Marty Sertich is a member of a short list in the lore of Minnesota hockey players. After winning Mr. Hockey in 2001 as a member of his hometown Roseville Raiders, Sertich was awarded the Hobey Baker Award in 2006 when he led the nation in points (64) while playing for Colorado College. Sertich joined White Bear Lake’s Brian Bonin as the only Minnesota-born player to win both awards since the inception of Mr. Hockey in 1985 (The Hobey Baker Award began in 1981 with Roseau’s Neal Broten as the first recipient).

After college, Sertich signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars and was later traded to the Colorado Avalanche. He eventually played overseas before retiring from the game after 10 seasons of professional play.

Today, Sertich, 35, is the director of Tradition Hockey, a hockey program focused on developing youth hockey players in all aspects of the game, both on and off the ice. Sertich believes that in order to be a well-rounded player, you need to be a well- rounded person, and Tradition Hockey focuses on instilling qualities like hard work, sportsmanship, respect, vision and fun throughout its training sessions.  

We caught up with Sertich, who is busy launching his first annual Outdoor Classic in Roseville on Dec. 16. 
 

What is the former Mr. Hockey and Hobey Baker winner up to these days?
I started Tradition Hockey last spring.  We run camps and clinics in the spring, summer and fall for all different age groups. This winter we’ll be working with three or four associations doing skill development with all their youth teams (Mites-Bantams). I’m also the assistant coach for the University of St. Thomas women’s team, so I’m very excited to be a part of their program as well. It’s been great reconnecting and getting involved with the hockey community in the Twin Cities ... I’m having a blast! Outside of hockey, my wife, Becky, and I have two girls, Peyton and Mia, so they keep us plenty busy. 

Tell us about your high school hockey experience.
Playing high school hockey for Roseville are still some of the greatest memories I have in hockey. I was fortunate enough to play for my dad, and alongside my brother Mike. Some of the games against Hill-Murray and White Bear Lake still gives me goosebumps thinking about them.  

Tell us about your college hockey experience and what it was like to win the Hobey.
I had a great experience going to school and playing hockey at Colorado College. We had some really good teams and I was surrounded by great players and coaches. Going to the Frozen Four in 2005 was definitely the highlight. We were down 3-0 after two periods to Michigan in the Regional Final, and came back to win 4-3. Winning the Hobey Baker that season was quite an honor. My linemate Brett Sterling led the country in goals that year, and was definitely a huge factor in my success. But it’s very humbling to be in the list of names that have won the award before and after me.  

How difficult was it to go from the college to pro ranks? What was the biggest difference?
Moving on to pro hockey was definitely an adjustment. The length of the season and amount of games was the biggest change for me. I had to learn how to train and take care of myself in order to stay strong throughout the year. It was a blast though. I got to play in great cities with some great players.

What was it like playing overseas?
Playing in Switzerland and Germany was an incredible experience. The atmospheres during the games were wild! My wife and I enjoyed the adventure of living in Europe, trying to learn the language and traveled as much as possible.  

At what level would you say you had the most fun?
I had fun at every level I played. Each was unique and filled with ups and downs and challenges, but that’s what made it fun. I had so many great teammates and coaches along the way, too. We also had a rink in our backyard growing up where, arguably, the greatest games took place. That’s really where my passion for the game evolved and where we learned how to play and compete.        

Tell us about Tradition Hockey. Where did you derive the name from?
Hockey is a huge part of life in Minnesota and has been a tradition for a long time, so I thought Tradition Hockey was a simple yet fitting name. We focus on the fundamentals and play a lot of different games with our Mites all the way to high school kids. I always want kids to have fun because I feel the only way to reach their true potential is for them to be passionate about the game and excited to come to the rink.    

You were listed as 5-8 and 165 pounds, yet you consistently put up numbers. What would you say to a young player who might be small but has skill and heart?
I was always one of the smallest guys on the ice, so I was forced to learn how to adapt and survive out there. I tried to train hard in the summer in order to make up for my stature. If you can skate, handle the puck and think the game well, it doesn’t matter how big you are!

What is it about the game that you love the most?
Hockey is a great game that combines so many mental and physical skills at a fast pace. Players can be very creative within a structured system. It’s also a great teacher for the rest of your life; handling the ups and downs of a season, uniting a variety of attitudes, and dealing with adversity.   

Tell us about your upcoming Boys Outdoor Classic in Roseville.
This December 16 will be the inaugural Boys’ Hockey Outdoor Classic at The Oval in Roseville. Winny Brodt-Brown and her OsHockey program has hosted the event for girls the past couple of winters. I watched their event last year and the girls had a blast! It’s a great outdoor atmosphere, so I’m excited to start one for the boys. We will have The Oval split up into 10 mini rinks. Each team will play three 30-minute friendly games – 4-on-4 pond hockey style with no goalies. The event will not be a tournament, but rather a celebration of outdoor hockey and sportsmanship.

Why do you think it’s important for young players to experience outdoor hockey?
Our backyard rink and playing pick-up hockey at the Oval were some of my best memories growing up. That’s why I’m excited for The Outdoor Classic. I hope kids nowadays are taking advantage of playing outdoors and organizing games themselves. There’s nothing like it!

What is in store for the future of Tradition Hockey?
Tradition Hockey will be doing skill development with three or four associations this winter. In the spring, we’ll have a number of different on and off ice clinics going on, as well as running skill development practices for AAA teams. Next summer we’re going to have three locations for our eight-week Mite/Squirt program – Roseville, Blaine and Tartan. 

For more information about Tradition Hockey go to www.traditionhockey.com