CATANIA STORMS BACK VS REID TO TAKE LEAGUE DATE 3

     The NYTHL’s continued its eleventh campaign on Saturday December 13, 2025 at Rab’s on Staten Island.  It featured thirteen competitors from two countries and five different states.  This month’s road warriors were Ennismore Table Hockey League Commissioner and top competitor Dave Reid from Ennismore, Ontario Canada.  Also making long trips were Brian Sullivan from Needham, Massachusetts, Tom Kearns from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dan Henner from Syracuse, New York.  This day’s thirteen players competed in a twelve game round robin then were ranked according to the day’s standings.  The top four players would receive a bye into the Quarter-Finals in the end of day League Date Three “A” playoffs.  The remaining eight would do battle to see which four would join them.  George Slater previously announced he would not be able to participate in the playoffs.  The four who lost would participate in the “B” Playoffs.   At the conclusion of round robin play, it was Dave Reid who finished at the top.  His 4-0 shutout win over Vinny Catania in round robin play proved to be the difference.  Reid finished first 11-1-0 as he surrendered just sixteen goals in his twelve games.  Vinny “The Vinner” Catania finished two points behind at 9-1-2.  Last season’s and last month’s Finalist, Chris D’Andrea finished just a point behind the Vinner for third with a 9-2-1 mark.  Defending League Champ George Slater finished fourth at 8-2-2.  His day would end as he did not participate in the end of day playoffs.  John Power made his return and played well finishing fifth with a record of 8-3-1.  The Mechanism Len Mecca’s 6-5-1 day landed him sixth.  Larry Durham made his 2025-2026 debut and was a respectable 5-5-2 good for seventh.  The “Bob O” Bob D’Addario had a disappointing day finishing eighth with a 4-5-3 mark.  Brian Sullivan was 4-6-2 as he finished ninth.  The rapidly learning Dan Henner suffered some growing pains as he placed tenth with a 3-10 record.  Tom Kearns also had six points but had one less win than Henner, thus landing him eleventh.   Mike DiGiulio and Hank Librandi rounded out the standings as they tied each other for their only point.  Let’s move on and review the League Date Three Playoffs.

     With Slater not participating, all seeds below him moved up one spot.  Dave Reid, Vinny Catania, Chris D’Andrea and John Power each received Preliminary Round Byes.  In best of three Preliminary Round action fifth seed Len Mecca swept twelve seed Hank Librandi by scores of 5-4 and 2-1.  Six seed Larry Durham swept past eleven seed Mike Digiulio by scores of 5-0 and 4-1.  Seven seed Bob D’Addario survived a scare from ten seed Tom Kearns.  Tom took game one by a 4-3 score.  Bob tied the series with an 8-4 victory, and then won the series when he took game three by a narrow 5-4 margin.  Eighth seed Brian Sullivan swept past nine seed Dan Henner in two close games.  Brian won by scores of 3-2 and 2-1.    

     The Quarter-Finals then took place.  One seed Dave Reid took down eight seed Brian Sullivan by scores of 3-0, 8-2 and 1-0 to earn the sweep.   Two seed Vinny Catania had to work slightly harder in taking down seven seed Bob D’Addario.  The Vinner took game one rather easily 8-3.  The Bob O rebounded with a stellar defensive performance as he tied the series with a 2-1 victory.  The Vinner then kicked it up a notch as he shut the door on D’Addario earning a 6-0 shutout.  Catania then put the series away with a 5-1 victory to win the series three games to one and advance.  Three seed Chris D’Andrea allowed just four goals in a three game sweep of six seed Larry Durham by scores of 4-1, 4-2 and 7-1.  In the final series of the Quarter-Finals, the NYTHL’S oldest rivalry was renewed.  Fourth Seeded John Power versus fifth seed Len Mecca.  J.P. took game one via a 2-0 shutout.  J.P. then took game two 4-2 for a 2-0 series lead.  Len battled back for a 5-3 victory in game three, but failed to tie the series when J.P. triumphed in game four by a 3-2 margin.  Power won the series three games to one and advanced to the Semis.      

          The Semi-Finals were underway.  One seed Dave Reid’s defensive mastery continued as he swept past four seed John Power by scores of 5-1, 3-2 and 5-1.  Two seed Vinny Catania again had to work this time much harder as he battled three seed Chris D’Andrea.  Chris jumped out to a 1-0 series lead when he won the opening game 4-2.  With a chance to go up 2-0 in the series, and game two tied at three goals a piece with under a minute, The Vinner scored twice to earn a 5-3 win to tie the series at one.  The Vinner won a tight game three 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.  Catania then punched his ticket to the Finals, when he played his best game of the series by winning game four via a 3-0 shutout.  It was once again Reid versus Catania in a League Date Championship.  

     Dave Reid steam rolled into the finals on this day, as he was undefeated in the playoffs behind stellar defense and efficient offense.  For Catania it was a bit tougher as he suffered a defeat in each round enroute to the Finals.   As the series began Dave Reid opened the series on his Ennismore board.  The Vinner jumped out to early leads in both games one and two, only to see The Reider comeback in each one.  Dave won games one and two by a 5-3 margin to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.  The series then shifted over to Catania’s famed Islanders board for games three and four if necessary.  The Vinner clamped down and rallied for a 4-2 victory to avoid a sweep and force a fourth game.  Catania felt a bit better having broken the ice after suffering a round robin loss and two losses in the first two games of the Finals against Reid.  With a chance to tie the series and force a deciding fifth game it was all Vinner in game four.  He had all cylinders firing on both the offensive and defensive sides as he powered past Reid with an impressive 11-0 victory.  With the series now tied, play shifted back to Reid’s Ennismore board.  Catania again jumped out to the lead and built upon it to go up 3-0.  Dave scored to pull within two, but immediately surrendered a fourth goal to the Vinner to end all hopes of a comeback.  Catania won a deciding game five by a 4-1 margin.  The Vinner after losing the first two games of the final had rallied to sweep the Final three and win the NYTHL 2025-2026 LEAGUE DATE 3 championship.  He has won all three league dates thus far this season.     

     In the “B” Playoffs Mike Digiulio did not participate.  This gave the highest seed (9) Dan Henner a Semi-Final bye to the Final.  Ten Seed Tom Kearns Swept twelve seed Hank Librandi by scores of 2-0 and 3-1 in their best of three Semi-Final.  Nine seed Dan Henner took on ten seed Tom Kearns in the “B” Best of Five Championship.  Dan took game one by a 3-1 score.  Tom tied the series with a 3-2 win of his own.  Dan jumped back ahead with a 5-2 triumph.  Kearns again tied the series with a 7-2 conquest.  With the “B” title for the month on the line, Dan Henner flipped the script with a solid 5-1 victory to take the series three games to two.    

     Another exciting league date is in the books.  As the holiday season is upon us, the N.Y.T.H.L. would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Make your resolution to be a part of our growing league by joining us.   I once again dare to ask?  With great games to play and great people to compete on them – what are you waiting for?  Get behind the rods and Join the NYTHL.  Like so many others, you will be glad you did.  See you at League Date IV on Saturday January 24, 2026.

See you next month - God Bless!