Portland Pirates Hall of Fame

MARTIN BROCHU  #30

When young goaltenders first join the Portland Pirates, they can look at the team’s record book and see that in order to make their mark on team history, they’ll have to knock Martin Brochu from the top of the mountain. Brochu’s career numbers with the Pirates are remarkable. He is the franchise leader in appearances by a goalie (171), wins (79), ties (18), shutouts (10) and saves (4,585). The native of Anjou, Quebec also owns single season records for most consecutive games played (26), most wins (32), most consecutive wins (9), most saves in a game (61) and lowest goals-against average (2.18). Brochu earned his reputation as a fan favorite shortly after joining the Pirates in March of 1996. He backstopped the Pirates to two unlikely playoff series wins that year, at times single-handedly stopping the Worcester IceCats and the Springfield Falcons, to help the Pirates reach the Calder Cup Finals. He is the Pirates’ career playoff leader in appearances (25) and has the lowest goals-against average (2.40) and highest save percentage (.925) for one playoff year. His two playoff shutouts in one year is also a franchise record.

Brochu saved his best season for last. In 1999-2000, he was named the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Award winner as the American Hockey League’s top goalie. He also earned the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s MVP, the first and only Pirate to be so honored. That year, he set the franchise record for wins in a season with 32 to help the Pirates to the third-best record in the AHL. His 2.18 goals-against average was also the stingiest mark ever posted by a Pirates’ goalie. He was a First Team AHL All-Star and the Most Valuable Player on the team as voted by Pirates’ fans.

YEAR INDUCTED:  2003

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