Youth Soccer Team Cancels Game After Devils Owner's Helicopter Parks on Pitch

New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris has a helicopter service, which is a nice thing to have for a billionaire on the go.

It flies down and picks you up, and off you go—into the sky, a glass of scotch in hand and a trough of shrimp in the arm rest (probably).

There's no waiting in traffic or listening to Uber drivers explain how this is just their side gig. A helicopter service comes with zero headaches, except for the plebeians whose recreational arrangements it parks upon.

Deadspin's Samer Kalaf published a story Wednesday about Harris' private chopper service derailing a youth soccer game at a school in Newark, New Jersey, this week.

Kalaf writes that he was contacted over email by a parent of a student at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, where a U13 game scheduled for Sunday night was canceled after Harris' helicopter landed at midfield as the game was about to start and...just stayed there.

The email, per Kalaf:

"

My son’s U13 youth soccer team was supposed to play a game at 7:30 last night (Sunday, November 8th) on the field at Benedict’s Prep in Newark. As the two teams of U13 players from the STA 02 NPL and Cedar Stars Pre-Academy team got ready to take the field, a helicopter dropped down from the sky and landed right in the middle of the field. A security detail emerged from the helicopter and informed the boys and their coaches that NJ Jersey Devils owner, Josh Harris, had instructed them to land on the field and wait for him to return from the Prudential Center where the Devils were playing. 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. 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.

"

Kalaf writes that Harris' bird is part of a fleet owned by Heliflite, a private helicopter charter service. Uber Helicopter, basically.

Apparently, Harris has an arrangement with the heads of Saint Benedict's, allowing him to use the field as a landing and departure zone, as it's a short drive from there to the Prudential Center, where the Devils play. And with the Devils taking the Vancouver Canucks to overtime (and a 4-3 win) on Sunday night, Harris ran later than expected when his helicopter touched down at the field.

Kalaf writes that he got in touch with the school's headmaster, Father Edwin Leahy, who told him the incident on Sunday night was the result of poor communication:

"

According to Leahy, the error was due to a lack of communication between the aviation company and the head of facilities at the school. Heliflite didn’t check in before beginning the trip, so when the helicopter arrived, Harris was still at the Prudential Center. Had the company called in beforehand, Leahy said, it would have been notified; the youth soccer game would have started, and the helicopter would have landed at halftime.

"

Ah yes. If only they had talked. The helicopter could've politely snuck in at the half, giving Harris an opportunity to snag some orange slices before heading out.

They're a perfect complement to scotch-shrimp.

UPDATE: 

Harris has issued a statement apologizing to the children and parents affected by the helicopter landing, per Kalaf:

"

I sincerely apologize to the kids and their coaches and families for the cancelation of their soccer game in Newark on Sunday night. As a Dad, who has spent hundreds of hours watching my kids play sports, I can understand the frustration, and for that, I am truly sorry. Working with St. Benedict’s, we have fixed the process to prevent any future issues. While I can’t take back what happened, I hope the coaches, the teams and their families would be open to being my guest at an upcoming Devils’ game, and I will be extending an invitation.

"

Maybe this was all just an elaborate, aerial ploy to get kids into hockey? 

---End of Update---

Dan is on Twitter. His helicopter Ubers always say they "just started today."