Kevin P. Duggan Hockey Championship Honors Memory and Passion
of Community Service Statewide Supervisor

(Attached are photos by Lisa Hickey, Community Service Assistant Statewide Supervisor)

The OCP (Office of the Commissioner of Probation) Team

The OCC (Office of Community Corrections) Team

From left to right: Probation Commissioner John J. O'Brien; Katie Duggan, Kevin Duggan's widow; and Stephen V. Price, Executive Director of the Office of Community Corrections.

Friends, family members, and colleagues turned out recently to honor the memory of Kevin Duggan, former Massachusetts Trial Court Community Service Program Statewide Supervisor, by engaging in one of his biggest passions: hockey.

The group converged at Murphy's Skating Rink in South Boston where two teams, one representing the Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP) and the other from the Office of Community Corrections, suited up and took to the ice where they competed for the Kevin P. Duggan Championship Cup. While the OCP team was victorious with an 11-4 score, players from both teams and spectators alike said they enjoyed the game and the opportunity to pay homage to their good friend and colleague who absolutely loved the sport.

Duggan, who passed away in June 2006, was a talented hockey player and goalie for the LA Kings, a minor (development) league team, Boston State College (UMASS-Boston), and Hingham High School. He also served as a coach for Curry College and Noble Greenough School. At Noble, he coached the girl's hockey team-leading them to three New England Championships. Two of the young women from that team played for the last USA Girls team in the Olympics.

Stephen Price, Executive Director of Community Corrections, said of the event: "This was a great opportunity for Community Service staff and Probation Officers to enjoy a little friendly competition while honoring the memory of someone we all loved."

David Skocik, Community Service Acting Statewide Supervisor and one of the event organizers, said the group will make the Kevin Duggan face-off an annual event.

"At the final buzzer, it wasn't what the scoreboard depicted. It was about coming together to remember and to pay tribute to Kevin – who in his own way – blessed us all with his leadership but most importantly, his friendship," Skocik said.

Mark McHale, Suffolk County Regional Supervisor, and Francis Wall, Deputy Commissioner, were the other organizers.

McHale said of the Duggan Championship, "It was a great night an great tribute to Kevin Duggan and his family for all the work that Kevin did for the Probation Service."

"Twenty-six years ago, Kevin Duggan led a group of Probation Officers to Montreal, Canada to play the Laval Teacher's Association Hockey Team," said Wall. "Twenty-six years later, a group of 32 community service workers and Probation Officers are honoring Kevin by playing the game he loved and coached."

He added, "We all felt Kevin's presence during the Kevin P. Duggan Championship Cup game. It was a wonderful tribute to his name, his legacy, probation, community service, and hockey."

Representing the OCP team were Fran Wall and Mark McHale, who served as coaches. Wall is a Deputy Commissioner and McHale is Suffolk County Regional Supervisor. The OCP roster included Richard O'Neil, Probate & Family Court Regional Supervisor; Paul Keefe, Norfolk County Juvenile Acting Chief Probation Officer; Richard Wright, Middlesex County Probation Officer in Charge (POIC); Christopher Bulger, OCP Deputy Commissioner, Legal Counsel; Brian Murphy, Middlesex Regional Supervisor; Roland Buoncuore, Waltham District Court Chief Probation Officer; John Morganstern, Springfield District Court Chief Probation Officer; and Martin Wallace, Worcester County POIC. Also on the OCP roster were Jay Brennan, Quincy Probation Officer in Charge; James Concannon, ; Michael Buckley, Norfolk Superior Probation Officer; Joseph Bianculli, Dedham District Court Probation Officer; Tom Connolly, Suffolk Superior Court Probation Officer; Stephen Ashe, Hampden Superior Assistant Chief Probation Officer; and Chris Connolly.

The OCC team featured coach Michael Collins, Suffolk County Court Services Coordinator; goalie Shawn Bertoni, Suffolk County Juvenile Resource Center; and the following players: Casey Reasonover, Program Specialist at the Suffolk County Juvenile Resource Center; Tim Pasquale, Essex County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; Timothy Gagnon, OCC Regional Manager; Jeffrey Striano, Essex County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; James Schindler, Norfolk County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; Ed Norton, Community Service intern; Bob Doherty, Plymouth County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; Matt Rogers, Plymouth County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; John Gibbons, Middlesex County Court Services Coordinator; Timothy Callahan, Assistant Statewide Supervisor for Bristol and Plymouth counties; Christopher Cannata, Assistant Statewide Supervisor for Essex and Suffolk counties; David Skocik, Acting Community Service Statewide Supervisor; Shawn Duggan, Middlesex County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; Marty Cuniff, Essex County Assistant Court Services Coordinator; and Kevin Spitz, Middlesex County Court Services Coordinator.

"I want to extend a special thanks to the referees, Fred Wall (Frances Wall"s twin brother) and Richard Losi. We look forwarding to seeing everyone next year for the Kevin Duggan Championship Cup," said Deputy Commissioner Wall.