Director's Statement — Little Rink

Director’s Statement

I was introduced to the world of competitive table hockey by Stan Fischler, the legendary ice hockey broadcaster (MSG), journalist (The Hockey News) and author of myriad books on hockey.

In the 1970s, Stan and his wife Shirley held raucous table hockey tournaments in their Upper West Side apartment in New York City. Sports journalists, hockey fans and NYC intellectuals avidly competed. The tournament featured in LITTLE RINK is the 50th anniversary of the TJ Rugg tournament, which was first held in Stan and Shirley’s kitchen.

While I was well versed in the sport of ice hockey, being the mother of two avid players, this was my first brush with competitive table hockey. I was welcomed into this quirky world by the middle-aged men of eclectic backgrounds. The result is LITTLE RINK.

When you watch the movie, you’ll see that while everyone wants to win, the real motivation is the love of the game and the intense friendships it fosters. There’s exciting face-to-face competition, camaraderie and nostalgia for a game that doesn’t require a screen or a remote control. In these difficult times, I hope that LITTLE RINK will bring levity and joy to audiences.

- Lisa