Briere: NCAA Was ‘A Good Stepping Stone’
CHN Staff Report
(photo: Michael Caples/MSU Athletics)
Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in last year’s NHL Draft, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Martone was among the wave of blue-chip former Major Junior players that came to the NCAA last summer, once the floodgates opened. His case was in a somewhat special category, given that he was signed after the draft, just like Providence’s Roger McQueen.
The Flyers encouraged Martone to go to the NCAA, knowing he still needed another season before being NHL ready.
“The way he’s developed physically. That was the biggest reason for encouraging the move to NCAA this season,” Flyers general manager Danny Briere said. “To have kind of a stepping stone to the OHL to the NHL. Developing his body, getting stronger. I think the amount of time he spent in the gym, you can see in his body how it’s changed. It’s almost going from a teenager to a man. And his play on the ice spoke for itself. You guys have all seen what he’s done and how dominant he was. He took a step, too, playing against men in the NCAA, there’s a lot of strong players that are much older than 16-and 17-year olds in the CHL.
“It was a good stepping stone for him. We feel he’s developed nicely physically and mentally, and almost close to being ready to be in the NHL. We’ll see in the next few weeks.”
Martone’s Spartans lost in the NCAA Regional in Worcester on Saturday, ending their championship dreams after winning the Big Ten regular season for a third straight year.
Martone’s 25 goals were tied for the most among freshmen this season in the NCAA, and his goals-per-game were alone on top. He also finished with a plus-24 and 78 penalty minutes.