Longtime teammates and Michigan natives Zatkoff, Martinez cherish final game at The Joe
By @StefanKubus –
DETROIT – “I’m seven or eight here in the suite watching Karen Newman sing the anthem and now today, I’m standing two feet away from her.”
That’s the then-and-now transition for Los Angeles Kings netminder Jeff Zatkoff.
Zatkoff, a 29-year-old Metro Detroit native, grew up not only playing at Joe Louis Arena from time to time in youth hockey with Little Caesars, but also watching games as a fan.
“I played for Little Caesars, so obviously you play here,” Zatkoff said. “Being from here, I grew up going to all the games. My dad’s company had season tickets.”
He entered Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings with a 2-0 record at The Joe – both wins came with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a 9.53 save percentage in the process. By game’s end, though he wasn’t that busy, Zatkoff recorded one more win in goal to finish his career at Joe Louis Arena – pending a Stanley Cup Final matchup with Detroit – a perfect 3-0.
Well, in his NHL career at least.
“It’s fun, I mean this is my third time playing here, third win, probably my last time ever playing here, so it’s special,” Zatkoff said. “I got the puck. I’ve got a lot of good memories in this place, so I wanted to end for sure on a win.
“I remember just playing in midgets and pee wee and bantam, every once in a while getting games here. I remember playing here with Miami in the CCHA at The Joe, we lost 2-1, so it was nice once I turned pro to reverse the flow here in the NHL. My memories come from not only playing, but watching and just the history of it. I’m genuinely sad that it’s gonna be gone. It’s a fun rink, there’s not many rinks like it left and it still has that old-school feel. I’m happy I was able to play this one and that coach gave me the start.”
Originally a draft pick of the Kings in 2006, Zatkoff never actually played an NHL game for the organization until this season. After spending the first five years with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester, New Hampshire and the next five with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, he rejoined the Kings this past summer on a one-year deal to back up all-star Jonathan Quick. Though with Quick suffering an injury early in the season, Zatkoff – along with veteran Peter Budaj – has seen more time between the pipes than expected.
Zatkoff wasn’t the only one to return home Thursday night, however.
His teammate, Kings defenseman Alec Martinez is not only a Rochester Hills native, but also a former teammate at Miami (Ohio) University. The two both played their college hockey for the RedHawks from 2005-08. In 2006 and 2008, Miami fell to Michigan State and Michigan, respectively, at The Joe in the CCHA championship games.
On his way to hit the showers after the game last night and overhearing Zatkoff talk about the time he played at The Joe with Miami, Martinez humorously chimed in.
“I remember, we were losing a lot in this building. Hey, I was right there with you buddy.”
In fact, Martinez wasn’t as fortunate as his teammate had been in Detroit once he arrived in the NHL. Martinez had skated in eight games at The Joe with the Kings since 2010 and after winning the first two, L.A. dropped the next six in a row dating back to 2011. So Thursday’s win was especially gratifying for him.
“You think about it’s the last time you’ll play at a building that was such a big part of your childhood,” Martinez said. “But at the end of the day, I’m just glad we got the two points. It was a big game for us, bouncing back from (a 6-3 loss in Buffalo). We weren’t happy with our performance and to come in to a tough building against such a good team and get the win is the most important thing.”
Like Zatkoff, Martinez grew up playing at Joe Louis Arena in his youth hockey days.
“I played for the USA Hockey Club out of the Detroit Skating Club growing up and then I played for Honeybaked,” Martinez said. “I think we won a mite championship here, which is pretty cool.”
To add to the Michigan connections, Martinez has a history with Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, who was an assistant coach at Miami from 2002-08.
“I played here when I was at Miami, and actually Jeff Blashill was the one who recruited me. He’s the reason why I went to Miami.”
And prior to his college days, Martinez also was teammates with Muskegon native and injured Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader in 2004-05 with Cedar Rapids of the USHL.
But one of his most memorable moments at The Joe was one he shared with his dad as a kid.
“I was actually able to be at the game in Game 4 when the Wings won the Cup when they swept Philly, when McCarty scored,” Martinez said. “I can still to this day remember his goal – I believe the score was 2-1. I obviously have that pretty special memory with my dad.”
For Martinez, being able to play in front of friends and family is something that doesn’t happen all that often, so when he can, he said he cherishes the opportunity.
“It’s a really special thing coming back all the time. I play in front of a lot of friends and family. In season, especially now that Detroit’s in the east, you don’t get to come here that often, so it’s nice to be able to come here and see family and friends. Obviously I grew up playing at The Joe quite a bit, in youth hockey and in college, so it’s pretty cool. I guess tonight was the last time.”