The Athens Rock Lobsters officially have a new head coach.
Former professional ice hockey player and AA coach Steve Martinson signed a contract Thursday morning to become the team's head coach.
Martinson has had an illustrious hockey career with over 14 years of playing experience and 26 years as a head coach in AA hockey. During his time on “The Show,” Martinson only appeared in 49 games, the majority of which were with the Montreal Canadiens.
He also played in 179 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), 260 games in the International Hockey League (IHL) and 85 games in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), winning two championships in the process.
As a coach, Martinson only missed the playoffs twice and won 10 championships in four different leagues during his tenure, including five with the San Diego Gulls (WCHL), one with the Rockford IceHogs (IHL), four with the Allen Americans, two in the CHL and two more in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
Martinsson also holds numerous ECHL records, including 104 playoff games played (third-most all-time), 54 playoff wins (third-most all-time) and is one of only five coaches in ECHL history to win consecutive championships.
He also has 1,123 wins, the second-most of any U.S.-born professional coach, was named the ECHL's General Manager of the Year in 2020 and was more recently selected for the inaugural Rockford IceHogs Ring of Honor in 2024.
Martinson also showed an ability to develop quality scorers: Between 2009-10 and 2016-17, he coached six players to 100 or more points in a season.
Martinson now takes the reins at the Rock Lobsters and will test his illustrious coaching career in the Federal Prospect Hockey League (FPHL) when the season officially opens on October 26, 2024.
