Martlets Finish with Loss to DA

The Martlets hosted the Big Green for the finale of the 2023-4 campaign in front of a standing-room-only crowd of the Jackson Rink faithful. Word on Hopmeadow Street was that this was the hottest ticket since last fall’s Taylor Swift Eras Tour (but with the smaller venue, certainly harder to come by). The team battled hard but once again struggled to keep the puck out of the net and found themselves chasing the lead for pretty much the entire game. Belying the score, the shots were relatively even with a narrow edge to the JVs, 39-38. This was a wide-open affair, with both teams moving aggressively up and down the ice. On too many occasions, however, the Black and Gold found themselves hemmed in their end, unable to clear the puck or take firm control of the area in front of netminder Jake Holland ‘24. Holland, the iron man of this season, having faced every shot of every game for the Martlets (save one), hung tough in this game as he has all season. After this good, even start Deerfield struck first, taking advantage of a turnover in neutral ice. That goal came six minutes in. Back and forth play followed, with the Martlets hitting the first of several posts and crossbars on the afternoon (the ping of so many Westminster pucks off iron this afternoon will ring in this old coach’s fading ears for quite some time, at least through the summer). The Big Green got the next one, too, when Westminster, trapped in their end again for what seemed like minutes, finally yielded in front of Holland. Down 0-2, the Martlets dug in. Reid Bulger ‘24 got the Martlets on the board with three minutes to play in the opening period, taking a pretty pass from Daniel Venture ‘24 from below the goal line. Venture, collecting the puck in center ice, skated down the far side before circling behind the Deerfield net and, holding the puck for a perfect extra half second, found the crashing Bulger in the slot. Dylan Ness ‘26 also assisted on the play. The first period ended with that score, 1-2, on the Jackson Rink scoreboard, and the Martlets retired to the locker room to make some adjustments against Deerfield’s deep bench. Starting with real energy, the Martlets were shocked to concede a Deerfield goal less than a minute into the second period when a bouncing puck led to an odd-man break against that ended with the puck behind Holland. Deerfield notched the next four goals to post a 1-6 lead – not the JVs best stretch of the seasons and better for everyone to move on from in this narrative. But if one thing is true about this team, they play hard no matter the score. And such was the case this afternoon. Anthony DiBartolomeo ‘25, one of the Martlets’ most consistent and productive players this year, re-energized the team on the powerplay when he collected a pass from Jackson Alpaugh ‘24 in neutral ice, split the Deerfield defenders and went in to score. He doesn’t appear on the scoresheet for that goal, but linemate Jack Grahling ‘25’s tough, hard-nosed play in the defensive zone popped that puck loose for Alpaugh to find DiBartolomeo. With that score on the board at the end of the second, Westminster truly believed the game was in reach. Though Deerfield again scored in the opening minute of the third period (to our collective consternation), two quick Martlet goals followed to keep the home side in the game. First, Ness scored from just off the slot on a nifty pass from Venture; Reed Ghriskey ‘26 also assisted. Ness also tallied the final Martlet goal of the afternoon when, on the rush, he took a pass from Dillon Seals ‘25 and beat the Big Green keeper. Linemate Xavier Kahn ‘27, who had a strong game, also assisted on that goal, feeding Seals to start the play. That goal made it 4-7 Martlets with nine minutes to go, and the coaches and the team felt the next goal might tell the tale. Unfortunately, it belonged to Deerfield: a miscue in the Martlet end left the puck free, too many Big Green men uncovered, and Holland all alone. That goal perhaps deflated the Martlets a bit, but the team continued to battle. Pressing hard and leaving a man up high in the neutral zone, the Black and Gold elected to accept a 4-5 advantage against in the defensive zone (coach’s call . . . ugh). Deerfield exploited that concession, found a man in the high slot, and drilled home their ninth goal. That made the score 4-9 – a barnburner, too be sure, but it was our barn on fire, sadly – and while the team continued to compete hard for the final six minutes, that score stood up. Deserving mention are Auggie Barrett ‘24, Zac Jainchill ‘25, Benji Hanson ‘27, and Nick Wurts ‘24 who all had some solid shifts. Barrett, who’s missed much of this season with illness and injury, and Wurts, in particular, played strong, physical games. Likewise, blueliners Lane Gallagher ‘25, Richard Kim ‘25, Max Simpson ‘24, and late-season call-up from our AHL affiliate Auggie Jiranek ‘27 left it all on the ice. Shoutouts to Ben Norten ‘25, Jack Peterson ‘25, and Miles Kim ‘24, all out of the lineup today but on the bench in support of their teammates. So the JVs dropped their final game of the season to finish up 7-10-1. The coaches are proud of this group: they battled every game, showed up for practice every day, and we hope they feel they had a productive, growing experience. Thanks to the players for their commitment and work all season, and thanks, too, to the parents for their support and for today’s Sixth Form Day celebration after the game. Special recognition and thanks to our Sixth Formers: Alpaugh, Barrett, Bulger, James Frangos, Holland, Kim, Simpson, Wurts, and Venture. We wish them all the best this spring and in college beyond. The hard hat, earned by Xavier Kahn in last Wednesday’s Avon game (omitted in that game report, mea culpa) went to this group of graduating Martlets. And so, dear reader, our 2023-24 journey comes to a close. The coaching staff will take the evening off and then conclave early tomorrow morning to begin planning for the 2024-25 season. We look forward to those players who will be back with us next year, for those who we hope will be in the locker room next door, and to the up-and-coming Martlets who will join the team. So on to next year: see you at the rink!