Martin ‘determined to help carry’ Greyhounds
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
Seems only yesterday, Brady Martin was a promising, fresh-faced Soo Greyhounds rookie.
But he recently turned 19, and the Elmira, Ont., native is all too aware his time with the Hounds could be coming to an end.
“I’ve definitely thought about it. I’ve talked to my parents about it,” said Martin, the Soo’s captain, who began this season as a member of the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
Taken fifth overall by the Preds in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the talented centre could wind up sticking with Nashville next season. Or, if the rule changes, as has been talked about, he could wind up playing his age-19 campaign in the American Hockey League.
“I’m trying not to look into the future, but when you think about what’s next, you kind of get sad,” Martin said. “And you want to make what could be your last run, a good run.”
That possible ‘last run’ is set to begin on Friday (7 p.m.) at Canada Life Place. It’s Game 1 in a best-of-seven, Western Conference quarter-final against the London Knights.
Game 2 is slated for Sunday (6 p.m.), also in London. The series shifts to GFL Memorial Gardens for Game 3 on Tuesday (8:07 p.m.) and Game 4 on Wednesday (7:07 p.m.).
Known as a player who loves to compete passionately, come to the rink and spend time with those around him, Martin is motivated to give everything for his teammates.
“They mean the world to me,” he said. “They’re like my brothers and I’d do anything for them. For sure, I’d put my face in front of a shot for them.”
He also spoke of how his admiration for head coach John Dean gives him incentive to perform his best.
“Love playing for him,” Martin said. “Playing for him for the last three years has 100 per cent gotten me to where I am right now.”
As the captain, there’s little doubt Martin wants to be a catalyst for his club, which finished fifth in the conference (39-23-1-5), one point back of the fourth-place Knights (40-23-4-1).
He’s surely aware of what his combination of physicality and skill can mean over the course of this series.
“I’m determined to help carry this club,” said Martin, who suited up for just 24 games, largely due to a shoulder injury suffered while skating for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. “We have a few guys who’ll have to be a big part of this playoff run. They know who they are and I’m one of them.”
If the key guys don’t step up, Martin, who said his shoulder has recovered completely, stated the obvious: It’ll be pretty hard for this team to win.
He also talked about the rest of the Soo roster and how the club needs “everyone pulling on the same rope.”
As far as his game goes, Martin agrees he isn’t quite where he needs to be.
Through his 24 games, his stat line is 8-16-24 with a plus-minus of plus-6.
Injured on Jan 6 in Team Canada’s semifinal loss to Czechia, Martin returned about a month later, helping the Soo stop Windsor 5-2 on Feb. 8.
But the six-foot, 185-pounder, sat out the next seven games – the club called it load management – before returning Feb. 27 and playing the final 11 games of the regular season.
Over that stretch, Martin’s stat line was 3-4-7, with a plus-minus of minus-2.
Asked if he needed to knock some rust off, Martin said he “wouldn’t call it rust. It takes time to feel like yourself again and I would say it’s a matter of my timing.”
Questioned about where he believes his game is at this point, Martin agreed he hasn’t returned to past form.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” he said. “I knew when I came back I wasn’t going to be the best player on the ice and lighting it up right away. That’s not how it works when you come off an injury.”
However, Martin does think he’s set to shine in this series.
He spoke of feeling 100 per-cent ready and believes he’s capable of resuming his role as a difference-maker.
Martin said his return, coupled with that of star defenceman Chase Reid, who came back from an upper-body injury for the final three games, makes the Greyhounds “a scary team. We’ve battled adversity all season and that’s made us better.”
And now that the club is healthy, Martin also explained his belief the Greyhounds are deep at every position.
“We have great goaltenders, great D and great forwards,” he said, while calling the Hounds a hard-working, close-knit club.
Asked about the Knights, Martin calls them a good, consistent team.
He stressed the need for the Hounds to come ready in each game and to avoid lulls in their play.
In franchise playoff history, the Greyhounds have never beaten London.
“But I think we’re the better team in this series and I think we’ll come out of top,” Martin said. “I want to win it all this year. I want to win the league championship.”
