Allen Americans introduce Steve Martinson as new head coach

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans have introduced Steve Martinson as their new head coach and general manager. Martinson,  54, played 13 seasons of professional hockey, followed by 16 seasons as a head coach. He led the San Diego Gulls to five Taylor Cup Championships (1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003) in the West Coast Hockey League. He also led the Rockford IceHogs of the United Hockey League to a Turner Cup Championship (2007). Last  season, Martinson led the expansion Chicago Express (ECHL) to a 34-26-0 record, but missed the playoffs – the first time in his coaching career. A right wing, originally from Minnetonka, Minn., Martinson was a member of the 1983-84 Tulsa Oilers team that remained on the road for the final six weeks of season when its owners suspended operations after filing for bankruptcy. Other teams in the league paid to keep the Oilers in operation so as not to unbalance the schedule, only to see the Oilers win the Central Hockey League’s Adams Cup Championship.

He played in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, the Montreal Canadians and the Minnesota North Stars. During the 1985-1986 season, he set the American Hockey League single season major penalty mark of 49 while recording 432 penalty minutes with the Hershey Bears. Martinson joined team captain Jason Deitsch in signing their new contracts at a press conference to welcome former Dallas Stars greats Mike Modano, Ed Belfour, Richard Matvichuk, and Craig Ludwig to the organization. Held at the Allen Event Center, Monday evening’s event was attended by several hundred fans as well as members of the press. Also in attendance was the Americans’ majority owner Doug Miller, minority partner and Team President, Matt Canavan and Central Hockey League Commissioner Duane Lewis. Martinson acknowledged the former Stars players as part of the attraction of joining the Americans organization as well as attracting players to the 2012-13 roster. “There’s not going to be a team in the American league, ECHL, anywhere that’s gonna have what we’re gonna have – and that’s these guys to lend their experience and help teach the guys how to play the game right,” Martinson said. In response to questions about what kind of team the Americans will have in 2012-13, Martinson advised he plans to bring back several former Americans as well as some players he’s coached in the past. “We’re gonna have a big, fast, physical, skilled team and we’re not going to be too skilled; we’re not going to be too physical; we’re going to have a good mix of players and we’re going to be hard to play against.” “You’ve gotta have skill; you’ve gotta have guys that can win face-offs and set up plays in the power play,” Martinson added. “You’ve gotta have guys going to the net and creating room and knocking people around. We’ve got Jason; we’ve got some guys coming that have played for me in the past and we’ve got a great group of guys who played here last year. I’m really excited to get started and I’m really glad to be here.” Contact the writer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at chip.crail@prhockeynews.com