Ayrton Martino Bio
Ayrton Martino is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). A forward by trade, he transitioned to professional hockey after a distinguished four-year collegiate career at Clarkson University in New York, where he developed into one of the most productive playmakers in the ECAC Hockey conference. His combination of scoring touch, vision, and competitive drive earned him conference player of the year honors and a top-ten finalist nod for the Hobey Baker Award in his final college season.
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Martino has progressed steadily through the amateur ranks before reaching the professional level, signing an entry-level deal with Dallas in March 2025. He is widely regarded as an emerging depth forward with offensive upside, and his assignment to Texas provides him with a developmental bridge to the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Ayrton Martino was born on September 28, 2002, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in one of Canada’s most hockey-rich cities, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his skills through local youth programs in the Greater Toronto Area. The city’s deep hockey culture, combined with access to competitive minor hockey leagues, helped shape his early understanding of the game and laid the foundation for his offensive instincts as a forward.
Listed at 180 pounds and standing six feet tall, Martino entered his collegiate career as a relatively undersized but skilled playmaker. He balanced his athletic development with his education, eventually committing to Clarkson University, a respected NCAA Division I program located in Potsdam, New York, with a strong tradition in ECAC Hockey. His decision to pursue college hockey in the United States gave him a clear pathway to refine his game against high-level competition while earning a degree.
Path to Professional Hockey
Martino’s path to the professional ranks began in earnest when he arrived at Clarkson University for the 2021–22 season. In his freshman year, he posted seven goals and 21 assists in 37 games, an immediate offensive contribution that earned him a place on the All-ECAC Rookie Team and recognition as a finalist for ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year. The performance signaled his arrival as a freshman and set a strong foundation for the rest of his collegiate career.
Selected by the Dallas Stars in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Martino continued to develop in the college environment, leveraging the additional ice time to expand his role and responsibility. By his senior year, he had grown into a top-line center and offensive leader, finishing the 2024–25 season tied for fourth in NCAA scoring with 51 points. That production, combined with his consistent progression, convinced Dallas to sign him to an entry-level contract in March 2025, formally launching his professional career.
Ayrton Martino Career
Early Career at Clarkson University (2021–2025)
Martino spent four seasons with the Clarkson Golden Knights, the men’s ice hockey program representing Clarkson University in NCAA Division I. Across his four college years, he appeared in 144 games and tallied 50 goals and 95 assists for 145 total points, establishing himself as one of the most consistent producers in program history. His offensive ceiling grew each season, and he served as a primary playmaker and top-six forward in his final two years.
During his freshman campaign in 2021–22, Martino finished with seven goals and 21 assists in 37 games, while his sophomore year in 2022–23 saw him lead the team in both assists (29) and points (38) across another 37 games. He added a third productive season in 2023–24 with nine goals and 18 assists in 31 games, and he wrapped up his senior year with a career-high 25 goals and 26 assists in 39 games, including his first career hat trick on January 17, 2025, against Yale.
ECAC Hockey Breakthrough (2022–2025)
Martino’s growth within ECAC Hockey was steady and well documented. After being named to the All-ECAC Rookie Team in 2021–22, he earned a place on the All-ECAC Third Team in 2022–23, and he ultimately capped his college career by being named to the All-ECAC First Team in 2024–25. The progression of conference honors reflected his expanding role and production within one of college hockey’s most competitive leagues.
His senior season represented his most dominant conference performance. Martino led the ECAC in goals with 21, points with 38, and points per game at 1.73 over 22 conference games. He was subsequently named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and was recognized as a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player. These honors placed him among the elite college players in the country during his final year of eligibility.
Texas Stars Era (2025–Present)
On March 24, 2025, Ayrton Martino signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars, with the deal set to run through the 2026–27 season. Immediately following the signing, he was assigned to the Stars’ AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, for the remainder of the 2024–25 AHL season. The assignment allowed Martino to begin his professional career with regular ice time at the AHL level while adjusting to the pace and physicality of pro hockey.
Texas, based in Cedar Park, has long served as a developmental hub for Dallas prospects, giving Martino a familiar organizational structure and clear pathway to the NHL. With a contract that runs through 2027, the Stars have committed to his long-term development, and his early professional minutes with Texas are designed to refine his two-way game, special teams usage, and overall consistency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Martino is best known for his high hockey IQ, vision, and ability to create offense for his linemates. He reads the play a step ahead of defenders, makes sharp cross-ice passes, and finished his college career with more assists (95) than goals (50), underscoring his identity as a pass-first forward. He also showed the ability to score in bunches, demonstrated by his first career hat trick against Yale, and he has the skating and pace to threaten opposing blue lines on the rush.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Martino’s early career, his first career hat trick on January 17, 2025, against Yale stands out as a signature scoring performance. He finished his senior season tied for fourth in the NCAA in points with 51, and he was honored as ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker Award top-ten finalist. His entry-level signing with Dallas in March 2025 marked the formal transition from elite college player to NHL prospect.
Ayrton Martino Career Wins
While individual win totals for forwards are tracked through team success rather than personal victory counts, Martino’s individual achievements reflect consistent winning impact at the college and developmental levels. Across his four seasons at Clarkson, he helped drive offensive production for a competitive ECAC program, and he now begins his professional journey with the Texas Stars, a perennial contender in the AHL’s Western Conference.
Clarkson University Highlights
Martino’s most decorated stretch came during the 2024–25 senior season, when he recorded 25 goals and 26 assists in 39 games and led the ECAC in goals, points, and points per game during conference play. He was named to the All-ECAC First Team and was a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, marking the peak of his college résumé. Earlier honors included the All-ECAC Rookie Team in 2021–22 and the All-ECAC Third Team in 2022–23.
Other Performances
Beyond his All-ECAC and Hobey Baker recognition, Martino’s consistent point production across all four college seasons highlighted his ability to perform against top competition. His 145 career points at Clarkson place him among the program’s all-time notable producers, and his scoring pace translated to a direct professional opportunity with the Dallas Stars organization.
Ayrton Martino Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ayrton Martino’s family background is limited. He was raised in Toronto, Ontario, where he was introduced to hockey through local youth programs, but specific details about parents or other relatives are not widely documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Ayrton Martino keeps his personal life largely private. He is not publicly known to be married, and no verified information about a spouse or children is available. As of 2025, he is focused on establishing his professional hockey career with the Texas Stars and working toward an opportunity with the Dallas Stars of the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year represents a transformative stretch for Ayrton Martino. He began the year in the middle of his senior season at Clarkson, where he delivered his most dominant college performance and earned ECAC Hockey Player of the Year honors. His first career hat trick on January 17, 2025, against Yale served as a high point of the college season, and his 51 points tied for fourth in the NCAA.
Following the conclusion of his college season, Martino signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on March 24, 2025, and was promptly assigned to the Texas Stars for the remainder of the 2024–25 AHL season. The transition to the professional level introduces a new set of challenges, including a faster pace, bigger opponents, and a condensed pro schedule, but it also offers a clear path to NHL playing time.
Looking ahead, the 2025–26 season will be Martino’s first full professional campaign. The Texas Stars are expected to provide him with significant ice time, including potential power-play opportunities, as he adjusts to the AHL game. Continued development in his defensive game, faceoff reliability, and physicality will be key benchmarks, with a potential NHL call-up to Dallas serving as the ultimate goal for the year.