The 2019 Junior Chowder Cup brought many top prospects, born in 2003, 2004 and 2005, to the Foxboro Sports Center, Canton Ice House, and New England Sports Village over the course of four days this past weekend.
This year’s edition of the tournament showcased many very good players from across the continent, including a few very high-end players from Canada.
All-American Prospects won the ‘03 division while Maroon Hockey captured the championship at the ‘04 division.
The Junior Chowder Cup has plenty of great players and is a great event for players and is one worth scouting for many college programs, prep schools, junior organizations, and agents, but it would be much improved if all of the top teams played under one roof at the Foxboro Sports Center.
It’s nearly impossible for coaches and scouts to see every team, even when attending all four days. Another issue, and this isn’t solely on the tournament organizers, is the amount of rosters that are either inaccurate or not filled out entirely. It would be nice if coaches and organizers who are making money on the event would take the time to ensure that players are able to be scouted and recruited in a more convenient fashion.
While not every team was viewed, New England Hockey Journal observed over 70 prospects throughout the two divisions who were worth writing about based on their individual performances over the course of the four days.
Below is a look at the top prospects from each division:
‘03 Division
Forwards
Jack Musa
#9 All-American Prospects, Trinity-Pawling, 7/22/03, Left Shot, 5-8/145
Musa was named the MVP of the ‘03 Division after a very good performance here. He skates well, hunts pucks, and makes plays. He has an aggressive mindset, from looking for the puck to throwing his weight around and playing with an edge. A Florida native, he’ll be back at Trinity-Pawling for his second season of prep hockey in 2019-20.
Clint Levens
#2 All-American Prospects, Florida Alliance 16U, 6/19/03, Right Shot, 6-1/172
Levens was a lot of fun to watch on the championship-winning team. He produced offensively, but he gets around the sheet and plays with a ton of energy and physicality. He delivered several bone-crushing hits and broke up the opponents’ breakout attempts.
Sam Lipkin
#22 Team Kanaly, North Jersey Avalanche 16U, 1/3/03, Left Shot, 6-0.75/180
Lipkin had a huge weekend here, but still needs to improve on being consistently impactful as he should be for his size and skill set. When he’s driving the net with authority and releasing his heavy shot, he can be a major force. He’s able to draw defenders his way before sending good passes to open teammates.
Ryan Remick
#97 All-American Prospects, Kent, 4/14/03, Left Shot, 5-10/146
NCAA Commit: Maine
Remick made some plays, including a couple of nice passes to set up Musa. He’ll be transitioning to prep school after playing the past season north of the border with CIHA White.
Matt MacDonald
#25 All-American Prospects, Halifax McDonald’s, 11/19/03, Left Shot, 5-10/156
MacDonald is fast and scores goals. He’s particularly effective on the rush.
Adam O’Marra
#17 All-American Prospects, Aurora Tigers, 1/6/03, Left Shot, 5-8/141
O’Marra isn’t a flashy player that jumps right out, but he plays a mature game and sees the ice well. He can set up teammates or finish by knowing where to go to find pucks. He’s already played a few games of junior hockey in the OJHL.
Christian Catalano
#22 FL Hockey, Brampton Bombers, 5/23/03, Right Shot, 6-0/157
Catalano has good size and can flatout finish. He seems to have a mind for the puck and the net. He gets into scoring positions and is around the net a lot.
Patrick Saini
#75 FL Hockey, North York Rangers, 7/20/03, Left Shot, 5-9/159
Saini isn’t as skilled as some other players listed above, but he does a really good job of playing between the circles and getting to the dirty areas.
Amadeus Lombardi
Players First Hockey, Toronto Titans, 6/5/03, Left Shot, 5-11/160
Lombardi skates well, was heavy on pucks, and found the back of the net several times. He did a good job getting into position away from the puck in order to impact the game offensively once it came to him.
Adam Mendelson
#18 Rapid Hockey Development, Lac St-Louis Lions 3/27/03, Left Shot, 5-9/144
Mendelson was the offensive catalyst for his team and seemingly had good offensive instincts.
Connor Pelc
#97 Roc City Elite Red, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U, 4/28/03, Right Shot, 6-1/195
Pelc had a really good weekend and turned it on in the playoffs. He’s a big power forward with a hard shot. He’s heavy and protects pucks and is able to use his big frame to his advantage. On one of his eight goals, he blocked a shot during a penalty kill situation and raced down the other end for a breakaway goal.
Colin Norton
#9 Clovers HC, BC High, 5/23/03, Left Shot, 5-9/155
Norton made a lot of plays and was really good during a Saturday game against All-American Prospects. He’ll take on a bigger role at BC High this upcoming winter.
Michael Cataldo
#17 Clovers HC, St. Sebastian’s, 5/4/03, Right Shot, 5-9.75/156
Cataldo has good size and is heavy on pucks. He also played in the Junior Battle of Boston for TPE.
Zachary Glass
#12 Clovers HC, Thayer, 2/14/03, Right Shot, 5-10/155
Glass used his speed and size to be one of the more productive players for his team.
Sean Clarke
#12 All-American Prospects, Vaughan Kings, 2/9/03, Left Shot, 5-6/135
Clarke is a smaller forward who is quick and crafty. He’s not afraid to go to the net, which afforded him a rebound goal during one game.
Greg Spitznagel
#11 All-American Prospects, NJ Rockets 16U, 3/10/03, Left Shot, 6-2/200
Spitznagel has a ton of upside, but needs to play more assertively and with a more consistent compete level in order to get the most out of his physical tools. He has the hands and size to make college recruiters look twice.
Tyler Ramm
#11 Boston Jr. Blues, Westboro HS, 4/27/03, Left Shot, 6-0/190
Ramm is a big-bodied forward who can dominate below the dots and muscle his way to the scoring area. He has a hard shot and is able to position himself and protect pucks based on his size and strength.
Defensemen
Declan Loughnane
#8 Clovers HC, BC High, 11/22/03, Right Shot, 5-11.25/194
Loughnane still has to round out his game and think it a little better, but he has good size and offensive instincts. He has a very good shot from the point and isn’t afraid to step into the rush and contribute offensively.
Isa Parekh
#7 Players First Hockey, North York Rangers, 9/27/03, Right Shot, 5-11/130
Parekh is a mobile defenseman with good feet and he defends the rush well with a strong gap, good stick positioning and skating.
Cam Miranda
#20 All-American Prospects, Selects Academy 16U, 3/13/03, Right Shot, 6-0/155
Miranda scored at least two goals, including the game-winning goal in one game. A good-sized defender, his skating, shot, and puck-moving skills are all notable.
Liam Lesakowski
#4 Roc City Elite Red, Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U, 12/12/03, Left Shot, 6-3/190
Lesakowski has good size and reach. His first step is still a little awkward, but there’s a ton of upside and he’s shown he’s capable of playing strong defensively against good competition. Not really known for his offense, he scored a couple of goals here, including a seeing-eye wrister during the preliminary round.
Callum Chau
#28 All-American Prospects, Salisbury, 4/30/03, Left Shot, 5-8.25/141
Chau is a smart, small defenseman who makes plays on the rush with his vision. He isn’t flashy and doesn’t take an unnecessary amount of chances. He just tends to make the simple and smart play on the first touch.
Goaltenders
Thomas Heaney
#30 All-American Prospects, NJ Rockets 16U, 2/2/03, Catches Left, 6-1/146
Heaney had an uncharacteristic off game early in the tournament, but was solid in the playoffs. He’s one of the better goaltenders in this age group and probably deserved an opportunity to showcase his talent at the NTDP Evaluation Camp.
‘04 Division
Forwards
Michele La Starza
#24 All-American Prospects, Shattuck St. Mary’s, 1/14/04, Left Shot, 5-10/170
La Starza was the best player in the tournament. Most importantly, he produced. He did so because of his shiftiness and ability to make plays in small areas. His edge work was very good and he was able to get space for himself and his teammates.
Kocha Delic
#8 Players First Hockey, Toronto Titans, 3/11/04, Left Shot, 5-9/170
Delic is a very good skater who controls possession, drives the net for scoring chances, and sees the ice well, which lets him make plays consistently. He’s heavy on pucks and thinks the game at a high level for his age.
Luke Devlin
#16 Maroon Hockey, Toronto Marlboros, 3/12/04, Left Shot, 5-11/151
Devlin shined through when the pace picked up. His skating is elite and he has the potential to be a really good player. He can get time and space then finishes. He’s a dual citizen who also performed well at the USA Hockey Select 15 Camp.
Pano Fimis
#12 Maroon Hockey, Toronto Jr. Canadians, 6/17/04, Right Shot, 5-9/157
Fimis is a really good skater, which allows him to get to loose pucks and separate from opposing defenders. He’s agile and able to cut away from those bigger defensemen in small areas.
Jonathan Melee
#15 Maroon Hockey, Eastern Ontario Wild, 1/15/04, Left Shot, 5-11/161
Melee skates well, sees the ice, and can finish.
Zach Lavoie
#7 Maroon Hockey, Toronto Nationals, 3/13/04, Right Shot, 5-9/154
Lavoie isn’t as fast as a lot of his teammates, but he has a really good shot. He gets it off quickly with zip and accuracy.
Olivier Houde
#10 Quebec Prospects White, Levis College, 1/2/04, Left Shot, 5-11/150
Houde immediately catches your attention for his hard shot. As you watch more, his skating and skill grows on you. On Saturday morning, he made a great play to kick it into second gear, split the defense, and finish on a breakaway with a nifty move.
David Goyette
#88 FL Hockey, Eastern Ontario Wild, 3/27/04, Right Shot, 5-8.75/147
Goyette is a very good passer and has the hockey sense to let the play come to him. He’s confident with the puck on his stick and skates well in order to separate and get time and space to make plays.
Jordan Dumais
#91 FL Hockey, Lac St-Louis, 4/15/04, Right Shot, 5-9/155
Dumais is an offensive catalyst who can finish. He’s heavy on pucks and works hard to get to the dirty areas and grind in the corners.
Patrick Murphy
#19 Parisi Selects, Mount Saint Charles 14U, 12/18/05, Right Shot, 5-7/145
Murphy’s skating is very good, which allowed him to make plays with the puck on his stick against older competition. A late ‘05, he skates well and made a couple of nice plays, including one where he got the puck into the middle for a goal on an odd man rush. He assisted on another goal, making a really pretty pass from the wall. He’ll be at Mount Saint Charles this upcoming season.
Matthew Maltais
#92 Quebec Prospects Black, Vert & Noir, 9/2/04, Left Shot, 6-1/152
NCAA Commit: Nebraska-Omaha
Maltais, a late ‘04, is a goal scorer who skates well and can control possession. He’s already committed to Nebraska-Omaha, an NCHC program with a pipeline to the Quebec province due to assistant coach Dave Noel-Bernier.
Mick Thompson
#14 Maroon Hockey, North Jersey Avalanche 16U, 3/1/04, Left Shot, 5-4/120
Thompson is small, but he sees the ice well and makes a lot of good passes. Getting bigger and improving his lower body strength will help him become more explosive in his stride. There’s some potential here with how good he sees it.
Dylan Hryckowian
#5 All-American Prospects, Lac St-Louis Lions, 5/19/04, Left Shot, 5-5/135
Hryckowian is on the smaller side, but he’s slick and has good hands. He’s the younger brother of former Salisbury winger and Northeastern commit Justin Hryckowian, who is expected to play the 2019-20 season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL.
Leighton Carruthers
#74 Quebec Prospects Black, Halifax Gulls, 7/18/04, Left Shot, 5-9/160
Carruthers is a gifted goal scorer, who wasn’t quite as dominant at times here as he’s capable of being. Nonetheless, he’s a player to keep an eye on this upcoming season. He skates well and can finish with elite hands and a quick release.
Patrick Raftery
#63 Boston Jr. Whalers Black, Colorado Thunderbirds, 2/26/04, Right Shot, 5-8.5/153
Raftery makes plays, throws his weight around, and makes an impact on the forecheck. He has the hands and skating ability to score nifty goals and set up teammates in small areas.
C.J. Foley
#17 Boston Jr. Blues, Thayer, 2/1/04, Right Shot, 5-10/160
Foley showed more skill and finishing ability than he typically does, as most previous viewings have come with him going up against much older players in prep. He’s a versatile player, who has also played defense growing up. He’s clearly taken a step in terms of his strength, which shows in his skating and confidence on the ice. He’ll be a player to watch this upcoming season.
Pavit Mehra
#2 Boston Hockey Club, Cape Cod Whalers 15, 7/1/04, Right Shot, 5-6/135
Mehra works really hard, but his skill set is better than he’s given credit for. He had a nice week offensively at Mass. Final 40 and that carried over to the Junior Chowder Cup. He’s always moving his feet and able to elude opposing defenders before using his above average hands to finish or dish it off to a teammate.
Mike Murtagh
#88 All-American Prospects, Albany Academy, 9/11/04, Right Shot, 5-8.5/148
Murtagh skates very well, which allows him to produce on the rush. He played the off wing and was really good getting up and down the sheet. He plays bigger than he is.
James Fisher
#6 Boston Hockey Club, Belmont Hill, 4/28/04, Right Shot, 5-11.5/155
Fisher has the size and strength to dominate below the dots and find the score sheet. He goes to the net and is able to win puck battles. After playing up for the Junior Bruins 16U, he’s reportedly making the move to prep school.
Cole Bianchin
#21 All-American Prospects, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 8/23/04, Left Shot, 5-8.25/147
Bianchin saw the ice very well and made several really good passes. He also found the back of the net five a lot. His skating allowed him to generate offense on the rush and separate from opposing defenders.
Ben MacDonald
#12 Boston Hockey Club, Nobles, 2/24/04, Left Shot, 5-9.25/146
MacDonald is a cerebral, 200-foot player who can think the game well. He has vision and seemingly has the ability to slow the game down.
Chris Delaney
#15 Boston Jr. Blues, Junior Bruins 16U, 9/25/04, Left Shot, 5-4/121
Delaney is a small forward, who was able to use his skill set to make plays in small areas. He has good vision and is able to be shifty in traffic, which helps him overcome his lack of size.
Shane Baker
#91 Parisi Selects, Junior Bruins 16U, 1/1/04, Right Shot, 5-10/150
Baker looks to be a tad bigger since lacing up the skates for Grafton High School and Minutemen Flames this past winter. He’s fast and made a couple of nice plays during action Saturday.
Jackson Kyrkostas
#7 Boston Hockey Club, Islanders HC 16U, 8/19/04, Right Shot, 5-9/140
Kyrkostas has the skating ability and puck skills to make plays, especially on the rush. As he grows, he should get more comfortable going into the middle of the ice.
Brendan Boring
#19 All-American Prospects, Mid-Fairfield, 10/30/05, Right Shot, 5-8/130
After a standout performance two weekends ago in the Mini Chowder Cup, Boring had a nice weekend. A late ‘05, he seems to find the score sheet and has good size.
Jake Rozzi
#11 FL Hockey, Lac St-Louis, 1/27/04, Left Shot, 5-11/146
Rozzi has good size and made some key plays for his team.
Joshua Vogelsberg
#15 Future Pro’s, Mississauga Rebels, 6/4/04, Left Shot, 5-11/145
Vogelsberg scored a couple of goals, but most notably, his vision was very good. He made a couple of really nice looks to find teammates through seams in the opposing defense.
Aidan Darlington
#24 Parisi Selects, Moses Brown, 6/12/04, Right Shot, 5-6/130
Darlington scored at least a couple of goals here.
Ben Mercurio
#97 Parisi Selects, Smithfield HS, 3/2/04, Right Shot, 5-8/140
Mercurio is another Rhode Island high school player to watch. He scored a nice goal in Saturday’s game.
Donovan Frias
#90 Parisi Selects, St. George’s, 11/9/04, Left Shot, 5-11/145
Frias has size and while he didn’t produce a lot, he scored a beauty of a wraparound goal. He could blossom into a solid power forward.
Nathan Crosby
#12 Players First Hockey, Don Mills Flyers, 3/19/04, Left Shot, 5-11/150
Crosby has good size and a finishing touch. He seemed to get into good areas to score from and had a good release.
Alex Weiermair
#16 Players First Hockey, Toronto Titans, 5/10/05, Right Shot, 5-11/160
Weiermair, an ‘05, was playing up here and didn’t produce a ton, but he showed off his good hands and strong skating ability.
Emile Trottier
#44 Quebec Prospects White, Seminaire St. Joseph, 1/26/04, Left Shot, 5-4/140
Trottier is a smaller forward who has shiftiness and skill to make plays in small areas and use his edges and stickhandling to protect pucks.
Jules Boilard
#47 Quebec Prospects White, Seminaire St. Joseph, 11/4/04, Right Shot, 5-8/135
Boilard made some good passes to facilitate offense from deep in the attacking zone. A late ‘04, he is a player to keep an eye on over the coming years.
Ralph Voyer
#46 Quebec Prospects White, Bishop’s College, 3/18/04, Left Shot, 5-8/142
Voyer had good vision and made plays.
Tyler Grahme
#13 All-American Prospects, Minnesota Blades 15, 7/11/04, Right Shot, 5-8/146
Grahme had a solid weekend and seemed to have a knack for the puck. He scored a rebound goal of note in one of the early games.
Defensemen
Noah Warren
#19 Quebec Prospects Black, CCL Riverains, 7/15/04, Right Shot, 6-3.25/198
Warren is a huge, strong blue liner with a ton of upside. He can really shoot the puck. He plays with jam and he’s an intimidating force on the ice.
Seamus Powell
#2 FL Hockey, Rochester Coalition 15, 4/26/04, Left Shot, 5-10.25/138
Powell is an effortless skater who can move pucks up the ice with an excellent first pass. He’s not flashy and is more of a quarterback than a running back when it comes to moving pucks north. However, he can do both. He’s poised and also defends well with his feet, positioning and stick.
Charlie Leddy
#1 Maroon Hockey, Avon Old Farms, 1/11/04, Right Shot, 6-0.25/173
NCAA Commit: Boston College
Leddy was far more assertive than he’s been in the past. He was throwing his weight around and playing very well defensively. He skates well, has good size, and is strong. He has a hard shot and can make a firm, crisp pass on the breakout.
Patrick Czernecki
#11 Maroon Hockey, Honeybaked 15, 2/26/04, Left Shot, 5-8.5/156
NCAA Commit: UMass
Czarnecki has a good stick and is aggressive defensively. He breaks up a lot of plays with his stick while skating well.
Alec Leonard
#4 Maroon Hockey, Toronto Jr. Canadians, 5/13/04, Right Shot, 5-11/160
Leonard is a very good, mobile defenseman who makes a strong first pass.
Brodrick Williams
#16 Boston Hockey Club, Shattuck St. Mary’s 15, 2/13/04, Right Shot, 6-1/197
Williams, from Anaheim, has made the move to Shattuck. He’s a big, old-school defenseman who plays with a mean streak. He uses his size and reach to pin opposing forwards to the perimeter and close quickly.
Bryceon Lago
#15 Boston Hockey Club, North Jersey Avalanche 16U, 5/20/04, Left Shot, 5-5/130
Lago is a small, slick, puck-moving defender. He makes a good first pass, has the hands to put touch on it, and has the feet to escape trouble. He’s efficient at producing puck possession for his team.
Owen Paskowski
#14 Boston Hockey Club, Cushing, 2/4/04, Left Shot, 6-4/180
NCAA Commit: Colorado College
Paskowski is a big, hulking defender with a hard shot. He’s able to protect pucks and fend off opposing forecheckers. His skating needs work, but that could come as he fills out his frame and becomes more aware of his size.
Mason Chen
#5 Players First Hockey, Toronto Titans, 5/31/04, Left Shot, 5-10/150
Chen isn’t flashy, but he’s a smart, puck-moving defenseman with above average mobility.
Ethan Best
#2 Maroon Hockey, Toronto Jr. Canadians, 2/2/04, Left Shot, 6-2/205
Best, a big, physically mature blue liner, has a booming shot. His skating needs some work, but there’s potential here, due to his size and strength.
Emerson Miller
#6 Players First Hockey, Toronto Titans, 1/14/04, Left Shot, 6-1/185
Miller has a good stick and played solidly in his own zone with a physical presence. He has an ability to jumpstart the offense, but needs to be a little more careful to avoid turnovers.
Colton Mauser
#7 All-American Prospects, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, 6/11/04, Left Shot, 5-7/152
Mauser has good feet and got pucks going north upon retrieval. He had a good stick defending the rush.
Liam Bard
#4 North Star Elite Black, Berkshire, 1/4/04, Right Shot, 5-8/135
Bard is a very good puck-moving blue liner. On the smaller side, he skates well and gets around the sheet. Bard is making the move to prep school after playing up with the Junior Bruins 16U this past winter.
Nat Bannister
#5 CHE, York Simcoe Express, 5/21/04, Left Shot, 6-0/160
Bannister was listed on the roster as a defenseman, but has seemingly previously played up front. He made more of an impact offensively in limited time watching the team. He scored a breakaway goal on a nice finish.
Gus Hinckley
#81 All-American Prospects, Honeybaked 15U, 6/27/04, Left Shot, 6-2/165
Hinckley is a solid, two-way defenseman who can jump into the offense. He's one of five or so defenders to keep an eye on in this age group who didn't get to USA Hockey Select 15 Camp. He's making the move from Pittsburgh Penguins Elite to Honeybaked.
Kaden Muir
#58 All-American Prospects, Toronto Marlies, 5/9/04, Right Shot, 5-11.5/156
Muir might have recently had a growth spurt, which makes his skating stride a little funky. However, he gets around alright and plays with jam. He delivered a couple of big hits, using his size to his advantage.
Connor Little
#4 CHE, Markham Waxers, 6/4/04, Left Shot, 5-9/145
Little jumped into the rush and scored a goal in one game. His ability to impact the transition game for his team was noteworthy on a few occasions. He also had the recovery speed to get back and defend.
Tyler Lafferty
#2 North Star Elite Black, Farmington Bantam, 10/23/04, Right Shot, 6-0/160
Lafferty skates well and has good size. A late ‘04, he will still be playing bantam hockey in Minnesota this upcoming winter.
Goaltenders
Kyle Downey
#30 Maroon Hockey, Toronto Nationals, 3/4/04, Catches Left, 6-1/168
Downey has the size, physical tools, and fundamentals to intrigue scouts. While he didn’t face a ton of rubber, he was good and won the goaltending matchup against several other similarly matched teams.
Trent Boryszczuk
#00 All-American Prospects, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15, 1/8/04, Catches Left, 5-8/144
Boryszczuk is an athletic goaltender who wasn’t tested often, but he made a couple of good saves in key situations for his club.
Joey Walsh
#30 North Star Elite Green, Long Island Royals 15, 1/19/04, Catches Left, 5-9/140
Walsh stood on his head in a game completely dominated by Quebec Prospects Black.
