High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny 2021-22 preview: Addition of Kittatinny helps program’s depth

HIGH POINT-WALLKILL VALLEY-KITTATINNY

Head coach: Mike Beltran, 18th year (139-203-23 career record).

Division: Charette

Last year: High Point-Wallkill Valley had a solid season in 2020-21, as it finished 6-5-1 overall with a 5-2-1 record in the Charette Division. It fell to eventual Charette Cup champion Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex in the semifinals, 5-1.

Key losses: Devin Haines, D; Maddy Hennion, F; Brandon Mudrick, F.

Top returners: Luca Carnemolla, F, Sr.; Antonio Ciasullo, D, Sr.; Jake Henningson, D, So.; Michael Sadowski, F, So.; Gordon Shindelman, F, So.; James Sonvico, F, So.; T.J. Ward, G, Sr.

Newcomers: Jacob Grubb, D, So.; Will Palsgrove, F, Fr.; Brady Reid, F, Fr.; Will Schreiber, F, Fr.; Alex Sonvico, D, Fr.; Anthony Tokar, D, Fr.

Outlook: This program, which was originally a co-op of High Point and Wallkill Valley, has added Kittatinny to the mix this year to form a tri-op. The addition has given a boost to the program’s participation numbers, giving it a bit more depth than it has had in recent years.

It is coming off a solid season in 2020-21, where it finished in second place in the Charette Division standings. It lost a talented trio of players in Haines (Charette Division MVP), Mudrick, and Hennion, and this year’s team will be a very young group.

It will be able to count on some solid goaltending from senior T.J. Ward, who made every start last season. In front of him will be senior defenseman Antonio Ciasullo along with sophomore Jake Henningson. Sophomore Jacob Grubb, and freshmen Alex Sonvico and Anthony Tokar are also expected to see significant time on the blue line.

Up front, the team returns one of its top scorers from a year ago in senior Luca Carnemolla (11 g., 5 a.). He’ll be joined by sophomore Michael Sadowski (4 g., 2 a.), sophomore Gordon Shindelman (3 g., 3 a.) and sophomore James Sonvico. Freshmen Will Palsgrove, Brady Reid, and Will Schreiber will all look to contribute as well.

It should be an interesting season for this newly-formed tri-op. It will be hard to replace the players it graduated last year, but it does have enough returning players along with more depth than usual thanks to the addition of Kittatinny to make it a force in this division once again.

E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com