The NYTHL’s fifth league date of its tenth anniversary season took place on Saturday February 22, 2025 at Rab’s on Staten Island. It featured sixteen competitors from five different states. The players on hand competed in a fifteen game single round robin then were ranked according to the day’s standings. The top eight players would qualify for the “A” playoffs. Players nine thru sixteen would then compete in the “B” playoffs. At the conclusion of the round robin, Vinny “The Vinner” Catania finished in the top spot once again, posting a 14-1-0 record. The rapidly improving Rob Brancucci performed at a very high level as he posted an 11-2-2 record as the runner up. The legendary Steve Bernstein had another strong showing as he compiled a mark of 11-4-0 which put him third. Len Mecca and Bob D’Addario each finished 10-3-2, but Mecca took the fourth spot due to goal differential. Thus the “BOB O” finished fifth. George Slater was sixth at 10-5-0. League patriarch John Power made his second straight appearance and was 9-6-0, good for seventh. Walter Zissler grabbed the last spot in the “A” playoffs, finishing eighth going 7-5-3 on the day. Larry Durham finished two points behind Zissler at 7-7-1 in ninth place. Phil Brancucci continues to ascend as he finished 6-7-2 for tenth overall. The ageless Anthony Sciacca had another tough day finishing eleventh at 4-8-3. Dennis Simone is proving to be another improving player. He was 4-10-1 on the day which landed him twelfth. Mike Digiulio only had one win, but did manage four ties, as he finished thirteenth. Tom Kearns who once again made the trip from Pittsburgh for his second ever league date was able to compile his first two wins enroute to a fourteenth place finish. Hank Librandi was fifteenth and Derek Nisbett rounded out the field in the sixteenth spot. Let’s review both the “A” and “B” playoffs.
In the “A” QuarterFinals the one seed Vinny Catania swept past eight seeded Walter Zissler by scores of 8-1, 3-2, and 5-1. The two seed Rob Brancucci had a rough draw as he was challenged by seventh seed John Power. Although the games were close, Brancucci swept J.P. by scores of 4-3 OT, 5-3, and 4-3. The three versus six series featured three seed Steve “The Stein” Bernstein versus six seed George Slater. The Stein stormed out to a 7-2 game won victory. Slater who played very well defensively all day long was able to adjust and held Bernstein to just four goals in the subsequent three games. George tied the series with a 3-1 win. He then went ahead winning 4-3 in game three. Slater then played his best game of the series as he then shutout out The Stein 6-0 to take the series three games to one. The final Quarter-Final series was between fourth seed Len Mecca and fifth seed “The Bob O” Bob D’Addario. Mecca took the lead with a 3-1 game one victory. D’Addario then tied the series and went ahead with back to back wins of 3-1. Mecca came close to forcing a deciding fifth game, but fell short when the BOB O scored in overtime for the 5-4 victory. D’ Addario took the series three games to one. Let’s move on to the Semi-Finals.
In the “A” Semi-Finals, the top seed Vinny Catania would sweep sixth seed George Slater by scores of 5-1, 4-3 and 5-1. In the other Semi-Final series the two seed Rob Brancucci took on five seed Bob D’Addario. Robert Brancucci took a very exciting game one in overtime with a 4-3 victory. D’Addario returned the favor by earning a 3-2 overtime victory of his own. With the series tied, Brancucci then won an exciting game three with a 3-2 victory. With a first trip to the Finals at stake for Brancucci, he then followed that up with yet another one goal triumph. Rob B. defeated the Bob O 4-3 to earn his first trip ever to a League Date Final. It was now on to the League Date 5 Championship.
For a fifth straight month League Champion Vinny Catania was through to the Finals. This was Rob Brancucci’s first ever trip. Vinny’s experience proved to be a little too much for Brancucci as he swept the series by scores of 6-1, 4-3 and 8-4. This was Catania’s fifth league date title this season in five tries. As for Rob Brancucci – this was the first of what will probably be many trips to the Final as he continues to rapidly improve and soar up in the standings.
In the “B” Playoffs Number fifteen seed Hank Librandi did not participate. The field was then left with seven. This meant the highest seed in the pool Larry Durham would receive a bye in the “B” Quarter-Finals. Number ten Phil Brancucci (winner of last month’s “B” Playoffs) swept past sixteen seed Derek Nisbett. Number eleven Anthony Sciacca swept past fourteen seed Tom Kearns. Thirteen seed Mike Digiulio won his first ever playoff series as he took out twelve seed Dennis Simone three games to one. In the Semi-Finals, nine seed Larry Durham swept past Mike Digiulio by scores of 5-1, 4-1 and 5-1 respectively. In the other half of the bracket Anthony Sciacca and Phil Brancucci locked horns. Sciacca took game one 3-1. Phil tied the series with a 2-1 overtime victory. Sciacca then clamped down with his famous box defense to win game three 4-1. The ageless one then earned another trip to the “B” Finals with a strong 4-0 shutout, thus defeating Phil three games to one. The “B” Final was now set between longtime rivals Anthony Sciacca and Larry Durham. Sciacca took game one by a 4-2 score. Larry then tied the series with a 4-3 victory. Anthony then won a very highly contested game three by a 2-1 score. Sciacca then wrapped up the series three games to one with a 4-2 game four victory to earn himself the League Date 5 “B” Championship.
Another exciting league date is now history. The NYTHL continues to grow with new players on the way. As interest in this great sport continues to escalate - Dare I again 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 New York Table Hockey League. Like so many others, you will be glad you did. See you at League Date VI on Saturday March 22, 2025.
See you next month - God Bless!
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