ECHL: Charles Martin Heads Overseas

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated May 29, 2026 8:25 PM ET

Trois-Rivières Lions defenseman Charles Martin is heading overseas to Slovakia to join HK Spisska Nova Ves after spending his first four seasons in North America. Martin, 28, was a big piece of the Lions blueline, putting up 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points while playing in all 72 games. He was the only member of the Lions to play in all 72 games and was their representative at the 2026 ECHL All-Star Game. The Blainville, Quebec, native spent his first three seasons in the league with the Rapid City Rush, putting up seven goals and 47 assists for 54 points in 101 games. He also saw four games at the AHL level with the Calgary Wranglers. Martin is the second player from Trois-Rivières to take the overseas route, joining Nicholas Girouard.

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Martin’s Junior and NCAA Numbers

Prior to going pro, Martin played two seasons of junior hockey, including a year in the QJHL and another in the SJHL. During his time in the QJHL with the Saint-Jérôme Panthers, he had seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 49 games. He would add two goals and an assist for three points in nine playoff games. In 56 games in the SJHL with the Notre Dame Hounds, he had nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points. He would add two goals and two assists for four points in three playoff games.

Martin would then take the NCAA route, spending the next four years playing DIII hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. In 94 NCAA games, he put up six goals and 31 assists for 37 points. The Yellow Jackets won the WIAC Championship in 2021. Martin would be named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team in 2022 and the All-Conference Team in 2023.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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