For the first time in his career Head Coach Joe Martin has been nominated for the BCHL’s Coach of the Year.
Martin took over as head coach of the Cents in 2015-16 and has steadily lead the team to point totals of 50 or higher. His previous high water mark was a 23-25-2-8 season in 2016-17 that netted the team 56 points and a round 2 playoff exit against the Penticton Vees. The most wins the Cents managed under Martin before this season was 24 achieved last year.
This season, with the help of a strong returning core of players, Martin has achieved career high in wins, points, win percentage, and goals for with 2 games left to play in the regular season. The Cents have 34 wins, 75 points, a win percentage of 67%, and 213 goals for this year, a huge turnaround from the 24 wins, 55 points, win percentage of 47.4%, and 185 goals for of a season ago.
Martin also served as an Assistant Coach on Team Canada West this year and captured a Bronze Medal with Centennials forward Mathieu Gosselin. Away from the ice, Martin has also helped 10 players move on to NCAA Division 1 scholarships this season which is also a team record. He also picked up his 100th career BCHL win this year against the Powell River Kings.
He is up against Brian Maloney of the Chilliwack Chiefs, and Tyler Kuntz of the Powell River Kings for the award.
The Cents still have an opportunity to put another feather in Martin’s cap this season – their first Interior Division title in over 40 years, but the 2 games remaining will decide that.
