By Stephen Leithwood, Staff

It’s a scene that can be witnessed in gym classes across the country, and experienced by kids of all ages. When students split into teams, one is ultimately picked last, a gut-wrenching feeling. But what if you weren’t chosen at all?

No one knows that feeling more than Port Colborne’s Nathan Martine.

With each passing season, Martine’s teammates are scooped up by NHL clubs in the Entry Draft, and at 20 years old, he has yet to be taken by a professional team. Now in his fifth season, and on his fourth OHL team, Martine continues to uphold his reputation as being a bruiser with a high hockey IQ.

“He’ll sacrifice himself for the team. To him, it’s not about individual efforts, it’s about the team and that’s what makes him special,” said Guelph coach Jason Brooks, who didn’t think twice about making Martine an alternate captain. “Nathan is at his best when he keeps the game simple, we count on him time and time again.”

The Port native has tallied a goal and registered 11 assists in 47 games this season, a far cry from nine goals and 41 points in 68 games during the Mississauga IceDogs’ final season (2006-07) when he played alongside current Niagara defender Alex Pietrangelo.

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