4TH CHARETTE CUP FINAL
1-Newton-Lenape Valley (11-10-0) vs. 3-High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny (12-6-0)
Wednesday, 5 p.m. at Mennen Arena
Previous meetings: Newton-Lenape Valley won both meetings between these squads this season. It won, 7-4 on Dec. 18, before recording a 7-2 win on Jan. 30.
CUP HISTORY
Newton-Lenape Valley
— Newton-Lenape Valley won the NJIIHL McMullen Cup in 2013, and then took the 2017 Haas Cup title. It is in the Charette Cup final for the third time in four years, and second-straight year after losing to Montville in last year’s final.
High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny
— High Point is in search of the program’s first-ever Cup title in the MCSSIHL. It is in the Charette final for the second time in three years after falling to Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex in the 2022 final.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newton-Lenape Valley
Maksym Pastukh, F, Jr. (35 g., 10 a.), Justin Zappe, F, Sr. (14 g., 17 a.), Brayden Dabrowski, F, Sr. (17 g., 4 a.), Martin Murphy, F, Sr. (3 g., 17 a.), Ty Dellicker, F, Jr. (6 g., 5 a.), Joey Gallucci, D, So. (3 g., 9 a.), David Pineda, D, Sr. (4 g., 3 a.)
Goalie: Ryan Salerno, Sr. (.864 sv%)
High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny
Michael Sadowski, F, Sr. (36 g., 16 a.), Brady Reid, F, Jr. (9 g., 13 a.), Joshua Custode, F, Sr. (8 g., 6 a.), James Sonvico, F, Sr. (9 g., 12 a.), Sebastian Hamarcak, D, Sr. (5 g., 17 a.), Alex Sonvico, D, Jr. (22 g., 14 a.), Anthony Tokar, D, Jr. (6 g., 14 a.)
Goalie: Landon Healy, So. (.836 sv%)
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Newton-Lenape Valley
Newton-Lenape Valley got out of the gates quick this season, highlighted by a six-game win streak to start off 7-2. It hasn’t been quite as smooth sailing of late, going 4-7 since, but it still managed to clinch the top seed in the Charette Cup with a 6-2 divisional record. It knocked off Parsippany in the semifinals, as back-to-back goals from Maksym Pastukh- part of a four-goal performance- helped the team get the separation it needed.
Pastukh is as good of a pure scorer as you’ll find in the area, with nine games with three or more goals. He’s got a solid group of forwards to work with as well, with Justin Zappe, Brayden Dabrowski, and Martin Murphy having all over 20 points this year. Pastukh, specifically, has had big games against High Point this season, scoring three in the first meeting and then four in the second meeting.
High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny
The High Point tri-op started the year 3-3 before going on a seven-game heater to really establish itself this season. In the semifinals, it showed off its mental fortitude by rallying from a three-goal third period deficit against Vernon. It scored three goals in just over four minutes to tie the game, before James Sonvico buried the game-winner in overtime to propel the team to its second final appearance in three years. Michael Sadowski had a hat trick in the game.
Sadowski, who comes into this game with 99 career points, has had an impressive season, just like Pastukh. He has been on the score sheet in 17 of the team’s 18 games. He’s part of an impressive group of forwards with Reid, Custode, and James Sonvico, while the defense which consists of Hamarcak, Alex Sonvico, and Anthony Tokar are all very capable two-way players who can impact the game.
PREDICTION
Sussex County supremacy will be on the line in this one. On paper, these two teams appear to be very evenly matched. However, it hasn’t played out that way in the two meetings between the teams, with Newton-Lenape Valley winning by an aggregate score of 14-6. But with a championship on the line, expect both teams to tighten things up defensively in a game which should more accurately reflect what both teams are capable of. Sadowski vs. Pastukh is as good of a battle between top forwards as you’ll see in any of these Cup finals. While High Point-Wallkill-Kittatinny will certainly have payback on its mind after the first two meetings, which culminated in Newton-Lenape Valley capturing the Sussex Cup, expect the third time to be a charm for NLV after falling in its last two Charette Cup final appearances.
Newton-Lenape Valley over High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 