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Writer's pictureAnngelle Wood

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



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


CNN transcript


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


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

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


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


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


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

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