Jack Martin, the winningest head coach in Ottawa Senators history, was honored with an induction into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Martin took over coaching the Senators in 1996 during a challenging period when the team had suffered four consecutive last-place seasons. He was the third head coach that year, replacing Dave Allison, who had managed a 2–22–1 record after succeeding Rick Bowunds. Although Martin couldn’t salvage that season, he led the Senators to the playoffs the very next year.
Over the following nine seasons, Martin transformed the Senators into a reliable contender. He guided them to their first playoff appearances in 1997, secured their initial playoff series win, and earned their first trip to the 2003 conference finals. The team climbed the NHL standings from 2002-03, winning the Presidents’ Trophy, and Martin was awarded the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.
Despite strong regular-season performances, playoff success was harder to achieve, as the Senators were eliminated by Toronto rival teams in four out of five playoff years. Following a seven-game loss to Toronto in the 2004 playoffs’ first round, the Senators decided to part ways with Martin.
Martin’s hockey involvement predates his NHL coaching. He played college hockey at St. Lawrence and the University of Ottawa before coaching juniors with the Rockland Nationals and Hawksbury Hawks. Notably, he coached the Guelph Platers to the 1986 Memorial Cup championship.
He also served as head coach for the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens and won two Stanley Cups as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Additionally, Martin was part of Team Canada’s coaching staff during their gold medal victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics, ending a 50-year gold drought for the country.
In the 2023-24 season, after DJ Smith was dismissed, Martin returned as interim head coach to lead the Senators through the rest of the year. When Travis Green was hired in May, Martin reverted to an advisory role but expressed satisfaction at coaching in the NHL again.
Reflecting on his time coaching, Martin said, “I enjoyed it and hope the players learned how to carry lessons forward—managing the game, handling ups and downs, and understanding what it takes to reach and succeed in the playoffs.” Those lessons seem to have resonated as the Senators finally made the playoffs this year.
Martin was inducted alongside notable sports figures, including former NHL players Fred and John Barrett, former Ottawa Rough Riders Pat Stoker and Joanne Pollack, sportswriter Don Campbell, Olympic gold medalist Erica Weave, and others.
Fan Take: Jack Martin’s induction is a significant moment for Ottawa hockey fans, celebrating a coach who played a key role in shaping the Senators into playoff contenders. His legacy highlights the impact strong leadership can have on a team’s growth, underscoring the importance of resilience and strategy in professional hockey.
