Whether he is using a puck or a ball, Mason Martin has proven himself to be a valuable hockey player.
This winter the 18-year-old rookie defenceman has earned the trust of the Flin Flon Bombers coaching staff. They are comfortable deploying the Winnipegger in various situations.
“I am really impressed with the way he has played,” head coach Mike Reagan said. “I’m really excited about the future for him.”
With the Bombers, Martin has proven he can compete at the junior A level. He has shown the Flin Flon coaching staff that he can be responsible. Lately Martin has been paired with Isaac Jackson, who partly grew up in Flin Flon, but Reagan is comfortable putting him with various D-men.
“Marty has played with a lot of different partners because we trust him so much.”
On the season, Martin has two goals and four points in 36 games.
“He is big. He is strong. He shoots the puck well,” Reagan said.
Last season Martin captained the Winnipeg Thrashers midget AAA team. Thrashers head coach Jim Berezowsky praised him for being responsible defensively, for having one of the hardest shots in the AAA league, and for his personality.
“What impressed myself most about Mason was his positive attitude towards hockey and life in general on a daily basis,” Berezowsky said. “He always carried a smile and a ‘do what it takes’ attitude towards the game he plays and the role of that game as it fits into the team. Mason never stepped back from supporting his teammates through any situation.”
Even with success at the midget AAA level, Martin said moving to junior A hockey was an adjustment.
“You really got to come into every game focused and ready to play,” he said. “You can’t get by doing nothing in a league like this. You’re always moving and reacting to different scenarios that are going on. I really like playing here as working for my ice time and a spot in the lineup keeps me focused and determined to always play my best.”
Some familiar faces helped Martin’s transition to the SJHL. Including Martin, the Bombers roster includes six Winnipeggers: Nate Hooper, Dylan Burton, Dawson McKenzie, Niklas Anderson and Brandson Hein, who joined the team in January from the Western Hockey League.
“Being on a team with a handful of Winnipeg guys really helps out I think,” Martin said. “Coming up here knowing at least five guys to start off a new season helped me settle in faster. Also knowing how these guys play helps out in games as you build a bit of chemistry over the years playing with them.
“Being on a team like this, it really doesn’t take long to settle in, though. This is a great group of guys.”
Martin is a former first round pick by the Steinbach Pistons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League draft. However, he opted to head north to Flin Flon. He said he was drawn to the Bombers after speaking with Reagan on the phone.
“Just telling me about the town, what the Bombers are about, and also what he can do for me over the years if I continue to work hard. Also talking to Hooper, who played last year – he has a player point of view on what the team is like and he only had good things to say about being up here. Given all these details
about the Bombers, I couldn’t say no.”
Martin said the most enjoyable part of playing for the Bombers has been getting to play in the Whitney Forum and being supported by the Flin Flon faithful.
“It just has a great atmosphere and the fans always show up to support like no other team. Coming in as an opponent to the Whitney Forum would not be fun; that is for sure!”
Bombers this week
Friday, Feb. 2 at La Ronge
Flin Flon 6, La Ronge 1
Bombers Scorers: Nate Hooper (2), Chrystopher Collin, Brandson Hein, Donavan Houle-Villeneuve, Dawson McKenzie
Ice Wolves Scorer: Zach Bannister
Goalies: Brenden Newton, FF, 22 saves on 23 shots; Merek Pipes, La Ronge, 48 on 54
Attendance: 410
Notes: Hooper, Ben Lanfermann, and Hein all had three points. Flin Flon led 3-1 and 4-1 at the intermissions. Flin Flon outshot La Ronge 54-23. Head coach Mike Reagan said the Bombers capitalized on their chances on Friday. “We had three two-on-ones and scored on two of them. That was big – getting off to a quick start.”
Saturday, Feb. 3 at Flin Flon
Flin Flon 7, La Ronge 6 SO
Bombers Scorers: Daylan Marchi (2), Nate Hooper, Brody Madarash, Donavan Houle-Villeneuve, Dawson McKenzie
Ice Wolves Scorers: Antonio Di Paolo, Connor Smith, Trey Doell, Nolan Dawson, Stephon Perreault, Zach Bannister
Goalies: Brenden Newton, FF, 42 saves on 48 shots; Merek Pipes, La Ronge, 51 on 57
Attendance: 1,238
Notes: A big crowd on Hockey Night in the North free ticket night cheered on the Bombers. Hooper and Caleb Moretz scored in the shootout for the Bombers. Both of the Ice Wolves shooters were unable to score on Newton in the shootout. Marchi finished with four points on the night. Houle-Villeneuve, McKenzie and Calvon Boots all had two points. La Ronge led 1-0 after the first period. Flin Flon was up 4-2 at the second intermission. “I was pleased with our adjustment in the second period,” Reagan said. “We played the right way – simple, pucks and bodies to the net.” The Bombers had bus problems on Friday. The players didn’t get home until 6 a.m. and the staff didn’t arrive until 8:30 a.m. “I was pleased that we found a way to win while being exhausted,” Reagan said. “The boys had a bad third period, but pulled it off.”
Who’s Hot
Daylan Marchi had five points last week. After recording an assist during a road victory against La Ronge, Marchi lit the lamp twice and had two assists in a home win against the Ice Wolves. On the season, the 19-year-old has 10 goals and 23 points in 38 games.
Odds ’n’ Ends
The Bombers will host a Winter Classic outdoor game against emergency services members at 2 pm on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Rotary Wheel, if weather permits. … The Bombers have an 18-20-3-4 record, as of Monday. They enter the week one point (44-43) behind Kindersley for home ice in the Wild Card series. … The Bombers were to play SJHL-leading Nipawin (36-5-2-4) on the road on Tuesday, after The Reminder’s deadline. The team plays in Melfort on Friday and then hosts those Mustangs at the Whitney Forum on Saturday.
The Quote
“It was incredible!
The most people I’ve ever played in front of hands down. You could actually feel what the crowd was feeling on the ice from every big hit to every big save!”
— Bombers rookie Caleb Moretz about the Hockey Night in the North crowd
