NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan drops the first puck for the ceremonial faceoff to start the NJ State PBA hockey team’ s season.
claimed Damien Broschart, a member of Asbury Park Local 6 who was in the middle of both of those barrages.
One of Broschart’ s linemates in those scoring sprees was State Corrections Local 105 member Chris Connor. He came to team tryouts a month-and-a-half after graduating the academy – and before being sworn in – because,“ I couldn’ t wait to play for the meaning of the patch on the jersey.”
Breaking the Ice
The buildup to the first game generated so much fanfare that team Coordinator, General Manager and Local 314 State Delegate Mike Schulze anticipated a reasonable amount of family, friends, co-workers and PBA members to show up and puff out their collective chests. Then, about two hours before the start of the game, snow began to fall.
But family, friends, co-workers and members came anyway, enough to raise $ 5,000 from ticket sales for the Brett Hanson
Monmouth County Sheriffs Local 314 member Dan Tacopino has provided the skills, toughness and leadership that is a big part of the PBA hockey team.
Fund to support the Dover Township Local 137 member and Toms River officer who was seriously injured in an off-duty auto accident on Jan. 4. The pre-game ceremonies only added to the fervor with a red carpet, NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan dropping the ceremonial first puck and a rousing rendition of the national anthem inspiring the rowdiness the way it tends to do at some of historical National Hockey League arenas across the country.
“ It surprised me a little bit, but I was thrilled to see the crowd tonight,” Schulze confided.“ It’ s great to get so many people together and rooting behind the PBA. I’ ve played hockey my whole life, but this is awesome. Truly awesome.”
Clearly, the PBA team was fast on its way to generating the pride, the stories, the spectacle and the passion that form the finest hockey traditions. How fast was quickly seen.
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www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ FEBRUARY 2017 25