Former NHLer Jim Dowd cleared of simple assault charges in kicking incident

Former NHL forward Jim Dowd was cleared Wednesday of simple assault charges after an incident during a Manasquan-Point Pleasant Beach ice hockey game earlier this year.

Dowd reportedly kicked one of his players during the Jan. 7 game.

The judge in the case, Joseph Defino, said all of the information presented in the case pointed to a not guilty verdict.

A citizen's complaint filed by the player's parent spawned the trial, but other players on Dowd's team, as well as his assistant coach, testified that he tapped the player in a way that wasn't intended to injure or hurt.

The veteran of 728 regular season games last played in the NHL in 2007-08 as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.