In the first round of the 2025 National Hockey League draft, the Nashville Predators used the fifth overall pick to select Ontario’s Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds. The forward, who hails from a dairy farm in Elora, Ontario, has created a buzz in the hockey world as a physical player – being quoted by Elite Prospects as a “destructive force, Martin is a uniquely heavy and frequent hitter.”
Editor / Progressive Dairy
Not only has Martin created a name for himself in sports headlines, but he’s also made his way into agriculture headlines as he proudly discusses his upbringing on a dairy, hog, chicken, beef and crop operation. Progressive Dairy interviewed Martin to learn more about his story.
Q: Which interest came first, hockey or cows?
MARTIN: I think hockey and farming were just always kind of things that we did. I was in the barn from before I could walk while my mom and dad milked cows and did other chores. I became interested in hockey after a few years of just being on the ice skating. I started playing hockey when I was 4.
Q: Growing up, what were your responsibilities on the dairy?
MARTIN: As a kid growing up, we did all the farm kid chores like feeding calves, sweeping the barn, scraping manure, feeding, picking stones – anything we were able to help with. As time went on, responsibilities were a little more, and it became harder to juggle our hockey travel with the farm, so my mom did most of the travel with us and we relied on our community to help us as well.
Q: What are your current responsibilities on the dairy?
MARTIN: My current responsibilities are helping manage the dairy, looking after the beef cows and general day-to-day chores around the farm in between my training and skating in the summertime.
Q: You’re often quoted as ‘hard-working’ on the ice. Do you attribute this to your upbringing?
MARTIN: I feel like my hard-working work ethic comes from being disciplined. As farmers, we work until the job is done. We know what it takes to be successful on the farm, and I feel like that upbringing has helped me with the hard-working label on the ice.
Q: What are you looking forward to most in the upcoming season?
MARTIN: I’m looking forward to heading to Nashville rookie camp seeing what I can do there – trying hard to make the team and then doing my best wherever I land, whether it be back in Sault Ste. Marie with the Greyhounds or if I’m able to crack the roster in Nashville.
Q: Do you plan to return to the dairy one day?
MARTIN: I think farming is always in my future. I love hockey, and as much as I love hockey, I always love coming home and someday will be a full-time farmer – whenever that may be or whatever that looks like.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a representative of the Canadian dairy industry and Canadian agriculture on an international stage?
MARTIN: I think repping the dairy/ag industry is kind a unique way of showing people in the hockey community what ag lifestyle is and looks like. It brings attention to agriculture that most people weren’t aware of. It’s a great family lifestyle.