Youth Ice Hockey Parent, Coach From RI Arrested After Fight In North Branford Rink: NBPD

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — Police say a parent and a coach have been arrested after an altercation occurred Monday night at a local hockey rink.

Around 6:30 p.m., police responded to the Northford Ice Pavilion for a report of a physical altercation between a coach and a parent.

"The investigation revealed that following the conclusion of a youth hockey game, an argument occurred in the hallway outside a locker room," police said in a news release. "The dispute escalated into a physical confrontation and was reportedly related to dissatisfaction over the amount of playing time the parents’ juvenile child received during the game."

North Branford police arrested and charged two men from Rhode Island in connection with the fight.

Joseph Desmarais, 46, of Scituate, RI and Brian Lacombe, 50, of West Warwick, RI were both charged with second-degree breach of peace. Released on a promise to appear, the men are due in New Haven Superior Court on Jan. 13, 2026.

Lacombe is a coach for the Rhode Island Saints' Peewee Minor age-level team.

"The North Branford Police Department maintains a zero-tolerance policy for physical altercations involving parents and coaches at youth sporting events," police noted in a news release.

All arrests are subject to judicial review and determination in a court of law. The information presented is based on probable cause and does not constitute a conviction.