Former Devils Star Dowd Ruled 'Not Guilty' In Assault Case

Four months after he was accused of kicking a player on the high school team he coaches, Jim Dowd has been found not guilty, according to a report.

Wall Township Municipal Court Judge Joseph Defino announced his ruling Wednesday morning, finding Dowd not guilty of simple assault, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Dowd, the former Brick Township High School and New Jersey Devils star, was accused of kicking a player on the Manasquan ice hockey team, where he is the head coach. The incident occurred at a game on Jan. 7 at the Jersey Shore Arena in Wall,

The player’s parent filed a charge of simple assault, claiming Dowd had kicked his son in the back during the game between Manasquan and Red Bank.

Wall Township police investigated but declined to press charges against Dowd, but the parent insisted on pressing forward, and on April 30, Defino heard testimony from players and coaches associated with the team.

Wednesday, Defino declared that “markedly divergent” witness testimony did not prove that Dowd acted recklessly, or did knowingly and purposefully cause harm to his player, according to the Press report.

Dowd, who starred at Brick Township High School and Lake Superior State University in Michigan, spent 17 years in the NHL, and helped the Devils win the 1995 Stanley Cup against the Detroit Red Wings. He was hired as head coach of the Manasquan-Point Pleasant Beach cooperative team in April 2014.

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