Joey Martin is first Devil to sign back for 2023-24
Pictured above: Joey Martin in action against Fife last season (photo James Assinder)
Joey Martin is back for the 2023-24 season, his eighth as a Cardiff Devil.
Last season Martin centred the Devils’ top line between Cole Sanford and Trevor Cox. He finished in the top ten in league scoring with 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points in 53 games.
Martin originally joined the Devils ahead of the 2014-15 season after three years in the ECHL. He led the Devils in scoring that first season and was selected as an EIHL First Team All-Star.
Over the next five seasons, he racked up as many individual awards as the team did championships, winning three consecutive EIHL Forward of the Year awards and back to back Player of the Year awards. He was also voted onto the league’s First Team All-Star his first five seasons as a Devil.
Pictured above: Joey Martin on retro night last season (photo James Assinder)
He lifted the Challenge Cup in 2015 and 2017, the EIite League Title in 2017 and 2018 then back to back Playoff Championships in 2018 and 2019. After Covid-19 cut the 2019-20 season short, Martin opted to play in Norway for the Stavanger Oilers for the 2020-21 season when the EIHL was still shut down. He moved to Austria the following year to play for the Graz 99ers but opted to return to Cardiff last season instead of renewing his contract in Graz.
Pictured above: Martin in action against Belfast last season (photo James Assinder)
Considered by many to be the greatest Cardiff Devil in franchise history, he continues to be one of the best players in the EIHL. His new coach Pete Russell spoke about re-signing Joey Martin:
“Joey is still one of the best 200 foot players in the league. He plays on the top line, he kills penalties, he blocks shots, he is solid defensively and he plays with intensity every shift.
“You don’t see Joey Martin taking nights off. I have watched him play for years and he is a complete player. He is your most responsible forward in the defensive zone, he can take your big draws, and he can drive your offense. This is as much of a no-brainer as you get in re-signing a player.”
Joey Martin sat down to talk about signing with the Devils for an eighth season. See the full interview below:
