Forward Brian Martin and Defenseman Marty Wilford Inducted into Admirals Hall of Fame
February 22, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK - Forward Brian Martin and defenseman Marty Wilford were inducted into the Admirals Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony tonight at Norfolk Scope Arena.
No player who appeared in 10 or more games in Admirals history averaged more points than Brian Martin. From the 1989-90 to 1993-94 seasons, Martin averaged 1.89 points per game, netting 171 goals and 347 points in 184 games with the Blue and Gold.
Martin came to Hampton Roads in a trade from the Greensboro Monarchs during the Admirals' inaugural season in 1989-90. That season, Martin ranked second on the team in goals (36), assists (39) and points (75). The following season, Martin netted 55 goals and 116 points in only 54 games with Hampton Roads as the Admirals captured their first Riley Cup Championship in 1991. His 55 goals in 1990-91 are the most in a single season in Admirals history. Despite appearing in only 28 games with Hampton Roads in 1991-92, Martin still averaged better than one goal and two points per game as the Admirals earned their second straight Riley Cup.
The 1992-93 season would be Martin's last full season with the Admirals. In 49 games with Hampton Roads, Martin scored 50 goals and 102 points. There have only been three 50+ goal seasons in Admirals history and only four 100+ point seasons in Admirals history. The 1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons saw Martin eclipse both the 50-goal and 100-point plateau. Martin's 16 career hat tricks are the most in Admirals history and are double the total of the next-closest player on the list.
In ECHL Admirals history, Martin ranks second all time in goals (171), third in assists (176) and third in points (347). The St. Catharines, Ontario native also played 46 career AHL games in five seasons with New Haven, Halifax, Utica, Moncton, Maine and Baltimore, where he scored 17 goals and 37 points. Martin was selected in the 12th round (232nd overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He retired after playing three games with Hampton Roads in 1993-94.
No player has recorded more assists and no defenseman has recorded more points in AHL Admirals history than Marty Wilford. The offensive blueliner led all team defenseman in scoring in each of the four seasons he played with Norfolk from 2000-01 to 2004-05. In 318 games played, Wilford recorded 32 goals, 141 assists and 173 points with Norfolk.
Selected in the sixth round (149th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Wilford first joined the Norfolk Admirals for their inaugural AHL season in 2000-01. He posted seven goals and 48 points in 80 games. After being traded prior to the 2001-02 season, Wilford returned to Norfolk in 2002-03 as an alternate captain (a distinction he would retain for the remainder of his Admirals playing career) and equaled his 48-point output with 13 goals and 35 assists in 80 games. Wilford's 48-point seasons in 2000-01 and 2002-03 stood as single-season records for AHL Admirals defensemen until 2011-12.
Wilford is also one of the most durable players in Admirals history. He played 168 consecutive regular season games from Oct. 11, 2002 - Oct. 31, 2004 - the longest consecutive games played streak in AHL Admirals history. His 318 total games played ranks third in AHL Admirals history. Wilford is the AHL Admirals all-time assists leader (141) and leads all Admiral defensemen in goals (32), points (173) and games played (318).
The Admirals made the playoffs in each of Wilford's four seasons with the team. In 32 career Calder Cup Playoff games with the Admirals, Wilford ranks second all-time in games played (32), tied for second in points (16) and leads all Admirals in assists (15).
Wilford appeared in 539 combined AHL games with Norfolk, St. John's, Milwaukee, Hartford, Manchester, and Iowa from 2000-01 - 2006-07, tallying 47 goals and 275 points. He then spent four seasons playing in Europe and retired following the 2010-11 season. After that time, Wilford joined the Anaheim Ducks organization as an assistant coach for the club's AHL affiliate. When the Ducks moved their affiliation to Norfolk this season, the Cobourg, Ontario native returned to the Admirals as an assistant coach.
Martin and Wilford are the 13th and 14th members to be inducted into the Admirals Hall of Fame since its inception. The Admirals Hall of Fame was established during the 2007-08 season with charter members Blake Cullen, John Brophy, Al MacIsaac and Rod Taylor. Over the last four years, Mark Bernard, Victor Gervais, Rick Kowalsky, Dennis McEwen, Ajay Baines, Steve Poapst, Aaron Downey and Chris Phelps have also been added to the elite group.
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