Dear Editor:
,br> It is with great pleasure that on behalf of all of the parents and players who took part in the first Hoboken PAL Red Wings Ice Hockey program we say, “thanks Dom!” Police Office Dominick Lucignano, who most kids know as “Coach Dom”, is responsible for giving the children of Hoboken a unique opportunity to play and compete in an ice hockey league for the first time in Hoboken’s history. This great challenge took place at no expense to the players and their families.
Continuing his tireless efforts to help the youth of Hoboken, Dominick succeeded in obtaining grant money that enabled him to field two ice hockey teams from Hoboken in the Greater Bergen County Youth Ice Hockey Spring League at the Ice House in Hackensack, NJ. The Squirt division team consisted of 8-10 year olds and the Bantam division team of 12-14 year olds.
Dominick orchestrated the entire program, from conducting tryouts and recruiting players and coaches, to setting up practices at the Bayonne and Pershing Field ice rinks prior to the season in order to prepare the teams for the league. With Dominick’s expertise and devotion to youth sports in Hoboken, the hockey program was a great success. Both teams won their respective league championships while representing the pride of Hoboken sports. They competed against towns that have had ice hockey programs for years. Dominick succeeded in putting Hoboken on the ice hockey map!
Anyone who knows Dominick, knows that with him, the kids always come first. We are so proud of our ice hockey teams, but especially proud to have someone like Dominick in charge of our kids’ sports programs. A special thanks is also given to our three dedicated coaches who gave their time late at night for practices and early in the morning for games. They are Damien Arnone, Ryan Knapp and Chris Curko. Thanks for teaching our kids the game of ice hockey, good sportsmanship and for guiding them to be champions!
Vinny Addeo