Arizona Rubber

Arizona’s and New Mexico’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey

TAKING LIBERTIES WITH … Amanda Martin

 

Amanda Martin
Age: 19
Hometown: Peoria
Current team: Minnesota State University (NCAA D-I)
Last Arizona team: AZ Runners Midget 16U AA

Arizona Rubber: What’s the best piece of advice you have for youth hockey players and their parents?
AM: Hockey is a game of mistakes. You will always have an off day, but the key is to shake it off and get ready for your next shift, game or tournament. You always have a chance to prove yourself. It all comes down to your own desire, and willpower to succeed. Work hard, have fun along the way. It’s a journey to remember. Through the years, my parents gave me endless support and helped me to where I am today. My father coached me in my younger hockey years and he gave me the motivation to accomplish all the things I ever dreamed of. Parents need to be supportive, encouraging their kids and helping to guild them with some of the tough decisions along the way.

AZR: What’s your favorite sport to play (or watch) outside of hockey?
AM: I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating and camping. I just like being in the outdoors, especially in the mountains of Arizona. I watch UFC fighting and tennis.

AZR: What’s your typical game-day routine? Do you have any superstitions tied to that?
AM: Pre-game skate, followed by pregame meal and two hours of down time with a nap. Arrive at the rink. I listen to music while stretching and stick handling. I put my gear on left to right every time and then it’s go time with pre-game warmups.

AZR: What’s your best hockey memory from your youth hockey playing days?
AM: I have many fond memories from youth hockey. Many don’t involve playing hockey, more the friendships, places visited and things that were done while on trips with the teams. I guess being ranked No. 2 and No. 4 in the nation and winning back-to-back (Junior Women’s Hockey League) championships with the North American Hockey Academy (in Vermont).

AZR: How about from your NCAA career?
AM: My best experience to date in my NCAA career has to be when I first stepped on the ice in that new uniform. That feeling that you are part of something much bigger than yourself, and representing not only your team, but your university. That is a feeling that is almost indescribable.

AZR: What’s your favorite restaurant back in Arizona, and what are you ordering?
AM: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro all the way. Any one of them. I always get the same thing – El Diablo Shrimp Pasta.

AZR: What hockey player did you most idolize while growing up?
AM: I idolized quite a few players. Growing up, I always cheered for the Phoenix Coyotes. My favorite player at that time was Keith Tkachuk. As a player, I wanted to play as he played in that role as a power forward. As far as women’s hockey, I watched all of the Frozen Four finals games for years, wanting to be in their shoes some day.

AZR: You still have a couple of years left of course, but after your college hockey career is over, what do you envision up next?
AM: Right now, I working to get my Exercise Science degree and I plan on going to Occupational Therapy school after I graduate from Mankato. I want to stay active professionally with athletes and everyday people.

AZR: What’s the best hockey prank you’ve witnessed or been a part of?
AM: Unfortunately, the prank was pulled on me. I was a sophomore at NAHA. All of us rookies came to practice one day, only to find all of our skates tied together and mixed up. Not only did we wear our fingers sore from untying all of those knots, but as soon as we stepped on the ice, the classic “clear tape on the bottom of the skate blade“ prank was pulled and as soon as we all hit the ice, we hit it hard.

Photo/Minnesota State University

— Compiled by Brett Fera

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