Born: March 5, 1981
H.S. Class: 2000
Position: Defenseman
HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | COLLEGE |
---|---|---|
Elk River | Elk River | Minnesota |
State Tourney Appearances | State Titles | All-State Tourney | Mr. Hockey | NCAA Titles |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | None | 1999 | 2000 | 2002, 03 (Minnesota) |
Elk River defenseman Paul Martin, diving at puck, was named Mr. Hockey in 2000. Star Tribune file photo
Paul Martin excelled at most every sport he tried, including football, baseball, basketball and track and field. As a hockey player, he was named the Star Tribune's Metro Player of the Year in 2000. Star Tribune file photo
Paul Martin was the best basketball player in Elk River. Best hockey player, too.
As a high school freshman, Martin was a regular at captains’ practices for both sports.
Of course, once the season started, he would have to make a choice.
Hockey or basketball. Basketball or hockey.
But which would it be?
No one was more interested in Martin’s decision than Elk River hockey coach Tony Sarsland. The Elks’ first practice that season was held early in the morning, and Sarsland was bursting with anticipation.
Paul Martin was a junior in 1999 when Elk River finished third at the state tournament. Star Tribune file photo
“I am walking around asking kids if they have seen Paul in the locker room,” Sarsland said. “I was waiting like an expectant mother.”
Finally someone told Sarsland they thought they had seen Martin in a far locker room. Sarsland eagerly poked his head inside the door and, sure enough, there sat Martin.
Sarsland, attempting to remain calm, returned to the coaches’ room.
“I went back inside and went, ‘Yeah!’ ” Sarsland said.
Martin was a varsity regular right away that season. Lanky and lean (Martin stood more than 6-feet and weighed about 170 pounds), the defenseman possessed an uncanny ability to see the ice, anticipate plays and make decisions as quickly and efficiently as a computer processing algorithms.
Sarsland, who is entering his 27th season as Elk River’s coach, had such an unshakable trust in Martin that he took the unprecedented step of giving the defenseman carte blanche in decisions regarding ice time.
“It was the most pure, the most fun that I’ve had paying hockey,” said Martin, who won two NCAA titles with the University of Minnesota and is in his eighth NHL season. “It wasn’t just playing hockey, it was playing hockey with the guys you were going to school with. Just to be a part of it was special.”
Martin was a junior in 1999 when Elk River upended Duluth East 4-2 in the Section 7 semifinals at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. Two nights later the Elks headed north to play Hibbing in the section championship game at a packed Memorial Building Arena in Hibbing.
Hibbing coach Mark DeCenzo had scouted Elk River in the section semifinals, and he remembers being stunned by the amount of ice time Martin was logging.
“It seemed to me it was like all but 5 minutes that he was out there,” DeCenzo said. “I remember thinking to myself there’s no way this kid can be playing this much and be that effective. Some kids that play that much, they loaf. But not him.”
Paul Martin played six seasons for the New Jersey Devils before signing a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins before last season. Star Tribune file photo
Martin’s endurance was tested to the extreme in the section title game against the Bluejackets. The game was extended to three overtimes. Martin never left the ice in the overtime sessions.
Elk River won 2-1 to secure the second state tournament berth in the program’s history.
“I was standing a lot father back than I normally would,” Martin said. “I would just get the puck and spank it up off the boards. I remember getting that feeling of relief after we won.
“Everyone was pretty thrilled.”
Martin had three assists in Elk River’s 5-1 Class 2A quarterfinal win over Hill-Murray at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
“That was larger than life for me,” Martin said about playing in the state tournament. “A high school kid playing in such a big building. You have never played in a scene like that.
“You always put the state tournament on pedestal. I just remember stepping onto the ice for the first time. For me, that was the loudest I’d ever heard anything at that time.”
Hastings outlasted Elk River 2-1 in two overtimes in the semifinals, with Martin assisting on the Elks’ lone goal. Martin scored a goal as Elk River beat Holy Angels 3-2 in overtime to take third place. Martin was one of two Elk River players named to the 12-member all-state team.
Elk River failed to reach the state tournament the following season. The Elks blew a four-goal first period lead in a 5-4 double overtime loss to Osseo in the Section 4 semifinals. Elk River had defeated the Orioles twice during the regular season.
“I think as soon as we lost that game I wanted to forget everything about it,” Martin said. “During the year we never really had many close games. You are not cocky, you just believe in everyone on your team. It was just one of those games that slowly started to slip away from us.
“It was one of those things that is tough to swallow.”
Blaine, a team Elk River had defeated in lopsided fashion twice during the regular season, went on to win the Class 2A title.
Martin, who was named Mr. Hockey in the spring of 2000, was equally accomplished as a football player. A star wide receiver, he ranked first in the state in career receptions and yards and was second in career touchdown catches when he graduated. He still ranks in the top seven in all three categories.
Martin went on to win NCAA titles with the University of Minnesota in 2002 and 2003. He was drafted in the second round, 62nd overall, by the New Jersey Devils in 2000. He played six seasons in New Jersey before signing a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins before the 2010-11 season. Martin has 3 assists in 10 games for the Penguins this season.
-- Loren Nelson, MN Hockey Hub editor
Rank | Name | School | Grad. | Pos. | Born | Status | St. Titles | Mr. Hockey | College | Olym. | NHL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Mayasich | Eveleth | 1951 | F | 5/22/33 | Retired | 1948, 49, 50, 51 | NA | Minnesota (1951-55) | 1956, 1960 | - |
2 | Neal Broten | Roseau | 1978 | F | 11/29/59 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1978-81) | 1980 | 1,099 gms; four teams; 80-97 |
3 | Phil Housley | South St. Paul | 1982 | D | 3/9/64 | Retired | - | NA | - | 2002 | 1,495 gms; eight teams; 82-03 |
4 | Tim Sheehy | International Falls | 1966 | F | 9/3/48 | Retired | 1964, 65, 66 | NA | Boston College (1967-70) | 1972 | 27 gms; DET, HAR; 77-80 |
5 | Henry Boucha | Warroad | 1969 | D | 6/1/51 | Retired | - | NA | - | 1972 | 247 gms; four teams; 71-77 |
6 | Mike Antonovich | Greenway | 1969 | F | 10/18/51 | Retired | 1967, 68 | NA | Minnesota (1969-72) | - | 87 gms; three teams; 75-84 |
7 | Willard Ikola | Eveleth | 1950 | G | 7/28/32 | Retired | 1948, 49, 50 | NA | Michigan (1951-54) | 1956 | - |
8 | Mike Crowley | Bloomington Jefferson | 1994 | D | 7/4/75 | Retired | 1992, 93, 94 | 1994 | Minnesota (1994-97) | - | 67 gms; ANA; 97-01 |
9 | Dave Spehar | Duluth East | 1996 | F | 11/7/77 | Retired | 1995 | 1996 | Minnesota (1996-00) | - | - |
10 | John Matchefts | Eveleth | 1949 | F | 6/18/31 | Retired | 1948, 49 | NA | Michigan (1950-53) | 1956 | - |
11 | Kyle Rau | Eden Prairie | 2011 | F | 10/24/92 | Active | 2009, 11 | 2011 | Minnesota (2011- present) | - | - |
12 | Aaron Broten | Roseau | 1979 | F | 11/14/60 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1979-81) | - | 748 gms; six teams; 80-92 |
13 | Craig Norwich | Edina East | 1974 | D | 12/15/55 | Retired | 1974 | NA | Wisconsin (1974-77) | - | 104 gms; three teams; 79-81 |
14 | John Pohl | Red Wing | 1998 | F | 6/29/79 | Retired | 1997 (Class 1A) | 1998 | Minnesota (1998-02) | - | 115 gms; StL, TOR; 03-08 |
15 | Gary Sargent | Bemidji | 1972 | D | 2/8/54 | Retired | - | NA | Bemidji State (1972-73) | - | 402 gms; LAK, MIN; 75-83 |
16 | Bob Krieger | Edina | 1970 | F | 10/5/52 | Retired | 1969 | NA | Denver (1970-74) | - | - |
17 | George Pelawa | Bemidji | 1986 | F | 2/14/68 | Deceased | - | 1986 | - | - | - |
18 | Bill Nyrop | Edina | 1970 | D | 7/23/52 | Deceased | 1969 | NA | Notre Dame (1970-74) | - | 207 gms; MON, MIN; 75-82 |
19 | Tom Chorske | Minneapolis Southwest | 1985 | F | 9/18/66 | Retired | - | 1985 | Minnesota (1985-89) | - | 596 gms; seven teams; 89-00 |
20 | Steve "Pokey" Trachsel | Duluth Cathedral | 1969 | D | 4/16/51 | Retired | 1966, 67, 68, 69 (Catholic) | NA | Minnesota-Duluth (1969-73) | - | - |
21 | Scott Bloom | Burnsville | 1986 | F | 2/6/68 | Retired | 1985, 86 | 1986 finalist | Minnesota (1986-90) | - | - |
22 | Phil Hoene | Duluth Cathedral | 1967 | F | 3/15/49 | Retired | 1965, 66, 67 (Catholic) | NA | Minnesota-Duluth (1968-71) | - | 37 gms; LAK; 72-75 |
23 | Corey Millen | Cloquet | 1982 | F | 4/29/64 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1982-87) | 1984, 1988 | 335 gms; five teams; 89-97 |
24 | Reed Larson | Minneapolis Roosevelt | 1974 | D | 7/30/56 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1974-77) | - | 904 gms; six teams; 76-90 |
25 | Bob Young | Hill | 1971 | D | 3/1/53 | Retired | 1970 (Indep.) | NA | Denver (1971-75) | - | - |
26 | Brad Shelstad | Minneapolis Southwest | 1970 | G | 9/14/52 | Retired | 1970 | NA | Minnesota (1970-74) | - | - |
27 | Mike Ramsey | Minneapolis Roosevelt | 1978 | D | 12/3/60 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1978-79) | 1980 | 1,070 gms; three teams; 80-97 |
28 | Matt Cullen | Moorhead | 1995 | F | 11/2/76 | Active | - | 1995 finalist | St. Cloud State (1995-97) | - | 966 gms; five teams; 98- present |
29 | Bill Baker | Grand Rapids | 1975 | D | 11/29/56 | Retired | 1975 | NA | Minnesota (1975-79) | 1980 | 143 gms; four teams; 80-83 |
30 | Paul Martin | Elk River | 2000 | D | 3/5/81 | Active | - | 2000 | Minnesota (2000-03) | 2006 | 487 gms; NJ, PIT; 03- present |
31 | Wally Grant | Eveleth | 1945 | F | 12/8/27 | Retired | 1945 | NA | Michigan (1945-46, 47-50) | - | - |
32 | Brian Bonin | White Bear Lake | 1992 | F | 11/28/73 | Retired | - | 1992 | Minnesota (1992-96) | - | 12 gms; PIT, MIN; 98-00 |
33 | Larry Olimb | Warroad | 1988 | D | 8/11/69 | Retired | - | 1988 | Minnesota (1988-92) | - | - |
34 | Dave Langevin | Hill-Murray | 1972 | D | 5/15/54 | Retired | 1970, 72 (Indep.) | NA | Minnesota-Duluth (1972-76) | - | 513 gms; three teams; 79-87 |
35 | Joe Bianchi | Bloomington Jefferson | 1994 | F | 8/17/75 | Retired | 1992, 93, 94 | 1994 finalist | Wisconsin (1994-98) | - | - |
36 | Peter Fichuk | International Falls | 1965 | F | 4/8/47 | Retired | 1964, 65 | NA | Minnesota (1966-69) | - | - |
37 | Jon Casey | Grand Rapids | 1980 | G | 8/29/62 | Retired | 1980 | NA | North Dakota (1980-84) | 425 gms; three teams; 83-87 | |
38 | Doug Woog | South St. Paul | 1962 | F | 1/26/44 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1963-66) | - | - |
39 | Darby Hendrickson | Richfield | 1991 | F | 8/28/72 | Retired | - | 1991 | Minnesota (1991-93) | 1994 | 518 gms; five teams; 94-04 |
40 | Paul Ranheim | Edina | 1984 | F | 1/25/66 | Retired | 1984 | NA | Wisconsin (1984-88) | - | 1,013 gms; five teams; 88-03 |
41 | Steve Christoff | Richfield | 1976 | F | 1/23/58 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1976-79) | 1980 | 248 gms; three teams; 79-84 |
42 | T.J. Oshie | Warroad | 2005 | F | 12/23/86 | Active | 2003, 2005 (Class 1A) | 2005 finalist | North Dakota (2005-08) | - | 184 gms; StL; 08- present |
43 | Scott Lecy | Rochester John Marshall | 1977 | F | 4/8/59 | Retired | 1977 | NA | Wisconsin (1977-81) | - | - |
44 | Scott Bjugstad | Irondale | 1979 | F | 6/2/61 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1979-83) | 1984 | 317 gms; three teams; 83-92 |
45 | Mike "Lefty" Curran | International Falls | 1962 | G | 4/14/1944 | Retired | 1962 | NA | North Dakota (1965-68) | 1972 | - |
46 | Joe Micheletti | Hibbing | 1973 | F | 10/24/54 | Retired | 1973 | NA | Minnesota (1973-77) | - | 158 gms; StL, COL; 79-82 |
47 | Rob McClanahan | Mounds View | 1976 | F | 1/9/58 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1976-79) | 1980 | 224 gms; three teams; 80-84 |
48 | Nick Leddy | Eden Prairie | 2009 | D | 3/20/91 | Active | 2009 | 2009 | Minnesota (2009-10) | - | 46 gms; CHI; 10- present |
49 | Tom Pederson | Bloomington Jefferson | 1988 | D | 1/14/70 | Retired | - | 1988 finalist | Minnesota (1988-91) | - | 240 gms; SJ, TOR; 92-97 |
50 | Dave Christian | Warroad | 1977 | F | 5/12/59 | Retired | - | NA | North Dakota (1977-79) | 1980 | 1,009 gms; five teams; 80-94 |
51 | Jay North | Bloomington Jefferson | 1980 | F | 6/26/62 | Retired | - | NA | Harvard (1980-84) | - | - |
52 | Paul Johnson | Breck | 1953 | F | 5/18/36 | Retired | - | NA | - | 1960, 1964 | - |
53 | Pete Waselovich | International Falls | 1973 | G | 11/15/54 | Retired | 1972 | NA | North Dakota (1973-77) | - | - |
54 | Tom Kurvers | Bloomington Jefferson | 1980 | D | 9/14/62 | Retired | - | NA | UM-Duluth (1980-84) | - | 659 gms; seven teams; 84-95 |
55 | Mark Osiecki | Burnsville | 1986 | D | 7/23/68 | Retired | 1985, 86 | - | Wisconsin (1997-90) | - | 93 gms; four teams; 91-93 |
56 | Mark Pavelich | Eveleth | 1976 | F | 2/28/58 | Retired | - | NA | UM-Duluth (1976-79) | 1980 | 355 gms; three teams; 81-92 |
57 | Mark Parrish | Bloomington Jefferson | 1995 | F | 2/2/77 | Active | 1994 | 1995 finalist | St. Cloud State (1995-97) | 2006 | 722 gms; seven teams; 98- present |
58 | Bryan "Butsy" Erickson | Roseau | 1978 | F | 3/7/60 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1979-83) | - | 351 gms; four teams; 83-94 |
59 | Roger Christian | Warroad | 1956 | F | 12/1/35 | Deceased | - | NA | - | 1960, 1964 | - |
60 | Bill Christian | Warroad | 1956 | F | 1/28/38 | Retired | - | NA | - | 1960, 1964 | - |
61 | Trent Klatt | Osseo | 1989 | F | 1/30/72 | Retired | - | 1989 | Minnesota (1989-92) | - | 782 gms; five teams; 91-04 |
62 | Erik Rasmussen | St. Louis Park | 1995 | F/D | 3/28/77 | Retired | - | 1995 | Minnesota (1995-97) | - | 545 gms; three teams; 97-07 |
63 | Robb Stauber | Duluth Denfeld | 1986 | G | 11/25/67 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1986-89) | - | 62 gms; LAK, BUF; 89-95 |
64 | Joe Dziedzic | Minneapolis Edison | 1990 | F | 12/18/71 | Retired | - | 1990 | Minnesota (1990-94) | - | 130 gms; PIT, PHX; 95-99 |
65 | Ryan McDonagh | Cretin- Derham Hall | 2007 | D | 6/13/89 | Active | 2006 | 2007 | Wisconsin (2007-10) | - | 40 gms; NYR; 10- present |
66 | Craig Johnson | Hill-Murray | 1990 | F | 3/18/72 | Retired | - | 1990 finalist | Minnesota (1990-93) | 1994 | 557 gms; five teams; 94-04 |
67 | Matt Hendricks | Blaine | 2000 | F | 6/17/81 | Active | 2000 | 2000 finalist | St. Cloud State (2000-04) | - | 137 gms; COL, WSH; 08- present |
68 | Wally Chapman | Edina | 1982 | F | 7/6/64 | Retired | 1982 | NA | Minnesota (1982-86) | - | - |
69 | Bob Paradise | Cretin | 1962 | D | 4/22/44 | Retired | - | NA | Saint Mary's (1962-66) | 1968 | 368 gms; four teams; 71-79 |
70 | Ben Hanowski | Little Falls | 2009 | F | 10/18/90 | Active | - | 2009 finalist | St. Cloud State (2009- present) | - | - |
71 | Damian Rhodes | Richfield | 1987 | G | 5/28/69 | Retired | - | NA | Michigan Tech (1987-90) | - | 309 gms; three teams; 90-02 |
72 | Eric Strobel | Rochester Mayo | 1976 | F | 6/5/58 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1976-79) | 1980 | - |
73 | Dick Dougherty | International Falls | 1950 | F | 8/5/32 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1951-54) | 1956 | - |
74 | Gino Guyer | Greenway | 2002 | F | 10/14/83 | Active | - | 2002 | Minnesota (2002-06) | - | - |
75 | Jim Amidon | International Falls | 1963 | F | 2/18/45 | Retired | 1962 | NA | Colorado College (1964-67) | - | - |
76 | Karl Goehring | Apple Valley | 1996 | G | 8/23/78 | Retired | 1996 | NA | North Dakota (1997-01) | - | - |
77 | Rube Bjorkman | Roseau | 1947 | F | 2/27/29 | Retired | 1946 | NA | Minnesota (1948-51) | 1948, 1952 | - |
78 | Tony Bianchi | Bloomington Jefferson | 1989 | F | 12/15/70 | Retired | 1989 | - | Minnesota (1991-94) | - | - |
79 | Oscar Mahle | International Falls | 1957 | F | 8/22/39 | Deceased | 1957 | NA | Minnesota (1959-61) | - | - |
80 | Mike Randolph | Duluth Cathedral | 1970 | F | 11/5/51 | Retired | 1967, 68, 69 (Catholic) | NA | - | - | - |
81 | Aaron Ness | Roseau | 2008 | D | 5/18/90 | Active | 2007 | 2008 | Minnesota (2008-11) | - | - |
82 | Doug Palazzari | Eveleth | 1970 | F | 11/3/52 | Retired | - | NA | Colorado College (1970-74) | - | 108 gms; StL; 74-79 |
83 | Nick Checco | Bloomington Jefferson | 1993 | F | 11/18/74 | Retired | 1992, 93 | 1993 | Minnesota (1993-97) | - | - |
84 | John Rothstein | Grand Rapids | 1975 | F | 10/28/56 | Retired | 1975 | NA | UM-Duluth (1975-79) | - | - |
85 | Gary Wood | International Falls | 1965 | D | 9/28/46 | Deceased | 1964, 65 | NA | - | - | - |
86 | Al Hangsleben | Warroad | 1971 | D | 2/22/53 | Retired | - | NA | North Dakota (1971-74) | - | 185 gms; three teams; 79-82 |
87 | Doug Peltier | St. Paul Johnson | 1968 | F | 6/29/50 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1969-72) | - | - |
88 | Mike Lauen | Edina East | 1979 | F | 2/6/61 | Retired | 1978, 79 | NA | Michigan Tech (1979-83) | - | 4 gms; WIN; 83-84 |
89 | Max Oshie | Warroad | 1948 | F | 6/10/28 | Deceased | - | NA | - | - | - |
90 | Tom Gorowsky | Centennial | 2004 | F | 4/8/86 | Retired | 2004 | 2004 | Wisconsin (2005-09) | - | - |
91 | Jack McCartan | St. Paul Marshall | 1953 | G | 8/5/35 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1955-58) | 1960 | 12 gms; NYR; 59-61 |
92 | Doug Zmolek | Roch. John Marshall | 1989 | D | 11/3/70 | Retired | - | 1989 finalist | Minnesota (1989-92) | - | 467 gms; four teams; 92-00 |
93 | Pete LoPresti | Eveleth | 1972 | G | 5/23/54 | Retired | - | NA | Denver (1972-74) | - | 175 gms; MIN, EDM; 74-81 |
94 | Terry Abram | South St. Paul | 1965 | D | 2/14/47 | Retired | - | NA | North Dakota (1966-69) | - | - |
95 | Bill "Buzz" Schneider | Babbitt | 1972 | F/D | 9/14/54 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1972-75) | 1976, 1980 | - |
96 | David Backes | Spring Lake Park | 2002 | F | 5/1/84 | Active | - | 2002 finalist | Minnesota State (2003-06) | 2010 | 364 gms; StL; 06-11 |
97 | Don Ross | Roseau | 1960 | F | 10/11/42 | Retired | 1958, 59 | NA | North Dakota (1961-65) | 1964, 1968 | - |
98 | Mike Polich | Hibbing | 1971 | F | 12/19/52 | Retired | - | NA | Minnesota (1971-75) | - | 226 gms; MON, MIN; 76-81 |
99 | Chris Locker | Duluth East | 1996 | F | 10/14/77 | Retired | 1995 | - | UW-River Falls (1999-2000) | - | - |
100 | Herb Brooks | St. Paul Johnson | 1955 | F | 8/5/37 | Deceased | 1955 | NA | Minnesota (1955-59) | 1964, 1968 | - |