T.R. Blackhawks: We Were Forced Out of Winding River

It's about much more than just a hockey program.

With the Toms River Blackhawks - a major A travel hockey team based out of Toms River - practicing and playing their games at Ocean Ice Palace in Brick, many residents of Toms River were unhappy with the fact that town-featured team was not participating within their town.

To Blackhawks board of trustee member Michael Lakavitch, the story is much different.

The town council, partnered with Winding River Skating Center told the Blackhawks that they were not bringing in enough revenue and they were not capable of breaking even, according to Lakavitch.

"They said that as long as they could break even, that would be OK with them," said Lakavitch, who has had two children come up through the Blackhawks program, "That's not true. There's overhead and no one is taking accountability for it."

Additionally, Winding River added the Jackson Jackols -- a travel team based out of Jackson -- in an effort to replace the Blackhawks and make more money than the Blackhawks would have brought in.

"They [Winding River and the town] are picking winners and losers," Lakavitch said, "They pretty much told us 'well you're 180 kids don't matter and you don't have a say'."

"They have not turned a profit," Lakavtich added.

Winding River also combined the Shore Riptide in-house league with their travel program, and, although they might claim that they have turned a profit, Lakavitch says it is not true.

"There's overhead," he said, "They have to pay sponsors, they can't just break even. They put together a program that mirrored us, but we break even every year anyway."

Winding River said they would be interested in working with the Blackhawks, but they were simply bluffing, Lakavitch said.

"Midget levels start earlier and they said they would be willing to work with us, but that's not true. They want the program that would bring in the most money. They thought we couldn't break even. They are full of politicians," he said.

Additionally, Lakavitch said the Blackhawks helped the fundraising to get the indoor rink for Winding River, which features an indoor and outdoor rink.

"That my big problem," he said, "We helped them get that rink. And we're not being treated fair."

Jackson Memorial high school recently dropped Winding River as their home rink, playing their home games at Jersey Shore Arena in Wall and the newly built rink, Ice World in Howell.

"Where is that money going?," Lakavitch questioned, "We bring in 12-grand per year at the Bantam level. They are losing 12-grand per year by not having us."

"It's said," he said, "We bring in $225,000-$250,000 per year without overhead." 

Still, Lakavitch said the move to Ocean Ice Palace wasn't anything the Blackhawks ever planned or wanted to do.

"We're not the Wall Blackhawks. We're not the Brick Blackhawks. We're not the Wall-Brick-Toms River Blackhawks. We're the Toms River Blackhawks," he said.

"There is no accountability from them. None."