NJSPBA Captain Dan Tacopino of Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officers
Local 314 lets a shot fly.
CAUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49
Foundation, created to help victims of the school bus crash. Ke-
ough could have been one of those victims. His son, Thomas
John, is a sixth-grader at East Brook who took the same field trip
a week before the tragic accident and is one of Brendan’s BFFs.
Keough suggested playing this game for the Paramus Chil-
dren’s Health Foundation and did most of the legwork to get it
scheduled at a rink close to his hometown that could handle a
PBA-sized hockey crowd. That was the incentive for PBA hock-
ey team members to come out for this season with a renewed
sense of commitment and to play through the pain prompted
by an opponent that has been fire on ice since the 1960s.
“Moving forward for the cause: I think that’s 100 percent of
it,” confirms Livingston Local 263 member Brian Kelly, one of
the team’s tough defensemen. “That’s got to be your mindset. I
mean, we give back all the time in our day jobs. To be able to do
this on an off day means a lot to us.”
To keep pushing and putting on a good show for the fans
starts even before the puck drops, according to Morris County
Sheriffs Department Local 151 member David McAndrew.
“Charity is the reason,” notes the big forward. “That’s why we
come into the locker room and all say, ‘Hey, we’re playing for
something bigger than ourselves. So let’s go out there and keep
doing it.’”
PBA hockey has always been about something bigger than the
game, which is why the outcome didn’t sting by the time Mon-
day morning rolled around. To expand its ability to give back,
the team is delegating responsibilities for identifying causes
and covering game logistics to players who want to step up.
To build on the foundation that Monmouth County Sher-
Damien Broschart of Neptune Township Local 74
digs for the puck.
50
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ NOVEMBER 2018
iffs Officers Local 314 member Mike Schulze established the
past two years, all players are being asked to pitch in. Keough
stepped up for the first game.
“In return, he got the pain and he got the glory because his
kids were here to celebrate with him,” acknowledges Local 314
member Dan Tacopino, who has taken over as captain. “That’s
what this team is all about now. We want to make sure we give
back to the players because they give out a lot, sacrificing their
time at work and their time at home. They are asked to come
early and asked to stay late. They don’t need to do that, but they
want to do it because they love being around this team.”
The PBA hung with FDNY for approximately two-thirds of the
first period behind Travis Daniel, the speedster from Madison
Boro Local 92, generating several pushes into the FDNY zone.
And with 1:54 left in the opening period, longtime linemates
Chris Connor, from State Corrections Local 105, and Neptune
Township Local 74 member Damien Broschart worked some of
their magic to forge a 1-1 tie.
In the end, the player of the game for the PBA could have
been goaltender Joe Aliseo from Elizabeth Local 4. The barrage
of shots he stopped at the end of the first period was one of sev-
eral onslaughts Aliseo faced in turning back 31 shots. But FDNY
had too much, yes, firepower, especially from forward Steve
Kelly, who with his No. 16, wavy hair and blistering shots chan-
neled NHL star Brett Hull in scoring four goals.
But the final score couldn’t detract from everything there was
to celebrate on this opening night.
“We don’t care about the score,” Tacopino asserted. “We al-
ways want to win. We’re competitive guys. That’s why we still
play. But we just want the guys to have a good time, raise good
money and enjoy the experience. Once that buzzer sounds, it’s
on to the next charity.”
The next charity is the American Foundation for Suicide Pre-
vention, the benefactor designated for the Nov. 17 game against
the U.S. Coast Guard team at Jersey Shore Arena in Wall. After
that comes the rivalry game with the NJ State Police on Dec.
29 at Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township, which will be
played for Mallory’s Army.
If the game against the State Police approaches last year’s
riveting victory for the NJSPBA Strongest, then every member
should attend. But remember, this is bigger than any game.
“In this day and age, when so many departments are engag-
ing in community policing, it’s a natural progression for our
members to engage in something like this,” says NJSPBA First
Vice President Pete Andreyev, who has stepped in to be a liai-
son between the hockey team and the state office. “Our guys are
in the profession to take care of the less fortunate. Through the
game of hockey they can do that, and it shows how dedicated
our members truly are.”
Stephen Scherer (right) of Hanover Township Lo-
cal 128 and David McAndrew of Morris County
Sheriffs Department Local 151 put on a rush to
move the puck into the FDNY zone.
Chris Connor of State Corrections Local 105 battles
Dan Sieger of FDNY in a faceoff.