2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup: London Knights’ Colin Martin and father Bob Martin share ‘lifetime experience’

SHAWINIGAN, Que. — Colin Martin's position should be listed as D — not for defence, but designated character guy.

The London Knights have no end of family stories. Max Domi, Vladislav Namestnikov and Jarred Tinordi's dads all played in the NHL. Then there are the ruffian Rupert twins, Matt and Ryan; the other 19 OHL teams are glad they weren't born quadruplets. The tale of the overage defenceman who never lost hope he'd skate in the MasterCard Memorial Cup with his proud father Bob Martin, a 30-year veteran police officer and the team's director of security, looking on, might beat them all.

The proud Londoners' shared ambition came to pass when Mark Hunter put Colin into the lineup on Tuesday vs. Edmonton for his first game in 75 days. Decades from now, Colin Martin will remember every second he was on the ice on Centre Bionest as the Knights secured their spot in Sunday's final. Pretty heady stuff for the team's one-time stickboy who witnessed the Knights' 2005 Memorial Cup win.

"It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears over those 75 days to get back in the lineup," Martin said on Thursday. "Thank God I'm back here and I'm going to work hard not to lose my spot in the lineup. My dad, for him to see that is just amazing. There's probably going to be tears in my eyes and tears in his eyes when it's my last game on Sunday. He's always been there for me so it's going to be tough for us."

Junior hockey is big business, but at its heart is how many players, whatever their ability, will want to win for their coach or to make their parents or hometown proud. In Martin's case, it's all three. He's such a London guy he sounds as much fan than player while pointing out the London Lightning pro basketball team, Western Mustangs men's hockey team and Junior B London Nationals have also won championships in the past three months.

The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder grew up as a power winger, the kind who usually wore the captain's C and led his club in points and penalty minutes. The Knights were deep this year so he moved back to defence as an overage. Whatever it takes to stay, eh?

"I grew up watching this team, it was my dream to win a championship with this team," Martin says. "I stuck with them right to the end."

'Called to duty'

Hunter explained after the 4-1 win over Edmonton that he put Martin in to get more experience in the lineup, with 18-year-old Kevin Raine sitting out. The switch also rewarded Martin for being patient and positive while he watched. And watched. All the while, his support network told him his time would come, even as the Knights kept rolling along in the playoffs.

"Between family and friends, a lot of people kept him upbeat," Bob Martin said. "He wasn't going to let this get him down. He's a London Knight and when he gets called to duty he'll be there to perform.

"I'm just on Cloud Nine that Colin got an opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup. It's a lifetime experience, something that he'll never forget and I'll never forget along with our family."

Following in father's footsteps

The elder Martin, a special investigator with the Ontario Provincial Police, has worked with the Knights for 10 years. Anaheim Ducks star Corey Perry and brother A.J. Perry, who are his cousins, billeted with the Martins during their OHL days. In other words, they're steeped in London and the OHL.

That's carried over into Colin Martin becoming invaluable for what he does off the ice. That might be what his father is proudest of.

"Colin's got a knack with talking to people," said Bob, who lost a tooth while helping the Knights pack for the Memorial Cup trip. "He does a lot of community work on behalf of the Knights. The feedback I get from people who've meet him at events — two weeks after something, a Mr. Jones will be walking through the big mall and London and Colin will excuse himself from his friends and go over, 'Hi, Mr. Jones,' give him a handshake. I'll get feedback from people: 'here's a kid who remembers me from a corporate event three weeks ago.' He really enjoys getting out to talk with people. He's got a salesmanship."

Small wonder that Colin Martin wants to do something community-oriented once his playing days end. He's all but certain of continuing on in Canadian Interuniversity Sport next season either in the Maritimes or Ontario. When that's done, he'd like to do police work like his dad — who could retire now but won't, not with his youngest child Justine ready to start university.

"That's something I would pursue after hockey," said Martin, who was the second Knight to raise the OHL's J. Ross Robertson Cup two weeks ago after captain Jarred Tinordi. "Watching it first-hand with him is pretty cool what he does in his everyday life. Getting to do that would be pretty interesting."

No doubt some young athletes would chafe at having a parent as part of the team. Colin notes Bob Martin is often a confidant to Knights players.

"It's great having him around here. You can't ask for any more. He's always positive with me. He's always there to talk to."

Meantime, Bob admits he's somewhat in awe his son's junior days are drawing to a close — "it seems like just yesterday they were seven years old." The fact his son switched from forward to D in his last year of junior to help buoy hometown hopes makes it even sweeter.

"It's been a phenomenal run. He stuck it out."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.