Elmira’s Brady Martin goes third overall in OHL draft
Story courtesy of Josh Brown (The Record) | Photo by Dan Hickling/OHL Images
SCARBOROUGH — The distance.
That’s the first thing that crossed Brady Martin’s mind when the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds selected him third overall in Friday’s Ontario Hockey League draft.
“I was thinking it was a far drive,” said the 16-year-old, who splits time between hockey rinks and his family’s beef and dairy farm on the outskirts of Elmira.
“But they have a nice program, a great coach and a great fan base. It should be fun. I’m really excited to go to the Soo.”
The Waterloo Wolves captain became the highest Waterloo Region hockey player chosen in the draft since Cambridge’s Tim Brent went second overall back in 2000.
Martin was the sole player from a local league selected through the first three rounds, which ran Friday night. Several more are expected to go when the draft resumes on Saturday with rounds four through 15.
Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis said Martin’s ability to will his team to victory and take over games stood out.
So too did his character.
“I think a lot of times when you’re talking to players, sometimes they’re 15 years old and you’re tyring to get a sense of who they are,” he said. “I think with Brady right away you see that maturity level. He knows exactly who he is as a person.
“He’s the total package and we’re super excited to get him to the Soo. I think he’s someone as a 16-year-old that is going to have an instant impact for us. It’s really cool that we get to put him in our lineup and take our group to the next level.”
Martin watched the online draft from OHL headquarters in Scarborough with parents Sheryl and Terry and older brother Joey by his side.
“They were excited and really happy to see me go in the top five,” he said. “We have a journey ahead of us.”
Martin grew up playing in Woolwich minor hockey before switching to the Wolves.
He led the pack to an Alliance championship this past season and a berth in the semifinals at the OHL Cup, where he was named to the tournament’s all-star team.
The two-way centre had 27 goals and added 29 assists in 23 games with the Wolves in his second season of Under-16 AAA hockey after playing up a level with the same squad last season.
The Kitchener Rangers would have loved to see the local lad fall to them at the 10-spot, but Martin’s stock was just too high.
But Sault Ste. Marie is a good landing spot.
The Greyhounds are a team on the come-up and bid, but lost, to host next year’s Memorial Cup. The team has a reputation of treating and developing its players the right way.
“I just want to get bigger and stronger and work on my skating and see how I do at training camp,” said Martin. “I just want to do my best and make the fans like me there and make a good name for myself.”
Raftis loves Martin’s versatility.
“I think he’s somebody that creates flexibility all over the lineup,” he said. “He can play on special teams and five-on-five. He’s just one of those guys that does whatever it takes. He has elite goal scoring and can create chances for himself. I think he’s going to be a threat at all times.
“There are a lot of good players that just play because they’re good but I think Brady is an exceptional player and he plays because he loves the game. You can just hear it in his voice when he’s talking. He has a passion for winning and it’s just something you’re hopeful is real infectious with the rest of your group.”
The Erie Otters selected blueliner Matthew Schaeffer with the first overall pick and the Niagara IceDogs took London forward Ryan Roobroeck second.
