2014 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY & RECEPTION
Marty Turco
Marty Vincent Turco was born August 13th,1975 in Sault Ste. Marie.
He started playing youth hockey in the Soo Pee Wee, beginning his illustrious goaltending career at age 8. Marty went on to play for the Soo Legion program. They represented the City of Sault Ste. Marie at the Midget National Championships, formerly known as the Air Canada Cup, in the 1992-93 season where Marty was named to the First All Star Team in the goalie position.
Marty was drafted in the 5th round of the 1994 NHL Draft, 127th overall, to the Dallas Stars.
Turco did not play minor junior hockey, instead signing a 4 year scholarship to play for the University of Michigan, with whom he won two NCAA championships, in 1996 & 1998. He still holds the NCAA record for all-time wins with 127. Turco earned many awards in his four years at Michigan, including Rookie of the Year in 1995, Tournament MVP in 1998, and nominations to the First All-Star team in 1997, the Second All-Star Team in 1998, and the All-Tournament Team in 1996 and 1998.
After graduating, Turco went to play for Dallas’s IHL affiliate, the Michigan K-Wings, for 2 seasons. In 1999, he was named IHL Rookie of the Year.
In his first year as the starting goaltender in the NHL, 2002-03, Turco’s goals- against average of 1.72 set a modern NHL record. He played in the NHL All-Star Game during the season and was named to the Second All-Star Team following the season, finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting as well. His .932 save percentage was also best in the NHL that year.
During the 2003-04 season, Turco continued to give the Stars quality goaltending, again playing (and starting) in the All-Star Game. He also played in the 2004 & 2007 All Star Games. Turco played 9 seasons with the Dallas Stars and one season each with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. Canadian hockey personality, Don Cherry, named Marty Turco the “smartest goalie in the NHL”!
Marty represented Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics, the 2002 World Championships, and played the 2011 Spengler Cup.
Other notable events throughout Marty’s career include:
Hosting the Marty Turco Charity Golf Classic, from 2002-2009, raising in excess of $100,000 for local charities, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Canadian Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society & Canadian Tire Jump Start. In 2003 he received the MBNA/MasterCard Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award. He donated the $25,000 award to the local chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Child Find Canada.
From 2004-present day he annually donates four season Greyhound tickets to local charities.
Marty has also appeared on numerous television programs, as an analyst and commentator on the game that he loves, including the NHL Network, TSN and Sportsnet. He is always proud to tell people that he is from Sault Ste. Marie. Maintaining a home here in the Sault, Marty along with his wife Kelly, daughters Hailey and Katelyn and his son Finley visit the Sault often throughout the summer and we are happy to have them here today to celebrate his achievements with us.
Marty Turco is a perfect candidate for the Players category of our city’s Hockey Hall of Fame. Ladies and Gentleman please join me in congratulating our 2014 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Marty Turco!