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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 14, 2016 | 46 HALTON TRANSMISSION 559 SPEERS RD., #UNIT 3 905-842-0725 www.haltontransmission.com Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports "Connected to your Community" Martin always on call Oakville goalie splits time with AHL's San Antonio and ECHL's Fort Wayne By Iain Colpitts Metroland Media Group You'd need two hands to count the number of times Spencer Martin has taken the flight from Fort Wayne to San Antonio this season. The former Mississauga Steelheads goalie has split time with the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage and the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets this season, going from one destination to the other seven times. In the latest transition, the 20-year-old Oakville resident was sent down to Fort Wayne the same day he earned AHL player-of-theweek honours with San Antonio. Both clubs are affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche and, with Fort Wayne set to begin the ECHL playoffs next week and the Rampage's season coming to an end, it's in Martin's best interest to get some playoff experience in his first year as a pro. "I obviously understand it's a business and there are some decisions that don't make sense to everybody from the outside," said Martin, who played four years of junior in Mississauga from 2011 to 2015. "You have to understand (the Avalanche) want me in a playoff position playing more games and there's an opportunity (in Fort Wayne)." Needless to say, he's been living out of a suitcase. It's much different from his days in the OHL where he was able to live at home with his family in Oakville while other players weren't so lucky. "In junior, you're supposed to have a halfway step where you move out and billet and they're kind of looking out for you. I imagine that's a bit different from living with your family," he said. "For me, I went from living at home to living on my own, but I Spencer Martin earned the American Hockey League player-of-the-week award the same day he was sent to Fort Wayne of the ECHL. With San talk to my family non-stop every Antonio eliminated from playoff contention, the move was made to allow Martin to continue his season and gain some playoff experience. day and it's been a good transition." | photo by Darren Abate ­ Special to the Beaver Martin was called up to San He came home to spend Christ- scheduled to fly out because he cessful because he's done his best Antonio numerous times because to handle his nerves. space in the lineup was available mas with his family and got the had been called up again. In his latest stint with the Ram"I've been able to do that this after Calvin Pickard was sum- call from San Antonio on Boxing Day. page, he recorded two shutouts year playing pro instead of junior, moned by the Avalanche. Then, a few weeks ago, his girl- and allowed only three goals in a so that's been good," he said. "I've Although Martin appreciates evbuilt a lot of confidence up, by getery time he's called up to the Ram- friend was planning a visit to Fort four-game stretch. During his first season out of ting called up and not just sitting, page, he said the timing of a few of Wayne and he had to tell her not to come the night before she was junior, he believes he's been suc- but actually playing." those call-ups has been comical. team to return to the Halton finals from last year, against Milton's Anne J. MacArthur. The Coyotes will attempt to reverse the outcome from 2015 when River Oaks defeated Forest Trail in the final. At 8 p.m., Burlington's Rolling Meadows takes on James W. Hill for the Tier 1 girls championship. At 9 p.m., it's the Tier 1 boys' final featuring Burlington's Florence Meares against Oakville's Captain R. Wilson. Halton schools are in the hunt for Four Halton public Eight boys' and girls' Tier 1 and 2 public elementary school basketball championships to(Thursday) in Oakville. elementary school night The first of four games starts at p.m. at White Oaks Secondary basketball champs 6 School, with Burlington's Charles R. Beaudoin facing Maple Grove Oakville for the Tier 2 girls' will be determined of title. Next at 7 p.m., the Tier 2 boys' final featonight at WOSS tures Oakville's Forest Trail Coyotes, the only OMHA silver for AE bantams The Oakville Rangers garnered a silver medal in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association bantam AE championship series against Brampton. The visiting team won each of the first three games of the best-of-five series, but the trend stopped in Game 4 when Brampton won 2-1 at home to clinch. The series opened in Oakville with Brampton winning 3-2, but the Rangers bounced back in Game 2 with a 3-1 win in Brampton. Brampton won Game 3 by a 3-1 score. 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