Martens signs with Central Hockey League's Wichita Thunder.
Defenseman Andrew Martens, a member of the Reign since the team's inaugural season, has signed with the Wichita (KS) Thunder of the Central Hockey League.
Martens was one of two signings (along with former Idaho Steelheads defenseman Kory Scoran) announced Saturday by Kevin McClelland, an NHL veteran who is beginning his first season as the Thunder's head coach.
The 29-year-old Martens spent the entire 2009-10 season in Ontario, recovering from a slow start to post four goals and 37 points in 72 games. He split the 2008-09 season between the Reign (7+24=31 in 48 games) and the AHL's Manitoba Moose (0+5=5 in 11 games) and Toronto Marlies (1+5=6 in 16 games).
Martens showed improvement in his defensive game last season, but will be missed more for his offense. He was the Reign's strongest skating defenseman and his breakaway potential made him one of the team's more exciting players.
He also holds the distinction of having scored the first goal in franchise history, both in the Reign's first preseason game and in their first regular-season game.
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About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra began covering the Reign before the team had a nickname, coach or mascot.
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Hey J.P why all the retirements and players signing with other teams. Are we going to have a all new team. Is something going on with the team that players dont want to return? Just seems odd. Do they make more money in the CHL?
Two things to consider:
1. If you look at how much the team changed between the first and second year, this is to be expected. Out of all the players who were either on the active roster or on IR at the end of the first season, six retired (Reinhardt, MacGregor, Mehalko, Johnston, Spooner, Bowness), two went to Europe (Atherton, McMillan), two went to the AHL (Holloway, Zatkoff) and two went back to junior (Teubert, Rowat). That's roughly half the team that didn't come back after a fairly successful season. So a lot of turnover can be expected. It's just the nature of any league in which contracts only last one season.
2. The Reign didn't have a great season, so you wouldn't expect everyone to come back. Confirmed so far are Lenes, O'Connor, Martens and Voce, and if Jackson, Knapp and Howe retire as expected, that's seven players – still five fewer than left in the last off-season.
I don't know what the CHL pays, but my guess is that it's similar to the ECHL. Remember too that ECHL teams are limited to four veteran players (260 career professional games played), and Martens reached that plateau last season. Jon Francisco, David Walker, Shawn Germain and Chad Starling are all veterans, too.
The average pay in the Central League is $34K. Andrew should make much more due to his experience. Egener looking in Europe, can't imagine that Zach will be back, Rheault will sign in the AHL, Darling is iffy for a return, Hoagie says he's done too. Hope Francisco comes back as the heart of the team and Germain and Starling as the base for defense. Add Walker's experience and there is a nucleus to work around. Who was the kid who broke both his hands fighting and where is he?
James McEwan -- I'm pretty sure he's spending the summer at home (British Columbia). He did his job well when he was healthy, and he should be recovered in time for training camp.
It ought to be a very interesting lineup come this fall. Generating more offense and playing disciplined hockey are both top priorities IMO.