By Mike Gurnis
For the fifth time in program history, the Sussex Cup belongs to Newton-Lenape Valley
The program knocked off Vernon, 5-2 on Tuesday night at Skylands Ice World to claim its third Sussex Cup in five years.
Arsenni Pastukh recorded a hat trick and an assist for Newton-Lenape Valley, which previously defeated High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny back on Dec. 22, 6-3, in its first game of the round-robin tournament between the three Sussex County public-school programs.
After Mason Filato gave Vernon the lead 2:46 into the game, NLV responded as Pastukh scored just a few minutes later, before Sean Lockwood buried a shorthanded goal to give his team the lead. Then, with NLV holding a 3-2 lead in the third, Joey Gallucci and Pastukh each came up with insurance goals to seal the title.
Adam Yacuk made 18 saves for NLV, which out-shot Vernon, 42-20 in the game.
Newton-Lenape Valley has won the Sussex Cup title in 2013-14, 2015-16, 2021-22, 2023-24, and now, 2025-26.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 