Game On
State PBA Hockey Team draws more than 55 players; season set to begin in January n BY DAN CAMPANA
It might be a baseball reference, but the sentiment applies to Mike Schulze’ s plan to launch the New Jersey State PBA’ s first hockey team: If you build it, they will come.
Although Schulze, the Monmouth County Sheriff’ s Officers Local 314 State Delegate, knew a team would come to fruition at some point, even he admits to being a bit surprised at how fast things fell into place. So he built it, and they came. Oh, how they came.
“ The response has been overwhelming,” he said with a bit of excitement in his voice.“ Everything did come together quickly.”
During the past month, at least 55 players have turned out for team practice / tryout sessions. Schulze said the collection includes a wide range of age and job experience, from a 21-year-old fresh out of the police academy to players in their early 40s who have been PBA members for two decades. The group represents various agencies and Locals, including municipalities, sheriff’ s offices, corrections and more.
“ The hard part for me now is picking a roster for each game,” Schulze added with a laugh.
Schulze’ s focus is on the team’ s first game, Jan. 14 against the Jersey City Police Department Enforcers, a contest with dual meaning. While it will be the inaugural game and a culmination of a lot of work to establish the team, it’ s also being played for charity.
The $ 5 admission to the game at Red Bank Armory will benefit the Kortney Rose Foundation, which is named for a young girl who died of a brain tumor. The foundation supports research at Children’ s Hospital of Philadelphia in its work to find a cure for pediatric brain tumors, Schulze said.
The armory holds about 500 people, and Schulze hopes to see it filled to capacity.
“ I would love to see this Red Bank Armory, now converted into an ice arena, packed to support us and a great charity,” Schulze added.“ It makes you feel good to do something good for the community.”
The team’ s development didn’ t happen single-handedly, according to Schulze. He offered high praise to NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan for inspiring the idea to start a hockey team and further credited all PBA Locals and various businesses which made donations, especially Saddle River Local 348 State Delegate Charles Schwartz who helped obtain $ 10,000 in contributions.
“ It was very humbling … a great start for the team,” Schulze said of that donation, which went to help pay for ice time and equipment.
Of course, there’ s more work to be done on and off the ice. The team is selling embroidered, hooded, hockey-style sweatshirts as part of its fundraising, while financial contributions can be made to the team at any time.
The Jan. 14 game also begins a eight-game schedule which includes games against Philadelphia and Port Authority police, the New Jersey State Police and, of course, a showdown with the firefighters from the NJ FMBA on March 25.
“ Everyone loves that rivalry,” Schulze chirped playfully.
Schulze, a New York Rangers fan, has said all along that he wanted to put together as competitive a team as possible. With a roster forming that features players with experience ranging from club teams to juniors, he’ s eager to see what happens when that puck drops for that first game.
“ You never know until you go out and play that first night,” he offered. Want to help? Donations can be sent to the NJSPBA Hockey Team at PO Box 264, NJSPBA Hockey Team, 285 E. Main St., Oceanport, N. J., 07757 The Kortney Rose Foundation: thekortneyrosefoundation. org For team updates and upcoming schedule, visit:
facebook. com / njspbahockeyteam d
NJSPBA Hockey Schedule
Jan. 14 Vs. JCPD Enforcers Red Bank Armory Ice Complex 76 Chestnut St., Red Bank 8 p. m.
Jan. 21 Vs. New Jersey State Police Red Bank Armory Ice Complex 76 Chestnut St., Red Bank 8 p. m.
Jan. 28 Vs. Atlantic City Guns‘ n’ Hoses Winding River Skating Center 1211 Whitesville Road, Toms River 8 p. m.
Feb. 12 Vs. JCPD Enforcers Pershing Field Ice Skating 800 Summit Ave., Jersey City 8 p. m.
Feb. 25 Vs. Port Authority Police Red Bank Ice Complex 76 Chestnut St., Red Bank 8 p. m.
March 4 Vs. Navesink Hockey Team Navesink Country Club 50 Luffburrow Lane, Middletown 2:15 p. m.
March 19 Vs. Philly Police Red Bank Armory Ice Complex 76 Chestnut St., Red Bank 6 p. m.
March 25 Vs. NJ FMBA Red Bank Armory Ice Complex 76 Chestnut St., Red Bank 4 p. m.
www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ DECEMBER 2016 37