WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Boston Junior Eagles and Mount Saint Charles each took one win as the two programs played two games on Sunday afternoon at the Boston Sports Institute.
In the 15O contest, Mount Saint Charles topped the hosts, 5-2. The Junior Eagles rallied from a one-goal deficit to win in overtime by a score of 3-2 in the 16U game. The games were played in front of nearly a dozen college coaches and NHLPA agents. Three of the four Beanpot schools had representation.
Mount Saint Charles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 15 Only game and put it into cruise control after that. Conrad Fondrk and Baron Novorolsky each scored twice for the victors. Evan Nee (Arlington, Mass.) and Gavin Joyce (Dedham, Mass.) picked up the goals for the Junior Eagles.
In the 16U game, Mount jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from JJ Monteiro (Hudson, Mass.) and Tanner Morgan. The Eagles got one back on a tally from Michael Minchello (Boston, Mass.). With just over two minutes to go and a Mount player in the penalty box, Kyle O’Leary (Medfield, Mass.) poked home a rebound to send the game to overtime. After some back and forth play in the first few minutes of the extra session, `07 Teddy Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.), ended it with a power move down the middle before slipping a backhand through the five hole.
Below is a quick look at 10 players of note in the two games. Keep in mind this isn’t meant as a full breakdown of every good player among the four teams. It’s merely a look at some players who performed well Sunday afternoon.
Conrad Fondrk, Mount Saint Charles 15O, 6/1/07, C, left shot, 5-10/170
Fondrk was the clearcut best prospect in the 15 Only game. From White Bear Lake, Minn., he’s a near lock to make USA Hockey’s NTDP for the 2023-24 season. His skating and skill are both positive attributes, but what separated him in this game was his heaviness on pucks. He played physically and was able to shake pucks loose from the opposition a few times by throwing his body around. He did a good job protecting pucks in traffic and winning wall battles. He has a hard shot and gets it off with authority while penetrating the middle of the ice.
STANDOUTS: Six top 16U performers at River Rats Jamboree
Evan Jones, Junior Eagles 15O, 2/9/07, D, left shot, 5-8/165
Jones has a lot of skill and his skating is above average. He does a nice job on breakouts and showed well in the 15 Only game. With the 16U team shorthanded, he got the call-up and did double duty. He didn’t look out of place. The Arlington, Mass., native will be one of the best players in the MIAA this winter, skating for his hometown high school.
Teddy Mutryn, Junior Eagles 16U, 2/16/07, C/RW, right shot, 6-1/196
Mutryn is one of the best two-way forwards in the country at the `07 birth year. The Norwell, Mass., native didn’t have his most productive game, but he banged one home when it counted most in overtime. He’s got the size, athleticism and hockey sense to put himself in the NTDP conversation. As stated before, he’s a slam dunk commit to Boston College next August 1.
Michael Minchello, Junior Eagles 16U, 6/5/06, RW, right shot, 6-0/165
Minchello, from Boston, had one of his best games I’ve seen him play in a long time. In addition to the goal he scored coming down the right wing, he created a handful of other offensive chances. He got under the skin of opposing players with his stick work and was probably the most consistent player for the Eagles in this game.
Kyle O’Leary, Junior Eagles 16U, 6/25/06, RW, right shot, 6-0/165
Similarly to Minchello, this was a good viewing for O’Leary, who hails from Medfield, Mass. He tied the game with 2:14 to play in the third period, but was around the puck a lot and involved in the play more than usual. He’ll be counted on to fill more of a role in his sophomore season at Nobles.
Nate Porter, Junior Eagles 16U, 3/10/06, C/RW, right shot, 5-9/162
Porter was on the ice for the game-tying goal, but it was a scrum and was hard to tell who had the helpers. Other than that, it was a somewhat quiet game for the Hingham, Mass., native who has led the team in goal scoring so far this season. Even without the production he’s been accustomed to this fall, he had a couple of flashes where he showed off his skating and shot. While interest is picking up for Porter, every college program in New England should be interested in securing his services.
Chase Stefanek, Mount Saint Charles 16U, 8/1/06, C, left shot, 6-1/181
Stefanek, from Yorba Linda, Calif., looks even bigger than he was a couple of months ago at the USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp. He used his size to be an impact power forward in this game. He had a nice assist on Monteiro’s goal by dishing it out to the slot from below the goal line. He protected pucks well and had a couple of highlight reel plays with it on his stick.
JJ Monteiro, Mount Saint Charles 16U, 1/12/06, LW, left shot, 6-0/185
Interest is picking up for Monteiro and rightfully so. As I’ve written a few times recently, he gets the most of his ability. He blasted home the first goal of the game for Mount. The Hudson, Mass., native got a couple of other heavy shots off in this game. I’ve seen him be more of a consistent factor in other recent viewings, but he still showed well in front of colleges, who were undoubtedly keeping close tabs on the winger.
Tanner Morgan, Mount Saint Charles 16U, 7/18/06, LW, left shot, 5-9/165
Morgan scored the second Mount goal, but was a noticeable combatant in the game as he competed hard and showed above average hockey sense. The Madison, Ala., native is in his first season with Mount’s program after skating for the Nashville Junior Predators.
Colton Whitfield, Mount Saint Charles 16U, 4/10/06, D, left shot, 6-1/173
Whitfield has made the jump from Bishop Hendricken over to Mount Saint Charles. While I saw him close to a dozen times over the summer at various showcases, I was impressed by his continued improvement in the skating category. While his feet still have a ways to go, they’re getting better. He jumped into the rush a few times and the puck snapped off his stick. The Warwick, R.I., resident has one of the hardest shots of any `06 in New England.
