FOXBORO – There are some who have said they were the best team to ever play at the Mini Chowder Cup. Only fitting they were the last team standing in the 2016 edition of the tournament. Power Hockey Academy claiming the 2002 division title following a 2-1 victory over Hockey Essentials White on Sunday afternoon at Foxboro Sports Center.
They made things look easy in the tournament’s preliminary round, Power Hockey breezing to a 4-0-0 record with an average margin of victory of more than 10 goals; a combined score of 47-6 in those four games. It was a level of domination they continued in their first game of Sunday’s playoff round, defeating Hockey Essentials Black 8-1.
Things were a little tighter in the semifinals where they fended off a comeback bid by Pro Hockey White, but still something of a comfortable victory at 6-2.
The finals, however, were a different story.
Not only was it Power Hockey’s closest contest of the tournament, but for the first time they found themselves trailing in a Mini Chowder Cup game. A Justin Gordon power play goal at 13:55 giving Hockey Essentials White the championship match’s first lead.
Essentials took the lead and held it for some time until it was Power Hockey’s power play unit’s turn to strike, taking advantage of five minute major assessed to Hockey Essentials.
The third goal of Sunday’s playoff round for Wyatt Schingoette tied the game 1-1 at 19:07, then Kallaway Mercer put Power Hockey on top at 21:48. Both scores coming on the same power play. It was their slimmest lead of the tournament, but it was all Power Hockey needed, finishing off their championship run with a 2-1 victory.
With the game’s end came the announcement of the All-Tournament team. Two of the game’s goal scorers, Schingoette and Gordon, were named as All-Tournament forwards, along with Hockey Essentials’ Jason Siedem.
Essentials’ Jarod Crespo and Power Hockey’s Jamie Drysdale were the 2002 All-Tournament defensive pair.
Power Hockey netminder Connor MacKenzie claimed All-Tournament honors at his position following a weekend in which he yielded just 11 goals and posted two shutouts in seven tournament games
The 2002 division’s Most Valuable Player award went to Power Hockey forward Quinton Byfield. Though held scoreless in Sunday’s final, Byfield led all scorers in the preliminary round, amassing 22 points on 15 goals and seven assists. Another seven points were added in the playoffs – two goals and five assists – en route to the MVP award.