Table hockey

Table hockey is a table game derived from ice hockey. The game consists of a representation of a hockey rink on which two players compete by trying to score goals by manipulating, through rods underneath the playing surface, representations of hockey players which can move up and down the "ice" through slots, stickhandle, and shoot. A representation goaltender can also be manipulated by the player.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are many types of the game. The tables used in international tournaments are made in Sweden by Stiga company. Table hockey is a real sport. The World Championship is organized by the International Table Hockey Federation every two years. Stiga Play Off game is the official game of the Table Hockey World Championship.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The most recent Stiga World Championship was held in Riga, Latvia. The winner was Sweden's Hans Österman. Although a record 22 countries were represented at the Riga World Championships, Sweden, along with Norway, Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic dominate the international Stiga table hockey scene.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The arcade version is called 'dome hockey' or 'bubble hockey', because of the large plastic dome that covers the playing surface.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~