Steve Martinson, a former Toledo Goaldiggers forward, has been named the ECHL's general manager of the year.
Martinson, who also serves as coach of the Allen Americans, earned the league’s GM of the year award after leading the team to a 32-point improvement.
Martinson, who completed his sixth season as coach of the Americans, led Allen to a 40-14-8 record during the 2019-20 season. He also served as a coach at the ECHL All-Star Game, marking the second time in his career that he has coached in the event.
The native of Minnetonka, Minn., started his playing career with the Goaldiggers in 1981-82. He helped lead Toledo to a Turner Cup title as a rookie that season. The Goaldiggers then repeated as champs on the International Hockey League in Martinson's second season in Toledo in 1982-83.
The physical winger who wasn't afraid to drop the gloves went on to play for 14 seasons before becoming a coach.
Martinson, who played briefly for the Detroit Red Wings in 1988-87 and 49 NHL games overall, had 432 penalty minutes in one season with the Hershey Bears. In his time with the Goaldiggers, he competed along with the city's legendary tough guys Paul Tantardini, Mike Greeder, and Dave Falkenberg.
Martinson has posted a 438-254-90 career record in the ECHL with San Diego, Elmira, Chicago, and Allen. He guided the Americans to Kelly Cup titles in 2015 and 2016. Martinson ranks fifth all-time in league history with 438 wins, and his 782 career games coached are tied for fifth.
In addition to his time in the ECHL, Martinson has also coached in the West Coast Hockey League, United Hockey League, and Central Hockey League, capturing WCHL titles with San Diego in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2003, a UHL title with Rockford in 2007, and CHL titles with Allen in 2013 and 2014.
Nine years into his coaching career, Martinson nearly came back to coach the Toledo Storm. In May of 2002, he turned down the offer and remained with the San Diego Gulls. He then led San Diego to a fifth WCHL title that season.
The GM award is determined by a vote of ECHL coaches.
First Published April 13, 2020, 7:20 p.m.
