New Jersey Bubble Hockey Championships

The New Jersey Bubble Hockey Championships were held at the Whistler’s Inn in Cinnaminson NJ. There were 6 SuperChexx games strategically placed in the upper suite/room of the of this old-colonial-style-home-turned-bar-and-grill. For those who wanted their Bubble Hockey FIX, well, how about a full day of competition. That’s what we had as the “singles” tournament started around noon & the “doubles” tournament starting between 5 & 6pm. All and all there was bubble hockey to be had from about 11am till ~10pm that evening. And for those who hung around afterward, we even had the treat of watching and playing the #1 & #37 Stiga hockey players in all of North America.

Prior to the tournament, the Utah guys (Bill Kearney & I) had the opportunity to warm up against the high level competition that was present. Now I can’t speak for Bill (because he typically has a very defensive game anyway) but I had to go through a few games of high scoring before I could put myself into the highly defensive awareness that it takes to compete at this level. It truly is a whole new world when you have to go from a mindset (as I typically have when playing in Utah) where I don’t have to focus much on defense, to an approach where I have to be highly aware of all aspects of the game so as to defend against the multi-pronged attack of the top twenty ranked players in the country. As my focus came into alignment & with Bill’s highly ranked defensive game, we went into the doubles tournament ready to compete at a high level. So here is how we did:

Doubles Round:
Round Robin - 7 wins & only 2 losses - qualifying us for the champion A division tournament. In the tournament we were able to defeat some quality teams until we ran up against my personal nemesis, the highly skilled #4 ranked player in the country, Scott Storck. In this best of 3 round, emotions where high, the language was rough at times, but the match was fast paced with innumerable shots on net for each team. Even though Scott’s right defense has a near perfect scoring shot from behind the red line, it was Bill’s goal tending that was able to match him shot for shot. Unfortunately, when all was said and done, it was the #4’s ranked team that beat out the Stormin Mormons from Utah 2 game to 1 in OT, in the best of three series. Hence, we finished off in 4th.

Top 3 placings:
#1 Kenny Dubios (#1) and teammate;
#2 Al Jennings (#3) and Jim Sullivan (#12);
#3Scott Storck (#4) and teammate McCormik.

Singles Round:
Bill Kearney 2 wins and 4 losses (seated in the B division- but left the tournament ill).
Tony Hernandez 4 wins and 2 losses (seated in the A division).

Here I played fairly well but of course had the privilege of getting knocked out by who? Of course the #4 ranked player again Scott Storck. (2 games to 0). Then in the single elimination round I moved through until I lost narrowly to the #10 ranked “young gun” player out of CT. Jeremy Davis.

Other epic matches that drew sweat and crowds:
Scott Storck (#4) vs. Kenny Dubios (#1) -with Kenny winning 1st series to send Scott to the single elimination round & then Scott coming back in the single elimination round and beating Kenny to get to the finals against Al Jennings.

Scott Storck (#4) vs. Al Jennings (#3) - with Al showing he was DA MAN on this day!!

Bill Brooks (#7) vs. Jeremy Davis (#10) with Bill narrowly beating Jeremy both in the regular and the single elimination round.

John Gaffney (#14) vs. Kieram Valla (#17) with John exiting Kieram in a best of three series.

All in all the competition was the best!!! The camaraderie and friendships were great. All the players at this tournament were not only excellent players, but were awesome people as well.

I hope to see you at the next Bubble Hockey Tournament!