Martlets Win a Wild Semifinal

In one of the wildest prep hockey battles this season, our Martlets took on Belmont Hill (the Sextants) in the semi-final of the Martin/Earl Large School Tournament—and what a game it was!

This marked the second clash between these fierce rivals in a week, following last Saturday’s decisive regular-season win. The action was non-stop from the start. Early in the first period, our starting netminder, Jack Fichthorn, had to exit the game, paving the way for Caden Weichselbaumer ’28 to make an impressive debut in the paint.

The first period saw both teams trading power plays and showcasing smooth, flowing play, yet the score remained 0-0 as the period closed. The second period cranked up the intensity when Belmont Hill struck just two minutes in. But our resilient Martlets answered immediately—Owen Burke ’26 capitalized on a rebound from his older brother, Blake Burke ’25, to tie the game at 1-1. A costly 5‑minute major penalty for Martlets  saw Belmont Hill take a 2‑1 lead and sent the Martlets to intermission down 1 with one period to play. 

Entering the third, the Martlets’ locker room exuded poise and determination. Quinn Pine ’25 tied the game one minute in, thanks to a superb effort from teammate Easton Masse ’25. Moments later, Blake Burke connected with Derek Rhodes ’25 in the slot, and Rhodes unleashed a one-timer rocket that knocked the water bottle clean off its perch, giving the Black and Gold a 3‑2 lead with 15 minutes left.

Belmont Hill battled back on a power play to tie the game at 3, and as the tension mounted,  netminder Caden Weichselbaumer made some spectacular saves. Then, with just two minutes remaining and down a player, Blake Burke delivered a game-changing play. With only 71 seconds left, he chipped a puck past the Belmont Hill defender, won the foot race, and fired a low shot that beat the Belmont Hill tender to give  the Martlets a 4‑3 lead. Despite Belmont Hill’s extra attacker creating a 6-on-4 scenario, the Black and Gold held firm to secure an electrifying victory!

This thrilling win sets the stage for tomorrow’s championship game for the Martin/Earl Large School New England title. The Martlets will face Andover at UConn at 12:00 PM.