Morristown, NJ —

Here we go! It’s hard to believe that it’s already been over three months since opening puck-drop, but here we are, just one game away from crowning a fourth Charette Cup champion. It’s a rematch of last season’s semifinals which ended in a 5-4 thriller favoring this year’s #1 seed. Regardless of the outcome, this will be just the second time that a Sussex County team will have won a Cup Championship in the MCSSIHL, so without further ado, let’s dive right in.

High Point/Wallkill Valley/Kittatinny (12-6, +27 Goal Differential)

The Killcats appeared in the 2021-2022 Charette Cup finals, and were bounced in the semifinals the year before and after. This season, they’re playing their best hockey of the 2020s, and have shown the ability to shoot the lights out on a nightly basis. In the semifinals against Vernon, they scored four-straight goals against the red-hot Vernon Vikings for a stunning 5-4 victory. Here’s what they’ll bring to the table against Newton/Lenape Valley.

Offense:

The first thing that really stands out about this team is their ability to score in bunches. In 18 games this season, they’re averaging 5.6 goals per game, and have lit the lamp six or more times in half of them. Senior Michael Sadowski leads the charge with a staggering 52 points, including 36 goals. He enters the game just one point shy of 100 for his career as if he needed any more motivation to get on the board. His partner in crime Alex Sonvico is no slouch either, with 22 goals of his own. When this team wins, they do so by overwhelming opponents, which is certainly something they can do against NLV.

Defense:

As is true with many faster-paced teams, there can be some chances here and there to find some holes in transition, which has been a weakness in some of the Killcats’ games. In the semifinal round against Vernon, the main reason they fell behind 4-1 was due to a series of odd-man rushes surrendered due to untimely turnovers. They do have a solid goaltender in sophomore Landon Healy, who allowed three or fewer goals eight times this season including a shutout against the Haas Division’s Mountain Lakes/Boonton. Overall, the team posted a 4.11 GAA for the year, indicating a good-not-great defense in the context of the Charette.

X-Factor:

Depth. The Killcats boast six players with point totals of 20 or more this season; the most in their division. Coach Mike Beltran’s squad has the benefit of rolling out several top-quality scoring lines, enabling them to prevent burning out their superstars. That extra rest also adds up throughout the season, leaving Sadowski and Sonvico in great shape to take some extra shifts in what could be their team’s first-ever MCSSIHL Cup Championship.

Newton/Lenape Valley (11-10, -10 Goal Differential)

Coach Ryan Seaven’s squad is back in the Charette Finals for the second season in a row, having rolled through an upstart Parsippany Hills team in the semifinals to earn their spot. Despite two straight losses in some pre-finals tune-up games against South Brunswick and Mountain Lakes/Boonton, they’ll be feeling confident heading into this matchup. NLV have won three-straight against the Killcats, outscoring them 19-10 in those three games. Here’s our scouting report.

Offense:

Two words, one name: Maxsym Pastukh. The number 27 wearing junior has been on fire since joining the team halfway through the 2022-23 season. During that time, he’s notched 56 goals, and collected 45 points in his first full season. His combination of speed and skill makes him perhaps the best player in the division, and the person that the Killcats will be working their hardest to shut down. Additionally, seniors Justin Zappe (14 goals, 17 assists), and Brayden Dabrowski (17 goals, 4 assists) can find twine, punishing opponents for paying too much attention to Pastukh.

Defense:

Newton/Lenape Valley’s 5.04 GAA is a poor indication of how solid this team really is on the blue line and between the pipes. Senior Ryan Salerno put together a final high school season to be proud of, posting a 3.95 GAA and a .863 save percentage in a high-scoring division and an otherwise packed schedule. He’s been particularly good against his Finals opponents this season with a 3.00 GAA and a .903 save percentage in two games against High Point/Wallkill Valley/Kittatinny. When it’s counted, this team has found ways to rise to the occasion and shut down their foes.

X-Factor:

This team’s playoff experience, and possession of a goaltender with 42 games of varsity experience provides a serious edge in this matchup. One-game playoffs, and particularly championship games come with a lot of pressure, and to have a group of players who have been here before goes a long way, and could be just what Newton Lenape Valley need to raise their first trophy since the 2016-17 Haas Cup.

Watch the Charette Cup Finals Live on Wednesday, Feb. 14th right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFgXGG25UR0

Cover Photo Credit: Mike Cahill