1984 – Mike Marta
Linked to the mention of Lahey’s overtime goal: that same weekend when Dave scored to beat Geneseo 10-9, Mike Marta was in the stands watching. Dave and Coach Batt had invited future HHOF Member Mike Marta to see the campus as a Pre-Freshman. Coach Batt, being a stickler for abiding by on-campus restrictions regarding recruiting rules, asked Dave to bring Marta to the Clinton Arena during a Friday night high school game so Coach could meet him off-campus. When Dave and Mike arrived that Friday night, the Clinton Arena was completely packed to the rafters -not an empty seat to be found. There was no way Dave was going to be able to locate Coach. Dave jokingly said to Marta, “look for a white-haired man”. Halfway through the first period, from two seats somewhere around the goal line (Lahey had somehow persuaded two people to give up their seats), Mike turned to Dave and said “Dave, there’s a white-haired guy at the far end of the arena behind the net. Is that Coach Batt?”. Dave was shocked. Out of the entire arena, without ever having seen a picture of Coach Batt, Mike had located Batt in the Sold Out Clinton Arena. That night’s meeting was the beginning of a very close relationship between Mike and Coach Batt. Four years later in 1984, the College would recognize Coach Batt for his outstanding career at a formal dinner. The room was full of guests including hockey alumni, college dignitaries, current players, and college faculty. The evening celebration had been preceded by a Colby vs. Hamilton Varsity game. In front of a full Sage crowd in attendance to honor Coach Batt, Hamilton defeated Colby 7-5. Mike Marta recorded 5 points, including his 200th college point. Team Manager Bob Siembida secured the puck and gave it to Mike later that night. In typical Hamilton Hockey fashion, the Coach Batt celebrations lasted well into the early Sunday morning hours. The team played Bowdoin that Sunday afternoon. With heads still swirling, the Continentals lost a not-so-close game 10-1, with Clinton native Pete Jones scoring the lone Hamilton goal.
– Mike Marta