Alec Martinez
Three-time Stanley Cup champion and overtime hero for two franchises.
Alec Martinez (born July 26, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who now works as a broadcaster. He won the Stanley Cup three times: with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, and with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. During the 2014 playoffs, he scored the overtime goal that won the Western Conference Final and, twelve days later, the overtime goal that won the Stanley Cup Final.
Martinez grew up in Rochester Hills, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. His paternal grandfather was Spanish, his paternal grandmother Canadian. He later lived in Tualatin, Oregon, and Fremont, California, where he played junior hockey for the Santa Clara Blackhawks and San Jose Jr. Sharks. He earned four varsity letters at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills before playing college hockey at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
The Los Angeles Kings selected Martinez in the seventh round, 95th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut in 2008 with the Kings' AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. He appeared in four games for the Kings during the 2009–10 season, recording no points. After starting the 2010–11 season back in Manchester, he was recalled on November 23, 2010. The next night, he scored his first NHL goal on the power play against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price in a 4–1 loss. On December 4, 2010, he had his first multi-point game, including a goal against Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings in a 3–2 win. He earned the trust of head coach Terry Murray and later Darryl Sutter for his steady play. On July 8, 2011, he signed a two-year, $1,475,000 contract. The Kings won the Stanley Cup on June 11, 2012.
During the 2012–13 lockout, Martinez signed with the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League on December 31, 2012, and played there until the lockout ended. He missed ten of the Kings' first fifteen games of the 2013–14 season due to injury but returned as a regular on defense. On June 1, 2014, he scored 5:47 into overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference Final against the Chicago Blackhawks, beating goaltender Corey Crawford. Twelve days later, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Rangers, a shot by Tyler Toffoli rebounded off goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in double overtime, and Martinez scored with 5:17 left.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1987-07-26
- Birth Place
- Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S.
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 1
- Weight Lb
- 215
- Position
- Defense
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Los Angeles Kings / TPS / Vegas Golden Knights / Chicago Blackhawks
- Ntl Team
- USA
- Draft
- 95th overall
- Draft Year
- 2007
- Draft Team
- Los Angeles Kings
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Martinez grew up in Michigan before moving to Oregon and later California, where he played junior hockey for the Santa Clara Blackhawks and San Jose Jr. Sharks. He earned four varsity letters at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills and played college hockey at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2007, he made his professional debut with the Manchester Monarchs in the AHL. After a brief stint with the Kings in 2009–10, he was recalled in November 2010 and scored his first NHL goal against Carey Price. He signed a two-year contract with the Kings in 2011 and won the Stanley Cup in 2012. During the 2012–13 lockout, he played for the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League. In 2014, he scored two iconic overtime series winners: the Western Conference Final-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup Final-winning goal against the New York Rangers, becoming the 17th player to score the Cup-winning goal in overtime. He signed a six-year, $24 million extension with the Kings in December 2014 and recorded a career-high 39 points in 2016–17.
Reader's Guide
Martinez was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on February 19, 2020, in exchange for two second-round draft picks. He debuted with a goal and an assist in a 5–3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. In July 2021, he signed a three-year, $15.75 million contract with the Golden Knights. During the 2021–22 season, he suffered a facial cut from a skate and was placed on long-term injured reserve before returning in March 2022. In the 2023 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, Martinez scored two goals after going scoreless for most of the playoffs, securing his third Stanley Cup championship. After hoisting the Cup, he handed it to former Kings teammate Jonathan Quick. Reflecting on the victory, Martinez said, 'this one is a little different being on the other side of the age spectrum.' He left the Golden Knights as a free agent and signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2024. On April 13, 2025, he announced his retirement from the NHL, forgoing the Blackhawks' final two road games. He received a video tribute and standing ovation during the team's last home game. Martinez also represented the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, recording one goal and two assists in ten games and winning a bronze medal.
Did You Know?
- Martinez scored both the Western Conference Final-winning goal and the Stanley Cup Final-winning goal in overtime in 2014.
- He became the 17th player to score the Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime.
- He was cut in the face by Brandon Duhaime's skate in a November 2021 game against the Minnesota Wild.
- After winning the 2023 Stanley Cup, he handed the trophy to former Kings teammate Jonathan Quick.
More in Vegas Golden Knights Players 1-24
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