The End of an Era - The Departure of Steve Martinson

I talked to many of you on Wednesday after the announcement Steve Martinson would not be coming back to Allen next season. He was not offered a new contract so his employment with Allen will end when his current contract expires at the end of June. I have had many inquiries asking if and when I was going to share my thoughts on Martinson's departure. When you spend 10 years working with someone on a daily basis, this change is painful on a personal basis more than the impact on the blog I write about Allen Americans. I needed to take some time to process Martinson's departure and formulate exactly what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. A few have suggested I am biased when it comes to Steve Martinson. While I try to be fair minded and back up what I write with facts and stats, I think Martinson deserves recognition as the best coach in the history of AA hockey, so if that makes be biased, I plead guilty. 

     

When I got a heads up from Steve Martinson Wednesday morning that he would not be coming back to Allen for the 2022-23 season and the team would be issuing a press release later in the morning, I can't say it was a surprise. It was disappointing and in my opinion a shortsighted move. Because I cover the team on a daily basis, I have the privilege to talk to a lot of people about all that goes on around the team. Over the last few months, I have talked to everyone from the team owner, team president, prospective team owners, players past and present, fans, sponsors and members of the media just to name a few. And of course, I talk to Steve Martinson almost every day. It is hard to find anyone that thinks moving on from Steve Martinson is in the best interest of the on ice product or the franchise.

 

- It is important to remember the only opinion that counts in the decision not to renew Steve Martinson's contract is that of team owner, Jack Gulati. When you take all the financial risk as Gulati does, it is your right and prerogative to decide what you think is best for your organization. When many teams opted not to play in 2020-21, Jack made the decision to play, knowing he would lose a sizeable amount of money which he did. I talked to Jack in depth several times at the end of the season and during the playoffs about Martinson's future in Allen and while this isn't an exact quote it is fair to say Jack thought everyone in the organization should be totally focused on the playoffs and not be distracted with contract negotiations. It was pretty clear to me after all of these conversations, if Allen didn't win the Kelly Cup, it was doubtful Martinson would return. As Martinson told me, "Included in my contract was a provision for a one year extension if we won the Kelly Cup."  

 

- What did Steve Martinson accomplish in his 10 seasons as the coach and general manager for the Allen Americans. Here are the regular season finishes for all 10 seasons. The number rank is among all teams in the league:

• 2021-22: 10th
• 2020-21: 1st (in points), 2nd (points percentage)
• 2019-20: 3rd
  
• 2018-19: 27th
• 2017-18: 13th
• 2016-17: 2nd
• 2015-16: 5th*
• 2014-15: 2nd*
  
• 2013-14: 3rd*
• 2012-13: 1st*

*Won Championship 

- You would be hard pressed to find any pro hockey coach that has finished in the top three in the league (regular season) in six of 10 seasons including two of the last three, won four championships, was the reigning ECHL General Manager of the Year as voted by his peers and is deemed not worthy of being offered a new contract.

 

-  Steve Martinson just finished his 26th season as a head coach in AA hockey. It wasn’t the journey he planned after a 14-year playing career that covered leagues from the NHL, AHL, IHL and CHL. After his playing career was over Martinson, whose college major was in business, went to work as a financial advisor for Smith Barney. He was coaching roller hockey in his spare time when San Diego brought minor league hockey to town in 1995. Martinson was recruited to coach the Gulls. He won the WCHL championship in each of his first three seasons. Ten championships later, including four straight in Allen, and with 1123 regular season wins under his belt, Martinson is the second winningest pro hockey coach in history. Martinson has won championships in four different leagues (WCHL, UHL, CHL, ECHL). His two Kelly Cup championships are a rarity that has been accomplished by just seven coaches in the history of the ECHL, dating back to 1989.

 

- In retrospect I think Steve Martinson's future in Allen was not based on his past performance but on winning a championship in 2021-22. Win the Kelly Cup you return (it says so in his current contract). Don't win the Kelly Cup and there will be no new contract. This season was a tough one to have to win the Kelly Cup. If you buy the premise you have to win the Kelly Cup why didn't it happen. I called Steve Martinson to ask him about the 2021-22 season. Here are his thoughts with some of mine following his quote:

 "It started in the off season when we lost 12 players to Europe"...Martinson" 

As an aside I have talked to several players about the exodus to Europe and was told players can earn twice as much money (tax free), play far fewer games and are taken care of much better. Unlike higher leagues (AHL & NHL) where you have long term contracts, in the ECHL teams must be rebuilt every season. You are able to keep a few guys but basically Martinson must replace the whole team each year. As an example, there wasn’t a single player from Allen’s first championship team (2013) on the fourth championship (2016) team.

 

"We lost our affiliation with Minnesota and had trouble lining up a new one. It meant I had no AHL training camp spots to offer to players that had AHL ability but not an AHL contract. These training camp spots helped recruit players like Alex Breton and Les Lancaster in the past. Without the AHL tryouts you get no prospects. You are looking at a swing of 8-10 players between the players you can recruit with AHL tryouts spots and players under NHL/AHL contract that are assigned.".....Martinson. 

FYI, Allen lost three affiliations in three season, San Jose twice and Minnesota. None of these were related to the affiliates being displeased with the development of players. All were related to off ice issues I won't go into.

 

"We were the last ECHL team to get an affiliation this season and I knew up front we were not going to get much help from Seattle because they were upfront with us. The Kraken had no AHL team (will start in 2022-23) and had a double affiliation with Charlotte to send the few players they signed"...Martinson. 

Unlike the best ECHL teams with great affiliations that have 5, 10, 15 contracted players assigned for the playoffs, Allen had zero playoff games from Seattle/Charlotte contracted players. 

"We struggled to consistently put pressure on the puck in both the offensive and defensive zones all season. We were showing the same video examples of mistakes the first week of the season and the last week of the season.".....Martinson. 

The stats would show this team struggled consistently on the forecheck, with turnovers and with puck battles.

 

"Even with all of the obstacles I thought we had a team that was capable of winning the Kelly Cup. I recruited a mixed group of veteran/experienced players along with some young guys without the prospect of AHL contracts. All of our experienced players had been high end scorers in the past, but some had little playoff experience. Other teams in our division opted to sign hard working players players that played in the SPHL last season or players that were not big scorers in the past. I know you can't win against the league powerhouses with a roster of these players.".....Martinson. 

 This is where the debate all season was between an Allen team with a ton of skill versus teams like Rapid City and Tulsa who were less talented but harder working.

 

- What is next for Steve Martinson? His desire is to keep coaching and work with a franchise that will allow him to build a strong affiliate relationship that is beneficial for both teams. He has been the face of the Allen franchise for 10 seasons and all he does is put together teams that are entertaining and competitive. He is open and honest to a fault and that is why he is so popular with the fans. It is hard to understand how ownership wouldn't see having Martinson under a long term contract would add value to the franchise.

 

- As for current ECHL vacancies, two that are intriguing right now are in Orlando and Adirondack. Orlando is where San Jose sent its five players after they were pulled from Allen last season. Adirondack just parted ways with its coach after finishing with the worst record in the ECHL. Martinson could quickly turn that franchise around and he already knows the community. He played for the AHL Adirondack Red Wings from 1986-88.  

 

- I had a chance to talk to a few interested parties about Steve Martinson's departure:

Allen Americans Owner, Jack Gulati:

• "Steve Martinson is a great coach, but my expectation is to win a championship. I felt is was time to make a change."
  
• "I am close to signing a new coach and hope to make an announcement in the next few days. Fans deserve to know quickly who will be taking over the coaching job."
  

Allen Americans captain Chad Costello:

• "I appreciate all that coach Steve Martinson has done for the Allen Americans and myself. Years ago he gave me a chance when no other team would, after an injury. I was motivated to make his decision pay off and we did with two Kelly Cups. I enjoyed playing for him. He was a great mentor for me and I hope that continues. He definitely left a legacy in Allen. I know he will be successful with what he takes on next. I truly wish him and his family the best of luck." 

 

Allen Americans captain Spencer Asuchak:

• "I am very thankful Marty gave me an opportunity nine years ago when not many other teams wanted to. I really figured out the type of player I am playing for him. He has put together some of the best teams in ECHL history and I have been extremely lucky to be part of those teams. I have always enjoyed playing for him and for the Allen Americans. He will continue to be a mentor to me and I wish him the best wherever he ends up next. 
  

 

Field Pass Hockey Managing Editor, Matthew Harding:

• "As someone who respects Martinson and the job he has done, it is baffling to me that he hasn't been given the chance to set his own timetable on when he will leave. Coaches who win your organization multiple championships and builds a program to prominence usually get to call their own shots (see Krzyzewski, Mike)."

 

- In closing I want to say thanks to Steve and Michelle Martinson and wish them well going forward. I have said many times with all of the stats and information included in the blog, what makes it special is hearing from coach/general Steve Martinson. His willingness to talk to me early every morning to share the latest information about the team and take my calls practically 24 hours a day is definitely above and beyond the call of duty. I am confident Martinson's access and willingness to share information with the fans through the blog is not matched by any other coach in the league. He will be missed by me both professionally and personally and there is no doubt in my mind he will be successful wherever he ends up whether that is in coaching, scouting or running his own business.

 

Finally, I will leave the last word to Steve Martinson:

"One of my strengths is using my experience to convince affiliates that helping you helps them. Both Joe Will (San Jose) and Bill Guerin (Minnesota) are references for me as I am looking forward to building another program. It is tough to leave Allen and all of the great fans but I also want to win another championship. As hard as it is to leave, I think I will have a better chance in winning another championship elsewhere."