MAN BEHIND THE MASK

October 16, 2024

Welcome to Wolves Insider, presented by Are You Really Winning?: The weekly report that gives you an inside look at the latest Chicago Wolves news and happenings. Look for a new edition of Wolves Insider each week.

IN THE CREASE

Growing up not far from Toronto, the Wolves’ Spencer Martin was a Maple Leafs fan and one player in particular was his favorite.

“Curtis Joseph was the coolest guy ever,” Martin said of the three-time NHL All-Star. “When I look back, that’s what started it.”

The “it” was Martin’s path to becoming a goaltender, the only position the Oakville, Ontario, native had a desire to play since first lacing up skates.

“Right away, I wanted to be a goalie,” Martin said. “It’s worked out.”

The Wolves’ No. 1 goaltender was drafted in the third round (63^rd overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and in addition to playing for the Avs, has also manned the crease for the Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes.

With a current logjam in goal in Carolina, Martin finds himself with the Wolves—and he’s determined to make the best of the situation.

“What I can control is proving what I can do every day at the rink wherever I’m at—that’s my focus,” Martin said. “Mentally, I’m going to be where my butt is and give my teammates my very best.”

As the Wolves’ elder statesman at 29, Martin looks to do more for his teammates than stopping pucks—he embraces the role of leader.

“I’ve had some experience in this league and some others, too, so anything I can do to help I’m there for my teammates for sure,” he said. “We have a really talented group and also energetic and fun to be around. Our attention to detail is super-high. I don’t get a sense of immaturity at all. I think we’ve got a really mature group.”

Part of Martin’s maturity is watching and learning from other goaltenders, something he’s done since playing youth hockey.

“I try to take something from all the guys who I really loved to watch,” said the 6-foot-3-inch, 205-pound Martin. “I’m very willing to try things and throw them out if they don’t work. But it’s building my game off what’s worked that does it for me. I can move my feet quickly and I use my size.”

One thing Martin doesn’t appear to share with many other goaltenders is a quirky personality—usually a result of having frozen rubber discs coming at you at 100 m.p.h.

“I keep it pretty normal, hopefully,” Martin said with a smile. “I’m a vegetarian so that’s kind of my weird goalie thing. When we have a team dinner, I tell guys that’s my weird thing.”

YOUTH MOVEMENT

When the Wolves and Carolina Hurricanes agreed to a three-year partnership in May, all indications were that the 2024-25 Wolves roster would feature an abundance of new, young and exciting players.

That holds true after the Wolves opened up their season against the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night at Allstate Arena. Of the 20 players who suited up, eight made their AHL debuts. Seven were under the age of 22, including Bradly Nadeau (19) Felix Unger Sorum (19), Gleb Trikozov (20), Aleksi Heimosalmi (21), Charles-Alexis Legault (21), Scott Morrow (21) and Justin Robidas (21).

While youth brings a certain excitement and energy along the way, there’s no doubt there will be speed bumps throughout the long season.

“We will look for them to just continue to get better and better,” Wolves coach Cam Abbott said after Saturday night’s season opener. “I thought some of our established guys had their chances and Skyler Brind’Amour and his line (Josiah Slavin and Juha Jaaska) kind of led the charge of how we need to play. We generated a lot of good scoring chances with the young guys included.”

As for sticking with his young players through their mistakes, Abbott is all about development and wants them to learn on the fly.

“You’ve got to put them in those spots to learn and grow and get us things to look at for next week,” Abbott said. “This is the first game a lot of them have played, or at least a number of guys, and yeah, we’ll just find the positives.”

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

During the Wolves’ 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Admirals on Saturday night, forward Ryan Suzuki scored the first goal of the season for Chicago when he blasted this one-timer past Milwaukee goaltender Matthew Murray following a ricochet off the boards. The set play while on the power play earned Aleksi Heimosalmi and Ty Smith assists.

C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISION OF THE WEEK

Wolves forward Nikita Pavlychev lowered the boom on the Admirals’ Ozzy Wiesblatt during the third period of Saturday night’s game against Milwaukee,

SAVE OF THE WEEK

With the Admirals on the power play during the second period of Saturday night’s game, Wolves goaltender Spencer Martin stoned Milwaukee’s Vinnie Hinostroza to keep it a one-goal contest.

 

Weekly rewind (0-1-0-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

Admirals 4, Wolves 1: Ryan Suzuki scored for the Wolves but it wasn’t enough as the Admirals skated to the victory in the battle between the Central Division rivals. Cal O’Reilly led the way for Milwaukee with a goal and three assists.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

0-1-0-0, sixth in the Central Division.

OCTOBER SCHEDULE