The hockey world lost a giant in November, 2008. Perhaps not a giant in physical stature at 5’8″ and 165 lbs, Pit Martin definitely is in that ‘honourable mention’ category when it comes to just sitting outside the Hockey Hall of Fame. Martin lost his life in a snowmobile accident near his home in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec in November, 2008.
Pit Martin – Junior and Minor Pro
Hubert ‘Pit’ Martin played his junior hockey in the OHA with Hamilton from 1959-60 to 1962-63. In his first year, the team was called the Tiger Cubs and in his final three, the nickname changed to the Red Wings.
It was his third year, 1961-62 that proved to be the pinnacle of his junior career. The Eddie Bush coached Red Wings were Memorial Cup champions with a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings in the final series.
Pit finished the regular season with 42 goals and 46 assists for 88 points over 48 games. He led Hamilton in assists and points while placing second on the team to league leader Lowell MacDonald’s 46 for most goals. In the entire league, Martin was second in the league for assists behind the 63 put up by Andre Boudrias of the Montreal Junior Canadiens. Pit also placed second in points behind Boudrias, who won the Eddie Powers Trophy with 97. Martin was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHA’s most valuable player.
Martin’s minor pro career was limited. He played 42 games in the American Hockey League between 1962-63 and 1965-66. All his games were played with the Pittsburgh Hornets. Pit scored ten goals and assisted on 15 for 25 points.
Pit Martin – NHL
When it was all said and done, Pit Martin played in 1,101 regular season National Hockey League games between 1961-62 and 1978-79. He played one game with the Detroit Red Wings in 1961-62 while still a junior and didn’t play in the NHL again until 1963-64.
Pit Martin Collection
Over his career, Pit scored 324 goals and assisted on 485 for 809 points. He played an additional 100 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, adding 58 points. Most famous for his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Martin started out with Detroit and had a short stint with Boston before moving to Chicago. He ended his career with two years with the Vancouver Canucks.
In his first real season in the NHL, Martin was part of a Detroit Red Wings squad that finished fourth in the six team league during the regular season. In a year of upsets, Detroit reached the Stanley Cup finals against the third place Toronto Maple Leafs. The Red Wings has a 3-2 lead in the series before losing game six in overtime and being shutout in game seven, 4-0. Toronto was crowned Stanley Cup champion for the third consecutive season.
Pit was part of two more Stanley Cup finalists with the Blackhawks. In 1970-71, the team placed first overall in the West Division and third overall in the NHL. Chicago reached the finals against the Montreal Canadiens and once again found themselves up 3-2 in a final series. Once again, they lost games six and seven to lose to the Habs.
Two years later in 1972-73, Chicago had a chance for redemption against the Canadiens. The two once again met up in the finals. This time, Chicago fell in six games. However, the season was the personal highlight of Martin’s career.
With Bobby Hull gone to the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association and Stan Mikita playing just 57 regular season games due to injury, Martin took increased responsibility to carry the team. Playing all 78 games, Pit scored 29 and assisted on 61 for 90 points. He was fourth in the NHL for assists, behind Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr and Bobby Clarke.
Perhaps, Pit Martin is best known when it comes to hockey trivia for his role in the one-sided blockbuster deal on May 15, 1967 between the Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. Going to Chicago were Pit, Gilles Marotte and Jack Norris. Going to Boston were Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield, the foundation for two Boston Stanley Cup championships to come.
Martin’s only individual accolade in the NHL came in 1969-70. Pit was the third player to be awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and sportsmanship.
Pit Martin – Rookie Card
The Pit Martin rookie card was the first card in the love it or hate it 1964-65 Topps Tall Boys set. The card is valued at over six times that of a common card. Martin is shown as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
Pit Martin Career Stats
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1959-60 | Hamilton Tiger Cubs | OHA | 29 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 14 |
| 1960-61 | Hamilton Red Wings | OHA | 48 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 17 |
| 1961-62 | Hamilton Red Wings | OHA | 48 | 42 | 46 | 88 | 46 |
| 1961-62 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962-63 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1962-63 | Hamilton Red Wings | OHA | 49 | 36 | 49 | 85 | 67 |
| 1963-64 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 21 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| 1963-64 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 50 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 28 |
| 1964-65 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 58 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 32 |
| 1965-66 | Pittsburgh Hornets | AHL | 16 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 26 |
| 1965-66 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965-66 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 41 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 10 |
| 1966-67 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 70 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 40 |
| 1967-68 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 63 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 36 |
| 1968-69 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 76 | 23 | 38 | 61 | 73 |
| 1969-70 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 73 | 30 | 33 | 63 | 61 |
| 1970-71 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 62 | 22 | 33 | 55 | 40 |
| 1971-72 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 78 | 24 | 51 | 75 | 56 |
| 1972-73 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 78 | 29 | 61 | 90 | 30 |
| 1973-74 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 78 | 30 | 47 | 77 | 43 |
| 1974-75 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 70 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 34 |
| 1975-76 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 32 | 39 | 71 | 44 |
| 1976-77 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 75 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 22 |
| 1977-78 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977-78 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 67 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 36 |
| 1978-79 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 64 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 24 |
| NHL Totals | 1101 | 324 | 485 | 809 | 609 |