LAKELAND - About a month ago, St. Vincent area athlete Tristan Martin was traded to the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League from the Olds Grizzlys, and he is already making an impact with his new team.
On Jan. 18, 19-year-old Martin and his team were taking on the Grande Prairie Storm. The Saints would eventually win the match 6-3, with Martin earning himself a goal on an empty net - a rare feat for a goalie.
"Martin is the first to shoot a puck into a yawning cage from the other end," confirmed Brandon Ewanchyshyn, director, media and broadcasting with the Saints.
Technical credit for the feat of a goalie scoring a goal in the AJHL goes to Jake Morrissey of the Crusaders, but in that case a Camrose player scored on his own net after the goalie was the last to touch a puck, explains Ewanchyshyn.
The clip of Martin scoring the goal was making its rounds on social media shortly after it was posted by the Saints.
Martin is making an early impact with his new team, and was the AJHL defensive player of the week, this week. He has won four straight games and is emerging as a starter in Spruce Grove, says Ewanchyshyn.
VIDEO: Tristan Martin scores what is believed to be the first goalie goal in AJHL history!!#AJHL | #SaintsNation pic.twitter.com/DdbYSBUFxz
— Spruce Grove Saints (@sgsaints) January 19, 2022