Archive for the ‘The Death of Town Hockey’ Category

The Death of Town Hockey – Michael Costin, Jr.

Friday, July 5th, 2019

He climbed into the coffin at his father’s wake. It was as if he died that day at the rink. The beating just took a lot longer.

Michael was in & out of  jail following a troubled path of drugs, drinking and domestic abuse episodes.

On May 25, 2019 Michael Costin, Jr. passed away unexpectedly.

His obituary states: “Michael loved fishing and the outdoors and had a lifelong love of music. He was a hard worker and put his best effort into everything he did. He loved to be around people and had friends from all walks of life. He had the ability to make everyone around him feel comfortable and could strike up a conversation with anyone. His laughter was contagious and he will be best remembered for his sense of humor.”

Rest in peace.

 

 

The Death of Town Hockey – The Super Eight

Monday, June 24th, 2019

Thomas Junta was convicted in 2002 of involuntary manslaughter in the hockey Dad beating death of Michael Costin and sentenced to 6 to 10 years in prison.

In 2007 co-captained by senior defenseman, Joe Ronan, Reading High School made the prestigious, Catholic school dominated, Super Eight hockey tournament.

The following year, while Thomas Junta remained in prison, powered by three hockey dad beating death witnesses, including his son Quinlan, Reading High School became the first public school to win the tournament.

A commemorative banner listing the names of the players hangs in Burbank Arena, scene of the crime.

Joe Ronan and two of the names on the banner are dead.

At least two more are lucky to be alive.

 

Death of Town Hockey (cont.)

Friday, June 21st, 2019

In 2002 Thomas Junta was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the hockey dad beating death. Superior Court Judge Charles M. Grabau sentenced him to 6 to 10 years.

At the trial, the victim’s son, Michael said, “I knew that my life would never be the same. My life hasn’t been the same. My dad isn’t there in the morning to wake me up. My dad isn’t there when I play sports. My dad doesn’t take us places anymore. My dad doesn’t cook us dinner anymore. He is just not there anymore. I miss him. Even now, not 10 minutes goes by that I don’t think of him. I talk to him at church and before I go to bed at night, but it is just not the same.”

He asked the judge,”Please teach Thomas Junta a lesson. Let the world know that a person can’t do what Thomas Junta did to my dad, to my family and to me.”

Defense attorney, Thomas Orlandi, Jr. called the sentencing “extreme” and vowed to appeal: “We are going to continue to fight for Thomas Junta like a dog fighting against another dog.”

Death of Town Hockey (Pt. 1)

Wednesday, June 5th, 2019

In addition to Junta’s son and Costin’s three sons, the beating was also was witnessed by grandmother, Virginia Brings, who was there with her grandson and two of his friends.

She heard several children crying.

“I can remember one little boy saying, ‘Daddy, don’t do it, don’t do it.'”

Junta left the rink, but returned and “lunged” at Costin.

He pinned him and kept hitting him even after he stopped trying to defend himself. Virginia Brings saw him strike at least 10 blows.

“I remember shouting at Mr. Junta, ‘He’s not responding, he’s not responding. Don’t hit him anymore.'”

“Think of your children.”

When questioned about the number of punches by Junta’s defense attorney, Brings responded:

“It’s something that I’ll never forget,” she said without hesitation. “He went on and on. … I remember thinking at the time — he’s either going to kill this man or he’s going to have brain damage.”

 

 

 

The Death of Town Hockey (Pt 1 cont)

Thursday, May 30th, 2019

Image result for inside burbank arena reading, ma

Responding to the 9-1-1 call, police Sergeant James Cormier found the 6″ 1′, 270 lb Thomas Junta standing in front of the arena. Shirt torn, face cut.

When asked where the other man was, polite and cooperative, Junta responded: “He’s inside laying down.”

Inside, a crowd of children, some as young as 7, gathered around Costin’s 6″ 1′, 156 lb, lifeless body.

Costin’s mother, arriving at the scene told Thomas Junta: ‘These children don’t have a mother, so you better get on your knees and beg God nothing happens to their father.”

 

 

The Death of Town Hockey (Pt 1 cont.)

Friday, May 24th, 2019

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The play was getting rough and Tom Junta, didn’t like what he saw. Never the wall flower, he let the adult on the ice know about it.

Micheal Costin, on the other hand, battled shyness and depression and at a younger age found solace and problems from the bottle.

He didn’t want to hear it.

Hockey Dads are the worst.

Costin responded: “That’s hockey!”

Junta had seen enough. That’s my kid out there. This was supposed to be stick practice. Hockey is supposed to be fun.

As Costin came off the ice, wearing skates, Junta lunged at him. The two were separated and Junta left the rink. His gold chain broken during the scuffle.

He waited in his truck until his son’s friend, 10 year old Garrett Collins came out of the rink.

“Where’s Quinlan?” Junta asked and charged back into the ice rink.

Assistant manager, Nancy Blanchard, told him not to return. He shoved her aside.

 

The Death of Town Hockey (Part 1)

Thursday, May 23rd, 2019

Image result for burbank arena, reading, ma

It was the first Wednesday of July, 2000 under the sign of Cancer.

It was hot and about to get hotter.

Michael Costin received word of available ice time at Burbank Arena and, of course, his 3 boys were up for it.

He left the clean clothes to be folded later.

Unlike in the dead of winter, the Burbank ice rink offered instant, air-conditioned solace from the repressive pressure-cooker heat & humidity of life in blue collar Reading, Massachusetts.

Thomas Junta stood near the glass and watched his 10 year old son’s optional stick handling practice get, in his mind, a little out of hand.

Costin was on the ice when things started to get a little physical and Junta let him know he didn’t appreciate it.

They yelled back and forth until culminating in an off-ice scuffle.