MIDDLESEX TWP - Charges are pending against a Knoch hockey player accused of assaulting a referee last week during a high school game at the Ice Connection rink on Route 8.

The 17-year-old boy, whom authorities did not identify, allegedly punched referee Scott Davidson, who tried to break up an on-ice fight between the teen and a player for Taylor Allderdice High School of Pittsburgh, township police said.

Davidson, 38, of Gibsonia, Allegheny County was not injured.

Police said they plan to file a charge of assault on a sports' official - a first-degree misdemeanor - against the Clinton Township boy next week in Butler County juvenile court.

The alleged assault occurred about 7:55 p.m. Saturday after Davidson and another referee, Bill McCraken, broke up a fight between the suspect and the Allderdice player.

When the referees told both players to return to their respective benches, the suspect threw off his helmet, dropped his gloves and took off after the Allderdice player, said Middlesex Township police officer Harry Callithen.

Both referees intervened and stopped the suspect.

Police said the teen reached around McCraken and punched Davidson in the face. After throwing the punch, the boy grabbed hold of Davidson's jersey and challenged him to a fight.

McCraken pulled the suspect off the ice and the game resumed.

John Nicholas, head coach of Knoch's hockey program, said the boy was thrown off the team following the incident.

But the teen, a senior at Knoch High School, will not face disciplinary action at school because Knoch's 12-year-old hockey program is not sanctioned by the WPIAL and is considered a club sport by the South Butler School District.

"The hockey club is not a school activity," said district spokesman Todd O'Shell. "The only thing the school board authorized when the club was formed was the Knoch name.

"Since the club is not a WPIAL or interscholastic sport here, we have no domain over the program," he said. "We may not approve of what happened, but we have no disciplinary recourse."