Rinkside rage father jailed

A man who beat to death another father in front of their children after a youth ice hockey practice session was jailed today for six to 10 years.

Thomas Junta, 44, sat handcuffed with his head hung low as the victim’s three sons, sister and mother spoke.

‘‘Please punish Thomas Junta and do not allow him to soon get out of prison and ruin another family’s life,’’ Michael Costin’s middle son, Michael, told the court near Boston, Massachusetts.

‘‘No matter how much of a sentence that you give to Thomas Junta, my dad got more.’’

Before being led from the court, Junta, who was convicted of manslaughter, raised his shackled hands to blow a kiss and wave to his family seated behind him.

Barbara Tracy, his sister, sobbed uncontrollably and had to be comforted by other relatives.

Prosecutors called truck driver Junta a bully, while his supporters have described him as a devoted husband and father who fell victim to ‘‘a very bad set of circumstances.’’

Junta sobbed heavily as the judge ran through a list of the massive injuries Costin had suffered.

The pair clashed after Junta became angry about rough play at the ice hockey practice, which Costin was supervising.

As the youngsters left the rink, a fight broke out between the two men.

Junta’s son and Costin’s three sons saw the heavily built Junta pin Costin to the floor and beat him to death.