• Slug: Sports-Coyotes Martinook, 730 words
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By SHELBY HYDE
Cronkite News

GLENDALE — “Hard worker.”

In the culture of hockey, it might be the greatest compliment a player can get. And it is a label that Arizona Coyotes left wing Jordan Martinook wears proudly.

Martinook, 24, is an NHL late bloomer who was cut from five teams during his midget and junior days. His hard work has become the mainstay of his style of play, various coaches and teammates said. And fans voted him the team’s “Hardest Working Player” last season.

After being cut so many times as a young player, Martinook began to second guess himself. But rather than quit, he kept working at it. The adversity only made him want to chase the dream of playing in the NHL that much harder.

Continue reading “Coyotes wing Martinook carved out a place in the NHL with hard work”