Former Devils Star Dowd On Trial In Wall On Charge He Kicked Player

Did former New Jersey Devils star Jim Dowd assault one of his high school ice hockey players?

That is the question facing Wall Township Municipal Court Judge Joseph F. DeFino, as the star ice hockey player who grew up in Brick and now lives in Point Pleasant is on trial on a charge of simple assault in DeFino’s courtroom, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.

Dowd, a 17-year NHL veteran, was accused in January of kicking one of his players on the Manasquan-Point Pleasant Beach cooperative ice hockey team. The complaint, filed by a parent, claims Dowd kicked the player during a game between Manasquan and Red Bank Regional at the Jersey Shore Arena in Wall on Jan. 7.

Wall Township police investigated the complaint and declined to press charges. The Press report said the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office also declined to file charges.

Dowd was suspended from his job as the coach while law enforcement investigated, but was reinstated once Wall police declined to prosecute.

But the parent refused to drop the complaint, resulting in the trial in Wall municipal court.

The Press, reporting from court, said players from Manasquan were called to testify. Testimony and closing arguments were held but the judge did not immediately release a decision, the report said.

Dowd, who set a national ice hockey scoring record during his Brick High School career from 1984-87, was hired in April 2014 as the head coach of the Manasquan team.

His NHL career included a Stanley Cup championship with the Devils in 1994-95.

>>RELATED:

• Wall Police: No Charges In Dowd Investigation
• Letter To The Editor Defends Dowd
• UPDATE: Wall Police Release Statement On Dowd Complaint