Joey Martin signs on for a 10th season
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- Published Date 25 Apr 2025
Joey Martin is back for a tenth season as a Cardiff Devil.
The 36-year-old who hinted at retirement over the last 2 seasons will return for the 2025-26 campaign after another impressive year where he put up 31 goals and 31 assists in 69 games. He finished second on the team in goals, 4th in points and led the Devils with 8 powerplay goals during the regular season.
Martin originally joined the Devils ahead of the 2014-15 season after three years in the ECHL. He led the Devils in scoring that first season and was selected as an EIHL First Team All-Star. Over the next five seasons, he racked up as many individual awards as the team did championships, winning three consecutive EIHL Forward of the Year awards and back to back Player of the Year awards. He was also voted onto the league’s First Team All-Star in his first five seasons as a Devil.
He lifted the Challenge Cup in 2015 and 2017, the EIite League Title in 2017 and 2018 then back to back Playoff Championships in 2018 and 2019. After Covid-19 cut the 2019-20 season short, Martin opted to play in Norway for the Stavanger Oilers for the 2020-21 season when the EIHL was still shut down. He moved to Austria the following year to play for the Graz 99ers but opted to return to Cardiff ahead of the 2022-23 season instead of renewing his contract in Graz.His first year back in Cardiff after Covid was an impressive one. He finished in the top 10 in league scoring with 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points in 53 games while playing on the top line with Cole Sanford and Trevor Cox.
Considered by many to be the greatest Cardiff Devil in franchise history, he continues to be one of the best players in the EIHL. This past season he became the highest scoring import player in Elite League history. He was also voted as the Player's Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player at the Devils Awards Night in early April. "It's difficult to describe the impact Joey Martin has had on this organisation on and off the ice," said Managing Director Todd Kelman.
"Joey has been our best player over the last decade, he has been a leader on the ice and in the room. He is great with fans, and he is a phenomenal teammate.
"He hasn't slowed down over his career. As the league has improved, he has still always been one of the top players. We are very lucky to have had him all these years and I am pleased to have him back for another season."
On Saturday 14th June, we are celebrating the career of Joey Martin with his Testimonial at Vindico Arena. Tickets are on sale now - CLICK HERE to purchase your seats.