FOXBORO, Mass. — There was a lot of action to take in during the four days of games at the 2021 Junior Chowder Cup. With a few exceptions, most of the top teams and prospects made it to the playoffs on Sunday.
New England Crows, coached by Danny Resendes, took home the hardware at the 2005 division while the NorthStar Elite Minnesota captured the top prize at the 2006 age group. The event was well attended by college coaches and other hockey professionals.
The event undoubtedly was missing the top Canadian prospects that usually flock to the Foxboro Sports Center for exposure on this side of the border every July. Due to COVID travel restrictions, there were very few Canadians at the Junior Chowder Cup this summer.
Below is a look at the top performers from Sunday’s playoff games at the 2005 division of the Junior Chowder Cup. Please note, players are listed in alphabetical order.
Henry Butte (Cape Cod Whalers)
Belmont Hill/CC Whalers 16-U, 3/23/05, LW, left shot, 5-9/145
Butte was a goal scoring machine throughout the weekend and that included potting a pair on Sunday. The Belmont, Mass., native has a low center of gravity, has the puck on his stick a lot, and can drive to the scoring areas. He’s a player that has been on my radar since I first saw him during his bantam year with Seacoast Performance Academy. If he keeps this up, his stock will soar further among college coaches in the area.
Brennan Cail (Boston Jr. Blues)
Hotchkiss/Yale Jr. Bulldogs 16-U, 5/11/05, RW, right shot, 6-1/170
Cail had a pair of goals in his team’s loss against the Crows on Sunday morning. Both were absolute snipes as the New Haven, Conn., native showed off his accurate and heavy wrist shot. It was the best viewing to date for the Connecticut Junior Huskies product who will be entering his second season at Hotchkiss.
Anthony Cappello (Top Shelf)
Long Island Gulls 16-U, 8/26/05, C, left shot, 6-3/180
Cappello was dominant at times this weekend. He had both goals in an overtime win over Boston Hockey Club in the semifinals. A power forward from Ossining, N.Y., he used his size and long stride to drive the net, score goals in tight, and win puck battles in the greasy areas. He also did a good job of getting under the opposition’s skin at times. There’s a lot of potential here, but he has to bottle up that energy and play between the whistles on a more consistent basis. When he brings his game each shift, he can be really good.
Braiden Clark (New England Crows)
Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets 16-U, 4/8/05, C, left shot, 5-11/186
Clark was the most complete player of anyone in the tournament. The Upper Arlington, Ohio, native has good size and strength and he uses it well. He plays a physical brand of hockey, but he does it with a purpose. He uses his body to shield opposing defenders from the puck. He throws his weight around down low to win puck battles. Away from the puck, his habits are really good. There was a reason he was always on the ice in penalty kill and late game situations. There’s not a college program in the country that shouldn’t be interested in Clark.
Joe Connor (New England Crows)
Avon Old Farms/Yale Jr. Bulldogs 16-U, 3/11/05, C, left shot, 5-9/159
It was a really good weekend for Connor and that included Sunday’s playoff games. The Amherst, N.H., native was heavy on pucks and played a hard brand of hockey. He can win battles down low, cycle, and score goals. He centered the line with Landan Resendes on his right and Pat Murphy (Mount Saint Charles) on his left.
Jake Freelove (Boston Jr. Blues)
Winchendon/River Rats 16-U, 1/4/05, D, right shot, 6-1/165
Freelove is quietly one of the better `05 defensemen in New England. He’s still raw and figuring out just how good he can be. He’s had a growth spurt and has nice size to go along with a good stick and vision. The Tyngsboro, Mass., native makes nice plays on the breakout and can walk the blue line while finding open teammates during attacking zone sequences. He’ll be in his second year at Winchendon this upcoming season.
Landan Resendes (New England Crows)
Cushing/River Rats 16-U, 12/10/05, RW, right shot, 5-8/146
Resendes had a couple of goals on Sunday to go along with his five points earlier in the weekend. The Hudson, Mass., native was one of the more skilled players on the ice over the weekend, regardless of birth year. He’s shifty and has a good stick to protect pucks from bigger opposing defenders. The Hillside alum will be heading to Cushing after spending 2020-21 with the Junior Bruins 16-U.
Tommy Rose (New England Crows)
Junior Bruins 16-U, 8/31/05, D, right shot, 5-8/134
Rose was the smoothest operator of any defenseman on the weekend. The Westford, Mass., native is mobile, activates into the rush, and promotes possession for his team. His skating, stick, and vision allow him to make plays with the puck on his stick. He’s the best `05 defenseman from Massachusetts.
Sam Scopa (Boston Hockey Club)
Belmont Hill/Jr. Eagles 16-U, 1/10/05, G, catches left, 5-11/173
There’s not much more that needs to be said that hasn’t already been written in this space. Scopa posted back-to-back shutouts in the first two games on Sunday. He kept Top Shelf scoreless for most of the game before allowing a late goal and the overtime winner. Neither were his fault and he was facing a barrage as his team was down to three defensemen and a forward playing back. Scopa, who was a NTDP Evaluation Camp participant, is clearly one of the top goaltenders in the country at this birth year. The Lexington, Mass., native is fundamentally sound, athletic and has a calm demeanor.
Ty Wood (Boston Hockey Club)
Lawrence Academy/River Rats 16-U, 11/3/05, C, left shot, 6-0/175
Wood makes the most out of his ability. He plays a hard, north-south game and has a nose for the net. He scored and dished out a few helpers throughout the day. His feet still need to get better, but he’s a bowling ball that just comes at you in waves. He’s hard to knock off pucks and he gets a ton of chances. Wood, from Gloucester, Mass., is making the jump from the MIAA with Austin Prep to Lawrence Academy where he’ll play for head coach Rob Barker.
