Martin Jones (ice hockey)
A towering, unflappable goaltender who backstopped a franchise to its first Stanley Cup Final with a record-setting playoff run.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: January 10·Millennials
Biography
Martin Jones's path to the NHL crease was one of steady ascension, marked by a calm demeanor that belied his competitive fire. The North Vancouver native dominated the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen, earning top goaltender honors before turning pro. He served a crucial apprenticeship as Jonathan Quick's understudy with the Los Angeles Kings, learning the ropes on a championship-caliber team and earning a Stanley Cup ring in 2014 as a rookie. His true breakout arrived via trade to the San Jose Sharks in 2015. Jones immediately became the undisputed number one, providing the stability the Sharks had long sought. In his first season as a starter, he was instrumental in carrying San Jose to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final in 2016, stringing together a memorable playoff performance. With a classic, efficient style and a 6'4" frame that swallowed shots, Jones became the franchise's winningest goalie over several seasons before later chapters with Philadelphia, Seattle, and Toronto.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Martin was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Martin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Backstopped the San Jose Sharks to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, their first appearance in the championship series.
- Won the Stanley Cup as a rookie with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.
- Set a Sharks franchise record with three consecutive shutouts during the 2016 playoffs.
- Won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championships.
Did You Know?
He went undrafted in the NHL and was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Kings in 2008.
Jones recorded his first NHL shutout in his first NHL start for the Kings in 2013.
He shares a birthday (January 10) with fellow NHL goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Before his NHL debut, he was named the AHL's outstanding goaltender for the 2013-14 season.
“My job is to stop the puck, not to think about the last shot.”
