Marcone family grateful for Matty’s special night

By now, many people know the story of Canton High School senior and varsity hockey team manager Matty Marcone and his dream of playing hockey for the Bulldogs — a dream that came true last Tuesday when he not only skated a shift, but also scored a goal in Canton’s win against Stoughton in front of hundreds of fans at Asiaf Arena in Brockton.

Matty Marcone lines up his game-tying goal against Stoughton. (Julia M. Cohen photo)

According to his mother, Susan, Matty has always loved hockey. However, in 2012, he was diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita, a rare genetic form of bone marrow failure. This diagnosis, combined with other illnesses and health issues he has endured, has prevented Matty from participating in any contact sports.

Yet all of that changed last Tuesday evening for the 18-year-old hockey fanatic as he suited up and hit the ice for his hometown team. After Stoughton scored to go up 1-0, Matty got the nod and made the most of his opportunity, burying the game-tying goal as the entire arena erupted in deafening cheers.

It was an experience that neither he nor his family members will ever forget, although it wasn’t the only memorable moment for Matty that evening. Between the second and third periods, James Gormley, a former high school teacher and coach and a longtime MIAA tournament director for Division 2 south, presented a check to Matty as his family and CHS coaches looked on.

This past December, the Gallo Arena in Bourne played host to the inaugural Jim Gormley Cup, a four-team tournament organized by Gormley’s longtime friend and current Plymouth North assistant coach Fred Carbone. Participating teams included Canton, Sandwich, Martha’s Vineyard and Plymouth North, with the Bulldogs prevailing over Plymouth North in the tournament finals.

Gormley and Carbone had made plans to choose a senior player from one of the four teams to receive the first scholarship. They wanted to choose a player who was a good student and who played the game the right way — not necessarily the strongest or most talented player, according to Carbone.

As team manager and because of his diagnosis, Matty did not play in the tournament. But when Gormley learned about his hard work for the team, kind heart, and positive attitude in spite of not being able to play the sport he loved, he knew that he had found this year’s winner.

Two weeks ago, Susan Marcone got a call that Matty was going to receive the scholarship.

“I said, ‘But he’s not going to college,’” she recalled, noting that while Matty works hard at his studies, he will not be able to go on to a university. A few days later, Gormley called Brian Shuman, who coaches the CHS team along with Scott Connolly, Steve Wood and Tim Ford, to inform them of their choice. “They wanted to honor the family and to honor Matty,” Shuman said.

So instead of presenting him with a check for college, Gormley gave Matty a check that the family can use to help with expenses. “That was pretty special,” Susan said.

Matty Marcone with his mom Susan, brother JC, dad John, and sister Nicole

The goal and check presentation were part of a whirlwind week that started when Matty learned that he was going to put on a CHS uniform and play with the team. He wore a jersey with the number 11 on it — the same number that his brother, JC, 21, wore when he played hockey for CHS. It bore the letter C for captain.

The day before the game, CHS students Jason Kaplan and Steve Gorham arrived at the Marcone home at 4:45 a.m. to continue their filming of a documentary on Matty. On Tuesday, Matty wore dress pants, a shirt, tie, and a sweater to school — the standard formal attire for a Canton player on game day. “He was really excited going out the door,” his mother said.

The families of two CHS players held a team dinner last week with a special cake for Matty. He also received a signed poster from the Stoughton High girls hockey team, and the CHS coaches presented him with a team jacket with his name and the number 11 embroidered on it.

Shuman gave credit to Stoughton High School hockey coach Dan Mark for the support that came from both him and the entire SHS team. “He was a huge part of this,” Shuman said of Mark. “He’s a classy guy and one of the best coaches I know.”

In the days following the game, Matty’s phone buzzed constantly with congratulatory texts from friends and other students. The Boston Bruins even tweeted a congratulatory message that said, “Congrats on the big goal, Matty!” with the hashtag #oneshiftformatty.

His family was grateful that he had the same opportunity to play sports at Canton High as JC and their sister, Nicole, 24. “You want them to be happy, to live out their dream,” Susan Marcone said. “This was his dream: to put on a Bulldogs jersey and skate on the ice.”

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jan 14 2016. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.