TOMS RIVER – The Hockey Club launched its milestone 50th anniversary season recently with a day-long celebration at Winding River Skating Center, highlighted by a showcase of community, inclusion and hockey spirit.
The schedule featured back-to-back games and fundraisers, but the centerpiece came at 1:30 p.m., when the Blackhawks 18UAA team faced off against the Brick Stars Challenger Organization, a program founded in 2009 to teach skating and hockey to children and young adults with developmental disabilities.
Since its start by Alex DePalma and Dina Crepaldi, the Brick Stars has grown into the fastest-expanding special needs hockey program in New Jersey.
Before the puck drop, players welcomed DePalma and Toms River resident John O’Connell, who was recently named USA Hockey’s 2025 Disabled Athlete of the Year. O’Connell, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former pilot who is now legally blind, competes in USA Hockey’s Warrior and Blind disciplines, skating with the New Jersey Warriors and New York Metro Blind Hockey.
Beyond the rink, O’Connell has become a leading advocate for veterans and people with visual impairments. He has testified before the New Jersey Senate on transportation issues for disabled veterans, serves on the state’s Commission for the Blind Rehabilitation Council, and sits on the board of the Blinded Veterans Association.
After his address to the Blackhawks, O’Connell was honored with a commemorative game jersey marking the club’s 50th season.
Organizers said the event reflected not only the club’s legacy of hockey in Toms River but also its commitment to inclusion and community service.
