The New England Table Hockey League was founded in September 2019 by Brian Sullivan and Steve Bernstein. The inaugural season kicked off with eight core players and two host venues in Needham and Plainville, Massachusetts. This was an experienced group with a deep history of playing on the Benej Classic game. Most of this group had roots dating back to the old "Hubbard Hall" days of 35+ years ago when Rick Benej himself hosted tournaments in his home town in upstate New York.

 

League dates were held every other Tuesday night, alternating between Needham & Plainville. With four players from Massachusetts and four players from Rhode Island, these locations allowed for a manageable car ride for all. With four finely tuned Benej Classic games in place the action was fast and very competitive. Unfortunately, the early success of that first season was interrupted by the Corona Virus and we had to shut down the league in March of 2020. As we all know, Covid was not a quick hit delay and the 2020-2021 season was also cancelled as we all had to deal with this virus.

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Although the delay in playing was frustrating for everyone, the formula was in place and table hockey interest in the region was spreading. During the summer of 2021 the league decided to restructure its schedule to accommodate an expanding membership with players coming in from New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts & Rhode Island. To handle this change, the league became a once a month event, with meetings on the first Saturday of the month from October to April. Our host venue for the newly redesigned league was Mick Morgan’s Irish Pub on Route 1 in Sharon, MA., just a few miles north of Gillette Stadium.

 

The beginning of the 2023/24 season the monthly meetings were moved to Mick Morgan's sister location in Norwood, MA. adjacent to the Hampton Inn. That season saw 15 players in the league. This includes 2-3 players from the very competitive New York Table Hockey League based out of Staten Island, New York.

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At the start of the 2025/26 season membership ha grown to 17 players with several other new players expressing interest!

 

There is no mandatory attendance, so come and play as often as your schedule permits.

 

It’s time to get behind the rods…!

 

 

The 2019-2020 Inaugural Season Roster

 

Steve “The Stein” Bernstein

Brian Sullivan

Greg Pope

Peter Terreri

Don “Mr. Fun” Poirier

John Kraunelis

Al Cousineau

Nadir Stepanov