Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
By CRAIG FREILICH NORFOLK -- An official with minor hockey in the Norfolk and Norwood area is unhappy about one of the local league’s bantam players allegedly being injured by the parent of a …
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By CRAIG FREILICH
NORFOLK -- An official with minor hockey in the Norfolk and Norwood area is unhappy about one of the local league’s bantam players allegedly being injured by the parent of a player from an opposing team.
“We are obviously disappointed that this incident occurred,” said Norfolk-Norwood Minor Hockey Association President Mike Zagrobelny.
But he said the response of the community here and in other hockey communities has been encouraging.
“We are pleased with the reaction of the Sheriff’s Department and all the other local hockey associations, and with the support they have shown for our association and particularly for the victim,” Zagrobelny said.
He said the Malone and Lake Placid associations have been very supportive of the Norfolk-Norwood association.
On Thursday, 64-year-old Jimmy S. O’Brien of Lake Placid was arrested by St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies Thursday and charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child in an incident after a game on Dec. 17.
Investigating sheriff’s officers said O’Brien assaulted a 13-year-old player after a game at Zappia Arena in Norfolk. They said he went into the locker room and pushed the boy, whose head hit a concrete wall, causing a concussion.
Players from Malone and Lake Placid were also on the ice that day.
“Both the Malone and Lake Placid associations really share all of our feelings about the incident,” said Zagrobelny.
He said that several municipalities are considering banning O’Brien from their rinks or suspending him for a period of time.
O’Brien was arraigned in Norfolk Town Court and will reappear there at a later date.
The judge issued an order of protection against O’Brien.
Zagrobelny expressed particular dismay about this incident.
“We’ve all seen YouTube clips of parents fighting or screaming at their children’s events. But usually it’s a parent with a parent. But what’s unusual about this is an adult against a child. Bantam age level is players are 13, 14, maybe 15. No one believes this type of behavior is appropriate here or at any sporting event,” Zagrobelny said.
