Joel Martin (born April 22, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently the head coach of the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL.
Martin played in the major junior Western Hockey League from 2000âÂÂ03. In the 2000âÂÂ01 season, Martin played 42 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and went 17âÂÂ18âÂÂ1. The following season, he played with the Hurricanes for 3 more games, before moving on to the Tri-City Americans for 37 games. In his 37 games as an American, he went 13âÂÂ13âÂÂ5. In the 2002âÂÂ03 season, Martin moved to the Vancouver Giants where he played 26 games with a 10âÂÂ12âÂÂ2 record. Late in the '02âÂÂ03 season, Martin switched teams to the Calgary Hitmen, ending his junior career with a 5âÂÂ6âÂÂ1 record.
Martin played three games for the Bakersfield Condors of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) in the 2002âÂÂ03 season, and left them with a record of 1âÂÂ2âÂÂ0.
Martin had a number of stints in the ECHL, the first of which was in the 2003âÂÂ04 season with the Columbus Cottonmouths. Martin played 5 games with the Cottonmouths, and went 3âÂÂ2âÂÂ0.
Martin came back to the ECHL in the 2006âÂÂ07 season when he played 32 games for the Trenton Titans, and went 12âÂÂ15âÂÂ2. He stayed in the league, but moved to the Elmira Jackals for the 2007âÂÂ08 season, playing 49 games for the Jackals, with a record of 27âÂÂ17âÂÂ4. Martin started the 2008âÂÂ09 season out in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx, but left after 3 games with a record of 1âÂÂ2âÂÂ0.
Martin played two seasons in the United Hockey League (UHL), both of which were with the Kalamazoo Wings. In the 2004âÂÂ05 season, he went 17âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 in his 26 games, and in the 2005âÂÂ06 season, played 52 games, going 36âÂÂ12âÂÂ4. Martin led his team to the playoffs in the 2005âÂÂ06 season, and helped them to win the Colonial Cup. In his time at with the Kwings in the 2005âÂÂ06 season, Martin had the highest save percentage with .921, and the lowest goals against average with 2.20. Martin won Goaltender of the Year for the UHL in the 2005âÂÂ06 season.
Martin played his first year in the International Hockey League (IHL) in the 2008âÂÂ09 season for the Kalamazoo Wings, sharing ice time with Jason Tapp. His record was 19âÂÂ12âÂÂ1 in 36 games.
Martin played two seasons in the Central Hockey League (CHL), both with the Odessa Jackalopes. In the 2003âÂÂ04 season, he had a 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ2 record in 10 games. In 2009âÂÂ10, he led the Jackalopes with a record of 27âÂÂ6âÂÂ2 in 36 games.
Martin has never played a full season for the American Hockey League, but he has been frequently called up by various AHL teams since the 2005âÂÂ06 season. He has been called up for a total of 4 games, and has gone 2âÂÂ1âÂÂ0. He has been called up to Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Norfolk, and Syracuse, but only logged time with the last three. He started the 2010âÂÂ11 season in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
On February 4, 2011, Martin was signed by the New York Islanders to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) standard professional contract, and he was assigned to play with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He was called up as an emergency replacement on February 8, 2011 after Kevin Poulin got injured during the pregame skate. He was unable to make it for the start of the game and arrived at the arena well after puck drop.
Martin has led his team to the playoffs four times. First he led the Kalamazoo Wings to the playoffs in 2004âÂÂ05. He had a 2âÂÂ1 record in the 2004âÂÂ05 playoffs, but the Kwings were defeated. Martin led the K-wings to the playoffs again in the 2005âÂÂ06 season and led the Wings to a 12âÂÂ1 record, winning the Colonial Cup. Martin led the Trenton Titans to the playoffs in the 2006âÂÂ07 season, as well as the Elmira Jackals in the 2007âÂÂ08 season, but saw success in neither. He led the Odessa Jackalopes to the CHL's Southern Conference Final, losing in the seventh game to the Allen Americans.
Martin set the United Hockey League Record for most shutouts in a season with 9, as well as most goaltender wins in a single season with 36.