The high-scoring trio of Damien Broschart( 89), Chris Connor( 18) and Tim Margadonna( 17) led the NJ State PBA hockey team to 21 goals in its first two games against the Jersey City Enforcers and the NJ State Police.
26 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2017
THE PBA ICEMEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
One of those traditions apparently will be the triumvirate of Broschart, Connor and Tim Margadonna. Midway through the first period, Margadonna, a Wall Township Local 234 member, streamlined a pass to Broschart who redirected the puck to Connor, who scored the first goal in PBA Hockey history. The same trio connected with what Broschart, called“ tic-tac-toe passes” to set up Connor for another goal moments later.
At the practice before the season debut, Schulze put the kids – they have less than five years’ combined experience – playing together on the same line, and it was not their first time. They had actually played junior hockey together and against each other, and Connor and Broschart played roller hockey together for five years.
It seemed as simple as tic-tac-toe when they set up Connor for three goals in the first period, Margadonna for another three in the second period and combined for eight of the 12 scores. Right off the first shift – hockey parlance for the period of time a line is on the ice together; usually about one minute –“ We were moving the puck so well,” Connor explained. Added Margadonna:“ We got a couple of goals and we seemed to know where each other was going.”
By the end of the first period, President Colligan led a chorus asking,“ Who are those guys?” In setting a tempo that the PBA will play fast and furious, the only question is which of the kids is the fastest?“ Connor is fast, but Margadonna has wheels too,” Broschart answered.
Hockey tradition compels giving a name to such a prolific line of players. The Devils had their famous“ A Line” that fueled the Stanley Cup Champions of 2000. The Rangers’“ Fly Line” of 2002 and the Flyers’“ Legion of Doom” are two other storied monikers. Colligan’ s son, Conner suggested calling Broschart, Margadonna and Connor,“ The Trigger Trio,” but no official name has been settled and suggestions are welcome.
At 4:13 of the first period, Taco’ s end-to-end run netted the goal to give the PBA a lead it would never relinquish. Jersey City did close to 4-3 early in the second period, but then the kids went on that four-goal spree between the 11:45 and 10:30 marks to establish the PBA presence with authority. David McAndrew of Morris County Sheriff’ s Department Local 151, Jared Arcidiacono of Pascack Valley Local 206 and Michael Podlaski of Raritan Township Local 337 added goals, and the game turned into a celebration with a final push to try to set up Schulze for a score.
“ Being the first game, we didn’ t know what to expect, but our practice paid off and we just had a good time,” Schulze commented.“ In the second period, it was a matter of guys clicking, passes connecting and everything working.”
Ice Age
At this point, the most adept hockey aficionado like President Colligan, a Devils worshiper, or Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar, a Rangers fanatic, might be wondering if the PBA possessed perhaps the most important piece of any successful hockey foundation. The answer is“ yes,” as goalies Vinny Amabile of Hopewell Local 342 and Joe Aliseo of Elizabeth Local 4 combined to hold Jersey City to a total of four goals and just two after the first period.
The PBA certainly has the toughness integral to this sport, and, of course, that is part of the job as well as being a hockey player. Defensemen Brad Shelton of Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Local 195 and Schulze aren’ t afraid to stand up to an oncoming player and separate him from the puck; Taco will stand up to anybody. And toughness would certainly be needed before the game against the NJ State Police was