WALPOLE – One of the oldest clichés running is that history has an odd way of repeating itself.
At the 2016 Jr. Chowder Cup, seemingly the only difference in the ’01 championship game was it being played at Rodman Arena. The Black Squirrels and Hockey Essentials advancing to the final match once again. And once again resulted in a 3-2 overtime decision in favor of the Squirrels.
Even the game itself played out in similar fashion, as once again the Squirrels amassed a two-goal advantage, this time around on goals by Sean Farrell at 13:14 and then Jake Hughes at 17:28. A two-goal lead they again carried until late in the game.
As the game clock approached the 4:00 to play mark, things seemed as though the Squirrels were well in control of the championship. Essentials, however, had other ideas and rallied for two goals late to force overtime. A power play goal by Trevor Zegras at 25:59 and the fourth of the playoffs for Robert Mastrosimone at 27:22 drawing the game back to even. The second straight season Mastrosimone netted the 2-2, championship equalizer.
The ’01 division championship between Hockey Essentials and the Black Squirrels was once again to be decided in overtime and once again to be decided by a score of 3-2. The 2016 championship winner, however, came in about half the time as 2015 with Robby Griffin putting an end to the contest just 2:11 into the extra session.
Following the Black Squirrels’ 3-2 victory, the All-Tournament Awards were handed out and, like the game itself, there were a number of repeat performances. Zegras and the Squirrels Pat Moynihan were once again named as ’01 All-Tournament forwards, joined this summer by Mastrosimone. Squirrels netminder Joe Sharib once again went down as All-Tournament goaltender, while Essentials Marshall Warren once again returned to the All-Tournament blue line. This time he was joined by the Squirrels Colby Bailey as Henry Thrun, All-Tournament defense in 2015, elevated and claimed the 2016 Jr. Chowder Cup’s ’01 division Most Valuable Player award.