It's often said that the road to the NHL can be long, but that can also be true for the American Hockey League. Talk to Quebecer Jordan Martel who, at 26 years old, played his very first AHL game yesterday. He celebrated with two goals!
The former Baie-Comeau Drakkar has been working his way through the ECHL since the end of the 2021-22 season, after two years spent at the University of Trois-Rivières. Having had quite a start to the season with the Wheeling Nailers, Martel earned himself a PTO in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves, the Carolina Hurricanes' farm club.
It must be said that it is almost surprising that the striker's chance at the next level did not come before. In his first full season in the ECHL, Jordan Martel scored 18 goals and collected 50 points in 68 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets (13) and the Utah Grizzlies (45).
Then, in 2023-2024, the Saguenay native scored 35 goals and added 23 assists for a total of 58 points. It was during the season that he moved from Utah to the Wheeling Nailers after 16 games.
He started this campaign strong with eight goals and 26 points in just 21 games played, leading his ECHL team in scoring. The QMJHL alum previously had a good camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL farm club, but was ultimately cut. As mentioned above, it was the Chicago Wolves, affiliated with the Hurricanes, who offered him a trial contract in the American League.
Starting his first game on the fourth line yesterday against the Iowa Wild, Jordan Martel didn't miss his chance to leave a good first impression. With two goals in his team's 3-2 victory, the Quebecer was named first star of the game. We bet he will play others…
