Lady Ducks' Martodam Commits to Colby College
By Chris Bayee
Megan Martodam let college hockey come to her.
Make no mistake, the high-scoring Anaheim Lady Ducks 19U AAA forward, had designs on continuing to play after she graduates from Corona del Mar High this spring, but she and her family didn’t let the process dominate everyday life.
“She’s always been out there to have fun,” her father Colin said. “After district camps it snowballed, so then it was time to start seeing what fits.”
There were plenty of options once Megan had the opportunity to showcase her skills during those camps and LDs trips to tournaments.
Megan, who played multiple sports for her high school in addition to travel hockey, ultimately settled on Colby College recently, joining the ranks of more than 200 girls with ties to the Lady Ducks to make college commitments.
“It’s very exciting,” she said. “I visited five or six schools because I wanted to find a strong balance between academics and athletics. I wanted to find the most academically challenging school I could.”
Martodam, who said she plans to major in psychology or sociology, brought a blend of skill and determination to the Lady Ducks.
“She shoots the puck extremely well,” 19U AAA co-coach Patrick Angeles said. “She’s got a goal-scorer’s touch.
“She took on an even bigger role with the team this season. She puts in the work away from the rink. And she is a competitor – she doesn’t like to lose.”
Part of Megan’s work away from the rink has involved playing both basketball, and now softball, at CdM. To keep the schedule that she did, she needed to not only be organized, but driven.
There was basketball practice every day, including mornings on the two days a week she had hockey practices. Games took priority over practices, and she said only missed one between the dual seasons.
“If you’re committed, the games have to override the practices,” she said.
That Megan would gravitate toward hockey isn’t a massive surprise given her parents, Colin and Alison, grew up playing the game in their hometowns of Spiritwood and Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan. Their love of the game continued to be manifest in various adult leagues over the years.
Colin recalls Megan grabbing a stick as a toddler and never turning back. She was on the ice for power skating at age 3 and playing organized hockey by 5. She shifted to the Lady Ducks at 7.
Much of Megan’s formative years were spent under the guidance of Lady Ducks Director of Coaches Kathy McGarrigle.
“My biggest influences have been my parents and Kathy,” Megan said. “She worked with me from when I was a young kid until I moved up to 14s. She doesn’t stop, she kept working with us for countless hours.”
The examples both parties displayed are evident in Megan’s commitment level – whether it’s a workout, or rallying her teammates on or off the ice. That, as well, as her rare shooting ability and hockey IQ are calling cards she will bring to Colby.
“It comes down to her level of commitment,” her father said. “She’s never late. She’s always pushing us.”