Martlets Fall to Belmont Hill

The Martlets entered Saturday night’s matchup at Belmont Hill coming off a hard-fought tie at Deerfield Academy on Friday and were back on the bus less than 24 hours later, heading east to Belmont, Massachusetts. It was the final game of the regular season for both teams, with playoff implications on the line, and the atmosphere reflected it. The rink was packed with Belmont Hill supporters honoring their seniors, creating a loud and energetic backdrop.

Belmont Hill plays on one of the largest sheets of ice in New England, giving both teams ample room to skate, create space, and make plays. Westminster handled the environment well early, putting together a strong road first period. The Martlets found their structure, generated a few quality looks—especially on special teams—and settled into the game. Belmont had chances of their own, but Ryan Galaski ’26 picked up right where he left off the night before at Deerfield, turning away all 10 shots he faced in the opening frame to keep the game scoreless.

Westminster broke through in the second period when Erich Brueckmann ’26 entered the zone on the goalie’s right side and ripped a beautiful shot low blocker side to give the Martlets a 1–0 lead. Belmont Hill responded with sustained pressure, hemming Westminster in its own zone for an extended stretch. That push paid off, as the hosts eventually found the equalizer, sending the teams into intermission tied 1–1.

With 18 minutes to play, the Martlets emptied the tank. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t find the go-ahead goal. Belmont Hill capitalized on two breakdowns to score their second and third goals of the night before adding an empty-netter to seal the game.

While nothing is official yet, it appears the Martlets’ season has come to an end. It was an incredible season—full of everything that makes hockey special: the highs, the grind, the moments in between.