Quinn Martin was a rare commodity last season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) – a New Mexico native playing Major Junior hockey.

This season, the 19-year-old Santa Fe native is again the lone player from New Mexico, now playing in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) for the Idaho IceCats.

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The IceCats have long been a top-tier franchise in the WSHL and Martin is reaping the benefits playing in McCall, Idaho. As of early March, the IceCats had run away with the Northeast Division title and finished the season 44-4-3. This weekend, the IceCats will play the Lake Tahoe Icemen for the Northwest Division championship and a berth to the WSHL finals.

Martin compiled 18 goals and 42 points in 44 games during the regular season.

“This season has been a lot of fun and luckily, I’m on a great team with a lot of awesome guys who all want to win a championship,” Martin said. “Last season was a rough year for playing time, and I realized I needed to play more in order to develop as a player. Luckily, I came in contact with (Idaho coach) John Olver. He is the best coach I have had during my career and has helped me to make some big changes to my game.”

Martin played 20 games for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels in 2016-17 before finishing the season with the NAHL’s Austin Bruins.

“Red Deer was a great experience and I learned a lot from being a part of such a professional organization,” said Martin. “Playing with and against some of the world’s best prospects gave me a lot of insight into what it takes to be successful. My favorite part was getting to live in a country that lives, eats, and sleeps hockey.”

Martin has played hockey since he was five after his father, Ray, asked him if he wanted to give it a shot. And so it began in the Land of Enchantment.

“After my first couple strides, I immediately fell I love with the game,” Martin said. “The most memorable team I played for in New Mexico was the Warriors. Vladimir Hartinger was the first real coach I had and looked up to, and I give him a lot of credit for where I’m at today.”

Photo/Gary Ertter/The Star-News

— Matt Mackinder

(March 27, 2018)