Youth Hockey Coach Accused Of Hitting Player With Stick: Report

STAMFORD, CT — A Connecticut man and youth hockey coach in Putnam County, N.Y. has been accused of hitting a 10-year-old player with a hockey stick, according to multiple reports.

On Monday, Lohud reported that Marvin Minkler, 53, was charged on Oct. 31 with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Minkler was released and is due back in court on Nov. 30. The Stamford Advocate said Wednesday that Minkler is from Stamford.

Lohud said that according to a complaint filed in Southeast Town Court in Putnam County, Minkler hit the boy with a hockey stick from behind in the "upper back, shoulder, head and neck area" on Sept. 28 at the Brewster Ice Arena in Brewster, N.Y. where Minkler is the hockey director.

The boy was knocked down, and Minkler yelled and cursed at him for performing a drill incorrectly, according to Lohud. The complaint said that Minkler did not check on the boy's condition.

The Stamford Advocate reported that Minkler was previously a coach at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, and was director of Stamford Twin Rinks. He also coached in Greenwich at one point.

In a statement to the Advocate, Minkler's attorney, Sean Broderick, denied the allegations.

Patch has reached out to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office for more information.

Read more from the Stamford Advocate and Lohud.