It’s one of the highest selections for a player from Waterloo Region in over 40 years.
During the first day of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators selected Elmira’s Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick.
When his name was called, Martin was back at home in Elmira on the family farm. A photo shared during the draft shows a watch party set up in the family backyard being lifted by a tractor.
“Tonight, we salute a journey routed in hard work, family and quiet determination,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “From early mornings in the barns tending to cows, pigs and chickens to late nights leading his team on the ice, Brady Martin has earned every bit of this moment. Brady, your story is what our game is all about.”
Martin played the last two seasons with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, and had played for the Waterloo Wolves AAA team before going to the OHL. This past season, he played 57 games, scoring 33 goals and 39 assists.
He becomes one of the highest drafted players to come out of Waterloo Region, joining Scott Stevens from Kitchener who was also drafted fifth overall in 1982 and Jim Schoenfeld from Galt, who went fifth overall back in 1972.
Evan Passmore, who is also from Elmira and played for the Barrie Colts, was selected in the sixth round.
Later on in the draft, Nashville traded up to the 21st overall pick to select Kitchener Rangers defenceman Cameron Reid. Reid said during his presser that he and Brady have known each other since they were kids, playing spring hockey together.