BRIDGEWATER – The final day of pool play at the 2016 Jr. Chowder Cup began on Saturday morning. The first game of the day’s docket at the Bridgewater Ice Arena resulted in a 7-4 victory for Boston Jr. Whalers Atlantic over Eastern Elite Hockey ’01.
Eastern Elite controlled the score in the first, grabbing the game’s first lead and then quickly extending it to 2-0. Jon Tom broke the scoring with his second of the tournament at 10:24. Tyler Jinks then padded the cushion at 11:51.
The Whalers battled back with two quick ones of their own, Charlie Merkley and Reed Dolph scoring just 2:20 apart at 12:22 and 14:42, respectively, but Elite had their lead back prior to halftime. Tom’s second of the game making it 3-2 at 17:30.
Boston then took over in the second. Trevor Chamberlain, Cooper Blunt and Stephen Kyrkostas strung together three straight to give the Whalers their first lead of the contest before the half’s 6:00 mark. It was the only lead they needed.
Mike Manland stemmed the tide to get Elite back within one at 5-4, but it was the entire rally. Another pair of scores for the Whalers closed out the five-goal frame and 7-4 victory.
Blunt and Tom each finished the game with a pair of goals for their respective teams. Kyrkostas also finished with multiple points, credited with a goal and an assist.
