from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun,

The love of this venerable game is still there. People play for fun, in leagues, or in some cases, for tournament prize money. A century after the first patent for mechanical-rod players in England and decades after Donald Munro built a mini hockey rink from spare parts for his kids in Depression-era Toronto, the little game is getting the documentary treatment.

Oakville-based filmmakers Derek Williams and Brian Gard have spent months examining the earliest forms of the game, in Europe and across this continent, and talking to inventors, enthusiasts and players for The Story of Table Hockey. Their scope keeps expanding, but the duo intends to be ready for the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Among the NHLers featured is Vic Hadfield and his search for the vintage game bearing his name to give to his grandson Vic.

For Williams, the journey began with day-long games versus younger brother Sean. They battled on a 1979-era Coleco.

“We knew each other’s moves so well that every game ended in a tie,” Williams said. “We made a rule you had to win by two goals. We’d shoot so hard, we’d need electrical tape to mend blades. Sometimes we’d go until 3 a.m.”

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