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Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999
Top goalie Martino is Mr. Nasty in nets
Tony Martino, who formerly played for IceRays coach Taylor Hall, starts in goal in tonight's WPHL All-Star Game
By MARK BUTTON
Staff Writer

   AUSTIN -- Imagine Tyler Boucher as a goalie.
   The aggressive, agitating IceRays forward would probably make a pretty mean netminder. Slashing the ankles of anyone trying to skate through his crease, throwing a stick at anyone who threatened his area, he might even pick a fight or two.
   Though he stands just 5-foot-6, Boucher plays more like 6-6. He won't take flack from opponents but he dishes it out frequently. And it probably wouldn't any be different if he were a goalie.
   Now meet Tony Martino.
   "I have a bit of a temper. I can be volatile at times, like a Tyler Boucher," said Martino, who will start in goal and represent the Abilene Aviators for Team Texas today in the 7 p.m. Western Professional Hockey League All Star Game. "I'm very emotional and I hate to lose."
   Martino is the WPHL's bad boy. He's the only goalie with 20 wins this season, and his 2.70 goals-against average and .916 save percentage rank among the league leaders. Martino credits those numbers in part to his intimidation tactics -- ones that include slashing, roughing and various other improprieties.
   "It works on some players," he said.
   His reputation preceeds him, one that had its WPHL beginnings in New Mexico under then-coach Taylor Hall.
   During the 1996-97 season, Martino was known to use his stick for more than just deflecting pucks.
   "I've seen him wield his stick like an axe and go after players," said IceRays general manager Jimmy Garino, who was the New Mexico director of sales in 1996-97. "He was well aware of the fact that he held a heavy piece of lumber in his hand, and he wasn't afraid to use it."
   Martino admitted he has done some "stupid things," but he also said he was often directed to play aggressively.
   "Taylor used me to my fullest," Martino said. "He knew I played better that way. He would come by and tap me on the shoulder and say `The team's flat, go out there and get them in the game.' That meant I was supposed to chop somebody and take a bad penalty."
   Martino had good things to say about Hall, but that wasn't true for everybody.
   "Jimmy and I mended our fences, but let's just say I won't be inviting him over for dinner," Martino said.
   Hall, fired by New Mexico owners Bernie Nichols and Joe Murphy after the 1996-97 season, was reserved in his comments on Martino. After Hall was fired, many Scorpion players left New Mexico in search of work elsewhere. Martino was not one of the them.
   When Hall came to Corpus Christi, several former Scorpions reunited with him, including Chris Robertson and Regan Harper, the IceRays' representatives in the All Star game to be played at the Travis County Exposition Center.
   "He's a physical goalie who likes to protect his crease," Hall said. "He likes to get out and get involved with the players. You don't see that from most guys, but Tony likes to get his nose dirty.
   "He played well for me, and he played well against us this year."
   Corpus Christi lost at Abilene, 4-1, on Dec. 5 in the two teams' only meeting this year. The Aviators visit Memorial Coliseum Jan. 15.
   Martino said despite his on-the-ice reputation, he is laid back once the stakes come off.
   "I'm kind of shy off the ice," Martino said. "I have an alter-ego. It's like Tyler, he looks like he wants to just kill people out on the ice but off the ice he couldn't be nicer."
   Boucher, Martino, Hall and whole gang will get back together for a game of hockey at the Igloo in seven days.

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