Police Still Investigating Assault During Arenas Hockey Fight

There have been no arrests yet in the hockey fight that broke out late Sunday night at the Arenas ice skating rink, located in the Woodbridge Community Center.

The brawl left one player with a possible compound fracture to his leg, and one of the referees was hit in the head.

"No victims were innocent. No guests were assaulted," said town spokesman John Hagerty about the late night fracas on the ice. "It was a hockey game, and hockey teams tend to fight with one another."

The melee broke out during a game between the Bombardiers and the Rhinos, both amateur teams based in Staten Island. Police responded to the 911 call around midnight where they found Kevin Conlon, a member of the Rhino team, laying on the ice with injuries to his leg.

Referees Daniel Taggart and Peter Schlittenhardt told police that #78 of the Bombardiers - later identified as Jeff Cella - had specifically targeted Conlon by throwing a forearm to Conlon and slamming him to the ground. Schliitenhardt said he was pushed and threatened by Michael Puliafico, another Bombardier player.

The fight on the ice "cleared both benches," according to the police report, and was allegedly started by an illegal play by the Rhinos.

Puliafico, who said he was hit by a hockey stick during the fight, was questioned by police in the locker room.

Cella, who allegedly caused the fractured leg to Conlon, had already left the hockey rink by the time police arrived. 

Conlon was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment.

Conlon was interviewed at the hospital by Woodbridge Patrolmen Matthew Herbert and Richard Hilliard. When asked whether his injuries happened during the game or the fight, Conlon said, "A little from Column A, and a little from Column B," but admitted the leg fracture happened during the brawl.

Schlittenhardt, the referee whom Hagerty said "believed he was hit in the head with a hockey stick," did not seek medical attention for his injury.

Police are still investigating the aggravated assault against Conlon. As of the police report release, they hadn't obtained an address on Cella.

Both the Bombardiers and Rhinos had rented the Arenas rink before, Hagerty said. "Dozens of teams rent the rink. That's how we make our money," he said.