The NYTHL’s tenth anniversary season began on Saturday October 5, 2024 at Rab’s on Staten Island. It featured fourteen competitors representing five different states and two countries. Dave Reid once again made his way from Ennismore Ontario and had a great day. Double L started his first full season from Maryland and table hockey great Steve “The Stein” Bernstein made his way from Massachusetts. Not to be out done the vastly improved Brian Sullivan also made the trip from Mass. The rest of the usual suspects were in attendance including defending champion Vinny Catania and last year’s finalist Chris D’Andrea. Notable regulars that were missing were Phil Brancucci, Hank Librandi, Mike Digiulio, “The Bob O” Bob D’Addario, Lee Hendelman, and the tremendous talent of John Power. For those there - It was a great day of competition – let’s take a full dive into it.
The day would feature the fourteen players battling in a single round robin. Because Steve Bernstein would be unavailable for the playoffs, the top three seeds would receive byes. The remaining ten would play to see which 5 would join the top three players in the “A” Quarter-Finals. The five who lost would play in the “B” tournament. The NYTHL’S tenth anniversary season commenced with the second annual Rivals Classic. The ageless Anthony Sciacca battled bitter rival George Slater in a battle of the defenses. In recent years Sciacca has gotten the better of George and as expected it was a close battle. After a scoreless deadlock, Slater scored with just seconds remaining to defeat Sciacca 1-0. There were many close battles in the ensuing games. When the dust settled the NHL’S two time Stanley Cup Champion Dave Reid from Ennismore, Ontario represented his hometown ETHL league very well by finishing in first place at the end of round robin play. Reid who was 12-1-0 didn’t suffer a loss until his final game when he was edged by Vinny Catania 5-4 in what was a back and forth nail biter. Speaking of the Vinner – he finished a point behind in second place with an 11-1-1 mark. His 5-3 loss to Brian Sullivan and 3-3 tie with Chris D’Andrea kept him from the top spot. D’Andrea’s 9-3-1 record was good for third just two points in front of Steve Bernstein who finished 8-4-1. Brian Sullivan continues to turn heads and had his highest finish to date. His 7-3-3 mark landed him fifth. League Veteran the crafty Len Mecca placed sixth with an 8-5-0 tally. Robert Brancucci was seventh with a 6-6-1 record. Walter Zissler was also .500 on the day, but his one less win at 5-5-3 gave him the eighth spot. George Slater was a disappointing ninth as he finished 5-7-1. Anthony Sciacca’s unusual below average performance rounded out the top ten with a 3-6-4 mark. Larry Durham was 5-8-1 and finished eleventh. Dennis Simone had one win and ended the day twelfth. Derek Nisbett did not win, but tied 3 contests and finished thirteenth. Finally Double L rounded out the standings in fourteenth as he was able to manage just one tie. It was then time for the year’s first league date playoff to begin.
In the best of five Preliminary round Dave Reid, Vinny Catania and Chris D’Andrea each received byes. Fourth seeded Steve Bernstein did not participate in the playoffs therefore all seeds below him were bumped up one. New Four seed Brian Sullivan swept past Double L. Five seed Len Mecca swept Derek Nisbett. The six seed Robert Brancucci swept past Dennis Simone. Ninth seeded Larry Durham pulled the only upset as he swept past seven seed Walter Zissler by scores of 4-3 OT, 3-1, and 5-4 OT. The last spot in the Quarter-Finals was awarded to eight seed George Slater as he swept rival Anthony Sciacca, holding him to one goal in the series. Slater won by scores of 1-0, 1-0 OT, and 3-1.
In the “A” Best of Five Quarterfinal round, one seed Dave Reid swept past nine seed Larry Durham by scores of 6-3, 6-2 and 7-1. The two seed Vinny Catania also swept eight seed George Slater by scores of 3-1, 4-1 and 6-5 in OT. The third seed Chris D’Andrea swept by his opponent six seed Robert Brancucci via scores of 3-0, 4-0 and 7-3. In what was predicted to be the most competitive series - fifth seed Len Mecca defeated four seed Brian Sullivan in five games. Sullivan won game one 5-2. Mecca rebounded to take games two and three by scores of 4-0, and 6-5 in OT. Sullivan battled back to tie the series with an exciting 3-2 victory. With the series tired at two both Len and Brian battled their way to a 2-2 tie thru regulation in game five. The series was finally decided when Mecca scored in overtime to take the game and series by a 3-2 margin. The Semi-Finals were now set.
In the Semis the One seed Dave Reid squeaked by Len Mecca in overtime of game one by a score of 5-4. Mecca then tied the series with a 6-4 victory, and then went ahead with a 3-2 game three victory. Reid once again showed his resolve when he tied the series with a game four 5-3 victory. With the series deadlocked Dave played his best game of the series and pulled away from Len with a 4-1 victory to take the series in five. In a rematch of last season’s NYTHL Championship – Defending Champion two seed Vinny Catania took on three seed Chris D’Andrea. The Vinner took game one rather easily 6-1. Chris played a stellar game two as he took a scoreless game with The Vinner into overtime. With about a minute remaining in the first five minute overtime D’Andrea broke the scoreless tie with a goal to complete the shutout and tie the series. With the series shifting over to D’Andrea’s board of choice Chris picked a board he felt Catania would have a hard time on. The Vinner however was able to figure things out as he took game three 6-2, then closed out the series in four with a 6-1 victory. The League Date One Finals were set. It was Reid versus Catania in another chapter of their rivalry for early season bragging rights.
It was time for the Final. In a back and forth affair The Vinner took an exciting game one in overtime by a 3-2 score. It was then much of the same in game two as Catania once again was victorious in overtime this time by a 4-3 score. Game three was also deadlocked until The Vinner scored with just under a half minute remaining to once again win by a goal 4-3 thus giving Catania the League Date One title. Catania and Reid played four games total on the day, all of which were won by The Vinner by just one goal in each contest. Reid continues to climb the ranks and is now firmly rooted amongst the top players of the league.
The consolation series for third place was not played therefore by virtue of the standings Chris D’Andrea took third. In the “B” Playoffs Derek Nisbett defeated Double L two games to none in a best of three play in series by scores of 2-1, and 3-1. In the “B” Semi-Finals Walter Zissler swept past Derek Nisbett by scores of 5-2, 5-1 and 2-1. The ageless Anthony Sciacca swept past Dennis Simone by scores of 4-1, 3-1 and 4-1 to earn his spot in the “B” Finals versus Zissler. In those Finals - Walter took game one versus Sciacca 6-3. Sciacca then rallied to take games two and three by identical scores of 5-2. Sciacca then secured the “B” title with a 4-2 game four win.
In what is now the NYTHL’S tenth season - another exciting league date is in the books. Next month on November 23rd the league will host league its second league date at Rabs. Pretty much all of the players who were not in attendance on opening day are expected to be back in competition. As always we end with the same question. With now even better games and an ever growing league comprised of so many great players and even better men, what are you waiting for? Get behind the rods and GET IN THE GAME. Be a part of the NYTHL. For more info visit www.nythl.com
Until next month – Be Well!
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