FOXBORO, Mass. — The winners of the 2006 Elite Division at the 2022 Junior Chowder Cup had a lot of names familiar to local prep and midget hockey followers.
Mass '67s White captured the top 2006 division on Sunday at the Foxboro Sports Center with a 3-2 overtime win over CHE Navy. The game-winning goal was scored by incoming Nobles forward Teddy MacAusland, who earned a spot on USA Hockey’s roster for the Five Nations Tournament that will start in a couple of weeks.
As is always the case in the Junior Chowder Cup, the younger of the two age divisions has more high-end talent. That didn’t change in 2022 as the '07 Elite Division was far deeper and more talented than the '06s.
Still, there were plenty of players from across the country who impressed in the 2006 Elite Division. Below are evaluations of six non-New England standouts plus 12 notable local players.
Non-New England standouts
John Mustard
North Jersey Avalanche U16, 8/16/06, C, left shot, 5-10/155
Mustard was perhaps the most impressive '06, in terms of how he played this past weekend. Skating for All-American Prospects, the Oradell, N.J., native played to his identity as a north-south power forward. He scored a bunch of goals, drove the net, and shot it hard and often. He looks to have picked up a step or two during the off-season.
Zhenya Miles
Rink Hockey Academy, 11/16/06, D, left shot, 6-0/146
Miles is a late birthday from Winnipeg, Manitoba. His skating is silky smooth and he can push the pace in transition. A tall, lanky breakout machine, Miles will be an affiliate player for the BCHL powerhouse Penticton Vees in 2022-23. Division I colleges should be all over Miles, who played for The BMG at the Junior Chowder Cup.
Cael Primanti
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U16, 5/3/06, C, right shot, 5-11/163
Primanti, who served as captain of the Junior Flyers 15 Only team in 2021-22, has always been a goal scorer. He did just that at the Junior Chowder Cup while playing for the Junior Teddies.
Nick Arrington
Gilmour Academy, 1/23/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/172
Arrington, from Lincoln, Neb., was able to find the back of the net here with his deception. He played for All-American Prospects. He’ll be back for another season with Gilmour Academy in Ohio.
London Kearney
Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U16, 9/12/06, D, right shot, 5-9/130
Playing for All-American Prospects, Kearney caught my eye as a smooth, good-skating defenseman. Almost a late birthday, he played Michigan high school hockey last year, but is reportedly headed back to the Oakland Junior Grizzlies in the HPHL. Kearney is a player to keep an eye on to see how he develops over the next two years.
Brayden Campbell
Junior Bruins U16, 7/19/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/140
From Saint John, New Brunswick, Campbell spent part of last season with the Junior Bruins U16 in the USPHL. Campbell, who played for All-American Prospects here, is currently undecided and considering a few prep schools for this upcoming season. He skates well, plays hard, and scored some goals here. His physical play and willingness to engage throughout all 200 feet of the ice was noteworthy.
Local players of note
Gavin Cornforth
Thayer/Little Bruins U16, 12/15/06, RW, right shot, 5-8/158
Cornforth was the best player for the championship-winning Mass. '67s White. From Milton, Mass., his skating and skill are dynamic. He can promote possession and generate offensive chances by eluding defenders. He made a couple of nice plays and was a force offensively in the final half and overtime of the final.
Jack Duffy
Belmont Hill/CC Whalers U16, 3/15/06, D, right shot, 5-7/135
Duffy, playing for Boston Junior Blues, is on the smaller side, but I continue to be impressed with his hockey sense. His vision and ability to make tape-to-tape passes on the breakout are consistent in his game. From Walpole, Mass., look for Duffy to get some varsity minutes this winter at Belmont Hill.
Will Felicio
Madison Capitols, 5/19/06, D, left shot, 5-8/156
There’s not much more that needs to be said about Felicio, who played for Boston Hockey Club. The USHL tender is on the smaller side, but he’s dynamic in terms of moving the puck. He can open his hips and escape oncoming forecheckers. His mobility allows him to walk the blue line and get shots through. From Hudson, Mass., he was electric at times in a preliminary round game.
Alex Gomes
Junior Bruins U16, 2/17/06, LW, left shot, 5-11/190
Gomes, from Ludlow, Mass., is a goal scorer. He’s got a low center of gravity, is heavy on pucks, and can wire a puck. He did just that a couple of times over the weekend while playing for the Mass '67s White.
Josh Itri
Tabor/River Rats U16, 1/4/06, RW, right shot, 5-8/165
Itri is a bulldog and had a great showing for The BMG over the weekend. He skates well, hunts pucks, and plays with an edge. He went to the net and didn’t shy away from the greasy areas. From Sandwich, Mass., he found the score sheet and produced. It was hard not to like how he played. Expect an even bigger year for him in his second go-around with Tabor.
Jacob Kulas
Rivers/River Rats U16, 4/25/06, C, left shot, 5-11/174
Kulas had a solid, under-the-radar season at Rivers as a sophomore in 2021-22. If this weekend was any indication, it looks like he could be ready to make a jump. He scored goals by protecting pucks, being heavy, and penetrating the scoring areas with his strength. From Stow, Mass., he’s an athlete. He showed his goal-scoring ability while playing for DevCo Hockey at the Junior Chowder Cup.
Luke Laurino
Northfield Mount Hermon/CC Whalers U16, 10/4/06, G, catches left, 5-10/155
Laurino posted a shutout for Boston Junior Blues in an early morning game on Saturday against NorthStar Elite Black. From New Jersey, he’s a multisport athlete who will look to make the jump from the JV team to the varsity at NMH this upcoming season.
Ryan Lucarelli
Canterbury/River Rats U16, 7/10/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/150
Lucarelli’s improvement over the past year has been noticeable each time I’ve watched him this summer. He’s skilled and made some plays for Boston Hockey Club. He’s making a concerted effort to be heavier on pucks and engage more away from the puck. From Westport, Conn., he should have more of a role in his second season at Canterbury.
Teddy MacAusland
Nobles/Little Bruins U16, 1/13/06, C, right shot, 5-7/160
As noted above, MacAusland had the overtime game-winner in the final. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s a waterbug forward that can zip around the ice. From Westwood, Mass., he made a lot of plays and generated plenty of offensive chances for Mass. '67s White. He’s transferring from Dexter Southfield to Nobles for his sophomore season.
Luke Pazzia
Holderness/CC Whalers U16, 10/30/06, LW, left shot, 5-9/160
Pazzia is a goal scorer, as he showed with Coaches Choice Elite. After a point-per-game campaign at Austin Prep, the Burlington, Mass., native will be making the jump to prep playing for Alan Thompson’s Bulls.
Cole Porter
Xaverian, 7/24/06, G, catches left, 5-9/141
Playing for Coaches Choice Elite, Porter’s athleticism and quick reflexes make him a fun goaltender to watch. He made a couple of acrobatic saves and kept his team in a game I watched here. From Franklin, Mass., he’s transferring from his hometown high school to Xaverian in the Catholic Conference.
Michael Sullivan
Belmont Hill/EC Wizards U16, 1/5/06, LW, left shot, 5-10/167
Sullivan, playing for The BMG, scored a nice goal coming down the left wing in a game on Friday. He’s a smart winger who plays a heavy game and can shoot it with zip. The North Andover, Mass., native hopes to transition to the varsity level at Belmont Hill this winter. His skating is the area of his game that he needs to work on to take that next step in his game.
