Canadian world junior hockey captain Porter Martone has publicly addressed his conduct following a fiery opening game at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis.
An Apology from the Captain
Facing reporters on Saturday morning at the team hotel, the newly appointed leader of Team Canada expressed regret for his actions late in Canada's 7-5 victory over Czechia on Boxing Day. The win was overshadowed for Martone by a penalty assessed in the game's final moments.
"We've been told about discipline since we got here, and I need to apologize for the actions I took yesterday at the end of the game," Martone stated. "That's unacceptable, and that can't happen. As the captain of this team, the leader of this team, it just sets a bad example for the rest of the guys."
The Incident That Sparked Controversy
The controversy unfolded after Martone sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the last minute of the third period. As he skated past the Czechia bench, he delivered a tap from behind to Czech forward Adam Novotny before celebrating with his teammates.
For this action, officials immediately handed Martone a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Although the subsequent Czech power play did not score, the captain felt his lapse in judgment required a formal apology.
The game carried extra emotional weight for Martone, who is one of six players returning from the 2025 Canadian roster that suffered a quarterfinal loss to Czechia. The intensity was evident even before puck drop, with Martone and defencemen Kashawn Aitcheson and Zayne Parekh engaging in pre-game activities at centre ice during warmups.
Leadership and Living the Game
Head coach Dale Hunter emphasized the need for composure, stating he reviewed the incident after the game. "You just got to be smart all the time," Hunter advised. "You don't need penalties. You see how good the power plays are here… You can't be emotional. You just got to be robotic."
Martone acknowledged his mistake, admitting, "I'm a player that likes to play on the line and I went over the line. That can't happen, and it's something I can learn from."
Despite the incident, those who know Martone well affirm his qualifications for the captaincy. Jared DeMichiel, Martone's associate head coach at Michigan State, described him as a player who "lives the game."
"Some guys like the game, some guys love the game, and other people live the game," DeMichiel explained. "He lives the game, and I think it bleeds onto his teammates." This profound commitment, beyond mere skill or draft status, is cited as a key reason for his selection as Canada's on-ice leader for the tournament in Minneapolis.
