VIDEO: Hockey Town Looks to Regain Its Glory

Medford has a long and proud hockey tradition and could rightfully be called Hockey Town.

But in recent years, the hockey program that has produced NHL players like Keith Tkachuk, Shawn Bates and David and Joe Sacco has been in decline.

This year's boys Mustangs once again won the Greater Boston League title, yet the team's out of league record fell to just 1-10-1 after a on Saturday in the final home game of the season.

John Silva, whose youngest son Jared is a freshman on the current squad, recalls how his older son Jay's Pee-Wee and Bantam league teams went to the national finals in 2002 and 2004.

But since that time, youth hockey participation is way down, Silva said.

"Back then, the youth hockey program would have 110 kids try out at each age level," Silva said. "Right now, if they're able to get 35 kids and put two teams together they're pretty lucky."

A lot of major talent that comes through the youth leagues never makes it to Medford High. Top prospects frequently choose to play at hockey powerhouses like Malden Catholic, St. John's Prep and other Catholic schools.

MHS Head Coach Steve DeBenedictis, in his second year, said he is trying to change that.

"At the end of the day, we've got to have kids coming to the school," DeBenedictis said. "It's a slow process to turn a program [but] we're on the right path."

The numbers may be down, but the nature of the game—with constant travel and hours spent together in cold rinks—draws players and parents from different walks of life into one big family.

"I've made some of my best friends through hockey," said Donna MacAdams, whose son C.J. Bourque is a senior on the Mustangs. "You spend more time with these people than you do at home."

There's another reason to hope that Medford can regain its status as a hockey power—the emergence of the girls program.

With superstars  and captain  leading the girls team, legions of young girls will be looking to follow in their footsteps.

On game days at LoConte Rink, it's easy to get a sense of the reverence people in this city have for hockey. Several large trophy cases are filled with awards and photos of players throughout the years.

And the sense of pride about the city's hockey traditions and history is still strong. 

"It feels good to play for my city," Mustangs senior captain Mike Gendreau said. "That's all that matters is playing for your city."

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