Alumni Hockey Game Honors Memory of Par Hills Grad Killed in Plane Crash

Alumni from  and went head-to-head on the ice Sunday night at Mennen Arena in Morris Township. While the Parsippany High alums took home a 6-5 win, the game was about much more than the longstanding rivalry between these two schools.

The game was organized to raise money for the Maddy Loftus Memorial Scholarship Fund, a charity created in memory of former Par Hills athlete Madeline Loftus, who passed away in a 2009 plane crash at the age of 24.

Loftus was on board the Continental flight from Newark that crashed just outside Buffalo, killing all 49 on board and one person on the ground on Feb. 12, 2009.

In Loftus' memory, the fund has been established to benefit a Par Hills senior who plans to pursue collegiate athletics without a scholarship.

Loftus, who was the first female to ever play on the Par Hills ice hockey team, graduated in 2002 and went on to play Division III women's ice hockey for Buffalo State College and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota from 2002 to 2006.

But Loftus wasn’t just a hockey player, as friends and family paint the picture of a radiating source of happiness, whose impact still resonates within the town.

“Everyone loved her,” said Frankie Loftus, Maddy’s younger brother. “She was just one of those people that you’d meet and would really touch you.”

With such a magnetic personality, family and friends of Loftus wanted a way to honor her, holding the first “MADdash," a 5K run/walk, benefiting the scholarship fund in Loftus’ name.

MADdash was an immediate success, earning approximately $50,000 in donations in its first year.

It was a testament to the legacy left by the Par Hills grad.

“It just shows how much Maddy meant to everybody,” said James Ryan, who was responsible for setting up Sunday’s alumni hockey game. “Hockey was Maddy’s passion, and with the 5K is coming up soon, it’s good to get all the guys together and be able to get the word out.”

Just like their first fundraiser, the support on Sunday perfectly illustrated the impact that Loftus had on those who knew her.

Gig Tobjy, a longtime friend of the Loftus family and coordinator of the Parsippany High team, spoke about those who participated on Sunday.

“It means a lot,” he said. “All of the guys out here cared a lot about her, we all played with her, played against her, so it was good to get everyone out here.”

While the game was for charity, that didn’t stop these two teams from playing the game fast and physical. But in the end, Parsippany High, which came into the game with just nine players on its roster, earned the hard-fought win.

“The game got a little physical, but we’re rival schools and that’s going to happen,” Tobjy joked. “But we all had a good time and everybody was laughing at the end, shaking hands, so it was a good time.”

The support, both on and off the ice, was also recognized by Loftus' brother.

“It means a lot for everyone to come out for us, especially to help out a fundraiser for my sister,” Frankie Loftus said.

“Maddy loved hockey. She was my teammate, best friend and my sister,” he added.

The second annual MADdash will be held on Saturday, May 14, at the Mack-Cali Business Center, 1 Campus Drive in Parsippany. For more information visit, www.maddash2011.kintera.org or email maddash5k@gmail.com.