Cincinnati, OH -- Continuing the long-standing tradition of EC alums finding success throughout the professional ice hockey ranks, former Elmira College men's ice hockey standout and 2011-12 AHCA All-American Martin Lee '12 has signed with the East Coast Hockey League's (ECHL) Cincinnati Cyclones. The Cyclones will be the third team in the ECHL that Lee has played for since graduating from Elmira in 2012, most recently playing for the Utah Grizzlies.
 
Lee, a 6'3", highly-physical defender from Toronto, ONT, is joining a Cincinnati team that, despite being just the five seed in the ECHL Eastern Conference, made a run to the Kelly Cup Finals, losing in six games to the top seed from the Western Conference, the Alaska Aces. Lee's ability to be a factor on both ends of the ice will be welcomed by a Cyclone team that led the ECHL in scoring with 247 goals scored, but ranked towards the middle of the league in goals allowed with 204. 
 
After a rookie season in which he played in just 29 games, splitting time between the San Francisco Bulls, an expansion team in 2012-13 that subsequently folded in January 2014, and the Utah Grizzlies in the 2012-13 season, Lee had a breakout sophomore season, playing in 68 of 71 regular season games and becoming one of Utah's best scoring options. The Toronto, ONT native scored four goals and added 21 assists for 25 points in the 2013-14 regular season, leading the Grizzlies in defensemen scoring, and also added one assist in five Kelly Cup playoff games. Additionally, Lee led Utah, and ranked sixth in the ECHL, in plus-minus rating, accumulating a +26 rating in 68 regular season games. 
 
Lee's success in the ECHL should come as no surprise after the career he had as a member of the Elmira College men's ice hockey team. He played in 99 games while at EC, tallying eight goals and 44 assists for 52 career points, consistently ranking in the top-10 of Elmira scoring despite his position on the back-line. In addition, the Soaring Eagles achieved great success while Lee wore the Purple and Gold, making it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, from 2008-2012, while winning one ECAC West Championship in 2011. His excellence as a two-way defender was recognized nationally as Lee was named an AHCA All-American in 2011-12 and was the ECAC West Defensive Player of the Year for both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
 
With the shift to the Eastern Conference, Lee will return to Elmira for the first time since graduating in 2012 during the first month of the ECHL regular season. He and the Cyclones hit the road to take on the Elmira Jackals in a two-game set on Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st, both games taking place at the First Arena in downtown Elmira.