Coach Honored for Service to Brick

Brick resident Alex DePalma received the key to the township from Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis Tuesday night, but not before receiving a prestigious national award for his efforts in the community.

DePalma is the 2011 winner of the Bridgestone Mark Messier Award, which is presented each year during the NHL's Stanley Cup finals to an individual who, through his or her actions, life experience or other activities has demonstrated leadership characteristics relating to young people mirroring those characteristics for which Mark Messier is known.

The award is named for Messier, a Hall of Fame hockey player who played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. DePalma was presented with the award and a $5,000 grant by Messier himself in an on-ice presentation before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks.

DePalma has been active in Brick's hockey programs for 25 years and is the founder of Brick Stars Challenger Hockey Program, which gives young people with disabilities the chance to play the game.

"His influence extends well past our borders," Acropolis said, recognizing DePalma for his positions as New Jersey Youth Hockey Coaching Director and as an instructor with the USA Hockey Coaching Program.

"I was excited, humbled and a little skeptical," said DePalma, of winning the award. "How did a hockey guy from Brick, New Jersey win such a prestigious award against people from Minnesota, Canada, all those hockey hotbeds?"

DePalma credited all of Brick's volunteers from every organization for laying the foundation for the award, saying Brick is "built on volunteers."

"This is a hometown. This is what it’s all about. I’m up here today because I received this award, but I received this award because this is what Bricktown is built on – it’s built on volunteers."

DePalma got choked up at Tuesday's council meeting, recalling his parents who moved to Brick from Jersey City when he was little, and meeting his wife and making the decision to raise his own two children in town.

"I remember a poster when Mark Messier retired saying, ‘Mark Messier made it cool to cry,’ So if it was OK for him, it’s OK for me."