2006 U.S. Open Photos

VFW Gathering the Night Before

Jason Huberty takes on his friend Dave as Gerald Pytlewski watches.

Paul, Tanner and Zach Ruiz team up against Pierre Chastenais.

Tom Warren practices against Dean Kallas. Both players were much improved this year.

A Group-bound Kevin Rafferty battles Rob Chargo.

Alex Raikhman set a goal of making the B pool this year. He exceeded it, taking first in the B round robin and second overall in the B pool.

Bernie Kunzler and Rob Chargo went a grueling 7 games in the A pool semis.

Austin Hamilton of Nashville takes on Tom Forbes of Texas.

Jim Rzonca hands Bernie Kunzler his second place award for the A Pool as Phil Hamilton of tablehockeygames.com chips in a new Stiga game.

Paul Ruiz takes on Alex Raikhman in the B pool finals.

Texas' Bill Boyd took third in the C Pool, besting fellow Texan Tom Forbes.

Alyson Pohlman took on an upset-minded, 12th-seeded Jonathan Kittner for third place in the B Pool.

Rob Chargo gets his third place award from tournament organizer Jim Rzonca, the guy he defeated to win it.

LTHL'ers Jeff Farwell and John Medema played in the first round robin.

Gerald Pytlewski took on Brett Butler in the first round robin.

It was grandson Austin vs. granddad Phil in a battle of the Hamiltons.

Jim Rzonca revs up the crowd.

Dean Kallas, Madison, WI's finest, takes on Kitchener's Kunzler.

Ken Dubois accepts his first place award from the Butler Group: Ton Lejman, Brett Butler, Candy Butler and Candy's mom.

Rzonca gives Dubois his third U.S. Open title in four years.

Ryan Lejman was an eager participant, here taking on Joshua Brotz.

Jerry Miller gets his game and C pool champ award from Rzonca and the always-generous Phil Hamilton of tablehockeygames.com

Jerry Miller and Jonathan Kittner played in the first round robin.

Brian Rafferty was a tough little player.

Sean Rafferty, his older brother, made the B Pool in his Open debut.

Paul Ruiz was dominant en route to the B Pool title.

Ruiz takes on Dubois in first-round play.

LTHL'er Russ Leonard played Madison's Alyson Pohlman in the first round.

Jim Rzonca and Rob Chargo played for third place in the A group.

Paul Slezak plays next to Mike Sacco Sr.

Tom Forbes and Jason Huberty went at it in round robin play.

Rich Thill accepts his second-place award in the C Pool.

Thill is all smiles as he takes on Zach Pohlman.

Indianapolis' Mark Wuellner made his U.S. Open debut.