National Table Hockey Tournament Planned In Homer Glen

HOMER GLEN, IL — Players from across the country will head to Homer Glen to participate in a national table hockey tournament on July 22-23.

Table hockey, sometimes called rod hockey, is the same game you remember playing as a kid, according to a news release from event organizers. The hobby made a comeback in the early 2000s, and tournaments are held across the United States, Canada and Europe.

The Stiga Chicago Open tournament was first held in 2002, and this year marks the 21st year of the event, event organizers said. It was founded by four players who started and played in local leagues.

Salesman Garry Butler of Lemont died in fall 2005, just hours before his beloved White Sox would win the World Series; forklift operator Jerry Pytlewski of Lemont died in summer 2010, just before his beloved Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Drywaller Jim Rzonca of Lemont retired from table hockey in 2019, but former journalist and adjunct professor Eric Krol of Homer Glen is carrying on the tradition, according to a news release.

In this year's main event tournament, players are traveling from as far as California, Canada, Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania. There are free raffle prizes for those with a paid entry, plus medals to the playoff winners of the various skill groups, according to a release.

A smaller tournament will also be held at 4 p.m. on July 22.

The main tournament will begin at 9:30 a.m. on July 23 at Front Row, 14903 Founders Crossing in Homer Glen.

The tournament will be played under International Table Hockey Federation rules using all international-style players, a news release states. The event is sanctioned by the ITHF as part of its 2022-23 World Tour, and players will receive ranking points in the World Ranking.

The deadline to enter the tournament is July 21.