Martlets Win in Shootout

The Martlets closed out the season with a dramatic come-from-behind win against a strong Deerfield side. The game featured a scoreless 5-minute overtime – bonus hockey for the assembled faithful fans – and a rare Jackson Rink shootout that led to the Westminster victory. The game was an exciting affair from the opening puck drop, with several lead changes, excellent goaltending at both ends of the rink, and fast-paced, hard hockey. Westminster struck first on the powerplay only 2 minutes into the game when Newt Cutler ‘22 collected the puck down below the Deerfield goal line and deftly fed Cole Raycraft ‘23 a perfect pass in the low slot; Raycraft made no mistake and fired the puck home for the early lead. With the Black and Gold building momentum, however, Deerfield evened the score only 2 minutes later when a scrum in front of Martlet goalie Alec Rosenbaum ‘23 ended with the puck in the back of the net. The game settled into a back-and-forth affair after that, but clearly Westminster enjoyed the balance of the play. A strong defensive effort produced a Jack Rockefeller ‘23 pass out of the defensive zone to Easton Masse ‘25 along the far boards near the Westminster blue line and Masse, dangling and deking his way through several Big Green players streaked through neutral ice, around a Deerfield defensemen and then, with a quick outside-in move, tucked the puck past the Deerfield netminder. Rosenbaum made more than a few key saves in the 1st period – ultimately, he had 23 saves on the afternoon – and the opening stanza ended with the home team up 2-1. After the break, Deerfield (which had only 1 loss for the season), came flying out of the locker room and on the first shift of the 2nd period tied up the game for the second time when a shot from the point was saved by Rosenbaum. But Deerfield found the puck in the ensuing melee and banged it into the Westminster net. The 2nd period, with the game now tied at 2-2, was an exciting back-and-forth one, with both teams earning powerplay opportunities and both teams responding with spirited penalty kills. With 1 minute to go in the period, a bad Westminster change and a turnover produced a 2-on-0 against and the Deerfield forward on the receiving end of the puck did not waste the chance, firing it up and over Rosenbaum’s shoulder for Deerfield’s first lead of the game. But the Martlets collected themselves for the 3rd period, and with real determination pushed the pace of play and generated several long moments of sustained offensive pressure. Still, the Black and Gold could not find the equalizer. With the clock ticking down – and with the lines jumbled because of a passel of matching minor penalties for roughing and other extracurricular activities – Westminster mounted its final push. That effort, with Deerfield back on their heels a little bit, led to the tying goal with only 2:21 remaining in the game. With Jake Timone ‘25 and Raycraft providing forechecking pressure and possession down low and the puck moving up to the point, Cutler pounced on a rebound from a Miles Kim ‘24 shot to even the score at 3 goals apiece. And that’s how regulation time ended – sending the game into the first overtime of the season for the Martlets. The five minute extra frame was an exciting one, with Westminster generating the greater share of the chances. Nick Orenstein ‘23, Luke Reiter ‘23, Jack Adams ‘23, joined linemates Cutler, Masse, and Raycraft to produce a succession of good shifts; Sawyer von Jess ‘22, Keegan Bankoff ‘22, Rockefeller, and Jack Carter ‘23 anchored the defense well. When Deerfield had a chance in OT, Rosenbaum was more than equal to the task. When the OT produced no sudden victory, the game moved to a 3-man shootout, much to the delight of the growing crowd. As the home team, Westminster decided to shoot 2nd, and after Rosenbaum stopped the first Deerfield shooter, the Martlets turned to Timone, who has won every shootout contest in practice the team has had this year. Timone skated in and beat the Deerfield keeper cleanly, but his backhand hit the post square-on with a clang that reverberated throughout Jackson Rink and stayed out of the net. Rosenbaum slammed the door shut on the next Big Green shooter as well, and up 2nd for Westminster was Reiter. Picking the puck up on the center faceoff dot, Reiter sped into the Deerfield zone and with quick hands drew the goalie first one way, then another, and then a third time in the other direction before sliding the puck coolly into the net. That highlight-reel effort put Westminster up by 1, and the game fell to Rosenbaum to face the final Deerfield attempt: the Big Green shooter elected to come in on the right side and shoot the puck from about 5 feet in front of the net – which a squared-up, laser-focused Rosenbaum calmly met with a left pad save that kicked the puck to the corner. And that, as they say, was that: the Martlets rushed the home net in celebration – a terrific end to an exciting game that the coaches felt the Black and Gold deserved to win. The game will go into the record books as a 4-3 Westminster win, which puts the team’s record at 10-7 for the season – a very respectable result for what has been a long, hard-fought hockey season filled with Covid protocols, injuries, and all the ordinary challenges of winter. The coaches were certainly proud of the team’s efforts, particularly in the 3rd period and OT when the entire team elevated their play to first tie the game and then through OT to get to the decisive shootout. Special thanks, and congratulations, to our three Sixth Formers: Captain von Jess and Assistant Captains Cutler and Bankoff. Three solid, terrific young men who provided strong and conscientious leadership throughout the season. They will be missed. As the coaches said to the boys way back in December, one of the team’s goals for the season was to get to the last game sorry to see the season end, and with this group, and particularly with the captains, this old coach certainly feels that way. Well done to all the players, and thanks to all the parents, family members, and friends who attended games both home and away and offered their support and encouragement this year. Many thanks, too, to Coach Stevens for his wise counsel, support, and coaching acumen and energy this winter, as well as to manager Charlie Raymond ‘24 for his good efforts all season. Not to be forgotten, either, is Assistant to the Head Coach Jeannie Griffith, whose regular coffee and hot chocolate runs for home games kept the coaches and manager going. Already looking forward to December 2022 and the next JV Boys Hockey campaign. Thanks again, one and all.