Szymanski, Jim

Jim grew up in Newark NJ, a few blocks from the Ironbound Recreation Center, though at fourteen his family moved to neighboring Belleville in April 1970 before the complex opened. In September 1971, after school one day he took two busses for the seven-mile trip down to Ironbound to see the new facility. That afternoon Jim was introduced to Bill Kimmelman, the founder and Director of the Ironbound Instructional Ice Hockey League, and that began his eighteen-year journey in New Jersey amateur ice hockey. Jim quickly became Mr. Kimmelman's side kick or helper, attending meetings with him, organizing equipment distribution and managing scoresheets, schedules and statistics. That September Jim also met Tom Granelli, GM of the Newark Brewers semi-pro team, becoming the clock keeper and game announcer at home games, and traveling with the team for road games while learning to be a trainer. He continued on with the Brewers for their three seasons as an assistant trainer, and more recently helped with organizing the Brewer's 50th Anniversary in 2023.

He was at Ironbound almost every afternoon traveling on those busses and getting a ride home each evening from Bill, as well as spending all weekend at the rink helping…