Riley Martin - Scouting Report

[Smarch 3,189]

Riley Martin

Right Winger

6’2

210 lbs.

18 Years Old

 

Riley Martin isn’t the prototypical hockey player, specifically as he hails from the state of Mississippi. The state of Mississippi has only one Mississippi born player in NHL history. While the Victory Hockey League is a different breed than the NHL, Martin has an uphill battle ahead of him. With not much known about Martin prior to his arrival to the VHL, but a few scouts who have seen the youngster play in the Ottawa District Minor Hockey “B” League (OBMHL) with the Mississippi Thunder Kings had the following thigs to say about Martins play style.

Pros:

 

Skating:

One thing Martin has been able to see the rewards of from his hard work is his skating ability. Martin put forth extra effect in perfecting his skating stride ensuring he is getting the most power out of his proper stride. Martin continues to work on increasing this stride range of motion and increasing his propulsive force, making sure he is not too tall while on the ice surface. Hard work off the ice continues daily for Martin to continuously improve his skating.

Puck Handling:

Martin also ties his puck/stick handling work into his skating work off the ice, which has helped him work those two abilities hand in hand. Martin has worked hard o his puck handling skills over the years, including ensuring his top hand on the stuck is doing most of the work while also keeping his hands and shoulders loose. With top notch skating abilities and puck handling skills, Martin should be able to put up close to a point per game.

 

Cons:

 

Discipline:

Martin seems to lack the discipline that is required to play professional hockey. Martin plays much like you would expect an individual who is playing recreational hockey, running all over the ice surface looking to make an impact play. Martin also seems to lack the discipline that is required to stay out of the penalty box. Martin only played 66 games of regular season hockey with his previous teams but was able to put up 100 penalty minutes in those 66 games. Martin will need to keep his mind in the game to stay disciplined in his role, while also keeping his emotions in check to stay out of the penalty box.

 

Experience:

As previously stated, Martin only has 66 games of regular season competitive hockey under his belt. Martin will need all the games in the VHLM and VHLE to ensure he is ready for the next step in professional hockey. With so few games in a competitive stage, Martins’ lack of experience early on might be his biggest issue.