FOXBORO, Mass. — Close to two dozen exceptional ’08s played up in the 2007 division at the 2022 Junior Chowder Cup.
The event, which always draws a number of great young players from across North America, has continued to grow. As it has expanded, more and more rinks have become necessary. Most of the games were at the Foxboro Sports Center while the Canton Ice House and New England Sports Village also were hosts.
There were ’08s who set themselves apart from the rest and showed well over the course of the four-day tournament. In particular, there were three defensemen who stood out as potential difference-makers down the road in midget, prep, junior, college and pro hockey.
Here are the top 13 players in the age group with evaluations of each from the Junior Chowder Cup.
Forwards
1. Bodhi Ryan
Toronto Red Wings, left shot
Ryan was the best '08 forward I saw. Skating for All-American Prospects Red, a team made up entirely of '08s, he scored a goal in Thursday’s game. His skating, hockey sense and ability to protect pucks all stood out. He made quite a few good hockey plays and was able to create scoring chances throughout the game. In addition, the Toronto native demonstrated a solid foundation away from the puck.
2. Beckham Edwards
Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, left shot
Edwards was on a loaded Maroon Hockey team that ended up winning the '07 elite division. There were a number of stars ahead of him on the depth chart, but he still made his presence felt on the score sheet. Edwards skated well and had a low center of gravity. He was able to finish and also make some plays.
3. Taylor Jimmo
Oshawa Generals, left shot
Jimmo was another forward who stood out in my viewings of All-American Prospects Red. His ability to find soft spots in opposing defenses and knack for being in the right place at the right time led to his success finding the back of the net. He also has a good stick and edge work.
4. David Bosco
Junior Eagles, right shot
Bosco is a solid prospect who played a well-rounded game. He scored a couple of goals, but I liked his physical play. The Winchester, Mass., native was hard to play against and competed for 50/50 battles. He took a hit to make a play in one game. Some agents and college coaches might be familiar with his last name as his older brother, Jack, is a recent Belmont Hill graduate headed to play Division 3 hockey in the NESCAC at Wesleyan.
5. Nicholas McManus
Cape Cod Whalers, right shot
McManus was another goal scorer on the All-American Prospects Red. Hailing from Shrewsbury, he scored a pair of goals on Thursday. A Top Gun product, he’s going to play for the Cape Cod Whalers this season.
6. Jamie Glance
Mount Saint Charles, right shot
Glance is an athlete who I gave a few pluses to during my viewings of All-American Prospects Red. He grew up playing Top Gun and spent this past season with Seacoast Performance Academy. Now, he’s off to skate for Mount Saint Charles, a program quickly becoming known for pumping out great players and teams.
Defensemen
1. Cole Emerton
Barrie Colts, right shot
Emerton was absolutely electric at times for the championship-winning Maroon Hockey. His skating and puck-moving abilities resembled a much older player. He was dynamic moving pucks north and made a couple of eye-popping plays with the puck on his stick. He’s still raw and a work in progress defensively. However, the tools are there for him to be a big-time prospect.
2. Anthony Pedalino
Long Island Gulls, left shot
Pedalino was the only '08 on Coaches Choice Elite, the runner-up to Maroon Hockey. From Massapequa, N.Y., Pedalino plays a mature game well beyond his years. A mobile blue liner, he defends with his feet and tight gaps. He’s physical and delivered a few hip checks to break up opposing puck carriers. He was tough to play against and closed quickly to take away time and space. With the puck on his stick, he was smooth and got pucks going north. There were a few nifty passes he made to keep plays going.
3. Jacob Xu
North York Rangers, right shot
Xu played for the Ontario Rangers team that lost in the final of the secondary '07 division. I watched his team play three times, mainly to keep tabs on him after discovering him early in the event. He’s another big time prospect whose skating stands out. He’s got that quick twitch and his first two steps allow him to get out of the gates with speed. Xu is smooth and played in all situations. With the puck on his stick, he’s smart, poised and slows the game down. Defensively, I was impressed with how hard he played. He closed on opposing forwards quickly and made a couple of nice hits. His gaps were tight and he used his stick to poke-check pucks away from opposing forwards. When he was on the ice, good things seemed to happen.
4. Oskar Drabczynski
Mid Fairfield, left shot
Drabczynski, playing for All-American Prospects Red, had good size, skated well, and jumped into the offense. He activated and got pucks north. With his size and physical tools, there is plenty of upside.
5. Brady Sloper
Junior Eagles, right shot
Sloper was a step behind Drabczynski on the All-American Prospects Red, but I noted him positive a few times. A former Top Gun player, he’s heading to the Junior Eagles for the 2022-23 season.
6. Chris Baird-Gajdos
Little Caesars, left shot
Baird-Gajdos played for NorthStar Elite Green here. He skates well and has good size. He’s a little limited offensively, but he’s a player to watch as he moves to Little Caesars this season after spending 2021-22 skating up for Bishop Kearney Selects.
Goaltender
Tyler O’Keefe
Pittsburgh Vengeance, G, catches left
O’Keefe, playing for All-American Prospects Red, was the only '08 goaltender in the tournament from the teams I saw. He was solid in the win Thursday and appeared solid throughout.
