Energetic Tolson Scores Sportsman Of Year Honors

By Andy Hutchison

DANBURY — A Newtown High School hockey player gets penalized for two minutes and skates to the Danbury Ice Arena penalty box for a seat. Next to him is a Jeff Tolson, the energetic, seemingly never-too-serious “big brother” of the members of the team.

Tolson is there — often sporting an autographed Nighthawk hockey jersey, volunteering his time as the Nighthawks’ public address announcer — as he has been for pretty much every home game, and some away tilts for that matter, since the program started in 2001.

In addition to announcing the goals and assists for the fans and players to hear, Tolson banters with penalized players — joking around with them until their time is up and they go back out onto the ice.

Tolson seems to have a good rapport with the student-athletes — not only the hockey players, but also students of a variety of ages from throughout town whom he sees at one of the Newtown Parks & Recreation-sponsored programs he runs from season to season.

In recognition of his sportsmanlike personality, and the many volunteer hours he contributes to the hockey team along with the Newtown Soccer Club, Tolson is the recipient of The Newtown Bee’s Harmon Award for Sportsman of the Year — named in honor of former Newtown Bee Sports Editor Kim Harmon — for 2011.

A guidance counselor at the high school, Tolson is familiar with the students on and off the ice. He is a 12-year volunteer coach with the Newtown Soccer Club, and runs recreation-sponsored weekly games for elementary, middle school, and high school students. There’s the Friday Night Lights Flag Football program, a floor hockey league, and Newtown Indoor Professional Soccer at Newtown Youth Academy.

These aren’t you average pickup youth sports games. Emphasis is put on sportsmanship, fun, and everyone getting a chance to participate. What’s more, there is a “serious” edge to the programs. In the soccer league, for example, Tolson and the players designate countries to each team and they battle in a round-robin format for “the World Cup.” First goal wins, and a new team is on the field. If a game remains scoreless for too long, Tolson adds a second ball to the playing field to increase the chances of a net-finder. At his football league and summertime camps, Tolson dresses up in uniform like the children on hand.

“Those programs that I run are real special to me,” said Tolson, adding that one of his favorite aspects is that high school students experience volunteering and serve as role models to the younger athletes by helping coach at some of the programs. “That’s been kind of the magic of the program because the younger kids really look up to the older kids,” Tolson said.

Often seen with his hat on backwards and seemingly having as much fun as the children he is directing, Tolson comes across as — well, a big kid.

“I just turned 50, and a lot of people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re 50? You don’t look 50.’ And if there’s any reason why I’ve stayed young, it’s being around the kids in this town,” said Tolson, adding that being around teenagers — and preteens — helps him keep up with “what’s current, what’s going on.”

Tolson believes his programs help keep the youth in town active and interactive — fulfilling a desire. “As much as technology’s come in and kids are all staring at screens and that kind of thing … I really think that, in the programs I’ve run and in the high school, people are people. And people want to be interactive. People want to have a good time — people want to feel good about things and I’m all for that,” Tolson said.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Tolson is a Washington Capitals hockey fan. Members of the NHS Hockey Booster Club got him a Caps jersey one year, and sent him on a trip to Boston another time, to thank Tolson for his contributions and time.

Tolson has lived in Newtown since 2000 and, along with his wife, Mandy — a psychotherapist in Danbury — is raising three children: Jake, 17; Spencer, 14; and Allyson, 11.

Around his job and family obligations, Tolson has a second career and family of sorts — working with the Newtown athletics community, and the Nighthawk hockey team in particular.

Tolson did play-by-play of the action at the recent NHS hockey alumni game over the public address system — and brought back stats and facts from the past, much to the amusement of Paul Esposito, coach of the Nighthawks, and his former players. At the regular-season games, Tolson adds a little excitement to the atmosphere with his sometimes over-the-top announcements. Newtown player Ted Benoit’s last name is pronounced as it is spelled, but Tolson light-heartedly announced it as “Ben-Wah” to give Benoit a French Canadian sound.

Tolson “insists” Benoit’s — er Ben-Wah’s — scoring numbers increased 24 percent when he put the twist on the name.

“We love having him announce — and seeing him at school, too,” Benoit said. “He loves hockey, so it’s great having him.”

Tolson shows up at the rink — generally for 9 pm or later weeknight starts, or weekend afternoon games — because he enjoys what he does and recognizes a need for support for the hockey program.

“The hockey team has always had a special place in my heart because I feel like it’s always like an underdog program — not a lot of people come out to support it, so I’ve always loved the program from that angle,” Tolson said.

Players and their family members contribute money for the opportunity to have ice time. The team’s equipment, practice and game-related expenses are not fully supported by the school system like the most of the other sports. And, with games off school campus — and out of town for that matter (not to mention after some people’s bedtimes) — the fan support, as Tolson points out, pales in comparison to what the football and basketball teams see.

Several years ago, at a postseason banquet, Tolson was given a Nighthawk hockey jersey — autographed by seniors on the team. Every year, members of the senior class sign the jersey as the tradition continues. Tolson estimates that he has 40-or-so signatures from former Hawks on that lucky uniform.

“When I know we need a win, I’ll bring that jersey out,” Tolson said.

The jersey serves as a reminder of the past student-athletes Tolson watched develop on the ice. “Throughout the years there have just been some unbelievable games,” he recalls, adding that some strong players have gone through the program every year.

“I’ve always felt like if I could add a little support being here, especially at the home games or any games I can make it to, that would be meaningful to the kids and the program,” Tolson said.

Esposito said Tolson’s commitment shows what a loyal supporter of the program he is. It is meaningful to the members of the team that Tolson devotes his time at the arena.

“He has a great relationship with the kids at the school. He’s kind of like the big brother that looks after all the kids. Just him being here — I think the kids really appreciate it — I know I do, too,” Esposito said.