TOMS RIVER, NJ – The decision to pull the plug on the 2023-24 Jackson Memorial-Libery High School ice hockey program was made after several attempts by the district were made to make it work for the players. The Jackson hockey program, which, under its decade-old charter agreement, is funded mostly by parents, and not technically a district-sanctioned support.
Under the initial agreement, it was up to the Jackson Hockey Club parents to maintain the program, raise funds, and pay for all associated costs.
Initially, Jackson had full squads for both Liberty and Memorial high schools, but waning interest in the sport and high costs have led to lower-than-needed enrollment. To keep the program afloat, the district entered into an agreement with Point Boro to create a consolidated team. That agreement also fell apart this year.
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli and the district attempted to merge the Jackson program with Toms River High School North, which has a full-roster, but few substitute players. That plan was rejected by the NJSIAA, the state’s governing body on high school sports.
Low enrollment also disrupted the district’s gymnastics program. While the district is not fielding a team, individual gymnasts can participate in individual competitions.
Chris Donovan, president of the parent group, told the district that the program had no goalie this year and not enough players, therefore would be unable to field a team between both schools on its own.
“This was a very difficult decision to make and we feel for every student who has lost the ability to be part of a school team,” said Allison Erwin, district communications officer. “We have always believed in supporting a strong athletic program as part of a comprehensive school experience.”
Erwin said the district’s $10 million budget shortfall this year also influenced the difficult decision.
The decision was made to end the effort and regroup for the 2024-25 season. Several hockey parents then lashed out at Pormilli and the school district, blaming them for the sport’s failure. It is now up to them to ensure the district has enough players to field a team next year to restart the program.
Toms River Regional School District Superintendent Michael Citta said he would be alright with a co-op with Jackson but confirmed that the NJSIAA has rejected that request.
Todd Porter, the former chairman of the Jackson GOP Club, told school officials the hockey club ‘met with media’ and said the district has been dragging its feet. That email by Porter came weeks after it was noted that the NJSIAA rejected the Toms River merger. He said he had even reached out to his friend, New Jersey Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin, to see if the lawyer, who serves as township attorney for both Jackson and Toms River, could put some weight on the NJSIAA.
Porter accused Superintendent Pormilli of ‘roadblocking’ the hockey program, an allegation she vehemently denied. She confirmed that every effort to make the program work this season was made, but the NJSIAA blocked that effort, according to officials in Toms River and Jackson.
Jamie Chau, the mother of a hockey player on the now-defunct team, blamed Pormilli for pulling the plug on the team.
“Let’s be 100% clear: Superintendent Nicole Pormilli does not support hockey,” Chau said. “She is neither sad nor disappointed. She never fought for the children.”
School board member Giuseppe Palmieri said every effort was made to save the program.
“Every effort to save the hockey program was made, including, but not limited to, the approval and support of the superintendent and the board as this was passed and approved on a board meeting agenda,” he said. “What’s unfortunate is that someone from the parent group decided to reach out to Point, telling them that the group does not have enough interest in the co-op, which resulted in the co-op agreement being dissolved.
The NJSIAA had approved the co-op between Point and Jackson.
Chau confirmed that a hockey parent was responsible for the dissolution of the agreement.
“One parent ruined it for the entire team,” Chau said. “I am fully aware of this and I believe it was done with vicious intent.”
Chau said she has even contacted Governor Phil Murphy to address the matter. The governor’s office has not issued a statement on the matter.
“These students just want to play hockey with their friends, be part of a team,” Chau added. “Shame on all of us for letting a few unkind people break their spirit.”
Toms River Superintendent Citta confirmed that the two districts petitioned the NJSIAA to combine the teams.
“My plan was just that and the NJSIAA shot that down as well,” Citta said. “All scenarios I presented to the NJSIAA were turned down. All were rejected.”
Citta said the NJSIAA said no because it was a last-minute request, leaving the door open to a potential merger for the 2024-25 season and beyond.
“They just said no mostly because of the timing,” Citta said.
The NJSIAA, according to Citta, said it denied the request because Jackson had a previous co-op with Point Boro and canceled it at the last minute, and the last-minute nature of the matter was unable to be resolved in time for the upcoming season.
The NJSIAA disputed the claims made by both superintendents.
“I can confirm that neither the Jackson schools nor Toms River North ever applied for a cooperative program or sought emergency relief. Neither school was ever rejected by NJSIAA. Statements claiming the schools were rejected are false,” said Michael Cherenson, Executive Vice President of SCG Advertising, a public relations firm hired by the NJSIAA.
Greg McClain, Director of Athletics for the Jackson School District, assured parents that if interest in the program increases and they can field a qualified team with a full roster next season, the district will make sure it does what it can to accommodate the players.
Porter said both school districts are lying to the parents and claimed, through Assemblyman McGuckin, that neither school district applied for the merger.
“I need answers,” Porter demanded. “I need to know why no one wants to help any of these kids. There’s one parent that broke this whole thing up as far as any of us can tell. That’s why Point left, because our goalie did and everyone else is getting screwed.”
“According to the NJSIAA, neither school district applied for this,” Assemblyman McGuckin said. “There is nothing else our office can do.”