Matt Martin commits to Selkirk College from WSHL's Ontario Avalanche

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The Selkirk College Men's Hockey program is pleased to announce a playing commitment from forward Matt Martin (Surrey, B.C.) to attend Selkirk College and compete for the Saints beginning in the 2014/15 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Martin is a 5-foot-11, 180 pound centre who joins the Saints following four seasons of junior hockey, including Junior A stints in B.C., Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and California.

He began the 2013/14 season with the Maritime Hockey League's Yarmouth Mariners, picking up four points in 15 games before a November trade to the BCHL's Victoria Grizzlies. Martin netted three points in eight games with the Grizzlies before finishing the season with the Western States Hockey League's Ontario Avalanche.

"Matt is a hard-working, effective two-way player who can contribute in all three zones," says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois.

"We've benefitted over the past two seasons from having players like Scott Swiston and Connor McLaughlin who bought in to playing a strong defensive game and did a great job shutting down the opposition's top players. It's a reflection of our confidence in Matt's abilities that we see him filling that type of key role at the college level."

The Semiahmoo minor hockey product also played two seasons with the Pacific Junior Hockey League's Grandview Steelers before spending the 2012/13 campaign with the SJHL's Weyburn Red Wings.

"I'm really excited to start my post-secondary education after four years of junior hockey," says Martin. "I look forward to meeting my new teammates and continuing the winning tradition the Saints have established. I'll aim to adapt quickly to the atmosphere and demands that life at Selkirk will offer, as well as effectively become a strong asset to the Saints on and off the ice."

Martin is the Saints' eighth commitment for the 2014/15 season, joining forwards Ryan Edwards (Beaver Valley, KIJHL), Jamie Vlanich (Nelson Leafs, KIJHL), Alex Milligan (Peninsula Panthers, VIJHL) and Connor Beauchemin (Castlegar Rebels, KIJHL), as well as defencemen Curtis Toneff (Campbell River Storm, VIJHL) and Danny Vlanich (Surrey Eagles, BCHL) and goaltender Steven Glass (Nipawin Hawks, SJHL).