Flyers' Porter Martone Named CHN's NCAA Rookie of the Year

With the NCAA men's ice hockey season coming to a close with the upcoming Frozen Four championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, it's also the time of year for various accolades to be given to players. The most notable is the Hobey Baker which is given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. While Porter Martone wasn't named as a finalist for this award, he was named rookie of the year by the College Hockey News.

Porter Martone has been named the 2025-26 College Hockey News Rookie of the Year!

He posted 50 points in his freshman season at MSU, the fifth-most in program history by a first year skater. His 25 goals are second to only Rod Brind'Amour's 27 in 1988-89. pic.twitter.com/KZNlpREWvh
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) April 3, 2026

This adds another layer of validation to a standout season for Martone, who was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. While this isn't an official NCAA honor, the award reflects how impactful his first collegiate season was.

From the beginnng, Martone didn't show any signs of being overwhelmed by the jump from the Ontario Hockey League to the NCAA. The freshman forward quickly became a key piece for Michigan State's offense, leading the team in both goals and points with 25 of each across 35 games. While those numbers tell part of the story, his consistency, physicality and ability to adapt throughout the season are what truly define his season.

Martone wasn't eased into the lineup or sheltered with limited minutes. The team trusted him early on and that only grew as the season progressed. Whether it was power play opportunities, late-game situatuon or matchups against other top teams, he handled responsibility like a veteran rather than a rookie.

Coming out of junior hockey, Martone's development path was clear: add strenght, improve pace and adjust to a more structured, physical game. Over the course of the season he checked every box. By the second hald, he was noticeably improving, winning puck battles along the boards, protecting the puck more efficiently and attacking high-danger areas with confidence. Martone piled up 30 points across his final 19 games with signature performances like a hat trick against Notre Dame and multi-point nights.

It's a hat trick for Porter Martone!

We lead 6-2 in the third! pic.twitter.com/4yFQZ2fDwf
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 21, 2026

In the NCAA regional championships, Martone continued to deliver, scoring a key goal as Michigan State pushed towards a Frozen Four berth. He was awarded with First Team All-Big Ten honors and an All Freshman Team selection which further reinforced that he was one of the best in the country.

Since Michigan State's elimination from the NCAA Championships, he has signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers who are currently on their own playoff push. Since the signing, Martone has played in two games scoring one assist.

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