IT’S DOUBLE DUBOIS. KENNY AND SON CHRISTIAN TAKE “A” AND “B” TITLES AT NYTHL LEAGUE DATE SIX

The NYTHL’S eleventh season marched on this past Saturday March 14, 2026 at Rab’s in Staten Island.  It featured twelve competitors from two different countries and five different states.  The day also featured the return of table hockey great Kenny Dubois from Bethel Connecticut.  His son Christian a rising young star himself also made the trip.  Ennismore Table Hockey League commissioner and two time Stanley Cup Champion Dave Reid was also on hand.  In addition John Power known affectionately as J.P also competed.  This month’s road warriors were Tom Kearns from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dan Henner from Syracuse, New York, Brian Sullivan from Needham, Massachusetts and Dave Reid from Ennismore, Ontario.  This day’s dozen players competed in a twenty-two game double 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 Six “A” playoffs.  The remaining eight would do battle to see which four would advance to join them.  The four who lost would participate in the “B” Playoffs.   At the conclusion of round robin play, it was The Great Kenny dubois who grabbed the top spot with a 21-1-0 record.  His only loss was to the second place Vinny Catania.  The two split their round robin games as Catania finished 18-2-2.  Speaking of great ones – Dave Reid finished in the third spot with a record of 14-5-3.  Len Mecca in fourth was the last person to finish with a winning record.  Mecca was 11-10-1.  The Bob O = Bob D’Addario finished in a tie with John Power, each having a mark of 10-10-2.  D’Addario took 5^th because of tie breakers, thus landing J.P. sixth.  League Champ George Slater struggled to a 8-9-5 seventh place finish.    Larry Durham was eighth with an 8-10-4 tally.  The steadily improving Dan Henner landed ninth at 9-12-1.  Brian Sullivan returned after a month off and had a hard time shaking off the rust.  Sullivan was 5-14-3 on the day, finishing tenth.  Christian Dubois struggled early then played better as the day went on.  The younger Dubois put up just two wins against seventeen losses and three ties in finishing in eleventh.  Christian’s day was far from done as he experienced much more success in the end of day playoffs.  Finally Tom Kearns finished with just two wins in the twelfth spot, but he too had a more positive outcome later on.  It was then time for the playoffs.

     The League Date Six commenced.  Kenny Dubois, The Vinner, Dave Reid, and Len Mecca all received Preliminary round byes.  The five seed Bob D’Addario had all he could handle against twelfth seed Tom Kearns.  Tom started the series with a 5-2 victory in game one.  Bob tied the series with an 8-3 win.  Tom jumped out ahead two games to one with a 4-0 shutout in game three.  The Bob O needed overtime in game four, as he earned a 4-3  to tie the series.  D’Addario finally pulled away and won the series with a convincing 7-2 game five victory.  Six seed John Power had little trouble with upstart Christian Dubois.  J.P. swept the series by scores of 6-2, 5-1, and 4-3 respectively.  Seventh seed George Slater dropped game one against Brian Sullivan 3-1.  Slater then went on to win the Final three games by scores of 5-3, 3-1, and 4-1 to move on.  The eight seeded Larry Durham squared off against nine seed Dan Henner.  Dan won game one 3-2, then took game two by a 5-4 score.  Durham struck back, winning games three and four by scores of 4-3 and 2-1 to force a fifth game.  Dan regained his winning form, winning game five by a 2-1 margin to take the series 3-2 games.  All games were decided by one goal.  It was then time for the Quarter-Final round.  Having lost their “A” Playoff series Larry Durham, Brian Sullivan, Christian Dubois, and Tom Kearns would compete in the “B” playoffs.

     The Quarters were played next.  One seed Kenny Dubois took down number nine Dan Henner in a sweep by scores of 7-2, 8-1, and 3-1.  The two Vinny Catania earned a hard fought sweep against seventh seeded league champ George Slater.  The Vinner won by scores of 5-3, 4-3 and 4-3 in overtime.  Three seed Dave Reid also swept his way to the Semis as he defeated John Power by scores of 5-2, 3-2 (OT), and 7-4.  The final Semi-Final spot was earned when fourth seed Len Mecca defeated five seed Bob D’Addario.  Len took games one and two by scores of 6-4 and 6-1.  Bob lengthened the series by winning game three 4-1, but then finally succumb in the series by losing game four 6-2.  On to the next round.

          The Semi-Finals were then underway.  One seed Kenny Dubois was challenged by four seed Len Mecca.  Kenny was a little too strong for Len, winning in a sweep by scores of 5-2, 4-2 and 9-5.  In the second Semi-Final, The Vinner took on Dave Reid.  Catania jumped out to an early lead and held on to win game one 3-2.  The Vinner then got rolling and won game two by 7-2 score.  Catania then finished off the sweep with an 8-2 game three victory to earn a spot in the Final against Dubois.

     Kenny Dubois does not compete in the NYTHL on a regular basis.  When he does he has always made the Final and has always won.  His two opponents in those finals have been the Legendary Lou Marinoff and The Vinner – Vinny Catania.  Dubois and Catania split their two contests earlier in the day.  Dubois took their game in round one 4-3.  The Vinner then gave Kenny his only blemish, defeating him 6-4 in the second round robin.  It was now time for the Final. A back and forth game one ended with Kenny scoring in overtime of game one to earn a 4-3 victory.  The Vinner managed to tie the series despite falling behind by two goals.  Catania tied the game then went ahead late to secure a 3-2 victory.  The series then went over to Catania’s Islanders board.  Both players could not find the net as defense reigned supreme.  Kenny finally scored on a leftwing to center pass for the game’s only goal with 58 seconds left.  Kenny took the game 1-0 and led the series two games to one.  It was win or go home for the Vinner.  Game four was another thriller, but this time the goals were not as hard to come by.  The two combatants went back and forth right into overtime tied at five.  Almost three minutes of overtime were played before Kenny put the series to rest with a beautiful wing to wing to center goal to win it 6-5 and take the series three games to one.  Kenny had won the League Date 6 “A” title.  The Vinner was runner-up with Dave Reid finishing third based on the standings.

     In the “B” Playoffs eight seed Larry Durham took on twelve seed Tom Kearns.  Tom one an exciting game one in overtime by a 3-2 margin.  Larry tied the series with a 3-0 shutout.  Tom then went ahead with a 2-1 game three victory, then put the series away with a 4-0 shutout for the 3-1 series win.  In the other Semi-Final ten seed Brian Sullivan took on eleven seed Christian Dubois.  Brian took game one 4-2.  Christian won big 6-2 to tie things up.  Brian scored early and often enroute to a 7-4 victory to take a 2-1 series lead.  Christian tied the series with a 5-4 victory to force a fifth and deciding game.  With the series on the line – Brian Sullivan led late 2-1.  Christian displayed a little Dubois magic as he tied the game with just two seconds left.  He then went on and won in overtime by a 3-2 score to take the series 3-2 games.  It was Christian Dubois versus Tom Kearns for the “B” Championship.    As the day went on Christian rapidly improved and learned from his mistakes.  He suffered a loss and a tie against Tom earlier in round robin play.  Christian looked like a different player once the Finals began.  He defeated Tom in game one 4-2.  Dubois blitzed him in game two by a 6-2 margin.  Christian then completed the Dubois sweep of the day with a sweep of his own – winning the game 3-1 and the series 3-0.  The third table hockey generation Dubois took the League Date 6 “B” Championship, Great job Christian!

     Another incredible league date is now history.   As the NYTHL season continues, the battles rage on.  Some old players drop by along with some new.  Each player brings a unique skill set thus creating new rivalries and even better matchups.  As always we welcome players old and new as we grow our expanding league.  You too can join us.  I 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 VII in April.

Until next month - God Bless!