By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Buffalo native Kevin Martin’s hockey journey has taken him over a few stops, but it’s the next one he’s the most excited about – he’ll be joining the King’s College NCAA hockey team this fall.
The Ogden Mustangs center posted a 9-12-21 line in 31 games after joining during the 2022-23 season from the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
“I first started talking to King’s College in the beginning of the season when I was still in the OJHL. They liked that I was a fast power forward who is good defensively and physically,” said Martin. “King’s is an up-and-coming hockey program so that really intrigued me along with the opportunity to play as a freshman. Academically, they have a good pre -law program which helps for scholarships to a good law school.”
Martin certainly hopes to make a powerful opening statement when he arrives at King’s, a still relatively new program that started play in 2017, and has increased its wins total each year since. The last three seasons have been played under the watchful eye of Head Coach Tom Seravalli.
“I was not able to visit the campus, but I do know some guys who go there who love the atmosphere so I am excited to go,” said Martin. “I made the commitment official because of the interest coach Seravalli had in me and the opportunity to play.”
Martin’s junior career began in 2020-21 with the first-year Elmira Jr. Enforcers (now Elmira Impact), with whom he posted a line of 17-17-34 in 38 games and added five assists in seven playoff games, including his first of two trips to the USPHL Premier Nationals. The Mustangs also qualified this season, their last in the USPHL Premier before moving on to the Tier II National Collegiate Development Conference this fall.
“Our Head Coach Kenny Orlando had been trying to recruit me since I was 18 and finally I made the choice to come to ogden after a situation in the OJHL,” said Martin. “Ogden is great. There is a lot of great development and the staff is super dedicated to winning. There was a lot of earning your ice time in Ogden, so you always have to make sure you’re on top of your game in order to earn Kenny’s respect toward your minutes.”
Having played junior hockey both north and south of the U.S.-Canada border, he leaves his junior career impressed with what the USPHL Premier was able to provide in his two seasons there.
“I honestly think that the USPHL is very underrated as a league to prepare for college,” said Martin. “A lot of the top teams in the league can compete with teams in many other leagues and I think teams like Ogden prepare players really well for the next level.”
There is, of course, also the preparation Martin will have to undertake on his own this summer to be ready to kick it into high gear for King’s.
“I think, for me, my first three steps and my lateral movement are the best things that I can work on in order to better myself for my first year of college,” he added.
The USPHL congratulates Kevin Martin, his family, the Ogden Mustangs and King’s College for his commitment.
