to Chicago!!!!!! A great
representative from Buffalo, New York!
My fellow table hockey players and enthusiasts, I encourage you to
participate in a unique experience.
Here's a chance to test yourself on two different kinds of table
hockey boards. Your cost of travelling covers two tournaments in two
days. Plus, you can take the time to see the great mid-western city
of Chicago. The waterfront drive, lake and roman-esqe architecture
is great!
Anyone who plays ice hockey would probably love to play against NHL
Hall of Famers. Well, here's a chance to play against some of yester-
year's great table hockey players, who've returned or never left the
game.
Here's also a chance to test yourself against players from much of
North America. Often at tournaments players come from nearby. But,
at the US Open there are players from two large Canadian provinces
and from a total of 11 US states.
If you are from Canada, you are looking at playing against players
from the USA:
Northeast: New York, New Jersey
Southeast: Virginia
Mid-West: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri
West: California, Nevada, Texas
If you are from the States, you have the opportunity to play against
great players from two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Quebec.
Of course, the list of players and where they are from is
increasing. I know it is summer, but travelling for people
travelling so far is easier in the summer too!
What follows is a list of participants by state or province for both
tournaments. First, is the custom coleco tournament using Martin
Labelle and Pascal Leclerc/Carlo Bossio boards. Second, is the list
of Stiga participants.
LTHL 2007 Coleco U.S. Open Registered Players List
(list subject to change)
2 PROVINCES, 10 STATES
CANADIANS:
ONTARIO:
Dave Kraehling,
Mississagua, ONT
Bernie Kunzler,
Kitchener, ONT
QUEBEC:
Francois Cote,
Montreal, QUE
Patrick Cote,
Montreal, QUE
Denis Maille,
Montreal, QUE
Ron Chesick,
Dollard, QUE
AMERICANS:
ILLINOS:
Jim Rzonca,
Lemont, IL
Dan Lord,
Chicago, IL
Eric Krol,
Homer Glen, IL
Rich Thill,
South Holland, IL
Jeff Thill,
South Holland, IL
Adam Thill,
South Holland, IL
Joe Salazar,
Chicago, IL
Mike "Big Daddy" DiGangi,
Chicago, IL
Peter Basdeckis,
South Elgin, IL
MISSOURI:
Paul Brotz,
Canton, MI
Josh Brotz,
Canton, MI
NEVADA:
John Labianca,
Las Vegas, NV
NEW JERSEY:
Adam Zawislak,
Vernon, NJ
NEW YORK:
Lou Marinoff,
New York, NY
John Power,
Breezy Point, NY
OHIO:
Paul Ruiz,
Toledo, OH
VIRGINIA:
Greg Scoma,
Mount Vernon, VA
WISCONSIN:
Darrell Beyer,
Monroe, WI
LTHL 2007 Stiga U.S. Open Registered Players List
(list subject to change)
CANADIANS:
ONTARIO:
Bernie Kunzler,
Kitchener, ONT
Dave Kraehling,
Mississagua, ONT
QUEBEC:
Pierre Chastenais,
Montreal, QUE
Francois Cote,
Montreal, QUE
Patrick Cote,
Montreal, QUE
Denis Maille,
Montreal, QUE
Ron Chesick,
Dollard, QUE
AMERICANS:
CALIFORNIA:
Kevin Rafferty,
Laguna Hills, CA
Sean Rafferty,
Laguna Hills, CA
Brian Rafferty,
Laguna Hills, CA
ILLINOIS:
Alex Raikhman,
Palatine, IL
Gerald Pytlewski,
Lemont, IL
Scott Pytlewski,
Lemont, IL
Jonathan Kittner,
Aurora, IL
Dwayne Stegner,
Hegewisch, IL
Dan Lord,
Chicago, IL
Jerry Miller Sr.,
Homewood, IL
Jerry Miller Jr.,
Homewood, IL
Roger Connolly,
Chicago, IL
Kelly Rafferty,
Lake Barrington, IL
Peter Basdeckis,
South Elgin, IL
Jeff Farwell,
Aurora, IL
Jim Rzonca,
Lemont, IL
Eric Krol,
Homer Glen, IL
Joe Salazar,
Chicago, IL
Rob Chargo,
Gurnee, IL
John Medema,
Tinley Park, IL
Jeff Thill,
South Holland, IL
Rich Thill,
South Holland, IL
Ethan Tagala,
Rockford, IL
Mel Tagala,
Rockford, IL
Ventura Sias,
Chicago, IL
Dante Sias,
Chicago, IL
INDIANA:
Mark Wuellner,
Indianapolis, IN
MICHIGAN:
Robert Monaghan,
Westland, MI
Paul Brotz,
Canton, MI
Joshua Brotz,
Canton, MI
Kevin Williams,
Livonia, MI
Tim Walker,
Madison Heights, MI
Tom Warren,
Huntington Woods, MI
NEW YORK:
John Power,
Breezy Point, NY
NEVADA:
John Labianca,
Las Vegas, NV
OHIO:
Tanner Ruiz,
Toledo, OH
Zach Ruiz,
Toledo, OH
Paul Ruiz,
Toledo, OH
TEXAS:
Bill Boyd,
Arlington, TX
Tom Forbes,
Houston, TX
VIRGINIA:
Greg Scoma,
Mount Vernon, VA
WISCONSIN:
Jason Huberty,
Madison, WI
Darrell Beyer,
Monroe, WI
David Koene,
Madison, WI
Dean Kallas,
Madison, WI
The NYCTHA is proud to announce that it is producing a custom coleco
tournament with the LTHL of Chicago. There will be both a Chicago US
Open Coleco Classic and a Chicago US Open Stiga tournament.
I believe this custom coleco tournament will be the third, and I
believe the most interesting, most exciting, coleco classic event on
the #5380 board held in the United States since the 1970s, early
1980s.
1. The first coleco #5380 board classic event in America in modern
times to bring high caliber players together from various areas, was
the New York City Table Hockey Association's "Original Six"
tournament in September 2006. Fourteen players were in attendance.
It brought together some of the great players of yester-year and
today. Lou Marinoff, three time Canadian Open Champion of the early
1980s. Today's Stiga Champion, Kenny Dubois, won that tournament.
Others were champions from their cities. Areas/cities/states
represented included, Buffalo, NY (now in Virginia); Connecticut;
Marysville, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New Jersey and
the immediate NYC area.
2. The second coleco #5380 board event in America to bring high
caliber players together was four months later at the Coleco Classic
in Las Vegas, NV, January 2007. Thirteen Players came from Southern
and Northern California (4), Illinois (1), New York (2),
Pennsylvania (1) and Virginia (1). Plus Canadians from Alberta (1)
and Ontario (2).
3. The upcoming event in Chicago US Open Coleco Classic, July 27, is
shaping up to be the greatest coming-together of American table
hockey players from the two largest modern day hot-beds of coleco
table hockey in the USA, greater Chicago and New York. It could
expand to include players from along the eastern seaboard, midwest
and California.
Some of the players in Chicago (and nearby Detroit) were well-known
top ranked players of the 1970s and early 1980s when the former
World Table Hockey Association (WTHA) existed (managed by Americans
and Canadians). They remain great players today.
Players coming from the east also play in Canada, so they'll be
bringing their international experience to the tournament. And,
Canadians are coming to the coleco tournament, as well. (Numerous
Canadians are already participating in the Stiga tournament the next
day, Saturday).
Players from the east include:
Dr. Lou Marinoff, NY, currently ranked 1st in New York, 13th of 66
in Quebec, 25th of 119 in Ontario, Canada.
Dave Kraehling, Ontario, Canada, currently ranked 2nd of 119 in
Ontario and 5th of 66 in Quebec.
John Power, NY, currently ranked 2nd in New York and 45th of 66 in
Quebec.
Greg Scoma, aka Sabre in Virginia, VA, currently ranked 4th in New
York, 23rd of 119 in Ontario, and 61st of 66 in Quebec (2006).
Adam Zawislak, NJ, currently ranked 6th in New York.
Kenny Dubois, MA, is a noted Stiga great and winner of the NYCTHA's
Inaugural "Original Six" coleco classic tournament in September
2006. Should he sign up to play in Chicago's US Coleco Open, then
many of the top US players will be in attendance and competing
against each other for the first time in modern coleco classic TH
history!
I'm calling on players who I know in Canada, California,
Pennsylvania and western New York to attend. I also know there were
some great coleco players in Detroit back in the 1970s. Here's a
chance to get back on a customized, tournament quality, coleco 5380
s-slot board. These boards are vastly superior to the originals!
Lou Marinoff, a guy who was great back in the day and is again a top
10 ranked player can tell you, today's players, their plays, are
better than those of yester-year.
_________________
Sabre_in_Virginia
Vice President, Classic Coleco Division
New York City Table Hockey Association (NYCTHA)
Good luck to the table hockey gypsy Greg Scoma.
NYCTHA VP and winner of 17 out 22 matches at NYCTHA Date II is off to
the Coleco Shark Tank Shootout in Chicago this Saturday to test his
skill against the best the midwest has to offer!
Although Scoma will be playing on the 5340 with bannana blade players,
a setup he has no experience on, his overall table hockey acumen is
high enough that we here at the NYCTHA believe he will acquit himself
with dignity. This man is all about supporting his fellow players and
there can be no questioning his commitment to the sport of table
hockey.
So good luck my table hockey brother. You are all about feeling the
fear and DOING IT ANYWAY!
colecojohnny@...
Thank you for the invitation. However, I long ago comitted to the Coleco Classic Cup in Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 30. Your fellow Canadian, D. Kraehling, is also signed up for that event.
Greg
Mike Pope <playtablehockey@...> wrote:
This year's tournament will be held January 20,2007 in Hamilton,Ontario.Anyone interested can contact me at playtablehockey@yahoo.com
Greg,
I just got done looking through that street hockey photo album, boy
did that bring back some memories! See if you can get that scanner
working, sure wish I had some pics from my old street hockey days..
Glad to see you will be able to make it to John Power's tourney on
September 9th, that is great, I will be there too.
Vic
Andy,
I just posted some information about Mike Pope's tournament(s) at
the CCTHF and ACTHF website. Both sets of postings are similar,
however, I have one extra one about Mike at the CCTHF. I have the
entire set of scores, people, etc for his 2nd Annual Burlington
International tournament.
My old computer had a scanner connected to it. Special circuit board
and connection (SCUZZY) that my new computer does not have (most are
USB now). So, give me some time to set up the old computer again and
time to scan in the results. You'd like them, right? Well, either
way I'll post them here.
Greg
--- In NBTHL@yahoogroups.com, "andrewbazan2000" <andrewbazan@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Greg,
>
> Mike Pope's (you mentioned playing in 1 of his 70s tournies)
league mate
> Paul Tompkin's favorite player was Gilbert Perreault. He wore the
#11 on
> his Burlington TH jersey. Do you remember Paul? Perreault
endorsed
> (box cover) Munro's "hat trick hockey". Rick Martin also endorsed
> Munro and was in several Sabre programs circa 1972. Servotronics (
who
> purchased Munro ) are located in Buffalo. I hear they still have
parts
> available www.servotronics.com Chexx head office is also located
in
> Buffalo. Coleco's banana blade and 1st plastic Sabre and Canuck
> goalies had #s on their backs. The only time Coleco did that.
Buffalo
> area collector/dealer Lee Buchbinder is? at leevizion@... if that
> does not work contact th heaven and ask Warren how you can get in
touch
> with William Stewart- he would know.
> That's all the Buffalo TH info I can shuffle off.
> Do you have any pictures,stats or stories you could share from the
Mike
> Pope tournie?
> Best Wishes
> Andrew
>
To answer your last question, I recall seeing some mementos from Mike's tournament. Possibly, ad or my finish (games and standings).
Thanks for the good info on table hockey stuff. I have or had a whole bunch of table hockey players, to include Sabres and Canucks in an old tall Seagram's 7 container (for the bottle). I say "had" because it may have been misplaced. It also had a Stanley Cup with small sheets of each seasons final standings rolled up like scrolls in it. I hope it is still laying around, I just saw it a few years ago...meaning it made it that far since 1980.
I have a multi-phase project I am working on in the basement, so when i can literally get to the plastic containers that info might be in I will certainly look for Pope's info.
Greg
andrewbazan2000 <andrewbazan@...>
wrote:
Hi Greg,
Mike Pope's (you mentioned playing in 1 of his 70s tournies) league mate Paul Tompkin's favorite player was Gilbert Perreault. He wore the #11 on his Burlington TH jersey. Do you remember Paul? Perreault endorsed (box cover) Munro's "hat trick hockey". Rick Martin also endorsed Munro and was in several Sabre programs circa 1972. Servotronics ( who purchased Munro ) are located in Buffalo. I hear they still have parts available www.servotronics.com Chexx head office is also located in Buffalo. Coleco's banana blade and 1st plastic Sabre and Canuck goalies had #s on their backs. The only time Coleco did that. Buffalo area collector/dealer Lee Buchbinder is? at leevizion@... if that does not work contact th heaven and ask Warren how you can get in touch with William Stewart- he would
know. That's all the Buffalo TH info I can shuffle off. Do you have any pictures,stats or stories you could share from the Mike Pope tournie? Best Wishes Andrew
Hi Greg,
Mike Pope's (you mentioned playing in 1 of his 70s tournies) league mate
Paul Tompkin's favorite player was Gilbert Perreault. He wore the #11 on
his Burlington TH jersey. Do you remember Paul? Perreault endorsed
(box cover) Munro's "hat trick hockey". Rick Martin also endorsed
Munro and was in several Sabre programs circa 1972. Servotronics ( who
purchased Munro ) are located in Buffalo. I hear they still have parts
available www.servotronics.com Chexx head office is also located in
Buffalo. Coleco's banana blade and 1st plastic Sabre and Canuck
goalies had #s on their backs. The only time Coleco did that. Buffalo
area collector/dealer Lee Buchbinder is? at leevizion@... if that
does not work contact th heaven and ask Warren how you can get in touch
with William Stewart- he would know.
That's all the Buffalo TH info I can shuffle off.
Do you have any pictures,stats or stories you could share from the Mike
Pope tournie?
Best Wishes
Andrew
I don't think I sent you any emails directly to you. To my knowledge, when you join a group you choose how you want to learn what is going on within the group. For example, have each message posted within the group emailed to you individually. Or receive a weekly digest of all messages. Or not receive any emails, that you'll check the site yourself.
So, I think you just go into the group and change your settings. If you need more help, please let me know as I certainly do not want to offend or upset anyone.
Greg
andrewbazan@... wrote:
Hi there , if you ad any info re the 70s-80s Please let me know, otherwise Please do NOT send me any e-mails Thank You Andrew Bazan
Good Luck to you all on your new site for the table hockey (& street hockey) you all so enjoyed back in the 70's. It would be just wonderful for you all to re-new your friendships , catch up on the years & each share with some input of your memories growing up with each other.
I added information tonight. Some of it you might find interesting or
amusing. I see why we disallowed in-and-out goals (fistfight). I will
continue to add information as I am able. Sometime later this year, I
will get my photos from my parent's home and post them here.
If you have any questions about our old league just ask.
I added information tonight. Some of it you might find interesting or
amusing. I see why we disallowed in-and-out goals (fistfight). I will
continue to add information as I am able. Sometime later this year, I
will get my photos from my parent's home and post them here.
If you have any questions about our old league just ask.