OHL Alumni Central

The Coventry Blaze of Great Britain’s Elite Ice Hockey League will have two Ontario Hockey League grads on the roster for 2011-12. As mentioned in an earlier article, Mike McLean is taking his first step across the pond to play with Coventry. Just a few days ago, it was announced that Peterborough Petes alumnus Dustin Wood will be playing the point for the Blaze.

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Also, another Ontario Hockey League alumnus, Neal Martin seems to the be the first to be honoured on the Coventry Blaze Wall of Fame. Inducted June 9, 2011, Martin was a standout defenseman for the club for four seasons from 2004-05 to 2007-08. Martin last played pro hockey with AaB in Denmark. He played in the OHL for four seasons from 1992-93 to 1995-96 with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves. After three years of bouncing around the North American minors, Martin left for Europe, never looking back. Along with Great Britain and Denmark, Neal also played in Germany and Austria.

Dustin Wood spent the past two seasons in the Asia League with Anyang Halla. Both seasons, the team was league champion, although this past season they were co-champs after play was suspended due to the Earthquake/Tsumani. Wood played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League from 1998-99 to 2001-02, all with the Peterborough Petes. He was team captain in his final season. Wood was destined to start the 2011-12 season with HC Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Extraliga but things fell through. He will start with Coventry in a couple of weeks after the paperwork is processed.

Mike McLean played in the Ontario Hockey League for parts of five seasons with the Oshawa Generals and Guelph Storm. After playing for nine different teams in the North American minors between 2007 and 2011, he makes the journey to Great Britain in search of stability. A Central Hockey League all-star last season with the Quad City Mallards, McLean totalled 51 points in 55 games.

Neal Martin played in the Ontario Hockey League for four seasons from 1992-93 to 1995-96. He began his OHL career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds but was traded midway through the 1993-94 season to the Sudbury Wolves. He finished out his OHL career on the blue line with the Wolves.

Neal has played on 12 different teams over his 14 year professional hockey career. While playing in North America, he was on the roster of teams in the ECHL, IHL, AHL and WPHL.

Since his move to Europe for the start of the 1999-00 season, he has played in Great Britain, Germany and Austria as well as Denmark, where he has spent the past two seasons. Neal Martin is a member of AaB in Denmark’s AL Bank Ligaen. The team plays out of Aalborg, Denmark.

Click here to view Neal Martin’s profile page on the AaB official website.

Check out this post on Russ Moyer, another OHL grad playing in Denmark.