Martin Brodeur: goalkeeper, capable of everything

Martin Brodeur, whose photo has been adorned with covers of the best hockey editions and sports simulators for many years, completed his glorious career in St. Louis during the 2013/2014 season. All his major achievements are connected with the club "New Jersey Devils" and the national team of Canada, where he became not only the author of numerous records, but also a real legend, an icon for his fans.

Basic facts of biography

Perhaps Martin Brodeur was doomed to become a hockey player. Firstly, he was born in the hockey city of the world - the Canadian Montreal, which in the 60-70's. XX century stamped the Stanley Cups one by one. This landmark event occurred on May 6, 1972, when the whole Maple Leaf Country was living in anticipation of the upcoming superbit with amateurs from the Soviet Union.

Secondly, his father - Denis Brodeau - was a pretty famous hockey player. True, most of his career was in the lower leagues, but he had his own personal occasion for pride - a bronze medal received in the national team for performances at the 1956 Olympics.

Martin Brodeur was an exemplary son, but his family life can not be said. With his first wife - Melanie Dubois, who bore him three charming heroes and a beautiful princess - he divorced after eight years of marriage. At the same time, the scandal could not be avoided: Melanie filed for divorce after she learned that her husband was cheating on her with her brother's wife. The second marriage - with Genevieve Nol - proved to be more robust: having married in 2008, the couple are in a happy union until now.

All sons from the first marriage went on the path of the father. At the same time, two of them - Anthony and Jeremy - chose a role for the goalkeeper, but William decided to change the family tradition and became an attacker.

Martin Brodeur and "New Jersey Devils"

All his main prizes at the club level, "Iron Martin" won in the "New Jersey Devils", although, like any Montreal resident, he dreamed of playing in the local superclub since childhood. However, in the 1990 draft, already in the first round, he was chosen by a club from the suburbs of New York, which Brodo probably did not regret at the time.

His first match as part of the red and black thirtieth number of the "devils" was held on March 22, 1992 against the "bears" from Boston. Ahead of it was another 21 season in the club and 1259 matches with a fantastic average percentage of reflected shots - 91.2. Martin Brodeur was an adherent of the traditional for North American goalkeepers Stand up, which is characterized by a rigid vertical stand and excellent possession of the stick.

Of the club achievements of Martin should be primarily noted three Stanley Cups and four "Vesiny" as the best goalkeeper of the championship. Of the three champion rings, the most valuable is, of course, the first, produced according to the results of the 1994/1995 season. Then the "devils" showed overclosed hockey, the main pillars of which were Martin Brodeur and Captain Scott Stevens. The most difficult series was the semi-final confrontation with the "Philadelphia Flyers", led by Eric Lindros. It was the victory over her that opened the way for the team to the coveted trophy.

Personal achievements in the NHL

In addition to four cups to the best goalkeeper, Martin Brodeau can boast a prize "Best Beginner of 1994", as well as current records for the number of dry matches in the regular season and in the playoffs. For twelve seasons in a row the goalkeeper scored thirty or more wins, showing in each of them a percentage of impenetrability over 90%. Nine-fold participant of the Star Matches, he is the record holder for the number of games played on the hockey field - 1266 (including seven matches in the St. Louis Blues).

In addition, Martin Brodeur is co-owner of several not quite typical for the goalkeeper of achievements. So, on his account appear three washers, one of which he spent in the playoffs, and another was victorious in the match. He got the nickname "iron" after spending 4697 minutes on ice during 2006-2007.

Team Canada

Martin Brodeur is a goalkeeper, better known for playing for the club from New Jersey, but also as a part of the Canadian team he left a very notable mark. What are at least two of his gold Olympic medals in Salt Lake City and Vancouver, as well as a victory in the World Cup in 2004? Yes, he never managed to become a world champion and enter the so-called "triple gold club", but this was due to the fact that his club almost always reached the latest stages of the Stanley Cup and Martin simply could not help his Team in the struggle for world championship.

Life after hockey

It is extremely difficult for any athlete to complete a professional career. That's Brodo, despite the fact that his performance in recent years have become much worse, until the last he tried to stay in his favorite game. He even went on a very controversial step - signed before the 2013-2014 season. Contract with St. Louis, but after only seven games, he had to admit that he did not manage to deceive the rapidly flying time.

Today Martin Brodeur, whose biography, published in 2006, became a real bestseller, leads a very measured lifestyle. Owning several pizzerias and one spa in Montreal, he does not experience any financial difficulties. In his spare time he likes to act as an expert on local television and in hockey magazines. On the career of the coach, he has not yet thought, although many fans of this great game are waiting for this step with impatience.