Tag Archives: table hockey

Articles, The Seventeenth Initiative

Sunday? That’s my Fun Day.

Faithful readers know that we at Pucked in the Head set the Guinness World Record for Longest Table Hockey Marathon a while back. We are thus pre-eminent in our trustiness when it comes to judging worthwhile table hockey-related events. It’s a burden, really.

The kids, they like their table hockey. Smart kids, I say. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
The kids, they like their table hockey. Smart kids, I say. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

On the other hand, we get word of some pretty cool happenings, all ahead of time and stuff. THIS VERY WEEKEND the River Market in New Westminster brings table hockey, indoor curling* and a massive hopscotch… Track? Court? What the heck do you call the grid for hopscotch, anyhoo? Whatever you call it, the River Market has one, and they’re sharing it with individuals and families from 11-4 on Sunday, February 15.

Great event, mere steps from New West SkyTrain station. Had tons of fun with my daughter there last year. Give it a go!

* Isn’t all curling indoor? I’ve never seen outdoor curling, but I’d love to give it a go. 

Oh, THAT indoor curling. My daughter Milla shows exquisite form during last year's Family Fun Festival at the New West River Market.
Oh, THAT indoor curling. Portable ice substitute and plastic “rocks” with ball-bearings. My daughter shows exquisite form during last year’s Family Fun Festival at the New West River Market.

Tweet at River Market on the mighty Twitter using @RiverMrkt. Or, you know, go after them on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram instead, if you feel like slumming — they’ve adopted the very same RiverMrkt name on all four social media channels. (Why so predictable, River Market? Huh?)

The River Market in New West offers awesome chicken sandwiches (Re-Up BBQ), Mexican conchas (Pamola Bakery), and dude: a circus school upstairs. This Family Fun stuff is freaking gravy.
The River Market in New West offers awesome chicken sandwiches (Re-Up BBQ), delicious Mexican conchas (Pamola Bakery), and dude: there’s a circus school upstairs. This Family Fun stuff is just freaking gravy.
Articles, Hockey

World Record, baby

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When Dom Hasek and the Czechs played for the shootout in the 1998 Winter Olympics, something clicked in this country. Canadians of all stripes called for heads on platters and executives on ice. The consensus? This is our game, damn it, so fix it and bring home the gold medal. Enter GMs Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman. Enter heroes Joe Sakic and Sidney ‘Golden Goal’ Crosby. Enter come-from-behind goaltenders Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo.

Table hockey is Canada's game, damn it. Photo by Clint Trahan / ShutterDreams.
Table hockey is Canada’s game, damn it. Photo by Clint Trahan / ShutterDreams.

A few months ago we found out that the Guinness Book of World Records recognized a group of eight Czechs for the longest continuous table hockey game, a 26-hour, 16-minute affair by Martin Ženíšek and seven friends in 2008. We at Pucked in the Head believe that this is our game, damn it. So we fixed it. We brought home the record.

More after the jump.

Continue reading World Record, baby →

Articles, Hockey

Jim Hughson, Table Hockey Enthusiast

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Hockey Night in Canada icon Jim Hughson schools Pucked in the Head founder Jason Kurylo in table hockey and microphone etiquette. Photo by Andrew Delbaere for Pucked in the Head.
Hockey Night in Canada icon Jim Hughson schools Pucked in the Head founder Jason Kurylo in table hockey and microphone etiquette. Photo by Andrew Delbaere for Pucked in the Head.

VTHE Registrtation

Earlier this week, we were lucky enough to hang out with Jim Hughson, the voice of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. We talked about table hockey, his start in broadcasting, and his love of storytelling. Then he schooled me on the correct way to hold a microphone, and I called him by someone else’s name.

I tell ya, I’m a pro.

Hey, click on that fancy graphic to the right –>

The Vancouver Table Hockey Extravaganza is just two days away, and you could win a boatload of prizes. (At the time of writing, we have more prizes than registrants, so it’s a dang fine idea to get your name in the hat, y’all.) It’s only $25 and it benefits hungry people (Five Hole for Food) and sick children and their families (Canuck Place). Make a deposit in the karma bank, people, and you’ll reap rewards forever!

Articles, Hockey

Ryan Walter, Table Hockey Enthusiast

VTHE RegistrtationPresident of the Abbotsford Heat, ex-Vancouver Canuck and winner of the 1986 Stanley Cup as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, Ryan Walter gave us some time to chat about table hockey and play a few minutes in the Heat locker room.

What happened next may or may not have been totally scripted.

Hit up the Vancouver Table Hockey Extravaganza here, or donate directly to our partner charities, Five Hole for Food and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

a) No, I did not step on the logo.

b) Yes, that’s an actual Stanley Cup ring.

c) Yes, I did my own stunts.

d) No, I don’t want your advice about how to lose that gut.

Thanks to Ryan Walter and his wife Jennifer, Hawkey and the person inside him, the Abbotsford Heat and of course the image man himself, Clint Trahan. Let’s not forget the voice of CBC Jim Hughson, who makes a cameo near the end! It was a ton of fun making the video; kudos all round!

Ryan Walter (left) battles Jason Kurylo for table hockey supremacy as Hawkey looks on in the Abbotsford Heat locker room. Photo by Clint Trahan for Pucked in the Head.
Ryan Walter (left) battles Jason Kurylo for table hockey supremacy as Hawkey looks on in the Abbotsford Heat locker room. Photo by Clint Trahan for Pucked in the Head.
Articles

Table Hockey Extravaganza on Global Morning News

VTHE RegistrtationThe title says it all. Global Morning News anchors Steve Darling & Sophie Lui jumped on the table hockey game with Jason this morning, giving some TV love to our September 20-21 event.

Weatherman for the ages Mark Madryga and traffic reporter extraordinaire Kaitlyn Herbst jumped in on the action, too.

Darling proved to be the top performer of the bunch, scoring thrice and looking pretty comfortable at the controls despite not having played in decades. Lui performed admirably for her first time, and full points to Herbst for transferring her love of soccer defensive play into some solid table hockey puck stoppage.

Jason Kurylo appears on the Global Morning News with Steve Darling and Sophie Lui to promote the Vancouver Table Hockey Extravaganza. Image courtesy of Global BC.
Jason Kurylo appears on the Global Morning News with Steve Darling and Sophie Lui to promote the Vancouver Table Hockey Extravaganza. Screen capture courtesy of Global BC.

Madryga? He couldn’t translate his hockey smarts into a goal until he lifted the game right up off the table, a clear violation of both table hockey rules and weatherman etiquette.

But we’ll let it go this time, as long as he comes out to the media challenge on September 20. As for you, you can register for the tourney for just $25 here. Proceeds from the event will benefit Canuck Place and Five Hole for Food.

Articles, Hockey

Setting a world record ain’t as easy as it sounds

Pucked in the Head founder Jason Kurylo pulls a selfie during a long squat. No, it's not rude -- it's training for the world record attempt at the Table Hockey Extravaganza September 20-21. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Pucked in the Head founder Jason Kurylo pulls a selfie during a long squat. No, it’s not rude — it’s training for the world record attempt at the Table Hockey Extravaganza September 20-21. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

Pucked in the Head is hosting the inaugural Vancouver Table Hockey Extravaganza on September 20-21 to benefit Five Hole for Food and Canuck Place. This article talks about the world record we’ll set starting at 1pm on the Friday, but you can register for Saturday afternoon’s open tournament without nearly this much commitment!

by Jason Kurylo

A few months ago, when we said, “let’s set the world record for the longest table hockey game”, we seriously thought how hard could that possibly be?!?!?!?

*ahem* Yeah. Well. Lemme tell ya ’bout that.

To qualify for Guinness Book of World Records status, participants in a marathon table hockey game must play mano a mano with no substitutions. They must stand for the entirety of the competition, with just five minutes for bathroom breaks, gymnastic demonstrations and/or gladhanding allowed for every full hour completed.

It doesn’t sound like much at first. Thirty hours? Dude, I pulled that in college, like, every week. Then you think about it. That’s 30 straight hours — 1800 minutes — on your feet. No sitting, no lying down, no leaning with your back against the wall. Dude. Maybe I didn’t do that in college.

More after the break.

 

Continue reading Setting a world record ain’t as easy as it sounds →