University of Minnesota Athletics
My Favorite Martin; Junior Joey Martin
1/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Although there are many sides to Joey, most people probably know him for one thing: the horrific injury he suffered last season. On February 22, 2002, during the third period of the Saturday game versus Wisconsin, Joey took a clean, but fierce, hit on his right side, checking him into the boards. While being hit, his helmet that was not strapped on, flew off, allowing his head to strike the ice as he came down. The 10 or so seconds that play continued at the other end of the ice seemed to go on forever as Joey first lay still and then began to seizure. Play was stopped and trainer Tom Kiff rushed across the ice to care for the downed Gopher.
Joey remembers events before and after the game, but nothing immediately after the injury itself. Waking up on he ice, he thought he was laying on the bench. In his mind he had gotten a bad hit, skated back to the bench and was being talked to there. Joey would soon realize as he was being placed on a stretcher that the hit was a little more severe than that. "I remember it happening and then I just remember, obviously, waking up in the hospital," Joey recalled. "It was just kind of a freak accident that you don't really ever want to happen to anybody. It was one of those things that could have been avoided but it was an accident either way."
While being wheeled off the ice to a standing ovation, Joey reassured the crowd that everything was going to be all right with a wave of his hands at the urging of a close teammate. "I remember leaving on the stretcher and Grant Potulny yelling at me to wave to the crowd. All I could muster was putting my hands in the air. That's the thing that everyone always remembers."
And if Joey didn't always strap on his helmet prior to that game, it is guaranteed his chin strap is tight during every game now and he is making sure his teammates' are as well. "It kind of makes you shiver when you see other people without their chin straps buttoned up," Joey said.
If Joey Martin was an overlooked Gopher before that game, his name was known after, even if it was for such a terrible event. You got to get your name out there somehow, Joey now jokes about the concussion. Although he wasn't allowed to play the rest of the season, fans would come up and talk to him and he even got letters wishing him well on his recovery.
Fans of Golden Gopher hockey may not have been fully aware of Joey because of his limited action over the past couple of years. The injury certainly made him more familiar, but there are many sides to Joey that the average fan has not been given a chance to find out about yet. From how he supports the team when he's not on the ice, to his positive attitude. From being the next Bob Villa (or not) to his knack of rearranging furniture, there are some unexpected and refreshing sides to Joey Martin that few people may be aware of until now.
Martin has played in 33 career games, including four this season, in which he has tallied eight points (1-7-8). He came to Minnesota after being named captain and team MVP his senior year at Buffalo High School, followed by a season playing with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. His inconsistent playing time could frustrate any player, but Joey has taken it all in stride, making sure to make the most of each opportunity to lace up on game days. "I just try to contribute to the team however I can," Joey commented. "When my name is called, I do the best I can and try to energize the team or try and get a big hit or something. Something to at least contribute to the team because I don't score a lot of goals."
When he's not suiting up that night, Martin is still aware of when he needs to go down during the game to support his teammates, and when he should step aside so as not to break concentration. "I support the guys as much as I can. I try not to be as much of a distraction in the locker room on game days now that I'm older. Just let guys focus and do their thing out there. Every now and then I'll come down and support them and things like that."
Even though Martin's time on the ice to help his team may be limited, his teammates appreciate everything he does to support them and keep them working hard. His uplifting attitude rubs off on the team in the locker room and practice, reinforcing how every player on the team should be, regardless of playing time. "Joey's always positive, always upbeat," Paul Martin (no relation) said about his roommate. "He stays positive and is always good with the guys. If there's one guy who is consistent as a person, it's Joey. He's always joking around in the locker room and keeping the team upbeat."
The optimistic outlook is a necessity according to Joey, and it's a part of his personality that is key to getting through some of the tougher times in his career. Always being able to pick up himself and teammates, and not take either too seriously, has made Joey's attitude one of his most important contributions to the Gophers.
Joey's diligent work ethic also has set an example for other members of the team. "He works just as hard off the ice as on it," Paul added. "He's always one of the hardest working people in the weight room and at practice. Never takes a day off."
His tireless efforts in the weight room have made Joey one of the biggest guys on the team. At 6-3, 218 pounds, his strength is his strength. A player his size skating at an opponent full-force can be more than a little intimidating. With the early injuries to forward big-men Potulny and Barry Tallackson, having the option to move Joey up to forward helped Minnesota cope with the games they were (or are still) absent. It also gave the life-long defender a chance to play the position of forward, which is growing on him with every game.
"Being bigger helps a lot. I definitely think it's one of my strengths, being a bigger physical presence out on the ice. Maybe I don't have much finesse, but I'm a guy that can go and can lay a body on somebody, play contained and play solid defense."
Off the ice, you will find the same happy-go-lucky guy with the strong work ethic that applies to more than just hockey. The two-time letterwinner is also a two-time U of M Scholar Athlete, majoring in an intercollegiate program of marketing and communications. He also puts his smarts to the test building different pieces of furniture for the house he lives in with Paul and Jon Waibel. Don't look for him on "This Old House" anytime soon, but don't think of him as another Tim Taylor either. They may not be the most artistic pieces in the house, but as Joey said, "They're nothing to write home about, but it works for the college house. It'll get us through."
"I try to build things," Joey laughed. "My mom always gets worried about this because I never have finished building anything that I've started. So I started building this cabinet last year, after I got my concussion and I couldn't play anymore. And I actually finished it and built the whole thing. And the guys were all ripping on me and making fun of me when I was building it. It was just a big mess, but I actually finished it and it turned out to be halfway decent."
The craftsmanship is one reason Joey is called the "dad" of the house. He keeps the house presentable by cleaning it up, which can be a big task with three college guys. He has also been known to rearrange the furniture, with Jon and Paul coming home from a road trip to a different layout from when they left. And this holiday season, while the roomies were away, Joey brought home and tree and decorated it.
"When they were in Wisconsin, they came home and I cleaned the whole place and rearranged it all again. Put up a Christmas tree, made it kind of festive. It makes our place smell better too."
To Joey, his "fatherly instincts" are more about doing what needs to get done. He laughed when he was referred to as "Dad". "Waibel's never really around. Waibel doesn't really do much. Waibel just kind of exists in the house. And Paul, Paul didn't know how to run the dishwasher when we first moved in. So between those two, if something has to get done, I pretty much end up having to do it."
As much jabbing as his Paul and Jon may like to give Joey about his paternal behavior, it is appreciated by both. "He's lying about the thing with the dishwasher. But he does take care of the place," Paul said. "He cleans up, sometimes cooks us dinner. Builds us things, shelves and cabinets for speakers and stuff. He's always looking for something to do."
There it is...all about Joey. I still can't put my finger on why exactly he's my favorite Martin. I think it's a combination of everything that makes Joey, Joey. Fans have to respect a player who gives it 100 percent every time he is given the opportunity. People have to appreciate his cheerful attitude and caring personality. All I know is when supporting the Gophers hockey team every weekend, the games when Joey is out there, I'm pulling for a little bit more.
Written by Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius Working with the Golden Gopher men's hockey team these past few years, I obviously want all the members of the team to play well and succeed. But being a junior, I've always held a special place in my heart for the guys in the same class. And of that class, Joey Martin has always been the one I pull for the hardest. I don't know that it is exactly...maybe it's because I root for the underdog. Maybe it's the way Joey looks to capitalize every time he's given the opportunity to play. Maybe it's his mellow off-ice attitude. Maybe it's his little grin. Whatever it is, Joey has earned the title of my favorite Martin (no offense, Paul).
Although there are many sides to Joey, most people probably know him for one thing: the horrific injury he suffered last season. On February 22, 2002, during the third period of the Saturday game versus Wisconsin, Joey took a clean, but fierce, hit on his right side, checking him into the boards. While being hit, his helmet that was not strapped on, flew off, allowing his head to strike the ice as he came down. The 10 or so seconds that play continued at the other end of the ice seemed to go on forever as Joey first lay still and then began to seizure. Play was stopped and trainer Tom Kiff rushed across the ice to care for the downed Gopher.
Joey remembers events before and after the game, but nothing immediately after the injury itself. Waking up on he ice, he thought he was laying on the bench. In his mind he had gotten a bad hit, skated back to the bench and was being talked to there. Joey would soon realize as he was being placed on a stretcher that the hit was a little more severe than that. "I remember it happening and then I just remember, obviously, waking up in the hospital," Joey recalled. "It was just kind of a freak accident that you don't really ever want to happen to anybody. It was one of those things that could have been avoided but it was an accident either way."
While being wheeled off the ice to a standing ovation, Joey reassured the crowd that everything was going to be all right with a wave of his hands at the urging of a close teammate. "I remember leaving on the stretcher and Grant Potulny yelling at me to wave to the crowd. All I could muster was putting my hands in the air. That's the thing that everyone always remembers."
And if Joey didn't always strap on his helmet prior to that game, it is guaranteed his chin strap is tight during every game now and he is making sure his teammates' are as well. "It kind of makes you shiver when you see other people without their chin straps buttoned up," Joey said.
If Joey Martin was an overlooked Gopher before that game, his name was known after, even if it was for such a terrible event. You got to get your name out there somehow, Joey now jokes about the concussion. Although he wasn't allowed to play the rest of the season, fans would come up and talk to him and he even got letters wishing him well on his recovery.
Fans of Golden Gopher hockey may not have been fully aware of Joey because of his limited action over the past couple of years. The injury certainly made him more familiar, but there are many sides to Joey that the average fan has not been given a chance to find out about yet. From how he supports the team when he's not on the ice, to his positive attitude. From being the next Bob Villa (or not) to his knack of rearranging furniture, there are some unexpected and refreshing sides to Joey Martin that few people may be aware of until now.
Martin has played in 33 career games, including four this season, in which he has tallied eight points (1-7-8). He came to Minnesota after being named captain and team MVP his senior year at Buffalo High School, followed by a season playing with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. His inconsistent playing time could frustrate any player, but Joey has taken it all in stride, making sure to make the most of each opportunity to lace up on game days. "I just try to contribute to the team however I can," Joey commented. "When my name is called, I do the best I can and try to energize the team or try and get a big hit or something. Something to at least contribute to the team because I don't score a lot of goals."
When he's not suiting up that night, Martin is still aware of when he needs to go down during the game to support his teammates, and when he should step aside so as not to break concentration. "I support the guys as much as I can. I try not to be as much of a distraction in the locker room on game days now that I'm older. Just let guys focus and do their thing out there. Every now and then I'll come down and support them and things like that."
Even though Martin's time on the ice to help his team may be limited, his teammates appreciate everything he does to support them and keep them working hard. His uplifting attitude rubs off on the team in the locker room and practice, reinforcing how every player on the team should be, regardless of playing time. "Joey's always positive, always upbeat," Paul Martin (no relation) said about his roommate. "He stays positive and is always good with the guys. If there's one guy who is consistent as a person, it's Joey. He's always joking around in the locker room and keeping the team upbeat."
The optimistic outlook is a necessity according to Joey, and it's a part of his personality that is key to getting through some of the tougher times in his career. Always being able to pick up himself and teammates, and not take either too seriously, has made Joey's attitude one of his most important contributions to the Gophers.
Joey's diligent work ethic also has set an example for other members of the team. "He works just as hard off the ice as on it," Paul added. "He's always one of the hardest working people in the weight room and at practice. Never takes a day off."
His tireless efforts in the weight room have made Joey one of the biggest guys on the team. At 6-3, 218 pounds, his strength is his strength. A player his size skating at an opponent full-force can be more than a little intimidating. With the early injuries to forward big-men Potulny and Barry Tallackson, having the option to move Joey up to forward helped Minnesota cope with the games they were (or are still) absent. It also gave the life-long defender a chance to play the position of forward, which is growing on him with every game.
"Being bigger helps a lot. I definitely think it's one of my strengths, being a bigger physical presence out on the ice. Maybe I don't have much finesse, but I'm a guy that can go and can lay a body on somebody, play contained and play solid defense."
Off the ice, you will find the same happy-go-lucky guy with the strong work ethic that applies to more than just hockey. The two-time letterwinner is also a two-time U of M Scholar Athlete, majoring in an intercollegiate program of marketing and communications. He also puts his smarts to the test building different pieces of furniture for the house he lives in with Paul and Jon Waibel. Don't look for him on "This Old House" anytime soon, but don't think of him as another Tim Taylor either. They may not be the most artistic pieces in the house, but as Joey said, "They're nothing to write home about, but it works for the college house. It'll get us through."
"I try to build things," Joey laughed. "My mom always gets worried about this because I never have finished building anything that I've started. So I started building this cabinet last year, after I got my concussion and I couldn't play anymore. And I actually finished it and built the whole thing. And the guys were all ripping on me and making fun of me when I was building it. It was just a big mess, but I actually finished it and it turned out to be halfway decent."
The craftsmanship is one reason Joey is called the "dad" of the house. He keeps the house presentable by cleaning it up, which can be a big task with three college guys. He has also been known to rearrange the furniture, with Jon and Paul coming home from a road trip to a different layout from when they left. And this holiday season, while the roomies were away, Joey brought home and tree and decorated it.
"When they were in Wisconsin, they came home and I cleaned the whole place and rearranged it all again. Put up a Christmas tree, made it kind of festive. It makes our place smell better too."
To Joey, his "fatherly instincts" are more about doing what needs to get done. He laughed when he was referred to as "Dad". "Waibel's never really around. Waibel doesn't really do much. Waibel just kind of exists in the house. And Paul, Paul didn't know how to run the dishwasher when we first moved in. So between those two, if something has to get done, I pretty much end up having to do it."
As much jabbing as his Paul and Jon may like to give Joey about his paternal behavior, it is appreciated by both. "He's lying about the thing with the dishwasher. But he does take care of the place," Paul said. "He cleans up, sometimes cooks us dinner. Builds us things, shelves and cabinets for speakers and stuff. He's always looking for something to do."
There it is...all about Joey. I still can't put my finger on why exactly he's my favorite Martin. I think it's a combination of everything that makes Joey, Joey. Fans have to respect a player who gives it 100 percent every time he is given the opportunity. People have to appreciate his cheerful attitude and caring personality. All I know is when supporting the Gophers hockey team every weekend, the games when Joey is out there, I'm pulling for a little bit more.
Written by Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius
