Martin Brodeur
Canadian, born on June 6, 1972 in Montreal, Quebec. Goaltender who stood 6-foot-1, 190-pounds during his junior career. He was a third round pick, 23rd overall at the 1989 QMJHL Draft by the Verdun Junior Canadiens. At the 1990 NHL Draft, he was chosen in the first round, 20th overall, by the New Jersey Devils.
QMJHL Team as a goaltender
St. Hyacinthe Laser (1989-90 to 1991-92)
Over the years, the goalie would prove be the ultimate example of loyalty towards his teams. A native Montrealer, Brodeur was a winner in every sense of the word. He would go on to amass countless individual and team honours all while rewriting the record books along the way.
Over his three seasons in the QMJHL, he played in 163 games with St. Hyacinthe including the playoffs, winning 79 games. His goals against average (3.56) and save percentage (.886) were solid numbers in the league at that time. He would make his mark as of his first season in the QMJHL, earning a spot on the league’s All-Rookie Team in 1990.
After catching the eye of NHL scouts, Brodeur would be selected by the New Jersey Devils in the opening round of the 1990 NHL Draft. Over his 20 seasons in the NHL, the Devils’ famous No. 30 would intimidate the opposition with his prowess in the crease and his acrobatic saves. He also handled the puck like no other goalie in history and often sparked the Devils’ attack with his long and accurate passes. He would also be credited three goals over his career, including two scored in spectacular fashion by launching the puck the length of the ice.
After having one AHL season under his belt, he would go on to win the Calder Trophy with the Devils in 1993-94 as the NHL’s top rookie. Then in his second NHL campaign, he would help lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup, a team achievement he would savour two more times with New Jersey in 2000 and 2003. He would go on to win the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie a total of four times and be named to the NHL All-Star team seven times including on the first-team on three occasions.
He would go on to break numerous NHL records including several belonging to his boyhood idol, Patrick Roy such as most career wins (688) and most regular season games played (1,259). He also shattered Terry Sawchuk’s long-standing record of 103 shutouts by notching 124 of his own. Over the course of his brilliant career, Brodeur would post a spectacular goals against average of 2.24 and stellar .912 save percentage. All told, Brodeur was in a class of his own!
He also was a part of the Canadian Olympic team on four occasions, leading Canada to gold in 2002 and 2010. After following in his father Denis’ footsteps by becoming a goalie, Martin’s own son Anthony has as well, debuting with the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques in 2013.
Martin Brodeur will be inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame in the Player category on April 8, 2015.
