LTHL Final Four
The Lemont Table Hockey League held its first-ever Final Four on
Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Pytlewski Dome in Lemont, IL. The high-
stakes evening of Stiga table hockey featured the semi-finals and
finals of the league's inaugural season. Before we get to the
detailed report, a special thanks to Commissioner Jerry Pytlewski for
hosting 14 weeks of the regular season and three weeks of playoffs at
his house. When Jerry first hatched this idea to host a few round-
robin tournaments over the summer, I'm sure he had no idea it would
turn into the table hockey success story it has become. More than
1,050 games and 31 different players found their way to Lemont to
make season one an unqualified success. I'm sure the commissioner
will work on ways to make season two even better next year.
The highlight of the evening was the two dramatic semifinal series.
Here's how they broke down:
#1 Ron Marsik vs. #5 Mike Lisowski
Game 1: Marsik 6, Lisowski 0
Notes: This one started out quietly, as the two longtime ex playing
partners felt each other out. The first goal of the series was put in
by Marsik, a LW-to-C tip with 3:30 left. The way that goal was scored
provided some definite foreshadowing for Marsik's evening. Marsik put
in two more just like that first one, with goal number two coming
with 3:17 left and the hat trick coming about a minute later for a 3-
0 lead. Marsik hit a RW-to-C tip with 1:35 remaining and then 1:23
left, and closed out the scoring with about a minute left for a 1-0
series advantage. The players got to pick their table and side based
on seeding, but these two stayed on Table One all series long, a set
in great shape with hand-painted teams from Sweden and Canada.
Game 2: Lisowski 5, Marsik 1
Notes: Lisowski was determined not to get shut out, and he proved his
mettle early, hitting a LW to C shot 30 seconds in. Marsik stunned
Lisowski with a simple RW shot to tie things up 15 seconds later,
however. Lisowski was determined not to fall down 2-0 in the series,
and he hit a quick high RW-to-C combo with 3:45 left. Lisowski just
missed a couple of center passes in the next minute, then hit a RW-to-
C tip to make it 3-1 with 2:19 to go. Sixteen seconds later, Lisowski
expanded his lead to three goals, then closed it out with 58 seconds
to go with another RW-to-C tip to win 5-1 and even the series.
Game 3: Marsik 5, Lisowski 0
Notes: This one was a carbon copy of game one, with no scoring until
a minute 20 seconds in when Marsik hit a LW-to-C tip. About halfway
through, Marsik hit the same goal and then with 2:05 left he got the
RW-to-C combo that's usually his bread-and-butter play going for a 3-
0 lead. Marsik put it out of reach 15 seconds later and got his final
goal on a RW-to-C tip with 58 seconds left for a 5-0 win and 2-1
series lead. Punch, counterpunch, punch.
Game 4: Lisowski 3, Marsik 1
Notes: Just 15 seconds in, Lisowski drew first blood with a RW
reaction goal. Marsik tied it up with 3:30 left on a LW-to-C tip. But
Lisowski would not be denied, scoring with his left defenseman with 3
minutes to go and a 2-1 lead. Lisowski's center jammed one home to go
up 3-1 with 2:10 left, and that's how this one ended. The two
longtime foes were tied at 2 games each.
Game 5: Marsik 3, Lisowski 2
Notes: This was the pivotal game five of the best-of-seven series.
Marsik didn't mess around, scoring just seven seconds into this one
with a RW-to-C tip. With 4:13 to go, Marsik's LW passed to C and it
was 2-0. Lisowski put one in on himself with 3:42 left, and it looked
like the rout was on. But Lisowski put the clamps on, and his LD
scored with 2:02 left to cut the lead to 3-1. Lisowski hung on, and
his center put one in to make it 3-2, but time was not on his side.
There were only three seconds left, and Marsik won 3-2 to take a 3-2
series lead.
Game 6: Marsik 2, Lisowski 1
Notes: This one was the most carefully played game of the bunch, as
it took 2:08 for Marsik to break the scoreless tie. He hit a RW-to-C
tip for the 1-0 lead, and held the puck for much of the game.
Lisowski, a five-time Chicago Table Hockey League (Coleco) champ, was
patient. He finally got the puck and hit a RW-to-C tip to tie things
up. The tie was short-lived, however, as Marsik hit a RW-to-C pass
off Lisowski's LD to get the go-ahead goal. It also proved to be the
game-winning goal and series-winning goal, as Marsik won 2-1 to move
into the finals.
Marsik wins series 4-2
#2 Jim Rzonca vs. #3 Scott Pytlewski
Game 1: Pytlewski 2, Rzonca 1
Notes: The other semifinal series featured two veterans playing slow,
calculated table hockey. This one featured two rookies playing a
balls-out speed game. While neither is a stranger to table hockey ---
Scott played with his father, the commissioner, all his life while
Rzonca played growing up and made it to the CTHL finals in his first
season last year --- both are in their first year of organized play.
But all that speed amounted to a scoreless tie in the first 90
seconds of this one. Pytlewski broke the tie with a RD shot from his
own end with 3:24 to go. Rzonca tied it at 1 just 22 seconds later
with his center. And so it went, both men taking each other's best
shots and making saves. Pytlewski would need to pull something out of
his hat if he was to break out on top in the series, and with 47
seconds left, he did just that. Pytlewski's LD hit an amazing reverse
bank shot, shooting it off the far board, in front of his own net,
and watching it carrom into Rzonca's goal. That's how it ended, 2-1,
with Pytlewski leading 1-0 in the series.
Game 2: Pytlewski 4, Rzonca 1
Notes: Pytlewski drew first blood with his RD just 30 seconds in. It
took two more minutes, but Pytlewski doubled that margin with his RW.
Twenty seconds later, with 2:10 left, Pytlewski's center made it 3-0.
And with 1:40 left, Pytlewski took a commanding 4-0 lead. Rzonca put
one in late, but lost this one 4-1 and fell behind 2-0 in the series.
Game 3: Pytlewski 2, Rzonca 1
Notes: Pytlewski tried a center trick with 3:10 left but Rzonca's
goalie rose to the occasion. Rzonca put one in his own net with his
defenseman with 2:55 left, and then Pytlewski's center jammed home a
loose puck with 50 seconds left to make it 2-0. Rzonca scored with 2
seconds left, avoiding the shutout. There wasn't a person in the
garage who wasn't stunned at Pytlewski's commanding 3-0 zip series
lead at this point. Could Rzonca find the eye of the tiger and pick
himself up off the mat?
Game 4: Rzonca 5, Pytlewski 3
Notes: Rzonca answered the bell with a LD goal 20 seconds in. With
3:32 left, Rzonca's center scored to increase the lead. With 2:41
left, Rzonca's RW passed to C, who shot one in, as opposed to a tip,
for a 3-0 lead. At this point, Pytlewski dug his heels in, with his
RD blocking a Rzonca play and redirecting it into the net to make it
3-1. With 1:36 to go, Pytlewski's center had the quicker reaction to
slice the lead to one goal. And, amazingly, with 1:05 left,
Pytlewski's LD intercepted the puck and had a long jam to tie it at
3. Would Rzonca be eliminated? Rzonca reached into his big bag of
tricks, and pulled out The Foot, a play where his RW kicks it to the
center for a quick pass and shot and 4-3 lead. Rzonca iced it with
two ticks left to stave off elimination.
Game 5: Rzonca 3, Pytlewski 1
Notes: Pytlewski's RD hit a trademark bank shot for a 1-0 lead, but
Rzonca found the equalizer with 4:18 left on a goal so fast no one
caught what happened. Rzonca's center jammed one home with 3:43 left
for a 2-1 lead. More than two minutes went by and then Rzonca's
center shot one in at close range off a giveaway for a 3-1 lead, and
that's how it ended. Rzonca made it tight, pulling to within one game
in the series.
Game 6: Rzonca 4, Pytlewski 3 (OT)
Notes: The momentum was on Rzonca's side now as he stepped it up to
take a 1-0 lead with 3:44 left on a RW shot, I think. With 3:04 left,
Rzonca had a clutch save on a Pytlewski LW-to-C tip attempt. With
2:52 left, Pytlewski drew even at 1 and then broke out on top 2-1
with 2:11 left when a puck rolled into Rzonca's net. The next goal
came quickly, 19 seconds later, and it Pytlewski going on top 3-1,
seemingly headed to match point and a series win. Not so fast, Rzonca
said, as he cut the lead in half with 1:40 left. Twenty-three seconds
later, everyone in the garage knew it was tied at Rzonca whoo-ed one
in. It would take OT to settle things, however. With 1:12 left,
Rzonca scored in remarkable fashion. His RW banked one off the far
board and into the net for a 4-3 win and series tie. It was a goal
Pytlewski might have scored, given his penchant for bank shots. After
being left for dead, Rzonca roared back. It was anyone's series at
this point.
Game 7: Pytlewski 4, Rzonca 3
Notes: This one was pure gut-check time for both players. Pytlewski
had gone up 3-0, only to squander the lead and face a deciding Game 7
against the tough Rzonca. Pucks were flying off the ice in this one,
played as the rest of the series games were on Table 3, a game decked
out with Sweden-Finland teams. Rzonca scored first as his LD hit a
bank shot with 4:04 left. Pytlewski hit a post with 3:44 left, then
his RD put a bank shot in five seconds later to tie it at 1. Rzonca
tried a center jam with 3 minutes left, but Pytlewski made the save.
With 2:27 left, Pytlewski's RD jammed one in to break the deadlock.
Rzonca tied it 12 seconds later and let out another yell. And just 10
seconds after that, Rzonca went up 3-2 on a bouncer that wasn't
pretty but good enough to give him the advantage with 2:05 to play.
Pytlewski pressed, trying a center trick with 1:20 to go. He was
denied. With 57 seconds left, Pytlewski's LD tried to jam one home
but it, too, was saved. With time ticking down --- just 23 ticks on
the clock --- Rzonca tried a RW bank to LW pass, which didn't go.
Then Pytlewski counterpunched to tie it at 3. This one seemed headed
for OT, but Pytlewski's LD got the puck and jammed it in with a
measly two seconds left and that was it. Pytlewski survived an
incredible comeback by Rzonca to win the series 4-3 and advance to
the finals. A draining series, to be sure.
Pytlewski wins series 4-3
FINALS: #1 Ron Marsik vs. #3 Scott Pytlewski
Game 1: Marsik 5, Pytlewski 1
Notes: This one was for all the marbles. Marsik picked the same
Sweden-Canada set he used in his semifinal series, and the home-field
advantage payed dividends early, as Marsik hit a LW-to-C tip just 13
seconds into the game. Pytlewski hit a post at 4:24 and then his
defenseman hit a post at 2:42, but it was still 1-0. Halfway through,
Marsik took a 2-0 lead and then went up 3-0 with 2:19 left on a LW-
to-C tip. That play proved nearly impossible to stop on this night.
Marsik had displayed flashes of it during the handful of regular
season tournaments he played, but tonight he unleashed it. It's tough
to stop, because you can't really box it. The box sometimes might
work on the right side, but on the left you can leave yourself open
for a quick side shot. At any rate, Pytlewski decided he wasn't gonna
be shut out, and he narrowed it to 3-1 with a defenseman shot with
1:47 to go. But Marsik made it 3-1 a minute later with his center and
ended the scoring with 25 seconds left on a rebound to win game 1 by
a 5-1 score.
Game 2: Marsik 4, Pytlewski 3 (OT)
Notes: This one would prove to be the best game of the series. Marsik
stunned Pytlewski just six ticks in with a LW-to-C pass for a 1-0
lead. Pytlewski served up a bank shot and his center got a rebound
and scored to tie it at 1 with 4:36 left. In short order, Pytlewski
scored again and was up 2-1 with 4:21 to go. Marsik hit a couple in-
and-outs in the next 30 seconds before making it 2-2 with a LW-to-C
tip with 3:48 left. Marsik took the lead with 3:04 left on a RW-to-C
low tip. Pytlewski wasn't done yet, as his RD banked one in with 2:49
left to make it 3-all. With four seconds to go, Pytlewski's goalie
saved the day on a Marsik center shot. This one went to OT. Marsik
didn't let it last long though, as Pytlewski forced Marsik to the
left instead of going behind the net to the RW like he wanted to.
Marsik used the LW-to-C tip 25 seconds into OT to win 4-3 and go up 2-
0.
Game 3: Marsik 3, Pytlewski 1
Notes: Pytlewski got home court for the next two games, and he chose
the Sweden-Finland game that he stood tall on during the semifinals.
A scoreless first minute in which the players exchanged in-and-outs
gave way to a Marsik goal with 3:44 left on a LW-to-C tip. Marsik
surprised Pytlewski with 2:21 to go, taking his LW quickly out of the
corner and turning and firing at close range. Pytlewski made it 2-1
with 1:02 left on a mid-range RW reaction shot. But a RW-to-C play
didn't fall for Pytlewski with 30 seconds left, and Marsik hit a LW-
to-C tip to go up 3-1 with 13 seconds left. That was it, and Marsik
had a commanding 3-0 lead. Would Pytlewski copy Rzonca's playbook and
come back to tie this championship series?
Game 4: Marsik 3, Pytlewski 0
Notes: Pytlewski needed a win to force Game 5, and he played tough D
in the opening minute. Pytlewski picked Table 2 for this one, which
to this point had not been used. It's the newest set, with tighter
rods and USSR vs. hand-painted Norway players. Marsik hit that LW-to-
C tip with 3:48 to go. Might as well cut-and-paste that last
sentence, just changing the time. Marsik hit it again with 3:35 left,
and a third time with 3:18 left. In a span of 30 seconds, the C had a
hat trick. Pytlewski was stopped with a LW-to-C play with 2:15 left,
and then Marsik simply played puck control. A Pytlewski center jam
with 35 seconds left, wouldn't fall, and that was that. Marsik played
a dominating finals, outscoring Pytlewski 15-5 in completing the four
game sweep for the first-ever LTHL Cup. Commissioner Pytlewski was
proud of his son, but handed the first place cup to Marsik. Pytlewski
did keep the second place trophy at home. Marsik will add some
hardware to his trophy case, which already features four tournament
wins in four different cities in the `70s and `80s and more doubles
titles that any player of that era and probably ever. If you want to
see what Marsik looked like holding the cup, click on Rzonca's
earlier post. Congrats to Ron Marsik and thanks to everyone who made
the first season of the LTHL a rousing success.
