Mid’town High School South hockey coach suspended

Mid’town High School South
hockey coach suspended
Incident involved
private league play at South Brunswick rink
By josh davidson
Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown High School South’s varsity hockey coach has been suspended from his coaching duties after allegedly being involved in a scuffle at a hockey game in South Brunswick, according to school district officials.

Adrien Thomas, 30, of Farmingdale was charged with aggravated assault for a Jan. 26 incident at the Pro Skate rink in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, South Brunswick Detective James Ryan.

The assault occurred in a scuffle at a noon hockey game, unrelated to High School South’s hockey program, between the Wall Eagles, which Thomas coached, and the South Brunswick Titans.

The Eagles are made up of 16- to 17-year-olds, while Titans are ages 14 to 15.

The teams are from private leagues, not affiliated with any school district.

"During the game there was evidently a discussion over the skill level of the teams, and the parents made some comments," Ryan said.

After the match, a group of women confronted Thomas’ father, Larry, 51, of Island Heights in the lobby of the rink, he said.

Initial comments were made in the stands during the game.

"(The women) told Larry Thomas that they thought his comments during the game were inappropriate," Ryan said.

They told Larry he should apologize, but he refused, saying there was nothing to apologize for, Ryan said.

James Wallace, 41, Burlington, intervened, Ryan said.

"James Wallace and Larry Thomas engaged in profanity and name calling about each other’s wives," Ryan said. "Both men were separated by some onlookers. At that point, Adrien Thomas intervened, and he was involved in a physical assault with James Wallace."

The two were separated, Ryan said.

Wallace received a bloody ear and sought medical attention through his private doctor days later, the detective said.

"There was no ambulance or emergency medical services called on the day of the incident," Ryan said. "It’s an important lesson for all people in sports that whatever is happening, you have keep your emotions in check. We’re examples for all the young people around us."

When police arrived, the fight was already broken up by rink employees, he said.

The entire incident lasted about two minutes, he said.

Police seized the rink’s security tape and interviewed about six people during the week following, Ryan said.

The tape showed that the dispute between Adrien and Wallace only lasted a few seconds, he said.

It appeared that the two rolled to the ground and were separated, he said.

School officials gave separate accounts on how they will handle Thomas’s suspension.

On Monday, Middletown Athletic Director Walter Woods said he, Schools Superintendent David L. Witmer and South’s principal Daniel Lane all made the decision to suspend Thomas due to the arrest.

The suspension will last at least until Thomas’ trial date, he said.

At that point officials will decide if Thomas can return, he said.

"We’ll see how it all plays out," he said.

However, a message Witmer left to board members on Monday told a different story.

Witmer left the message after he had gone for the day to keep board members updated on district happenings.

The message pointed to previous newspaper stories and a Dec. 11 fight involving players from Middletown South High School and Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and said Thomas will be suspended for the entire year.

"Apparently, we need a better model there, so that’s what’s going to happen," Witmer stated in his message.

The Dec. 11 incident was far beyond Thomas’ control, and he should not be held accountable, Mark Rosenbloom, president of Middletown Hockey, said.

Middletown Hockey is the booster club for the Middletown High School North and South’s varsity and junior varsity hockey teams.

No officials from Middletown have spoken with South Brunswick police, Ryan said.

School officials learned case facts from area newspapers, Woods said.

Witmer’s message pointed to newspaper accounts as the basis for his decision.

Thomas or anyone else involved will most likely not face jail time, Ryan said.

This is because nobody charged had a criminal record, he said.

Larry Thomas and Wallace, whose fight was not caught on tape, were charged with disorderly conduct.

Adrien was concerned with his father’s safety, Ryan said.

"There’s no indication that any of these individuals have been in any similar incident before," Ryan said.

"By all counts it appears to be a situation that got out of hand, and by some account I feel it’s been blown out of proportion," he said.

Adrien Thomas’ aggravated assault charge is a result of a recent law enacted to toughen the state’s stance on fighting at youth sporting events, Ryan said.

"This was a simple assault," he said. "If we got this call out of any other establishment, it would have been much less of a charge."

It is a fourth-degree charge, he said.

"Again, based on no criminal history, even if it went to a trial situation, he would still be facing no jail time," Ryan said.

Ryan said his No. 1 tip for anyone involved in any incidents would be keeping a cool head.

"It’s better to walk away," he said. "My impression in dealing with people (in these incidents) is that they all wished they walked away at some point."

Fights usually happen from a series of events, he said.

In this case, Larry Thomas should have never been confronted at all, or the problem should have been talked through, he said.

"While there’s three people charged, there’s a lot of responsibility going on here," he said.

Police have never been called to the Pro Skate rink for fighting, Ryan said.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office was informed of the case, which was handed to South Brunswick Municipal Court Judge Michael Dowgin.

Since the case is pending, Dowgin could not comment.

Tempers have lessened since, Ryan said.

Wallace is not allowed to attend his son’s hockey games, he said.

"That’s a pretty strong message to send to them," Ryan said.

Adrien Thomas does not condone violence on his teams, Rosenbloom said.

"In terms of his performance as a high school coach, he’s been excellent and dependable and always trying to get the kids to the next level of the sport. He’s never endorsed violence or retaliation."

Rosenbloom’s son, Matt, is a senior captain on the High School South varsity hockey team, who has played since the hockey program’s inception three years ago.

Adrien Thomas has been responsible, dependable, reliable and there to work with his players, Rosenbloom said.

Adrien Thomas refused to comment on the case.