The Bowman Cup
4^th Annual Event Showcases Western New York State Talent
by Trevor Dugan
Hockeytalk.biz

The fourth annual Scotty Bowman Showcase featuring four high school all-star teams faced off on April 10th at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. Two games were played between the Junior and Senior all-stars from Buffalo and Rochester. Named after the greatest coach in NHL history, the winners of the senior game were awarded the Bowman Cup, presented by Scotty himself.

Trevor Dugan with Scotty Bowman

The tournament was created to showcase the talent of these cities’ young hockey prospects and has grown greatly since its inception in 2005. Needless to say the creator is proud.

“I’m convinced it has grown every year and the collection of players isn’t easy to find, but they’ve done a good job,” said Bowman. “From the start I was thrilled with it and I now look forward to it every year. I love watching the games and it’s really an honor. There are a lot of things you can talk to these kids about and it’s not just for playing hockey, but also for what they do later in life. You need to have passion for your sport and I think the most important thing is the attitude because I told them, if they get to be athletes or they get to be business people the right attitude can be good.”

A resident of Amherst, a suburb of Buffalo, Bowman has a long involvement with the region’s many hockey programs.  He sees bigger things for some of the participants.

“I wouldn’t want to name any names," said Bowman.  "It wouldn’t really be fair, but some players here will go on to play a higher level. Not all, but some will go on to play Junior or even University.”

Larry Playfair, Coach of Buffalo's Junior Bowman Cup Team, instructs the troops

The junior game featured former Sabre Larry Playfair as the Buffalo coach and Scott Metcalfe for Rochester. Playfair played in the NHL from 1978-90 for Buffalo and the LA Kings.  Metcalfe was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and played parts of three seasons for the Sabres, then many more in Europe and the AHL.

Some notable juniors on the Rochester team are Bret Barton, Remy Cholhan, Stephen Collins, Jon Sucese, and Matt Markowski of the Maksymum Junior B. 

Buffalo’s notable players were Ryan Jaracz of the Buffalo Stars Junior B, Ryan Stouffer of the Jr. Sabres and John Cullen of the Rochester Junior B. 

Buffalo goaltender John Cullen (Current club: Rochester Junior B) | Photo by M. Dugan

At the practice before the game, goaltender John Cullen shared his thoughts about what it means to be selected for a tournament like the Bowman Showcase. “You know it feels good. It’s an honor. I came the past two years and it’s a fun event. Next year I sign a contract to go play Jr. A in Boston. Hopefully, with that I can get looked at by a Division 1 New England College. I’d like to be at Boston University in a couple years. It’s great because I played with most of the guys in the organizations here in Western NY. It’s good to be back and play with a lot of people I haven’t seen in a while.”

BUFFALO JUNIORS CROWNED CHAMPS

The game started tight with plenty of hard hitting and perfect goaltending, leading to a scoreless first period. The hard hits carried over into the second until Matt Owczarczak put Buffalo on the scoreboard. From then on Buffalo appeared to take control as number forty-four Ryan Wagner (one of two Ryan Wagners on the same team) scored unassisted on a giveaway close to the Rochester net.

“It felt great to pop that one in there,” said Wagner.  “We really came out hard in the second to take the lead and held down the fort from there.”

Buffalo was now in clear control of the game as a minute and a half later, Ryan Jaracz gave Buffalo a 3-0 lead.

Finally, Matt McGuire put Rochester on the board toward the end of the second. The third period saw great goaltending on both sides as neither team scored until Pat Sofia brought Rochester within one.  By then it was too late, as the Buffalo Juniors were crowned Bowman Cup Champions.

SENIORS

The senior game turned out to be one of the most exciting in the short history of the tournament.  Notable Rochester players were Mike Broccolo, Billy Lemen, John Mousso, Dom Markajani, Sean Wallace of Maksymum Junior B, Ian Chapman of the Wheatfield Junior Blades, and Nick Padulo of the Buffalo Stars Junior B.   Team Buffalo featured the talents of Zaid Hussein, Ryan Marko, JP Witkop of the Wheatfield Junior B, Ryan Cunningham of the Buffalo Stars Junior B and Derek Mohney of the Buffalo Junior Sabres.

The coaches were Craig Charron  for Rochester and former NHLer Grant Ledyard for Buffalo.  Charron was drafted by the Canadiens in the 1989 NHL supplemental draft and played minor pro for 12 seasons in the AHL, ECHL and IHL.  Ledyard played 22 years of pro hockey in the NHL (notably with Los Angeles and Buffalo) also the AHL, CHL and Europe. 

BUFFALO SENIORS SWEEP TOURNEY

Excellent goaltending on both sides produced a 0-0 tie at the end of the first. In the second period Rochester went ahead by two goals, scored by Evan Roth and Michael Broccolo.  In the third, Buffalo halved the lead courtesy a goal by Peter Creighton. The third period continued with Buffalo and Rochester exchanging goals until late in the third when it was tied up at 4-4, putting the game into overtime. With just 42 seconds left, Ryan Marko of Wheatfield Junior B scored top shelf, winning it for Buffalo and sweeping the tournament. Scotty Bowman proudly presented the cup to his hometown champs.

THE NEXT STEP

This tournament was for many players the next big step they needed to further their hockey career. Whether it was being seen by a Scout or just the honor of being selected, this tournament opened the door to new opportunities. The players on either side reveled in the chance just to play in the Bowman Showcase.

“It was a lot of fun playing with a great bunch of guys and definitely a great hockey honor to be selected and play here,” said Buffalo forward Tyler Matecki. 

“I actually got a text from my brother in school telling me I was selected and it was a really great feeling to be rewarded like this,” said Buffalo’s Anthony Day.

Former Sabre and Buffalo team coach Larry Playfair appreciates the talent he sees participating in this event. “There are definitely a few players on this team who have a chance to make it big and this tournament is a big step for them.”

The future of Western New York hockey could not be brighter and with the Bowman Cup helping to showcase the talent, Scotty’s vision of helping these players get discovered is being fulfilled.

Trevor Dugan, 17 years old, from Buffalo, NY, is a student at St. Francis High School

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