2nd Charette Cup final preview: Bernards vs. High Point

2ND CHARETTE CUP FINAL

1-Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex (13-3-3) vs. 3-High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny (6-8-3)
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m. at Mennen Arena

Previous meetings: BSM won the first meeting on Jan. 5, 12-2, before the teams played to a 5-5 tie back on Feb. 5.

CUP HISTORY
Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex
– BSM is the defending Charette Cup champion

High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny
– This is the first Cup final appearance in program history.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex
Tanner Clemson (26 g., 22 a.), Taylor Favreau (12 g., 8 a.), Aidan Gallagher (16 g., 13 a.), Jimmy Hathaway (26 g., 16 a.), Dylan Leonard (15 g., 12 a.), Ryan Leonard (9 g., 17 a.)

Goalie: Baylyn Shankman (9-3-1, .905 sv%)

High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny
Luca Carnemolla (15 g., 12 a.), Jake Henningsen (1 g., 8 a.), Michael Sadowski (11 g., 10 a.), Gordon Shindelman (6 g., 7 a.)

Goalie: Tyler Boffa (2-2, .865 sv%) or T.J. Ward (4-6-3, .802 sv%)

THE MATCH-UP
It’s been a tale of two games in the two meetings between these squads this season.

The first meeting, a 12-2 win for BSM in early January, was the usual dominant performance that we’ve become accustomed to from this team as it has become the highest-scoring team in the MCSSIHL this season. The second time around was a much tighter match-up, as despite a 38-14 shot advantage for BSM, the teams played to a 5-5 tie. It is worth noting that BSM was without standout forward Jimmy Hathaway and goalie Baylyn Shankman for that game.

BSM has been an extremely difficult team to stop all season, and shutting them down or at least containing them will be of paramount importance for High Point. It will need a big game out of whoever is playing in goal between Boffa and Ward (Boffa has won his last two starts, including the win over Newton-Lenape Valley in the semifinals), and will need its top forwards in Carnemolla, Sadowski, and Shindelman to find the back of the net.

For BSM, it’s very simple. It will need to play like it has all season, control the tempo, and finish it chances. It has a very strong goaltender in Shankman to hold down the fort at the other end, so that combined with its high-powered offense should position it very well to come out with the win.

Prediction: Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex 5, High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny 2