The PBA Icemen Cometh
Hockey team debuts with a show of force that gives all members cause to puff out their chests n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL n PHOTOS BY ED CARATTINI, JR. n ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY GINA CROTCHFELT
The emblem on the chest turned Dan Tacopino more powerful than a locomotive, or so it seemed. A Monmouth County Sheriffs Officers Local 314 member by day, on this night,“ Taco” – as he is known on many ice rinks in New Jersey – weaved through a pack of Jersey City Enforcers faster than a speeding bullet and rocketed a shot over the goalie’ s left shoulder that flexed the power of the NJ State PBA hockey team.
Check out the NJ State PBA Hockey Team photo gallery:
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What transformed a group of mild-mannered hockey disciples into a puck-neverstops juggernaut capable of scoring mega goals, trouncing the team of law enforcement officers from Jersey City by a 12-4 score and then annihilating the New Jersey State Police, 9-2, can easily be seen in what they wear upon their chests. The members of the PBA team have been playing hockey for years – 30 or more in some cases – but never like this. And so any thoughts of this endeavor turning into Slap Shot quickly gave way when realizing these members approach the game like they are from Mystery, Alaska, and that’ s why they have achieved such a Miracle.
“ It’ s why we wear it on our chests,” Taco extols.“ That’ s the biggest thing about it. Otherwise, we would just be a hockey team. We’ re the PBA hockey team. It’ s an unbelievable feeling. You can’ t explain it.”
The patch on the team sweaters – as jerseys are known in hockey parlance – showcasing the PBA shield between two hockey sticks with the Blue Lives Matter flags on the blades has become as much of a force as the team that wears it so proudly. Most of the fans in the standing-room-only crowd circling the
lower and upper levels of the Red Bank Armory Ice Arena for the season premiere against Jersey City on Jan. 14 displayed the patch. And if you have been to a PBA event the past month or so, there’ s no doubt you have seen many members wearing it on a shirt or sweatshirt.
The firepower – as talent, ability and skill are known in hockey parlance – of the PBA team has been fueled by the emblem on the sweaters and the privilege it has meant for the players. There’ s been a certain inspiration for members who practiced together just a few times to roll up 21 goals in their first two games that included barrages like the four goals in 1 minute, 15 seconds against Jersey City or the three goals in 69 seconds against the State Police on Jan. 21.
“ This was a freakin’ dream, playing hockey for the PBA,” ex-
24 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2017