US3912269A

US3912269A - Simulated hockey game

Info

Publication number: US3912269A
Application number: US465832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon A Barlow
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1974-05-01
Filing date: 1974-05-01
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14

Abstract

A skill-type game of the type resembling a hockey game wherein a plurality of simulated players are mounted on a housing for reciprocating horizontal movement toward and away from opposite goals and for swiveling movement for propelling a puck-like object toward the goals over a playing surface. An operating knob for each of the simulated players is exposed on top of the housing adjacent the playing surface for grasping by a user for rotation about a vertical axis to swivel the simulated players. The knob is mounted for reciprocating movement parallel to the reciprocating movement of the simulated players. A plurality of carriages are disposed beneath the playing surface connected between the knobs and simulated players and have gears carried thereby to effect swiveling movement of the players. The game also includes a plurality of stationary players which are rotatably mounted on the playing surface. The stationary players are secured to a gear beneath the playing surface which is selectively engageable with the gears of the carriages so that the stationary players may be swivelled about their respective axis in response to rotational movement of one of the knobs. The hockey game also includes goal tenders which are slidably mounted on the playing surface in front of the entrance of the goals. Each goal tender is associated with the two reciprocating players on the respective end of the playing surface. The goal tenders are movable in response to movement of the reciprocating players and carriages toward one end of the playing surface.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Barlow 1 Oct. 14, 1975 SIMULATED HOCKEY GAME [75] Inventor: Gordon A. Barlow, Skokie, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: May 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 465,832

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/85 B; 273/85 A; 273/85 F [51] Int. Cl. A63F 7/06 [58] Field of Search 273/85 A, 85 B, 85 F, 94 A,

273/94 B, 94 F, 129 R Primary ExaminerRichard J. Apley Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee & Sweeney [57] ABSTRACT A skill-type game of the type resembling a hockey game wherein a plurality of simulated players are mounted on a housing for reciprocating horizontal movement toward and away from opposite goals and for swiveling movement for propelling a puck-like object toward the goals over a playing surface. An operating knob for each of the simulated players is ex posed on top of the housing adjacent the playing surface for grasping by a user for rotation about a vertical axis to swivel the simulated players. The knob is mounted for reciprocating movement parallel to the reciprocating movement of the simulated players. A plurality of carriages are disposed beneath the playing surface connected between the knobs and simulated players and have gears carried thereby to effect swiveling movement of the players. The game also includes a plurality of stationary players which are rotatably mounted on the playing surface. The stationary players are secured to a gear beneath the playing surface which is selectively engageable with the gears of the carriages so that the stationary players may be swivelled about their respective axis in response to rotational movement of one of the knobs. The hockey game also includes goal tenders which are slidably mounted on the playing surface in front of the entrance of the goals. Each goal tender is associated with the two reciprocating players on the respective end of the playing surface. The goal tenders are movable in response to movement of the reciprocating players and carriages toward one end of the playing surface.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975" Sheet10f3 3,912,269

U.S. Patent Oct. 14,1975 Sheet2of3 3,912,269

SIMULATED HOCKEY GAME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There presently are available several games of the general type which resemble a hockey game whereby a plurality of simulated players are mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from opposite goals on a playing surface and for swiveling movement relative to the playing surface about a vertical axis so as to propel a puck-like object over the playing surface in an attempt to score the puck in the opposite goal. In most instances, actual players of such games operate the players by means of horizontally disposed rods or shafts which are interconnected with the simulated players and which have ends exposed exteriorly of a housing normally at the goal ends thereof. Reciprocating movement of the simulated players is effected by pushing and pulling on the rods, and swiveling movement of the players is effected by twisting the rods about their generally horizontal longitudinal axis. Because of the fact that the swiveling movement of the simulated players about the vertical axis is effected by twisting movement of the rods about a horizontal axis, there is no visual or natural correlation between the direction of the twisting movement of the rods to effect the desired swiveling movement of the players. This normally results in a considerable unfair advantage to those users or players of the game who are most familiar with this operation or who have had the most practice with it.

Some games also include a goal tender in front of a goal which can be moved back and forth in front of the goal by moving a pivotally mounted lever which supports the goal tender and extends exteriorly of the housing. This invention relates to a hockey game having a new and improved operating mechanism for the reciprocating players and the goal tenders.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved skill-type game of the general type resembling a hockey game.

As shown herein a carriage means is provided for each of the plurality of players, the carriage means being mounted on the housing for reciprocating movement in the direction of the opposite goals. The players are mounted on the carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith, and operating means is provided on each of the carriage means for effecting swiveling movement of the respective players. A goal tender is slidably mounted in front of each goal and is moved back and forth in front of the goal by movement of the carriage means. A plurality of rotatably mounted stationary players are provided generally near the center of the playing surface, with means engageable with the operating means of the reciprocating players such that the stationary players can be swivelled about their respective axis by the operating means of the reciprocating players when a reciprocating player is moved adjacent the stationary player.

Preferably, an operating knob for each of the reciprocating players is exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping and rotating by the user to effect swiveling movement of the simulated players. The knobs are mounted on the carriage means and the operating means includes a gear-type drive train mounted on the carriage means between the knobs and the reciprocating players to swivel the players on rotation of the knobs. The knobs, being mounted on the carriage means, are grasped by the user and pushed or pulled to effect the reciprocating movement of the respective reciprocating player. Link means are provided between the goal tender and the carriage means for selective movement of the goal tender in response to movement of the carriage means so that a player may attempt to prevent a puck from entering his goal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the hockey game embodying the concepts of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the hockey game of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 44 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the spring attachment means on the slide arm for the goal tender.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The skill-type game of the present invention is shown in the drawings as resembling or simulating a hockey game, generally designated 10, which includes a plurality of reciprocating players 12 each having a stick portion 12a for propelling a puck-like game object 14 (FIG. 1) over a flat horizontal playing surface 16. The playing surface 16 is supported on a housing 18. The housing 18 is supported on a plurality of legs 19 and preferably is molded with upstanding wall means 20 bounding the playing surface 16 and with a pair of goals, generally designated 22, defined by the wall means 20 at opposite ends of the playing surface. The game also includes a pair of stationary players 24 having stick portions 240 which are pivotally mounted on the playing surface 16 at approximatey the mid-point of the playing surface. Two goal tenders 26 are slidably mounted on the playing surface 16 so they can be moved back and forth in front of the goals 22. A flat horizontal ledge portion 28 is defined between the upstanding wall means 20 and the marginal periphery of the housing 18. The players are formed as flat silhouettes and include indicia thereon to represent members of different teams.

For each of the reciprocating players 12, an upwardly extending operating knob 30 is provided along the ledge portion 28 of the housing to effect both reciprocating and swiveling movement of the players 12. A slot 32 is provided in the playing surface 16 for each of the reciprocating players 12. Another slot 40 is formed in the playing surface 16 adjacent and parallel to each slot 32 for purposes to be described in greater detail hereinafter. A slot 36 is provided in the ledge portion 28 of the housing for each of the knobs 30.

A carriage means, generally designated 44 (FIG. 2), is provided for a two-fold function. First, the carriage means 44 interconnects the knobs 30 with their respective reciprocating players 12 so that reciprocating movement of the knobs in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1) effects a corresponding reciprocating movement of the respective players 12 in the same direction, as shown by arrow B (FIG. 1). Secondly each of the carriage means 44 carries therewith a gear-type operating means, generally designated 46 (FIG. 2), which effects swiveling movement of the respective player 12 about a vertical axis in response to rotational movement of the knobs 30 in the same rotational direction (i.e., either clockwise or counterclockwise) about their respective vertical axes.

The carriage means 44 are mounted beneath the ledge portion 28 and the playing surface 16 by means of a plurality of

upstanding leg portions

48 and 50, which cooperate with the

slots

40 and 36, respectively, to permit the carriage means 44 to reciprocate in the direction of arrows A and B and carry the operating knobs 30 and the players 12 therewith. The leg portions 48 extend upwardly through the slots 40 in the playing surface 16 and have hook portions 48a (FIGS. 1 and 3) which seat on top of the playing surface 16. Each of the leg portions 50 (there being four, or two pair, for each of the carriages means) extend upwardly through the slots 36 in the ledge portion 28 of the housing 18 and have hook portions 50a which seat on top of the ledge portion 28. The

hook portions

48a and 50a of the

legs

48 and 50 respectively mount the carriage means 44 so as to hang by gravity on the underside of the playing surface, as shown best in FIG. 3. Preferably, at least the leg portions 50 are fabricated of sufficiently resilient material so that they may be snap fit into the slots 36 to mount the carriage means on the underside of the playing surface in the position as shown in FIG. 3.

The operating means 46 for effecting swiveling movement of the reciprocating players 12 in response to corresponding rotational movement of the operating knobs 30 is shown best in FIG. 3. The operating means includes a first gear member 52, a second or intermediate gear member 54 and a third gear member 56. One gear 56 is mounted on each of the carriage means 44 for rotational movement about a vertically upwardly extending pin 58 and has a square shaft portion 60 (FIG. 3) extending upwardly through the respective slot 32 for receiving a hub portion 66 secured to the respective player 12. Thus, the reciprocating player 12 rotates with the gear member 56.

The gear member 52 is mounted on the carriage means 44 for rotational movement about a vertical upwardly extending pin 68 (FIG. 3) and has a square shaft portion 70 for engagement within a complementary opening 72 in the respective operating knob 30 as best seen in FIG. 3. The knob 30 is secured to the shaft 70 by a screw 73. Thus, the knob 30 rotates with the gear member 52.

Gear member 54 also is mounted on the carriage means 44 for rotational movement about a third upwardly extending pin 74 and is meshed with both

gear members

52 and 56 so that rotational movement of gear 52 in a desired direction, in response to rotation of the respective operating knob 30 in the same direction, effects rotational movement of the gear 56 in the same direction as the intermediate gear 54 rotates in the opposite direction.

Therefore, it can be seen that rotational movement of the operating knobs 30 in any given direction effects corresponding rotational movement of the respective player 12 in the same rotational direction. In this manner, an actual player or user of the game quite readily adapts his reflexes because of the coordinated operating means which causes the players to rotate simultaneously in the same direction of rotation as the operating knobs 30.

The stationary players 24 are selectively engageable with one of the operating means 46 when the respective carriage means 44 therefor is moved to the inner end of its travel toward the center of the playing surface 16. More particularly, referring to FIG. 4, the stationary players 24 are mounted on a hub 80. The hub is provided with a hole 82 which fits over an irregular shaped upwardly extending pin 84. The pin' 84 is formed as part ofa gear 86 which is mounted on a pin 88 for rotational movement about a vertical axis. The pin 88 is formed on a depending support 90 on the bottom of the playing surface 16. The gear 86 is in meshing engagement with another gear 92 mounted for rotational movement on a pin 94 formed on the bottom of the playing surface. A screw 96 holds the gear 92 on the pin 94. To effect rotation of the stationary player 24,

a carriage means 44 on the same side of the playing surface as the particular player 24 must be moved toward the center of the playing surface 16 so as to engage the gear 56, which rotates the player 12 with the gear 92 which rotates the player 24 as shown in the phantom lines of FIG. 4. When the gear 56 engages the gear 92, the player 24 will rotate as the operating knob is rotated. However, the stationary player 24 will rotate in the opposite direction of the operating knob 30.

It should also be pointed out that the reciprocating player 12 will also rotate as the knob 30 is rotated. To avoid interference of the

hockey sticks

12a and 24a, the hub 80 of the stationary player 24 is of sufficient thickness to allow enough room below the hockey stick 24a so that the hockey stick 12a can pass underneath it as shown in phantom in FIG. 4. The length of travel of the carriage means 44 and thus the player 12 is limited by the length of the

slots

40 and 36 and thus the

hockey sticks

12a and 24a can get no closer than is shown in FIG. 4. Because the hockey sticks 240 are higher above the playing surface 16, the puck is formed with sufficient thickness, as shown in FIG. 5, to engage the sticks 24a.

A movable goal tender 26 is provided in front of each goal 22 to allow a player to attempt to prevent a puck from entering his goal 22. More particularly, a slot 100 is provided in front of each goal 22. The goal tender 26 is mounted on a hub 102 which includes a shaft 104 which extends downwardly through the slot 100 (FIG. 5). The shaft 104 engages a slot 106 in a pivotally mounted slide arm 108 (FIG. 2). The slide arm 108 is pivotally mounted on a boss 110 formed on the bottom of the playing surface and received thereto by a screw 112. A snap washer 114 on shaft 104 prevents the slide arm 108 from coming off of the shaft 104. This arrangement allows the goal tender 26 to slide back and forth in the slot 100 in front of the goal 22 in response to pivotal movement of the slide arm 108.

To effect movement of the slide arm 108, an extended leaf spring 116 is secured thereto. Spring attachment means, generally designated 120, is best seen in FIG. 7. Three upwardly directed pins 122 are formed on top of the slide arm 108 and secure the spring 116 to the slide arm. One of the pins 122 includes a cap portion 124 which allows the spring 1 16 to be snapped into position.

The extended spring 116 includes a curved portion 128 on each end which will engage an upwardly directed wall 130 formed on each of the carriage means 44 (FIG. 2) as the carriage means 44 are moved back and forth in the

support slots

36 and 40. The ends 128 of the spring 116 engage the wall 130 and cause the slide am 108 to rotate about the screw 112. Rotation of the slide arm 108 therefore causes the goal tender 26 to slide within the slot 100. Because of the arrangement of the spring 116 and the slide arm 108 the goal tender 26 will move away from one of the reciprocating players as that reciprocating player moves toward the goal 22. The resilient quality of the spring 116 allows for proportional movement of the goal tender 26 depending upon the amount of force applied to the spring 1 16 by the carriage means 44 on either side of one of the goals. Therefore, if both of the carriage means 44 on one end of the playing surface 16 are moved to the end of their travel toward one of the goals, the goal tender 26 will move to the center of the slot 100 and remain. However, as soon as one of the carriage means 44 is moved away from the goal 22, the force created by the spring 116 against the other carriage means 44 will cause the goal tender to move away from the center position without any movement of the other carriage means 44.

As best seens in FIGS. 1 and 5, each goal 22 includes a top simulated net portion 135 to permit visibility into the goal area and a double truncated cone side and back wall section 136 as is commonly used in the game of hockey. The wall means 20 extend outwardly at the goal area to form a generally rectangular goal 22 on an extended portion 134 of the housing 18. The top portion 136 includes a plurality of tabs 138 (FIG. 5) which fit on the wall 20 and support the top portion 136 over the goal area. A gate 140 is provided in front of the goal entrance area. The gate 140 is pivotally mounted in the wall 20 by pins 142 which extend through holes in the wall. This permits the puck 14 to slide into the goal 22 by opening the gate 140 and, subsequently, the puck 14 is trapped in the goal 22 as the gate 140 rotates down under gravitational forces toward its normal position as shown in FIG. 5.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; at least one simulated player on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting the simulated player on said carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on the carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by the user; operating means mounted on the carriage means and operatively associated with said knob for effecting swiveling movement of the player about an axis generally perpendicular to the playing surface; at least one stationary simulated player pivotally mounted on the playing surface;

and drive means associated with said stationary player, said drive means being selectively engageable by said operating means for said reciprocating simulated player for effecting swiveling movement of said stationary player.

2. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of simulated players on the playing surface for reciprocating movement, a plurality of carriage means therefor, means mounting one of the players on each of the carriage means, a plurality of said stationary players pivotally mounted on the playing surface, and drive means associated with each stationary player, said drive means being selectively engageable with the operating means on the carriage means of a plurality of said reciprocating simulated players.

3. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of opposed goal areas at opposite ends of said playing surface, at least one of said stationary simulated players intermediate said goal areas, at least one of said reciprocating simulated players at each opposite end of the playing surface for use by opposed actual players of the game, the drive means of the stationary simulated player being engageable by the operating means of both reciprocating simulated players.

4. The device of claim 3 including a pair of such reciprocating simulated players and associated stationary simulated players spaced on opposite sides of the playing surface for operation by the right and left hands of the opposed actual players of the game.

5. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; at least one simulated player on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting the simulated player on said carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on the carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by the user; operating means mounted on the carriage means and operatively associated with said knob for effecting swiveling movement of the player about an axis generally perpendicular to the playing surface; at least one simulated goal tender mounted on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the simulated player; and link means operatively associated with the carriage means and the simulated goal tender for selective movement of the goal tender in response to movement of the carriage means whereby the user may attempt to prevent the game object from entering the goal.

6. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; at least one simulated player on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting the simulated player on said carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on the carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by the user; at least one simulated goal tender mounted on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the simulated player; link means operatively associated with the car riage means and the simulated goal tender for selective movement of the goal tender in response to movement of the carriage means whereby the user may attempt to prevent the game object from entering the goal; at least one stationary simulated player pivotally mounted on the playing surface; and drive means associated with said stationary player, said drive means being selectively engageable by said operating means for said reciprocating simulated player for effecting swiveling movement of said stationary player.

7. The device of claim 6 including a plurality of simulated players on the playing surface for reciprocating movement, a plurality of carriage means therefor, means mounting one of the players on each of the carriage means, a plurality of said stationary players pivotally mounted on the playing surface, and drive means associated with each stationary player, said drive means being selectively engageable with the operating means on the carriage means of a plurality of said reciprocating simulated players.

8. The device of claim 6 including a plurality of opposed goal areas at opposite ends of said playing surface, at least one of said stationary simulated players intermediate said goal areas, at least one of said reciprocating simulated players at each opposite end of the playing surface for use by opposed actual players of the game, the drive means of the stationary simulated player being engageable by the operating means of both reciprocating simulated players.

9. The device of claim 6 including a pair of such reciprocating simulated players and associated stationary simulated players spaced on opposite sides of the playing surface for operation by the right and left hands of the opposed actual players of the game.

10. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; at least one simulated player on the playing surface for reciprocating movement at one side of the goal area in a direction generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting the simulated player on said carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on the carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by the user; at least one simulated goal tender mounted on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the simulated player; and link means operatively associated with the carriage means and the simulated goal tender for selective movement of the goal tender toward the side of the goal area opposite the side at which said simulated player is disposed in response to movement of the carriage means toward the goal area whereby the user may attempt to prevent the game object from entering the goal area by simulatneously moving the simulated player toward the goal area at one side thereof and moving the simulated goal tender to the opposite side of the goal area.

1 l. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; a pair of simulated players on the playing surface on each side of the goal area for reciprocating movement in directions generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means for each player slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting each simulated player on its respective carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on each carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by opposing players; a simulated goal tender mounted on the playing surface for reciprocating movement across the goal area in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the simulated players; and link means operatively associated with the respective carriage means and the simulated goal tender for selective movement of the goal tender in response to movement of the carriage means, said link means including a common connecting arm connected intermediate its ends to the respective goal tender and engageable at its opposed end by said carriage means, said connecting arm being resiliently flexible so as to transmit carriage movement to the goal tender in proportional amounts in response to both of the carriage means simultaneously bearing against the opposite ends of the connected arm.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said goal tender is pivotally mounted by a slide arm on the housing and said connecting arm is secured to the slide arm so that movement of either one of said carriage means toward the goal area causes the goal tender to move to the side of the goal area opposite that particular carriage means whereby a player may attempt to prevent the game objects from entering the goal area by moving his player to one side thereof while simultaneously moving the goal tender to the opposite side thereof.

Claims

1. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; at least one simulated player on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting the simulated player on said carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on the carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by the user; operating means mounted on the carriage means and operatively associated with said knob for effecting swiveling movement of the player about an axis generally perpendicular to the playing surface; at least one stationary simulated player pivotally mounted on the playing surface; and drive means associated with said stationary player, said drive means being selectively engageable by said operating means for said reciprocating simulated player for effecting swiveling movement of said stationary player.

6. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; at least one simulated player on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting the simulated player on said carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on the carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by the user; at least one simulated goal tender mounted on the playing surface for reciprocating movement in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the simulated player; link means operatively associated with the carriage means and the simulated goal tender for selective movement of the goal tender in response to movement of the carriage means whereby the user may attempt to prevent the game object from entering the goal; at least one stationary simulated player pivotally mounted on the playing surface; and drive means associated with said stationary player, said drive means being selectively engageable by said operating means for said reciprocating simulated player for effecting swiveling movement of said stationary player.

11. A skill type game of the type resembling a hockey game, comprising: a playing surface having at least one goal area; a puck-like game object slidably supported on the playing surface; a housing upon which the playing surface is supported; a pair of simulated players on the playing surface on each side of the goal area for reciprocating movement in directions generally toward and away from the goal area; carriage means for each player slidably mounted on the housing; means mounting each simulated player on its respective carriage means for reciprocating movement therewith; a manually operable knob on each carriage means exposed exteriorly on the housing for grasping by opposing players; a simulated goal tender mounted on the playing surface for reciprocating movement across the goal area in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the simulated players; and link means operatively associated with the respective carriage means and the simulated goal tender for selective movement of the goal tender in response to movement of the carriage means, said link means including a common connecting arm connected intermediate its ends to the respective goal tender and engageable at its opposed end by said carriage means, said connecting arm being resiliently flexible so as to transmit carriage movement to the goal tender in proportional amounts in response to both of the carriage means simultaneously bearing against the opposite ends of the connected arm.