Thanks André!

1966-2002

History of the “ligue de hockey sur table de Sherbrooke” and his creator André Hallé. 

The « ligue de hockey sur table de Sherbrooke » was created in 1983 by André Hallé. The first season involves 12 players. Over the years, 111 players have played in the league with a peak of 26 from 1993 to 1996. André was also a player for the first two season despite the fact that he has muscular distrophy and that he hardly move his hand and head. His hands were resting on a table while playing and he play a very deffensive style. He still have the best carreer goal against average in the history and an impressive record of 26 wins against 21 defeats. His condition force him to retire from playing and he then keep on his president function for an other 15 seasons. For the first 5 seasons, the league’s activity were held at André’s parent’s home (in André’s bedroom). He then leave to his own appartement that became also the new league’s headquarter. There was games every week day and André was the official time keeper for all game. He log all results on his commodore 64 computer when everybody was gone.

His condition often force him to go to hospital for a while. The league’s activity were then on hold. He was finally forced to go back to his parent’s home and leave the presidence function.. From then, Richard St-Laurent took the lead and the league moved to the “Séminaire de Sherbrooke” high school. André passed away in 2002 at 35 year old which is a lot more then he was expected to live. Maybe his active life and table hockey have something to do with it. The league and championship trophy are now named after him as a tribute.

The league has now enter a new era with his participation to Quebec's cup tournaments and by the creation of his own annual tournament. The internet has been a major factor in this evolution.

Chronology

1983: League's first year on St-Louis street, Sherbrooke

1985: André's retirement as a player

1989: League move to Murray street

1993-1996: Peak of 26 players

1994: League move to Conseil street

2001: André's retirement as President. Richard St-Laurent is the new President

2001: League move to "Séminaire de Sherbrooke"

2002: LHTAHS's player's first appearance at a tournament (Québec Open II)

2002: André pass away on June 19, 2002

2004: Transition year at Richard's place

2004: First "Omnium de Sherbrooke"

2005: League move to "Centre communautaire Richard-Gingras"

2005: J-F Beaudoin is the new President

2006: New Labelle 5380 games

2006: 5 minutes games replace 15 minutes

2007: Steve Gosselin is the new President

LAST UPDATE September 28, 2008