Episode Eighteen | Michael Costin & The Reading Hockey Dads, Reading, Massachusetts

Updated: Jun 5, 2023

On July 5, 2000, a group of local kids headed to the skating rink for stick practice. It was a common occurrence. Something they had done dozens of times. Except for some of them, it will be for the last time. Two dads got in a heated face off. One of the dads, Michael Costin, ended up dead. This case was covered nationwide and became synonymous with parental violence in youth sports.

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Source Links

Reading Hockey Dads | Source Links

Court TV - Thomas Junta case

https://web.archive.org/web/20070929133624/http://www.courttv.com/trials/junta

Court TV - Junta interview transcript

https://web.archive.org/web/20050208170156/http://www.courttv.com/trials/junta/docs/statement06.html

CNN transcript

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0201/25/se.02.html

Chicago Tribune - Kids' Sports Turn Deadly Serious, July 17, 2000
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-07-17-0007170097-story.html

Junta vs Commonwealth
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-1st-circuit/1534781.html

Thomas Junta Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Junta

CBS News - Hockey Dad Found Guilty, January 2002
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hockey-dad-found-guilty

NY Times - Man Convicted In Fatal Beating In Dispute At Son’s Hockey Game, Jan 12, 2002
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/12/us/man-convicted-in-fatal-beating-in-dispute-at-son-s-hockey-game.html

Daily Item - Son Of Lynnfield Man Killed In Hockey Fight Jailed, May 21, 2009
https://www.itemlive.com/2009/05/21/son-of-lynnfield-man-killed-in-hockey-fight-jailed

Reading Patch - 'Hockey Dad' Released From Prison After Completing sentence, Aug 26, 201o
https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading/hockey-dad-released-from-prison-after-completing-sentence

https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading/hockey-dad-released-from-prison-after-completing-sentence

BBC - Father jailed for 'rink rage' killing, January 25, 2002
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1782697.stm

Martindale.com - Rink Rage" Target of New Jersey Law, May 5, 2003

https://www.martindale.com/legal-news/article_marshall-dennehey-warner-coleman-goggin-pc_2843.htm

LA Times - Growing Rage On Sidelines, July 11, 2000
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-11-mn-51058-story.html

AP reports - Hockey Death

https://newsroom-ap-org.ezproxy.bpl.org/detail/Hockey%20Death/1e7644739d7845e3a97d645f7f205d6b?Query=thomas%20AND%20junta&mediaType=photo,graphic,audio&sortBy=&dateRange=Anytime&totalCount=59&currentItemNo=14

SFGate - Hockey dad guilty of involuntary manslaughter, Verdict implies excessive force, not intent to kill, Jan 12, 2002
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Hockey-dad-guilty-of-involuntary-manslaughter-2885087.php

Victim’ record withheld in murder case

https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/405443181/8642AA459A24BC3PQ/1?accountid=9675

Archived Links

Manslaughter charge
https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/405366946/A410297CFDDE4BC1PQ/5?accountid=9675

Michael Costin Laid To Rest
https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/405367093/A410297CFDDE4BC1PQ/12?accountid=9675

Home News Here - Junta Family Suffers Another Tragedy
http://homenewshere.com/daily_times_chronicle/news/reading/article_30f9830a-fe53-11e0-bc85-001cc4c03286.html

Boston Globe - The Players In A Rinkside Tragedy One Dead, One Charged, July 11, 2000
https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/405369395/CCB85BF99304374PQ/10?accountid=9675

South Coast Today - Son Testifies About Hockey Fight, Jan 9, 2000

https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20020109/News/301099952

Thomas Junta Obituary
https://wilmingtonapple.com/2020/12/21/obituary-thomas-f-tommy-junta-63

https://www.currentobituary.com/obit/250394

Michael Patrick Costin obituary
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/4434230/Michael-Patrick-Costin

CBS Boston - 21 Year Old Son Of Hockey Dad Dies
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/10/23/report-21-year-old-son-of-hockey-dad-dies

MRT.com - Costin Family Loss: Father reflects on son’s violent death, Jan 16, 2002
https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Dad-Reflects-on-Son-s-Violent-Death-7715126.php

Wicked Local - Quinlan Junta, Son of ‘hockey dad’ convicted of manslaughter, dies at 21, Oct 24, 2011
https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20111024/News/310249507