Celebrating a Remarkable Career, Kenneth M. Martin III ’65 Rink Dedication Ceremony Held at Belmont Hill

On January 5, 2023, Belmont Hill held the formal dedication of the newly named Kenneth M. Martin III ’65 Rink. The dedication honors the extraordinary legacy of Mr. Martin, both as a teacher and legendary coach of Belmont Hill hockey. Mr. Martin's greatest supporter, his wife, Linda, performed the ceremonial puck drop to officially launch the rink.

Mr. Martin is a 1965 graduate of Belmont Hill.  He joined the faculty in 1972 and served the School for 50 years.  During his years of service, he has been a teacher of Latin, Chair of the Classics Department, Head Form Advisor, Athletic Director, NEPSAC President and has coached football and baseball in addition to hockey.

Mr. Martin retired from coaching varsity hockey at the conclusion of the 2010-2011 season after 39 seasons as head varsity coach.  During his tenure as head varsity coach his teams won 15 Independent School League titles, 2 New England Championships, and earned numerous post-season tournament berths, including NEPSAC Tournament berths in each of his last six years as coach.  His teams captured 13 Lawrenceville Tournament titles and were 8 times runners up and they won 9 Nichols-Belmont Hill Tournament titles. He is a member of the Massachusetts Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame and his 707 wins at Belmont Hill have made him the winningest coach in Massachusetts state history.    

He coached 1020 games and completed his varsity coaching career with a record of 707 wins, 270 losses, and 43 ties for a winning percentage of 71%.  In 2010 he was inducted into the New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame and in 2013 he was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame.  Twelve of his players have gone on to play in the NHL, with several more playing elsewhere professionally, and countless others playing at colleges throughout the country.  Mr. Martin is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where he captained the varsity hockey team in his senior year, and is a member of the Bowdoin Athletic Hall of Fame. 

On Thursday, October 13^th the School celebrated Mr. Martin’s career at Belmont Hill with a program in the Chapel that included two Alumni speakers from Mr. Martin’s first varsity hockey team, David E. Kelley from the Class of ’75 and General Mark Milley, the 20^th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from the Class of ’76.  At the culmination of the celebration, it was announced that the ice rink at Belmont Hill would be named in Coach Martin’s honor.  Thanks to the generosity of two anonymous alumni donors, from this point forward the ice rink at Belmont Hill will be known as the Kenneth M. Martin III ’65 Rink.