Martin Houle
Encyclopedia
Martin G. Houle is a Canadian professional ice hockey
goaltender
, who is currently playing with the Sorel-Tracy GCI of the LNAH.
of the QMJHL
from 2001 to 2005. Despite a rough start, he ended the 2003-04 season ranked second in the league with 34 wins and a 2.32 GAA. He was also named QMJHL Goalie of the Year and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers
232nd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
. Despite the low pick, the organization was really excited about drafting him. He proved their trust was correctly placed when he was named QMJHL Defensive Player of the Year and finished 7th in the QMJHL in wins (26) and 5th in GAA (2.51) the following year.
Following his senior season in the QMJHL, he attended Flyers training camp, but was reassigned to the Trenton Titans
of the ECHL
at the close of the Philadelphia Phantoms
training camp. Houle had played seven straight games for the Titans after Scott Stirling was traded to the San Antonio Rampage
. In those seven games, he managed to put together the sixth best goals against average
in the ECHL.
The Phantoms liked what they saw in him and decided to switch him with Rejean Beauchemin, who was struggling early in the season. At the AHL level, Houle excelled. However, the test truly came when Jamie Storr
was called up to be backup goalie for Antero Niittymäki
while Robert Esche
was on the injury list. With Storr in the NHL
, Houle became the starting goalie and retained this for the rest of the season.
Scheduled to be a restricted free agent following the 2007-08 season, Houle became an unrestricted free agent when the Flyers didn't extend him a qualifying offer. Houle would eventually sign with the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers
, but after three games and recording a 1-2-0 record with a 3.03 GAA
, Houle would be traded to the Cincinnati Cyclones
. He is currently playing senior hockey in Southern New Brunswick, while take Business Administration at the University of New Brunswick, where he is currently redshirting, and will likely be the starter when UNB hosts the CIS Nationals in 2011 and 2012. UNB is the reigning CIS Nationahl Champions.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
, who is currently playing with the Sorel-Tracy GCI of the LNAH.
Playing career
Houle started his career by playing junior hockey for the Cape Breton Screaming EaglesCape Breton Screaming Eagles
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles are a major junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Their home rink is Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia.-Franchise history :...
of the QMJHL
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
from 2001 to 2005. Despite a rough start, he ended the 2003-04 season ranked second in the league with 34 wins and a 2.32 GAA. He was also named QMJHL Goalie of the Year and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
232nd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
. Despite the low pick, the organization was really excited about drafting him. He proved their trust was correctly placed when he was named QMJHL Defensive Player of the Year and finished 7th in the QMJHL in wins (26) and 5th in GAA (2.51) the following year.
Following his senior season in the QMJHL, he attended Flyers training camp, but was reassigned to the Trenton Titans
Trenton Titans
The Trenton Titans are a professional minor league ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Titans play their home games at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Established in 1999, the...
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
at the close of the Philadelphia Phantoms
Philadelphia Phantoms
The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were...
training camp. Houle had played seven straight games for the Titans after Scott Stirling was traded to the San Antonio Rampage
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:...
. In those seven games, he managed to put together the sixth best goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
in the ECHL.
The Phantoms liked what they saw in him and decided to switch him with Rejean Beauchemin, who was struggling early in the season. At the AHL level, Houle excelled. However, the test truly came when Jamie Storr
Jamie Storr
Jamie Storr is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Storr was the first goalie selected in the 1991 OHL Entry Draft and played major junior with the Owen Sound Platers and the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League . In the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Storr was...
was called up to be backup goalie for Antero Niittymäki
Antero Niittymäki
Antero Pertti Elias Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a member of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. He has previously played for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as in the SM-liiga and the American Hockey League...
while Robert Esche
Robert Esche
Robert L. Esche is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for SCL Tigers of National League A.-Playing career:...
was on the injury list. With Storr in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, Houle became the starting goalie and retained this for the rest of the season.
Scheduled to be a restricted free agent following the 2007-08 season, Houle became an unrestricted free agent when the Flyers didn't extend him a qualifying offer. Houle would eventually sign with the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers
Las Vegas Wranglers
The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL...
, but after three games and recording a 1-2-0 record with a 3.03 GAA
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
, Houle would be traded to the Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
. He is currently playing senior hockey in Southern New Brunswick, while take Business Administration at the University of New Brunswick, where he is currently redshirting, and will likely be the starter when UNB hosts the CIS Nationals in 2011 and 2012. UNB is the reigning CIS Nationahl Champions.
Awards
- 2003-04: QMJHLQuebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
First All-Star Team - 2003-04: Jacques Plante Memorial TrophyJacques Plante Memorial TrophyThe Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the goaltender in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the best goals-against average. It is named for Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Jacques Plante.-Winners:-External links:...
- 2003-04: CHLCanadian Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
Second All-Star Team - 2004-05: QMJHLQuebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
Telus Defensive Player of the Year
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 2001–02 QMJHL season The 2001–02 QMJHL season was the 33rd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Luc Robitaille Trophy for the team that scored the most goals during the regular season. Sixteen teams played 72 games each in the schedule... |
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Cape Breton Screaming Eagles The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles are a major junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Their home rink is Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia.-Franchise history :... |
QMJHL Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| 2002–03 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | QMJHL | 30 | 4 | 18 | 3 | — | 1450 | 98 | 0 | 4.06 | .895 |
| 2003–04 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | QMJHL | 51 | 34 | 15 | 1 | — | 2951 | 114 | 3 | 2.32 | .921 |
| 2004–05 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | QMJHL | 56 | 26 | 18 | 5 | — | 3108 | 130 | 6 | 2.51 | .911 |
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Philadelphia Phantoms Philadelphia Phantoms The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
40 | 18 | 18 | — | 1 | 2153 | 91 | 2 | 2.54 | .914 |
| 2005–06 | Trenton Titans Trenton Titans The Trenton Titans are a professional minor league ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Titans play their home games at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Established in 1999, the... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
7 | 4 | 3 | — | 0 | 429 | 15 | 1 | 2.10 | .935 |
| 2006–07 2006–07 AHL season The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals.... |
Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 38 | 12 | 17 | — | 2 | 1879 | 104 | 0 | 3.32 | .893 |
| 2006–07 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27.27 | .667 |
| 2007–08 | Wheeling Nailers Wheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.... |
ECHL | 26 | 5 | 13 | — | 3 | 1318 | 82 | 0 | 3.73 | .889 |
| 2007–08 2007–08 AHL season The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:... |
Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 10 | 2 | 5 | — | 0 | 442 | 21 | 1 | 2.85 | .892 |
| 2008–09 2008–09 ECHL season The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary... |
Las Vegas Wranglers Las Vegas Wranglers The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL... |
ECHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 0 | 178 | 9 | 0 | 3.03 | .845 |
| 2008–09 | Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... |
ECHL | 14 | 7 | 4 | — | 2 | 791 | 40 | 0 | 3.04 | .885 |
| QMJHL Totals | 138 | 65 | 51 | 9 | — | 7547 | 342 | 9 | 2.72 | .911 | ||
| AHL Totals | 88 | 32 | 40 | — | 3 | 4474 | 216 | 3 | 2.90 | .903 | ||
| ECHL Totals | 50 | 17 | 22 | — | 5 | 2716 | 146 | 1 | 3.23 | .894 | ||
| NHL Totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27.27 | .667 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | QMJHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| 2003–04 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | QMJHL | 4 | 1 | 3 | 251 | 13 | 0 | 3.10 | .886 |
| 2004–05 | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | QMJHL | 4 | 1 | 3 | 245 | 10 | 0 | 2.44 | .905 |
| QMJHL Totals | 9 | 2 | 6 | 507 | 23 | 0 | 2.72 | .899 | ||