Elmira goalie Cyrus Martin picked by Saginaw in OHL priority draft
DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE for another Elmira hockey player.
Cyrus Martin was selected in the eighth round (144th overall) of the OHL priority draft over the weekend by the Saginaw Spirit. The Elmira resident is a goalie with the Waterloo Wolves midget squad.
Overall, eight players were chosen from the Waterloo minor system.
Martin is the sole player from Woolwich Township who was selected. The other Waterloo Wolves players who were drafted are Keean Washkurak, Nate Allensen, Brayden Krieger, Gavin Wood, Callan Christner, Kurtis Goodwin and Tyson Hillier.
“It was kind of a dream come true,” said Martin.
“All year I was working hard to get to where I did, it’s just the combination of a lot of emotions.”
Prior to the draft, he had spoken to a few teams, but he didn’t know where he’d be selected, if at all. He says it was an honour to be selected by Saginaw. He’ll spend the summer preparing for their rookie camp.
“Obviously trying to hit the gym as much as possible and working with my goalie coach a few times at least a week and just trying to hit the ice and the gym as much as possible so I can get ready for camp,” he says of his plans.
The 16-year-old is realistic thought, recognizing it’s unlikely he’ll go straight to the OHL.
He plans to try out for some Junior B teams, including his hometown team, the Elmira Sugar Kings. This is what draft picks from Woolwich – Zack Cameron, Mitch Hoelscher and Keenan Stewart – did last year. The Kings will be looking for an additional goalie next season as Jon Reinhart ages out at the end of this season.
He explains why he chose to play in Waterloo rather than Woolwich.
“Waterloo is AAA, so it’s just better exposure to scouts. That’s what made my decision. As well as in Waterloo we had a nice room and great coaches, not saying that Woolwich doesn’t have great coaches, but better exposure,” he said.
He thanks his parents for helping him get this far in his hockey career, as well as a variety of coaches.
“All my coaches in Woolwich when I was growing up, John my goalie coach when I was younger and Tony Code was also a huge part in getting here, just since I was little they’ve both been supportive of my hockey career and they were great coaches. As well as all my coaches in Waterloo. [Shawn] Dietrich was a great coach this year and my goalie coach Will, he’s been great as well.”