Kingston Frontenacs Game Day February 5, 2020

by Marcus Boutilier
@bouthockey ohlnetwork.ca
Martin Chromiak was selected by the Kingston
Frontenacs at the 2019 OHL Import Draft in
the first round with the second overall pick. The
six-foot, 180 pound forward comes with an already
impressive resume having played against older
players most of his hockey life thus far. Possessing
an NHL-level shot, the right-handed shooter is
ranked 35th in the latest NHL Central Scouting list
joining teammates Zayde Wisdom and Jake Murray
as ranked players for next summer’s draft.
The Ilava, Slovakian native was Born August
20, 2002, and quickly made his way through the
hockey minor-ranks in his country. After playing
for the Slovakia Selects U14 squad in 2015-16
registering a goal and three points in six games,
Chromiak joined the elite HK Dukla Trencin
program in 2016-17 and played 16 games with the
U16 team scoring 16 goals and 22 for 38 points. He
also played seven games against players as much
as four years older with the U18 team and scored
three goals and three assists for six points.
In 2017-18, the now 15-year-old again played
with both the Dukla Trencin U16 and U18 teams
where he totaled 60 points in 33 games including
33 goals and 27 assists between the two squads. In
11 games with the U18 team in the playoffs, he had
six goals and four assists. He also scored six goals
and seven points for Slovakia during international
competition.
Chromiak took another step up in 2018-19 when
16
he began playing against adult-aged players. After
playing four more games with twelve points with the
U18 team, he then played with the U20 team and
again showed success scoring 22 goals with 24
assists in 39 games. In 15 games in the playoffs,
he had nine goals and eight assists showing he
can contribute in big games. Representing Slovakia
internationally, he added 10 goals and 12 assists
for 21 points. Chromiak also played in the Hlinka
Gretzky Cup appearing in four games and adding
two goals and two assists. He played two games for
Dukla in the pro men’s league as well, getting an
assist. Chromiak again played at the Hlinka Gretzky
Cup last summer where he netted two goals and
five points in four games.
The 2019-20 season saw Chromiak start the
season in pro-Slovakia league with Dukla Trencin
before making his decision to come to the OHL in
January. He made his Frontenacs debut on
Jan 2 in Ottawa and less than nine minutes into
his OHL career he scored his first goal tipping a
Braden Haché point shot. He also added an assist
to register a multi-point game.
He made his home debut at the Leon’s Centre
the next night vs Erie. Showing off his shot to
Kingston fans, he scored his first home goal off a
one-timer shot burying a feed from Zayde Wisdom
during a 3-2 win over Owen Sound. Assistant coach
Luca Caputi says about the 17-year-old rookie: “He
makes everyone around him better. He’s got a great
shot and it should be a seamless transition for him
to the OHL.” Added head coach Kurtis Foster: “He
looks comfortable already, looks poised an under
OFFICIAL GAME DAY MAGAZINE, VOLUME 47, ISSUE 24