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Board hockey (aka rod hockey)
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:45 am
by ChrisK
Some guys started talking about this in the 'Guilty pleasure movies' thread and it deserves its own.
For all us kids who grew up before video games board hockey was king. A relatively simple concept using rods under the board to move the players it was almost as much fun as actually playing hockey. My friends and I had marathon games sometimes ending only when the puck flew off the table and couldn't be found.
Older games came with metal players (early versions had players that didn't move at all, they just sat in one place kind of like pinball flippers) and the basic game came with the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Some games were licensed under player's names (Bobby Hull for example) and some games didn't get NHL licensing at all so they just had jerseys with 'Montreal' and 'Toronto' on them while others included a mini Stanley Cup. Companies that produced the games included Munro, Eagle, Coleco and Tudor and there was also a Wayne Gretzky licensed game manufactured in the 80s.
Currently a Swedish (or Finnish, I'm not sure) company, Stiga, is producing a decent quality game that includes NHL teams. I bought one for my son and he's now able to give me a solid test, though I still kick his butt.
Knowing that all of us have never lost a game it might be fun to get together for some games during tourney time. A number of the bars on 7th St. have bubble hockey games but another option might be to smuggle a board or two into someone's hotel room. Trouble is noone would get any sleep...
Re: Board hockey (aka rod hockey)
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:07 am
by elliott70
ChrisK wrote:Some guys started talking about this in the 'Guilty pleasure movies' thread and it deserves its own.
For all us kids who grew up before video games board hockey was king. A relatively simple concept using rods under the board to move the players it was almost as much fun as actually playing hockey. My friends and I had marathon games sometimes ending only when the puck flew off the table and couldn't be found.
Older games came with metal players (early versions had players that didn't move at all, they just sat in one place kind of like pinball flippers) and the basic game came with the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Some games were licensed under player's names (Bobby Hull for example) and some games didn't get NHL licensing at all so they just had jerseys with 'Montreal' and 'Toronto' on them while others included a mini Stanley Cup. Companies that produced the games included Munro, Eagle, Coleco and Tudor and there was also a Wayne Gretzky licensed game manufactured in the 80s.
Currently a Swedish (or Finnish, I'm not sure) company, Stiga, is producing a decent quality game that includes NHL teams. I bought one for my son and he's now able to give me a solid test, though I still kick his butt.
Knowing that all of us have never lost a game it might be fun to get together for some games during tourney time. A number of the bars on 7th St. have bubble hockey games but another option might be to smuggle a board or two into someone's hotel room. Trouble is noone would get any sleep...
And everyone would be crying after I kicked their butts.
A tourney at the tourney.
We had a league when I was 12 or so with regular games and play-offs.
And as stated earlier, I never lost.
A little older and we played for money, of course that was a long time ago so we played for .25's. And agian I never lost (sorry, my team never lost).
Now I am really old with no reflexes, but I am sure I (my team) would not lose.
Re: Board hockey (aka rod hockey)
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:24 am
by PanthersIn2011
elliott70 wrote:Now I am really old with no reflexes, but I am sure I (my team) would not lose.
Probably because you're going to let your goons loose ... typical Bemidji tactics
Re: Board hockey (aka rod hockey)
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:26 am
by Undercover Hockey Lover
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:27 am
by Govs93
I'm all about it.
My old man had an old Eagle model that was the greatest ever. It was a bigger table on it's own legs (I don't know the dimensions off the top of my head, but it was longer & wider than both Coleco & Stiga). He had the tin "Minnesota" (not North Stars - just Minnesota) and Chicago. We beat the hell out of that thing, but he still has it. I hope I inherit it - I'd love to work on it and get it back into playing shape.
Right now, I have 2 new Stiga games and 1 "Eric Lindros" Stiga game from the mid 90's (although the ice sheet is bent and I can't find a new one - Stiga says they'll send me another new game if I send it to them, but I'm holding out hope I can fix it somehow). I also have an early 80's Coleco with the plastic players. I met a guy who will Photoshop new team stickers for them, so I had him make a Gopher team for me - I lost it when my garage flooded about 5 years ago, but I think that would have to be relatively easy to do, so I may give it a shot on my own sometime (maybe make the Governors!).
I had a Gretzky game at one point, but I sold it. Big mistake. The game play on it was kind of weird because you couldn't play behind the net - the boards round in at the side of the net - and the boards were very lively, the puck bounced everywhere, but man, did they have some cool accessories for that thing... a digital clock, player benches, penalty boxes, referees, ZAMBONIS!!! It was cool. I have some cheesy "Street Rebel" game made by the same people. It's a little smaller, but plays pretty much the same. It has 2 generic teams in flourecent green & orange unis.
I'd love to play a bubble hockey tourney, although it's probably my least favorite game to play. Lots of flukes and weird bounces, but I never complain about playing!
Re: Board hockey (aka rod hockey)
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:00 am
by elliott70
No goons, just a goonie, me, remember team is teiam.
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:45 pm
by packerboy
I still play.
My first game was a Christmas (Kwanzaa for you public schoolers) present. The guys were stationary(no up and down) and we used a marble for a puck, probably all my fioks cuold afford
Then we got a good one where the guys moved up and down. I think we wore it out.
We bought the kids one for Christmas a few years back and every once in a while I get to play.
Does TRs have one?
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:21 pm
by elliott70
What pleasure I could gain form whipping up on an irish Catholic from St. Paul (and a packer at that).
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:35 pm
by Govs93
packerboy wrote:Does TRs have one?
I don't recall seeing one... of course I never get too far into the place - the bar is right in front!
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:37 pm
by EREmpireStrikesBack
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:37 pm
by packerboy
elliott70 wrote:What pleasure I could gain form whipping up on an irish Catholic from St. Paul (and a packer at that).
In your dreams Bemidji boy.
Put on your plaid shirt, grab your axe and ride Babe on down again this year and we will meet up at the Liffey again, find a game , and settle this once and for all.
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:41 pm
by Neutron 14
packerboy wrote:elliott70 wrote:What pleasure I could gain form whipping up on an irish Catholic from St. Paul (and a packer at that).
In your dreams Bemidji boy.
Put on your plaid shirt, grab your axe and ride Babe on down again this year and we will meet up at the Liffey again, find a game , and settle this once and for all.
I'll hold your beer while you play pb.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:35 am
by ChrisK
Govs93 wrote:packerboy wrote:Does TRs have one?
I don't recall seeing one... of course I never get too far into the place - the bar is right in front!
No it doesn't, which is a shame in my opinion.
There was a little corner bar further down on 7th that had one, I played a game or two on it last year. And last time I was upstairs at McGovern's two years ago I got beat by Videoscout on their game, but I had to play shorthanded as one of the players didn't work.
This could be cool, elliott70 v. packerboy, maybe you guys should charge admission.
Ideally, we'd get some blank Stiga players painted up in high school uniforms and settle it on a board up in someone's hotel room. Hmmm, I've got several months, maybe I could paint up some teams in Bemidji (circa 1974) and South St.Paul uniforms...
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:53 am
by Can't Never Tried
ChrisK wrote:Govs93 wrote:packerboy wrote:Does TRs have one?
I don't recall seeing one... of course I never get too far into the place - the bar is right in front!
No it doesn't, which is a shame in my opinion.
There was a little corner bar further down on 7th that had one, I played a game or two on it last year. And last time I was upstairs at McGovern's two years ago I got beat by Videoscout on their game, but I had to play shorthanded as one of the players didn't work.
This could be cool, elliott70 v. packerboy, maybe you guys should charge admission.
Ideally, we'd get some blank Stiga players painted up in high school uniforms and settle it on a board up in someone's hotel room. Hmmm, I've got several months, maybe I could paint up some teams in Bemidji (circa 1974) and South St.Paul uniforms...
Umm Chris....you better paint PB's a Catholic school team...
hey a new spin on "public vs Private"
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:03 am
by east hockey
ChrisK wrote:
There was a little corner bar further down on 7th that had one, I played a game or two on it last year. And last time I was upstairs at McGovern's two years ago I got beat by Videoscout on their game, but I had to play shorthanded as one of the players didn't work.
Did he videotape it? That would be something to see on Youtube.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:05 am
by EREmpireStrikesBack
east hockey wrote:ChrisK wrote:
There was a little corner bar further down on 7th that had one, I played a game or two on it last year. And last time I was upstairs at McGovern's two years ago I got beat by Videoscout on their game, but I had to play shorthanded as one of the players didn't work.
Did he videotape it? That would be something to see on Youtube.
He actually beat ChrisK one handed as he was videotaping while playing.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:12 am
by elliott70
I will be in my green, black and orange plaid of the home country. I will have my kilt adjusted correctly for the lady fans.
And I will be playing one handed while holding my axe (Scottish battle - not Lumberjack double bladed).
Ahh, the joy of seeing an irish Catholic in tears.
And then I will show the Winona flash aka Darth Rogers how it is done, and then... this video man.
The only one to fear is the Erskine SS.
But Father Pat has given me the secret. Even the heathen have catlick friends.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:26 am
by ChrisK
EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:east hockey wrote:ChrisK wrote:
There was a little corner bar further down on 7th that had one, I played a game or two on it last year. And last time I was upstairs at McGovern's two years ago I got beat by Videoscout on their game, but I had to play shorthanded as one of the players didn't work.
Did he videotape it? That would be something to see on Youtube.
He actually beat ChrisK one handed as he was videotaping while playing.
Well, I had a beer in one hand so he had to make it fair.
If the Elliott-packerboy tilt actually does take place we'll have to try to get VS to tape it.
I guess it's up to Packerboy, if he'd rather have a Cretin team, I could paint that.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:37 am
by elliott70
ChrisK wrote:EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:east hockey wrote:
Did he videotape it? That would be something to see on Youtube.
He actually beat ChrisK one handed as he was videotaping while playing.
Well, I had a beer in one hand so he had to make it fair.
If the Elliott-packerboy tilt actually does take place we'll have to try to get VS to tape it.
I guess it's up to Packerboy, if he'd rather have a Cretin team, I could paint that.
Make mine purple and gold with a horse on the front.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:22 pm
by Can't Never Tried
My memories of this game are usually it would last about a week after X-mas before one of my brothers would get so pissed they'd break something on it, and it would be just another pc of junk laying around.
But didn't the metal guys slide onto the post? with some metal tabs? and if I remember they would get loose and you'd have to try to bend them to hold tight again, and after a few bends the tabs would break and you were screwed unless you could tape it or something....IDK it seems to me they didn't last long...... or we were just to hard on it.
Kind of like the Vibrating football game...inevitably someone would slam there fist on it and every play went to the dent
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:29 pm
by Govs93
I'll pack up my Stigas. Somebody call Reid's and tell them they're the host site for Holy War I.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:40 pm
by elliott70
Govs93 wrote:I'll pack up my Stigas. Somebody call Reid's** and tell them they're the host site for Holy War I.
Not sure if I can get back in there**...
my picture may be on the wall.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:56 pm
by theref
elliott70 wrote:ChrisK wrote:EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:
He actually beat ChrisK one handed as he was videotaping while playing.
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Well, I had a beer in one hand so he had to make it fair.
If the Elliott-packerboy tilt actually does take place we'll have to try to get VS to tape it.
I guess it's up to Packerboy, if he'd rather have a Cretin team, I could paint that.
Make mine purple and gold with a horse on the front.
That a boy, Bronco's all the way.
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:04 pm
by Govs93
elliott70 wrote:Govs93 wrote:I'll pack up my Stigas. Somebody call Reid's** and tell them they're the host site for Holy War I.
Not sure if I can get back in there**...
my picture may be on the wall.
I have no doubt it would spill into the parking lot anyway so I don't see a problem.
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:36 am
by ChrisK
Actually the Liffey might work better, we'd be able to easily go up to a hotel room if the bar didn't work. I'll try to scout this out.
Elliott, are you saying you want an International Falls team? I was planning on painting you a Bemidji team.