Former Petes captain now a teacher and PMHC president
Martone was part of a tight-knit group of players on OHL club from mid-1990s and is now giving back by coaching hockey and other sports
Most assume Peterborough to be Petes alumnus Mike Martone’s hometown.
The Sault Ste. Marie native has established himself so profoundly in the Lift Lock City that to many he was presumably raised here.
His strong ties to the community are a reflection of the impact a junior team can have on its players. “I grew up watching the Soo Greyhounds and the Petes battle it out in the Super Series and the Memorial Cup when the Soo hosted it,” Martone said. “I was quite familiar with the Peterborough Petes when I got drafted.”
The Petes drafted Martone in 1994 and he played four seasons, winning the ’96 OHL championship. The Petes hosted the Memorial Cup that year.
“Being on the other side now as a coach, I have reflected on that season to see what makes a championship team. We didn’t even know we were that good until we were in the Memorial Cup,” he said.
Martone attributes the tightknit bonds created off the ice and mutual respect among all of the players as reason for the team’s success. Moreover he believes their uniquely competitive nature in practices paid off tremendously each game.
“There weren’t a lot of egos, great relationships, guys like being around each other,” he said. “Our ability to compete in practice every day, probably one of the hardest-working teams I have ever been a part of. Everyone respected each person’s job equally, and it made that year special.”
The Petes rosters Martone was on in the late 1990s are notorious for staying in close contact and maintaining the longevity of the friendships.
“What’s the saying? Win with me today and walk with me forever,” he said. “Championship teams have that winning bond. Everyone goes their separate ways but when you see those guys your mind automatically goes to those special bonds that you created through a championship.”
In 1996, Martone was selected by the Sabres in the NHL draft, however following a Buffalo training camp he entered free agency and signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. Before heading to the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons, Martone underwent surgery for a hip injury.
“I was sent down to the East Coast league that was supposed to be a conditioning stint and ended up lasting all year and that was the year we ended up winning the Kelly Cup and Bruce Boudreau was the coach,” Martone said.
After two years with the Mississippi Ice Wolves, Martone and his wife, Angela, moved to the East Coast where he attended St. Francis Xavier University.
Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, Martone returned south to play one more season with the Ice Wolves before coming back to Ontario. When he retired from playing, Martone set out for teachers college and was prepared to create a life in the city where his desire to pursue a career in education began.
“When I came to Peterborough, there was an expectation of us to get out in the community and influence people’s lives and part of that was being involved in schools,” he said. “I thought it was the best job in the whole world outside of being a professional hockey player. You get to work with kids all day.”
The Petes alumnus currently teaches Grade 8 at Immaculate Conception School in Peterborough’s East City.
Beyond the classroom, Martone has a significant presence throughout the home of the Petes as he serves as the president of the Peterborough Minor Hockey Council, resides on the board of local charity H.O.P.E., participated in Junior Achievement Peterborough, was the honorary chair for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Pink in the Rink campaign and is a member of the SIP committee.
On top of this volunteer work, he coaches a variety of sports at Immaculate as well as his son Porter’s and daughter Aubrey’s hockey teams.
“Sports gave me so much so I sort of want to give back to the sporting world and teach kids things that we may not be able to give them in the classroom,” he said. “Give them an environment where they can learn skills to make them successful later in life.”
The former Petes captain feels incredible gratitude for the relentless support the people of Peterborough provide his family and enjoys taking the active steps to return the favour and contribute to the evolution in key facets like hockey.
“I see it in the hockey world because that is how I was brought up in this community but, since then, and being an adult now, I have seen the connection that Peterborough has — that small-town feel. Peterborough is there for you when you need help and everyone rallies around and we have a great sense of community,” he said.
“It takes more than parents to raise a child nowadays, it takes a community and Peterborough definitely provides that.”