Owen Martin relies on experience at second Winnipeg Jets development camp

Oakbank’s Owen Martin was on steadier skates at this year’s Winnipeg Jets Development Camp.

The Jets selected the local product in the third round of last year’s draft, setting off a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement that ran right into development camp the week after the draft.

Now a year older, Martin was right at home on the ice, noting it was ‘nerve-wracking’ to be on the ice last summer as a hometown draft pick.

“It’s a lot different being one of those second year guys,” he said following the conclusion of camp July 3.

“Coming in last year I was really nervous. Really excited but really nervous to meet everyone and see how the camp would be run… Definitely a lot better feeling coming in with a bit of knowledge.”

Martin currently plays with the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League. After a slower start to the season from both a statistical and team perspective, action picked up late in the season.

He finished with 56 points and scored five goals in a first round six-game playoff series loss.

“I was really happy with how the season ended,” Martin said.

“I played pretty similar (at the start of the season), but I just wasn’t getting bounces. I put a lot of pressure on myself once I started to have some of those zero point games. I finally got out of that slump and picked it up from there… It’s a crazy sport in that way.”

Martin will play one more season in the Western Hockey League before moving to Colorado College at the NCAA Division 1 level. He visited the campus a month ago, noting he “loved everything about it.”

“The staff’s great, team looks like it’s headed in the right direction, the facilities, everything is awesome and being in Colorado Springs the scenery there is beautiful too,” Martin said.

An NCAA commitment wasn’t expected when Martin first skated for Spokane during the 2022/2023 season. Recent rule changes now mean major junior players can suit up for top level American colleges after they finish up their junior eligibility.

“I love that they opened it up for us,” Martin said.

“It’s another stepping stone on the way to pro hockey.”

Martin is one of five players in the last five seasons to play Eastman Selects hockey and get drafted to the NHL. He scored 88 points in 32 regular season games with the AAA U15 Selects in the 2021/2022 season before a year at the Rink Hockey Academy.

Plenty of media were in attendance during the final day of Jets Development Camp, as general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff held his first press availability into the free agency period.

“I haven’t been able to be here too much this week given the constraints of July 1st,” Cheveldayoff said.

“It’s fun to come watch and fun to come see. There’s different guys, you’re watching the progression for several years… It’s a fun time to see. We’re going to be a young group with the Moose this year, lots of guys turning pro.”

Speculation about Connor Hellebuyck’s future in Winnipeg was the main topic reporters tried to pry into, with Cheveldayoff staying his usual tight-lipped self when questioned about the subject. The Jets were listening to offers for the Vezina Trophy winner, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, before the draft.

“Connor Hellebuyck is a Winnipeg Jet and there’s really no update at this point in time,” Cheveldayoff said.

The Jets signed former Oilers starter Stuart Skinner on the first day of free agency to shore up their crease and replace Eric Comrie, who signed in San Jose.

Comrie, Skinner and Hellebuyck are all represented by Ray Petkau, a player agent from Steinbach.

“Everybody’s a professional in the job that you do whether you’re an agent or a manager or a player,” Cheveldayoff said when asked if it was awkward to negotiate with an agent for a new player and figure out a potential trade at the same time.

“Every situation and circumstance has its own nuances.”