As many of our friends, colleagues, and customers know Dan Janes has passed away. We lost our dear Dan on June 20, 2023.

Dan's life passion was for making the best cue possible. Throughout his career he had a lifelong quest to continually improve methods, materials, and aesthetics of the Joss Cue while insuring they had the best, solid play possible. Dan, Debbie, and Stephen would sit for hours and plan the approach to perfect a certain technique. The goal always to make the best playing, well-built cues with a range of price points. All cues being equal only some had more inlays or veneers. The play, the same!

And if you wanted to talk to Dan about almost anything, especially cues, he would talk with you. Many people were surprised when it was Dan who answered the phone. He spent many hours with customers creating their image of the perfect cue. He was an inspiration to other cue makers and would spend hours discussing methods, ideas and strategies. Dan shared his knowledge and his many, many pool, life stories. He was a special man.

Dan began his life's cue making journey in a small garage in an area of Baltimore known as Hampden in 1967. Later in 1975 the business was moved to a new industrial park in Towson where Joss still resides. By his side his wife Debbie and son Stephen helped grow the business. Debbie and Stephen will still run the business and will continue to craft the same superior quality Joss Cue that we have been making since 1967. Dan made sure that Debbie and Stephen were ready for this transition. We have been there every day beside Dan. Stephen has helped the business evolve with his own innovative advances and stands behind every cue he crafts. He has been managing the shop for 44 years. We will carry on the tradition of making quality customized Joss Cues.

Dan will be missed immensely by his family. His daughters Amanda Janes, Kim Moreau and other son Mark Janes are heartbroken.

He is also survived by grandsons, a granddaughter, and great-grandchildren.

The pool world has lost a great man of the sport!

We are saddened.

Dave Hall, known as “Eagle” in his home state of Maine, was inducted into the New England Pool & Billiards Hall of Fame this year. The announcement of his induction referred to the vast number of titles he has won in the Maine area. He added to that list of titles again over the September 9th – 10th weekend with an undefeated run through the Maine Event XV, the first stop on the 2023-2024 Joss NE 9-Ball Tour.

Hall cruised through Saturday with wins over Wyatt Dutton, Cody Francis and Jeff Mosimann. Wins over Cleiton Rocha and Beau Powers on Sunday put Hall in the hot-seat.

Rocha won two on the left side of the board (Dillon Nickerson and Tom Cayer), but came up short in the semi-final match against Powers.

Hall’s win at this tournament last year, his first career Joss Tour title, came from the one loss side. This year he did himself one better by beating Powers 9-4 in the first, and only, set of the finals.

Sunday’s second chance tournament saw Kyle Carpenter dominate the field on his way to the hot-seat. Carpenter defeated Mike Berube, Wyatt Dutton, Jeff Neubauer and Robert Lee by a combined score of 12-3. Mike Renshaw was the story on the one loss side as he bounced back from a loss in his first match of the day, to win five straight matches to earn his place in the finals against Carpenter. Carpenter did away with any idea of Renshaw continuing his winning streak, as he beat Renshaw 3-0 in the only set of the finals.

The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour is back in action this weekend at Run Em Racks Billiards in Johnston, RI for another $1500 added main event and $500 added second chance tournament.