Andrew Martin : Scorpions All Star Goaltender .

Andrew Martin played Goaltender for the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey
League in 2007-2008 & is returning for the 2008-2009 season.

Here is his HockeyDb link.
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid%5B%5D=77792

How long have you played hockey Andrew ?

- I’ve played 11 years of ice hockey going into my 12th. I started playing roller hockey when I was 12 and ice when I started high school at 14.

I read that you played football in Texas.

-I played quarterback in 8th and 9th grade…only on the B team though.

You played hockey in Texas. People don't think about hockey in Texas.
How did you get to be a goalie ?

-I wasn’t a great center and took too many penalties. The goalie on my team quit half way though a season and we had to rotate through playing goal. They wouldn’t let me quit even though I did not want to be a goalie…good thing everyone else made me stick it out looking back now!

How different is play in the CHL from college ?

-College was too much chaos. Plus there were no fights in college.
*side note , Andrew will take a poke at a guy in his crease.*

What is your the biggest or most challenging goal ?

-Making it to the NHL.

What were your best & worst moments in the CHL ?

-Anytime I give up more than 5 goals. There was a weekend last season when we gave up more goals in 3 games than we did the entire 8 game winning streak…Saw the red light too much for my own good.

How much better a goalie are you after your first year in the CHL ?

-So far every year has been 10 times better than the year before, so I would have to saw 20 times better. I think I understand parts of the game better learning from successes and failures the season before.

What were you thinking during your first shut out against the Colorado Rage ?

-“We are up by 10 goals…don’t give up 11.”
* side note: When I asked Marty about his shut out that night after the game. He said
"I saw there was 45 seconds I thought , Surely I can't screw this up."

What are your game day superstitions ?

-Just try to stay relaxed and try not to think of superstitions as controls to how the game will go. I got over them after awhile and just realized I am at my best when I have no worries.

What is your favorite game day meal?

-Usually chicken parm with pasta.

Do you like having contact with fans?

-Yes, I do because I enjoy making the fans happy off the ice so they will take it easy on me on the ice…ha-ha! It also helps when you have supportive fans that give so much which gives guys like me have this opportunity to live out my dream.

What was your favorite game?
Does the All-Star Game count?...I enjoy playing Texas, since I get to see my family and high school friends. They come out and form a Martin section in the corner of the Brahmas new rink which was actually where I played Midget AAA my senior year of high school.

What are your favorite & worst games?

-Favorite game…probably the 3-2 overtime victory over the Thunder last year which was also my first seven game win streak.
-Worst…the game in Arizona when they scored 5 goals in the second period after we lead 2-1 going into the period.

Who on the team last year was the biggest help to you ?

-Mike Minard was a big help to my mental approach to the game. Any time you can be around a player with NHL experience you pay attention to every little detail in their game on and off the ice. I had the privilege of being around him everyday and learning from his habits. He was a great person to bounce of positive and negative experiences I went through last year and helped me find my game.

What will be the biggest change with you being the returning goalie this season ?

-I will be looked upon as a player who has been in the league for 3 years and has seen what it takes to be a good team, a bad team, and a great team. I will have to be a good teammate and leader and take advantage of what I have learned the last few seasons and keep in mind I have much much, more to learn this year.

What do you expect from yourself and the team your second year in New Mexico ?

-I expect to be a better goaltender, knowing the ups and downs a season brings and to stay physically and mentally sharp. The team and I must work hard all the time thanks to memories of a playoff exit. We expect nothing less than what we accomplished last year.