Dominic Moore talks Smashfest 2015, NHL ping-pong rivalries (Puck Daddy Interview)
The scene was inside the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dressing room during an episode of HBO: 24/7. In the middle of the room was a ping-pong table with Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf as the two combatants.
A similar scene can be found around dressing rooms across the NHL and that was one reason why Dominic Moore thought a ping-pong tournament would make for a great charity event.
On Thursday night inside Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto, around 28 NHL players will participate in Smashfest 2015 to play some ping-pong, interact with fans and most importantly, help raise money and awareness for the Katie Moore Foundation, named after the New York Rangers forward’s late wife, and the Steve Moore Foundation, named after Moore’s brother who suffered a career-ending injury in 2004.
Moore’s love of tennis and ping-pong, along with the popularity of the game across the league saw him reach out to the NHLPA several years ago with the idea for a charity event.
“Guys are addicted to playing and the competitiveness and trash talk and bragging rights and all that… I’d always thought this would be the perfect thing to bring out and make an event out of it,” Moore said.
“It’s hard to believe it’s four years now it’s been around. It seems to be picking up more and more steam every year and that feels really good.”
We spoke with Moore Tuesday morning about Smashfest, the impact the event has made, the ping-pong rivalries that have developed and if being surrounded by beer actually helps one play better.
Enjoy.
Q. Looking at the numbers, the event has gone from raising $20,000 to $100,000 to $140,000. Are you anticipating beating last year’s number?
MOORE: We hope we can. It’s just been awesome to see it grow. Our first goal is to make an event that everyone is glad to be a part of. If everybody comes away happy then that’s what our goal is. It’s something we just want to continue to grow every year. It’d be a win-win for everyone involved.
Q. Fourth year now. With the two charities that are benefiting, have you been able to see the difference the money raised is making?
MOORE: Yeah, it’s super gratifying. Any time you’re raising money for research — and a lot of it is also awareness, not to be underestimated, the awareness is probably the biggest effect of the event on both of those fronts. Both of these causes are causes that don’t get enough support that they need that other causes kind of more easily attract. Even though in the grand scheme of things our contribution is relatively small, it’s still a gratifying and purposeful work.
Q. Besides bragging rights and chance to move on in the tournament, are there any side bets made during the event between the guys? Have rivalries started to develop?
MOORE: As you know, all of us are competitive [Alex] Burrows is gunning to take out [two-time champion Stephane] Veilleux this year. I’m not so sure you wouldn’t be able to call them rivals because I think they are. I think they both take it pretty serious. Patrick Eaves is coming this year and he’s just one of these guys that has heard about the event, loves ping-pong and is finally coming to be a part of it. I’m expecting big things from him. Antoine Roussel heard about it from Burrows and he’s super into ping-pong, so it should be pretty competitive this year. I don’t think it’s a given that Veilleux will walk away as champ.
Q. So Veilleux is one of the best, but in your estimation over the last three tournaments who are maybe one or two of the worst players?
MOORE: The best part about it is that the first part of the event is the doubles pro-am where all the guests that are there get to play with the players. The guys that keep it a little more casual, let’s describe it that way, get to just participate and have fun that way and that’s so much fun for the guests, too. It’s just a real party atmosphere and people can enjoy it that way. And then after that, that’s when the guys who are super competitive [compete]. But there’s something for everyone is what I’m saying without being insulting. [Laughs]
Q. Speaking from my own experience in college and playing ping-pong, do you feel the fact that the event is held in a brewery actually helps certain guys play better?
MOORE: [Laughs] Well, it’s a nice space with high ceilings, too, so if guys kind of shank it they’ll have a little bit more room there. It’s not like playing in your basement with the lamp hanging low and you’re missing a shot and it’s going to be richocheting all over. But I think the brewery certainly helps make it a party atmosphere.
Q. I know Veilleux has his own paddle. Have you invested in one for yourself?
MOORE: Killer Spin is a big American company that gives us the support with the tables and the equipment and they have given me this titanium graphite-like one piece paddle. It’s almost too much for me. I just like the old standard $10 one you pick up or [one] your uncle passes down to you. That’s the kind of paddle I like to use. I haven’t really been able to find my range with the fancy one.
For more information on Smasfest, click here.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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