Chris Rotolo, and Amanda Oglesby

Asbury Park Press

HOWELL - An altercation on Sunday afternoon following a high school hockey game at Howell Ice World initially was billed as a parental "attack" on a pair of referees. But that report is being disputed.

Point Pleasant native Robert Dovenero, 46, was on hand for the meeting between Manalapan and Howell and says the post-game incident, which was confirmed by the investigating members of the Howell Police Department, was the result of preceding actions by referee David Brown, 45, of Wall.

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"The altercation was spurred by the actions of one referee David Brown," Dovenero said. "He was yelling obscenities directed at both players and parents, one mother, in particular, who was ejected from the arena."

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Dovenero says that following the woman's ejection, Brown, who was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center on Sunday for injuries, was overheard by her son, a player on the Howell team, referring to his mother as a "bitch."

Upon overhearing the alleged obscene reference to his mother, the player questioned Brown and was ejected, and that was followed by the ejection of a teammate. However, the altercation didn't occur until after the final buzzer sounded, when the husband of the woman in question entered the officials' dressing room.

"The situation was heightened when the husband confronted the referees to find out who made the obscene comment. "Within 30 seconds an altercation could be heard behind the closed door," said Doevenero, who says the dressing room door had shut behind the three men, blocking the view of those onlookers. "When I forcibly opened the door to break things up, I saw the two referees on top of the parent."

According to Dovenero he separated both referees and the parent until Howell police arrived, at which time he says Brown, not the police, phoned for an ambulance to transport him to JSMC.

Dovenero also said that he filed a complaint against Brown on Monday evening with the Howell Police Department.

According to a media release issued late Sunday night, the Howell police confirmed that officers responded to Howell Ice World earlier that afternoon in reference to a dispute that occurred between parents and referees.

According to the release, which was issued by Sgt. Scott Revilak, investigating officers "learned that a hockey game took place at this location and a dispute between parents and referees occurred. The dispute started during the game. Following the game, one parent approached two referees regarding the dispute. At this time a physical altercation began, and a fourth subject became involved in the altercation."

TPolice also elaborated on the injuries suffered by those involved, though no details on who was afflicted with what injuries were given. "The four subjects involved in the physical altercation sustained minor visible injuries (this included red marks and bruising to facial area, bloodshot eyes, bruised hand) and complaints of pain."

Police said two people refused medical attention and the other two subjects were takes to Jersey Shore Medical Center.

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Brown, the president of the New York-New Jersey chapter of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association, confirmed Sunday night that he was one of two referees attacked after the game, but declined to talk further, saying the incident was under investigation.

Brad Gardner, Manalapan's hockey coach, said he came out of a locker room after the game and saw the rink's lobby full of parents and police.

The game had ended in a tie after one of his players, Rob Colligan, was checked from behind and collided headfirst into the side of the rink. Gardner said Colligan was knocked unconscious and was transported to JSMC, where he eventually was cleared of serious injuries, suffering a severe neck sprain and swelling.

Play was stopped while the team waited for an ambulance, but tensions continued to mount between players, parents and referees, Gardner said. Before the game ended, multiple players were given game misconducts and removed, he added.

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Mike Celano, president of the Shore Conference Ice Hockey Coach's Association, confirmed that the incident took place at the rink and that Brown was one of two taken to the hospital, but declined further comment as the incident was still being investigated.

Athletic directors and school administrators at both high schools could not be reached by phone on Monday, and did not immediately respond by email.

Brown was contacted again on Monday but declined to comment.

Howell police are still investigating.

Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby@GannettNJ.com