SUNY Canton Names Ice Arena for Historic College Coach Terry L. Martin

Terry L. Martin helped peel back a blue drape to reveal etched glass with the college ice rink’s new official name, concluding a campaign to honor his legacy as retired men’s hockey coach.

“Today we honor Coach Terry Martin, one of the names repeated so often in the fabric of our college,” said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran at the naming ceremony held Nov. 16 in the Roos House Convocation, Athletic and Recreation Center. “The coach who led us to 12 National [Junior College Athletic Association] championships in 25 years, and the educator who taught decades of hockey players how to be successful, not only on the ice but in the classroom and beyond.”

The Canton College Foundation, Inc. recently raised the funding necessary to name the ice arena in Terry’s honor. According to Assistant Director of Development Sara Hartman-Richards, the campaign raised more than its goals and exceeded expectations. Donations in support of the former coach were contributed by the greater college community, including Terry’s former players, friends, colleagues, and area businesses.

The naming ceremony occurred on a weekend packed with games by the SUNY Canton Kangaroos men’s and women’s teams. Head Men’s Hockey Coach Alex Boak expressed his gratitude to the more than 150 hockey alumni who have continually supported the college and recognized Terry’s wife, Jill, who also worked at the college and served as a mentor for new faculty members.

Women’s Hockey Coach Kalie Hart addressed the crowd just a day after the team beat top five nationally ranked SUNY Cortland 2 to 1. “Everyone who speaks of Terry holds him in high regard - and rightfully so,” Hart said. “Terry made every effort to immerse himself in the women's program over the past two years, which just goes to show how he cares tremendously about the future of our school and our programs.”

The player’s first-hand accounts from their time with Terry have created legends on campus. Descriptions of their coach’s support and guidance are ubiquitous, with many referring to Terry as a father figure or a member of their family.

Don Gately, a member of the 1976 class, said that the life lessons he learned from Terry transcended his time on the rink. “Most important was his tireless commitment to his players, teaching the importance of sportsmanship, integrity, humility, and self-motivation that served everyone who played under him during and beyond their hockey careers,” he said.

Terry humbly thanked everyone at the college he worked with during his career, from the administration to the janitors, who all contributed to the program’s success. Financing a junior collegiate hockey program during his time was a massive undertaking. He recalled that the carpentry shop used to glue sticks together for the players to use and lauded his player’s grit and determination. “These are the type of young men that came to play, and I respected every single one of them,” he said.

Terry and Jill live in Morristown and are frequent visitors to the campus. The naming event was the most recent in a series of hockey-themed alumni events where former players return to show their support for SUNY Canton, its athletic program, and their former coach.