Joey Martin On A Devil Of An Ice Hockey Mission

Joey Martin is focused on Cardiff Devils glory.

He refuses to even blink or avert his graze from that aim as Devils close in on the Elite League prizes Martin and his team-mates covet.

That was underlined during the final 10 minutes of Cardiff’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Belfast Giants when Martin spend virtually two minutes on a penalty kill.

David Brine was in the box for interference and Giants gave it everything they had, a last gasp bid to claw their way back into a cup clash which was slipping away from them.

When Brine came out the exhausted Martin saw his opportunity – and didn’t even glance at the bench.

The Canadian sharpshooter skated hard, carving through the middle and picking out Brine, who took possession and fired the puck at goal.

Netminder Stephen Murphy parried Brine’s shot, but Martin wasn’t finished. He kept driving forward and was on the spot to flip the loose puck home.

I can’t think of another player in Elite League with the amount of inner desire and intensity needed to score that goal and effectively killed off the Giants’ last hope of a comeback.

Martin wants success with Cardiff so much it hurts. Every other team in Britain would love to gave Martin on their roster, but Joey is in love with Devils and Welsh hockey fans.

He plays alongside Sean Bentivoglio and Andrew Lord on the Devils top line. Benti and Joey provide their sublime skills, while Lord adds his own brand of steel, ability and physical presence in front of goalies.

I mean no disrespect to Lord in saying that because his hardline edge looks a perfect foil for his two line-mates.

They will be together against Coventry Blaze away on Saturday (7pm) and when Nottingham Panthers come to Ice Arena Wales on Sunday (6pm).

Martin has had an astonishing three years in Wales. His quietly-spoken, mild-mannered persona hides a hockey forward with an intensity to match any player I have ever met over the last 25 years.

In his first season with Devils, 2014-15, he scored 84 points, including 27 goals and a league-leading 57 assists, and was club forward of the year and players player.

He followed thereby leading the league in scoring last season with 31 goals and 56 assists (87 points, 66 games). He was voted League player of the year and forward of the year.

Martin was then awarded forward of the year, fans MVP and players player of the year at the Devils end of season awards.

Today the former American League forward is a target for opposition forwards who try, and usually fail, to stop him inflicting damage with movement and stickwork of the highest quality.

Martin has fired 80 goals in total since he first came to Cardiff three years ago, adding 149 assists for a total of 229 points in 182 matches.

He is the first ‘Bauer UK Elite Athletic’ and uses their hockey equipment exclusively – stick, skate, gloves and helmet.

Devils managing director Todd Kelman said: “Joey is an exceptional player and an outstanding person, adored by the Devils fanbase and respected by opposing players and coaches around the league.

“He is a workhorse on and off the ice.”

Devils have qualified for the Challenge Cup final, where they play Nottingham Panthers or Sheffield Steelers in Cardiff Bay on Sunday, March 5 (4pm), and stand top of the League.

Lord has recruited a special group of guys, a team with chemistry and bravado who care about each other and the club.

Only a few seasons ago it seemed Cardiff Devils, formed in 1986, would struggle to complete 30 years as a club. They appeared on the brink of collapse until the new ownership group based in Calgary – Steve King, Brian Parker, Craig Shoshtak and Kelly Hughes – took charge.

Now the owners, management, players and Devils fans deserve to lift a trophy or two.

But the man I would love to see celebrating is Joey Martin. A sportsman with an abundance of skill and the mental toughness to succeed in almost any circumstances.