Porter Martone hasn’t been a Flyer for long, but he already knows Philly is ‘a city of winners’
Martone was complimentary of his teammates but wrote specifically about captain Sean Couturier, whom he called “an incredible leader.”
It didn’t take long for Porter Martone to win over Flyers fans. The initial excitement that surrounded him being picked sixth overall by the Flyers in the 2025 NHL draft snowballed after his NHL debut on March 31, and impressive run through the playoffs.
On the eve of the Flyers’ season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the right winger is further establishing himself as a player Philly fans are going to want to root for.
In an article for the Players Tribune published Tuesday, Martone wrote about his journey from being a kid in Peterborough, Ontario, who hung every medal he won on the pegs of hockey sticks on his wall, to the Flyers’ rookie star. And the 19-year-old forward said everything Philly fans would want to hear.
Well … almost everything.
“I loved Sid,” Martone wrote of Sidney Crosby, who has been the Penguins’ captain for nearly two decades. “I mean, c’mon. Can you blame me? As a Canadian … you gotta love Sid.”
» READ MORE: Flyers fans have craved a star like the Tkachuk bros. They look to have one in Porter Martone.
Other than that, Martone wrote about playing in the Keystone rivalry against Crosby, the playoff environment, and the passion of Philly sports fans.
Martone would know. Despite growing up hundreds of miles away, Martone grew up a Flyers fan, a label for which he gained a new understanding for since becoming a Flyer.
“This is just a city of winners,” Martone wrote. “I love it. People who hate to lose, who feel sick to their stomach when they lose. Those are my people. I felt all of that when I joined the team last spring before the playoffs started.”
During a “whirlwind” year that took him from Michigan State to the Flyers and into two rounds of the playoffs, Martone moved in with teammate Trevor Zegras, along with Denver Barkey, and Christian Dvorak.
Martone was complimentary of his teammates but wrote specifically about captain Sean Couturier, whom he called “an incredible leader.” He highlighted Couturier’s ability to command the locker room’s attention when speaking, and then proceeding to get on the ice and play “the game the way it’s meant to be played.” He even compared Couturier to previous Flyers captain Claude Giroux for his ability to connect to the fans and the city.
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet also received praise from Martone for being a “huge help” to him because of his ability to relate to his players, thanks to his own experience in the NHL.
While Martone’s NHL career is still getting started, he’s already had some major moments in the nine regular-season and 10 playoff contests in which he’s played. For Martone, leading the first-round series against the Penguins two games to none and hosting Game 3 was “the coolest experience of his life.”
His only regrets were not getting to try any Philly cheesesteaks amid the hectic season, and the way the season ended, after the Flyers were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.
» READ MORE: Philly fans are still proud of the young Flyers despite sweep by the Hurricanes
Martone said his father would always tell him to never be complacent, so while things were good, he promised fans he’s “got so much more to give” and to become as a Flyer.
“When I stepped on the ice for the first time as a Flyer, I reminded myself to be where my feet are. I don’t take it for granted. It’s awesome,” Martone wrote. “And those sticks back home on my bedroom wall? I just checked with my mom. We got plenty of pegs left. See ya out there, Philly.”
