Youth Hockey Coach Charged After Fight At Mennen Sports Arena

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A coach for a youth hockey league was charged following a fight with a parent at the Mennen Arena ice rink, Morris County Park Police said. It's not clear if the coach is still coaching for the New Jersey Colonials travel hockey team.

John Morea, 29, was charged with simple assault at a youth sporting event, threatening to kill, attempting to cause bodily injury to another and driving after having his license suspended or revoked in connected to the Oct. 27 fight, police reports say. Morea's father, Thomas Morea, 59, was also charged with simple assault at a youth sporting event and attempting to cause bodily injury to another.

In videos provided to Patch, John Morea is seen leaving the lobby of the ice rink around 8:50 p.m., before an apparent argument starts between Thomas Morea and another person. John Morea is seen running inside and throwing punches. The victim's identity was redacted from police reports; NJ.com identified that person as a player's parent.

John Morea did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

The entire incident appears to take place in under a minute, although after being removed from the lobby John Morea can be seen trying to get back inside. Bystanders block the door. (The incident starts around 1:45 into the video in the left of the screen, above).

It's not clear what started the fight. Witness statements provided by Patch from the Morris County Parks Police were almost entirely redacted, and the videos do not have any audio.

It's also not clear if Morea is still coaching the 14-bantam minor team for the New Jersey Colonials. Neither the team nor Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) responded to Patch's request for comment.

Glenn Hefferan, the president of AAHA, sent this statement to Patch after the initial publication of the story to clarify that Morea was suspended:

The Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) was made aware of the incident shortly after it allegedly occurred. At that time, we were informed that the Club suspended the coach immediately, pending their investigation. Additionally, the AAHA immediately notified USA Hockey of the matter. Upon learning learning further information about the incident, we issued a Summary Suspension to the involved party. The matter is now in the court system, and we have no additional comments at this time.

Morea is still listed as a coach on the Colonial's website.

Image via Morris Co. Park Police video