Benefit hockey game slated for this weekend

Six Brick hockey players will help lead the Ocean County All-Stars against Monmouth County in the 11h annual Jim Dowd's Shoot for the Stars Foundation benefit game at the Red Bank Armory on Sunday. Faceoff is at 6 p.m Admission is $10 at the door.

Proceeds go to the Marks Family Fundraiser, a Spring Lake Heights family with mother Susan and six children who suffered a tragic loss when their dad, Randy Marks, passed away last year. Randy was a town carpenter who was visiting the gravesite of his mother on Mother's Day with three of the children at the time.

Mike Vincent of Brick Memorial, which reached the NJSIAA Public Schools Tournament semifinals, is one of the goalies and is joined by Mustangs' teammate Erik Talty, a defenseman, on the Ocean team. Four players from Brick Township, which made the NJSIAA Tournament for the first time in three years, were selected, including defenseman James Murphy and forwards Mike Gumina, Mike Guarino and Matt Dornacker.

Also on the Ocean team that is being steered by Point Pleasant coaches Mike Ryan, Mike Nevil and Sean Sanborn are Monsignor Donovan players Ken Yasenchock, a forward who was the Most Valuable Player of last year's game; forward Mike Seyglinski and defenseman Dean Malanga, who played in the Brick Hockey Club. Other players selected for the Ocean team include forward Travis Foster of Toms River East, forward Jeff Sowell of Point Pleasant and Toms River South selections Andrew Nebus and Gary Burdge — both defensemen — and Jay Malone and Tom Phillips, who are both forwards. Pete Stamberger is the other goalie.

The teams will have a scrimmage game on the Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Red Bank Armory.

Kevin Pecca, a forward from Red Bank Catholic who was the MVP for the Monmouth team last year, is back on the squad that won last year's game, 4-3, on a goal with :58 left. Monmouth, which has won the last six games, leads the series, 7-3.