Home of Champions sports legend, Seth Martin, died Saturday in Trail.
Martin, 81, was a Rossland native, and longtime Western International Hockey League goalie with the Trail Smoke Eaters, who also played short stints with the Rossland Warriors, Nelson Leafs, Spokane Jets, and Portland Buckeroos.
Among his many honours, Martin was a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame, B.C. Hall of Fame, and Home of Champions inductee.
“I’m very sorry to hear this and he will be missed,” said Trail Mayor Dieter Bogs.
“I watched him play when I came to Trail in 1961. Seth Martin has been a name here forever and he is an important person in Trail’s history.”
Known as the Masked Marvel for reportedly being the first to don a mask in international competition, Martin had been to five world championships, leading the Trail Smoke Eaters to victory in 1961.
He played in four more world championships with Team Canada and was named best goaltender in three of the four tournaments.
Martin competed at 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Aus. when Canada placed a controversial fourth behind the Soviets, Sweden and Czechoslovakia.
The 1964 games marked the first time Canada had sent a national team to the Olympics and while the roster was dotted with youngsters, the selection committee called on Martin to add some veteran international experience.
Following his last world championship in 1967, Martin joined the NHL for a one-year goaltending stint with the St. Louis Blues in 1968-69.
The Blues made it to the Stanley Cup finals that year but lost in four straight to the Montreal Canadiens.
After that, Martin decided to return to Trail and the Western International League, where he played and later coached and is survived by his wife Bev and three daughters Patti, Lynn, and Susan.
More on Seth Martin later this week in the Trail Times.