Alec Martinez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alec Martinez |
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Martinez with the Los Angeles Kings in December 2013
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| Born | July 26, 1987 Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Los Angeles Kings TPS Vegas Golden Knights Chicago Blackhawks |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 95th overall, 2007 Los Angeles Kings |
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| Playing career | 2008–2025 | ||
Alec Martinez is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. He won with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. He also won with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. In 2014, he scored two very important goals in overtime. These goals helped his team win the Western Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals.
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Early Life and College Hockey
Alec Martinez was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan. This is a suburb of Detroit. His family has roots in Spain and Canada. He grew up in Michigan. Later, he moved to Fremont, California. There, he played junior hockey for teams like the Santa Clara Blackhawks. He also played for the San Jose Jr. Sharks.
Martinez was a great student and athlete. He earned four varsity letters at Stoney Creek High School. After high school, he played college hockey. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting with the Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings picked Alec Martinez in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 95th player chosen overall. He started his professional career in 2008. He played for the Manchester Monarchs. This team was the Kings' minor league affiliate.
In the 2009–10 season, Martinez played a few games for the Kings. He then returned to the Monarchs. In November 2010, he was called back up to the Kings. He scored his first NHL goal on November 24, 2010. It was a power-play goal against the Montreal Canadiens. Martinez quickly earned the trust of his coaches. He was known for his strong offensive and defensive play.
On July 8, 2011, Martinez signed a new contract with the Kings. The team went on to win the Stanley Cup on June 11, 2012.
Winning the Stanley Cup Twice
During a break in the NHL season in 2012, Martinez played for the Allen Americans. This was a team in the Central Hockey League. He returned to the Kings when the NHL season started again.
Martinez had some injuries in the 2013–14 season. But he came back strong. He became a regular player on defense. He also helped the team score goals.
He scored two game-winning goals in the 2014 playoffs. These goals helped the Kings win their second Stanley Cup. On June 1, 2014, he scored in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks. This won the Western Conference Finals. Twelve days later, he scored another overtime goal. This was in Game 5 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers. This goal won the Stanley Cup for the Kings! He was the 17th player ever to score the Cup-winning goal in overtime.
In December 2014, Martinez signed a long-term contract with the Kings. The 2016–17 season was his best for points. He scored 39 points that year.
Joining the Vegas Golden Knights
On February 19, 2020, Martinez was traded. He joined the Vegas Golden Knights. He had a great start with his new team. He scored a goal and an assist in his first game.
In July 2021, Martinez signed a new contract with the Golden Knights. In November 2021, he had an injury to his face. He was out for a while but returned to play in March 2022.
Martinez helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023. He scored two goals in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. After winning, he shared the Cup with his former Kings teammate, Jonathan Quick. Martinez said this third win felt different because he was older.
Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
After leaving the Golden Knights, Martinez signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. He joined them on July 1, 2024.
On April 13, 2025, Alec Martinez announced his retirement from the NHL. This was just before the Blackhawks' last home game of the season. He received a special tribute during the game. Fans gave him a standing ovation. Players from the visiting Winnipeg Jets also shook his hand.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  United States |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2018 Denmark | |
Alec Martinez also played for the United States men's national ice hockey team. He represented his country at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He scored one goal and two assists in ten games. His team won a bronze medal at this event.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2003–04 | Honeybaked U18 AAA | MWEHL | 59 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | USHL | 58 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2005–06 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 39 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 42 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 42 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 72 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 55 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 26 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2010–11 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 20 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 60 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 51 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2012–13 | TPS | SM-l | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Allen Americans | CHL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 27 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 61 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 14 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | ||
| 2014–15 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 56 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 78 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 82 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 77 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 60 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 41 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 10 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 53 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 12 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 9 | ||
| 2021–22 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 26 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 77 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 29 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2023–24 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 55 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 44 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 862 | 88 | 201 | 289 | 250 | 131 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 47 | ||||
International Play Statistics
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | United States | WC |  |
10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2019 | United States | WC | 7th | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | ||||
Awards and Honors
Alec Martinez received several awards during his hockey career.
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| All-CCHA First Team | 2007–08 | |
| AHCA West Second-Team All-American | 2007–08 | |
| CCHA All-Tournament Team | 2008 | |
| NHL | ||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2012, 2014, 2023 | |
