UPDATE: Howell PD & High School comment on hockey brawl

HOWELL -  Howell police and the Freehold Regional School District were reached for comment  Tuesday concerning an incident that took place on Sunday at Howell Ice World, where parents and referees became entangled in an altercation after a high school hockey game between Howell and Manalapan.

Howell Police Sgt. Christian Antunez said "no arrests have been made nor are there any other updates" concerning the matter at this time. However, Antunez is reviewing the case to see if it warrants further investigation.

Rebecca Morton, Freehold Regional School District public information officer, wis directing all media inquiries to Howell police, stating "We have no comment on the matter because it did not include any of our students or staff members."

UPDATE: Hockey referee: I was 'attacked' in Howell

One of the parents involved in an altercation Sunday with a pair of referees after a high school hockey game at Howell Ice World said Monday one of the officials instigated the confrontation by calling the mother of one player an obscene name.

Point Pleasant native Robert Dovenero, 46, whose son played for Howell in the match with Manalapan, told the Asbury Park Press that he gave a statement to Howell police about  the altercation and events leading up to the clash.

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The day before, referee Dave Brown, president of the New York-New Jersey chapter of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association, said he was one of two referees attacked by two parents who entered the referees' locker room after the game ended in a 1-1  tie.

Dovenero told the Press he was one of the parents. But he blamed Brown for instigating the off-ice altercation, saying the official used an obscenity to refer to the mother of one of the players. Dovenero said the altercation occurred when the woman's husband got wind of the remark and confronted Brown in the referees' locker room.

Dovenero described his own involvement as that of a peacekeeper. He said he only entered the locker room after hearing commotion inside and saw the other parent and the two referees in a tussle.

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"The altercation was spurred by the actions of one referee, David Brown," Dovenero said. "He was yelling obscenities directed at both players and parents, one mother, in particular, who was ejected from the arena."

Brown, contacted by a reporter again Monday, did not respond to a request for comment. Athletic directors and administrators for both schools did not return phone calls seeking comment.

In a statement released Sunday, Howell police Sgt. Scott Revila said that upon their arrival at the rink, investigating officers "learned that a hockey game took place at this location and a dispute between parents and referees occurred. The dispute started during the game. Following the game, one parent approached two referees regarding the dispute. At this time a physical altercation began and a fourth subject became involved in the altercation."

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The release did not identify the participants but said the the "four subjects involved" sustained minor injuries, including "red marks and bruising to facial area, bloodshot eyes, bruised hand ... and complaints of pain."

Dovenero described what happened after the other parent entered the locker room.

"Within 30 seconds an altercation could be heard behind the closed door," said Doevenero.

He said he entered the room and separated the referees and the parent until Howell authorities arrived.

The statement from police said the incident is under investigation.