‘Selfish’ NJ Devils owner’s chopper lands at soccer field, cancels kids’ game

Playtime's over, kids. Josh Harris' ride's here.

Deadspin reports a youth soccer game at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark was called off Sunday night after a helicopter touched town in the middle of the pitch and stuck around to pick up New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris.

The school and Harris have an arrangement allowing him to use the field as a helipad from time to time — since St. Benedict's is about six minutes by car from the Prudential Center — according to the report. But Sunday, the helicopter set down just as children were beginning to play, and Harris was still at the Prudential Center watching the Devils play the Canucks.

The report quoted Father Edwin Leahy, the school's headmaster, saying aviation company Heliflite didn't check in before the trip — if it had, arrangements would have been made to land the chopper during halftime. But instead, the under-13 soccer match was called off entirely.

The report quotes a parent at the game: "The boys and their families waited in the cold until finally it became clear that Harris was running late and no one knew when he might return to pick up his ride. Eventually, the coaches decided to call the boys’ game and everyone went home disappointed, frustrated and annoyed."

The parent continues: "I am not sure when or if Harris ever showed up to remove his helicopter from the field, but I hope that he had a great night. There are a number of 12 year olds and youth soccer fans who did not — because of Harris’s selfish behavior."

Calls to the school and to the New Jersey Devils by New Jersey 101.5 has not yet been returned.