NY Islanders' Matt Martin to be inducted into the Sarnia Sting Hall of Fame

Now that his playing days are over, the Sarina Sting of the OHL has announced that Matt Martin, the NY Islanders Special Assistant to the General Manager, will be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

After not being drafted as a 16-year-old, Martin joined the team as a walk-on after a tryout in 2006. 

Martin to the Sarnia Sting Hall of Fame

Retiring second all-time in NHL hits with 3,936 behind only his teammate Cal Clutterbuck, Martin was much more of a skill player in his time in juniors, recording 73 goals and 46 assists in 166 games while in Sarina. 

One linemate who may have helped inflate those numbers was Steven Stamkos, as the two played together from 2006 to 2008.

The two were selected in the 2008 NHL Draft, with Stamkos going first overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Martin 148th overall to the Islanders. Though they wouldn’t play together anymore, Stamkos provided one more assist for Martin on draft day.

"I didn't even get to see my pick on TV because they were interviewing a goalie named Jason Missiaen that Montreal had drafted," Martin told Sasha Kandrach, recalling his draft day. "It wasn't actually on the TV at the time, but then I got the call. I answered the call, and when the interview ended, they showed Steven Stamkos grabbing my jersey for me and picking it up. It was a pretty special moment for me watching with my whole family."

Martin went on to play 16 seasons in the NHL, 14 of those with the Islanders. 

The ceremony will be held on Feb. 27 at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarina.