Horace "Pepper" Martin

Horace "Pepper" Martin
Sport(s) Ice hockey
Biographical details
Born Warner, NH, USA
Died November 7, 2000(2000-11-07) (Age 81)
Alma mater University of New Hampshire
Playing career
1939–1941 New Hampshire
Position(s) Defenceman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1951–1962 New Hampshire
Head coaching record
Overall 76–76–3 (.500)

Horace Sawyer "Pepper" Martin jr. was an ice hockey player head coach for New Hampshire.[1]

Career

Pepper Martin attended the University of New Hampshire beginning in the late 1930's, graduating with a BA in business in 1941.[2] In his final two years with the university he played for the men's ice hockey team as a Defenceman. After graduating Martin joined the Army and served in the Fourth Infantry Regiment during World War II. After his time with the military was up he returned to his alma mater and coached the freshman ice hockey club in 1944.[3]

In 1951 he was named as head coach of the varsity team and set about trying to improve the team's fortunes. The biggest problem the team faced was playing without an artificial ice surface. In his first three plus years with the program it was a regular occurrence to cancel games when the weather turned and melted their playing surface. After having to cancel their final four scheduled games in 1954 plans were put in motion to solve the issue and in February 1955 the first artificial ice rink, the Harry C. Batchelder Rink was opened on campus. The rink was a boon for the Wildcats who saw their winning percentage rise over the next three seasons, culminating in their first double-digit win campaign in 1957–58.[4] Over his final five seasons with the Wildcats Martin lead his team to four 10+ win records and stepped down in 1962.

While coaching the Wildcats Martin earned a Master's in education and began using it in 1962 when he became an assistant principal at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School, a job he held until retiring in 1987. Martin was also a reservist in the US Army, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1984. He was inducted into the UNH 100 club Hall of Fame in 1993.

Personal life

Pepper Martin died in November 2000 at the age of 81. He had one daughter, Suzanne Guptill, and three step children: Heidi Lyons, Mark Lyons and Deborah Pepernik.

College Head Coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
New Hampshire Wildcats (Independent) (1951–1961)
1951–52 New Hampshire 5–5–0
1952–53 New Hampshire 3–6–0
1953–54 New Hampshire 2–5–1
1954–55 New Hampshire 5–8–0
1955–56 New Hampshire 3–11–0
1956–57 New Hampshire 7–7–1
1957–58 New Hampshire 13–3–0
1958–59 New Hampshire 14–5–0
1959–60 New Hampshire 11–8–0
1960–61 New Hampshire 3–11–0
New Hampshire: 66–69–2
New Hampshire Wildcats (ECAC Hockey) (1961–1962)
1961–62 New Hampshire 10–7–1 10–7–0 11th
New Hampshire: 10–7–1 10–7–0
Total: 76–76–3

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ↑ "Horace Martin Year-by-Year Coaching Record". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  2. ↑ "In Memoriam". UNH Magazine Online. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  3. ↑ "Wildcat Hockey: Ice Hockey at the University of New Hampshire". New Hampshire Wildcats. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  4. ↑ "New Hampshire Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.

Horace "Pepper" Martin career statistics at EliteProspects.com

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