Anchorage Daily News

Defenseman Derick Martin helped the Alaska Aces turn around their 2007-08 hockey season, and now the lockdown blueliner will be back for the upcoming season.

The ECHL club on Monday announced the signing of Martin, 26, who joined the team last season after beginning the campaign in France.

In 27 regular-season games, Martin contributed three goals and six assists, and was a remarkable plus-18. His four goals in nine playoff games tied for the team lead, and his double-overtime goal in Game 3 of the opening-round playoff series earned the Aces a 3-2 win over Idaho.

Aces coach Keith McCambridge said he is excited about Martin’s return, noting the blueliner’s consistency and leadership.

“Derick came in here last (season) and really instilled work ethic, game-in and game-out, did everything we wanted, and more,’’ McCambridge said. “He was physical, he played against the other teams’ best line and made people pay the price when they came into our zone.’’

As an added bonus, Martin does not count as one of the club’s four “veteran’’ players. In the ECHL, veteran players are non-goaltenders who start the season with 260 or more regular-season games of professional experience. Martin has played 245 regular-season games as a pro.

Martin is the third skater the Aces have signed this off-season. A week, the club announced the signings of sibling wingers Brett and Colin Hemingway.

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