Bridgewater-Raritan Alum To Officiate At Paralympic Games In Beijing, China

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — You could say ice runs through Bobby Esposito's veins who lives and breathes hockey. So when the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School graduate was asked to officiate at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China for sled hockey he gladly accepted.

"It's a dream come true. Growing up it was my dream of getting to a professional level," said Esposito. "It's a surreal feeling. I am super fortunate and happy."

Esposito has always had a passion for hockey.

"I started playing hockey since I could probably walk," said Esposito.

He played at the Bridgewater Sports Arena with the Bridgewater Bears and then for four years with the Bridgewater-Raritan High School hockey team. He was also a captain on the high school team.

"Hockey has been my life and gotten me through some of the worst times of my life," said Esposito.

Afterward, Esposito continued to play for a men's league and into college at Montclair State University before starting refereeing for money.

"I stopped playing in my sophomore year of college because I was having so much fun refereeing," said Esposito.

His refereeing took him all over the country from Texas to South Dakota and then Iowa. He also officiated the junior level hockey for the U.S.

But it was in 2016, when Esposito was introduced to sled hockey while in Buffalo, New York.

"I fell in love with the sport," said Esposito.

Sled hockey follows most of the typical ice hockey rules except with different equipment. Instead of standing, players are seated in specially designed sleds that sit on top of two hockey skate blades.

Each player has two sticks, instead of one, with blades at the top and metal picks at the butt to help propel themselves.

"The upper body strength of the players is impeccable since they are only using their upper body to propel themselves and shoot," said Esposito. "So the strength required is incredible."

The 2022 Winter Paralympics will begin on Friday, March 4 and ends on Sunday, March 13.

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