Medford Hockey Dedicates Season to City Sports Icon

For over 50 years, the student-athletes of Medford and the surrounding communities had a great friend and benefactor in Tony Lucci.

“He’s done more for the athletes in this city and the surrounding towns than any one individual that anybody would be able to name,” said coach Steve DiBenedictis. “He spent countless hours in rinks and at fields ... he knew all of the kids who came into his store by name, and if a kid didn’t have the money to take care of something, he would give it to him.”

As the owner of Medford Square Sporting Goods, Lucci outfitted countless generations of athletes, and was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. Prior to Sunday’s game against Somerville, the Mustangs dedicated their 2010-2011 campaign to the memory of a man who was  beloved by all who knew him.

DiBenedictis was not alone in his fond recollections of Lucci. 

“He’s been a fixture in Medford, he’s been a legend in Medford and he’s helped so many young athletes in Medford in every sport,” said girls hockey coach David McCarthy. “So it’s great that the boys have dedicated their whole season to him.”

Though bitter rivals on the ice, the respect that Lucci commanded from those who knew him transcends the rivalry between Somerville and Medford, and the Highlanders’ coach, Chuck Allen, who led Medford for eight seasons prior to the arrival of DiBenedictis, offered his thoughts on Lucci as well.

“A great, great guy,” said Allen. “I went to (Medford Square Sporting Goods) all my life too, my dad was really good friends with (Lucci). My father used to work at the Boston Garden and Tony would always come to games and my dad would let him in, so we knew him for a long time.”

A sad fact of life is that men like Lucci, and stores like his, are disappearing, and chain stores, malls and the internet are taking their place, to the gradual detriment of the community.

“(Lucci) personified what community was, and it’s a shame that we’re in a different generation now where some of that stuff is gone, and I think stores like him, and him in particular, are deeply missed," Allen said. "He was a wonderful man.”

Medford High School will keep Lucci’s memory alive with the annual Tony Lucci Golden Mustang award, handed out at the annual M-Club banquet. It will honor persons who make loyal and selfless contributions to the student athletes at MHS.