Porter Martone's Future With Michigan State and Bauer

Porter Martone’s hockey journey just took a major new turn, and not just in terms of his development path. The 18-year-old forward from Peterborough, Ontario, recently made waves by committing to play the 2025-26 season with Michigan State University. 

Opting to leave the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League after a dominant season. With 37 goals and 61 assists for a total of 98 points, Martone cemented himself as one of the most dangerous offensive forces in the OHL, and it’s no surprise that the Philadelphia Flyers selected him sixth overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

A powerful, playmaking winger with size and vision, Martone has all the tools to become a key top-six forward at the NHL level. But his choice to play NCAA hockey, rather than remain in Canadian major junior, also carries significant implications from an equipment and branding perspective.

Martone has appeared to have a partnership with Bauer for at least the past year or so. This past season with Brampton, he consistently used Bauer skates and sticks, and even appeared in various promotional spots on Bauer’s social media platforms. 

His on-ice success has made him a natural brand ambassador, and his move to NCAA hockey could have introduced some challenges, if not for his choice of school.

Unlike many other NCAA programs, Michigan State is a Bauer-partnered team, requiring players to wear Bauer helmets, with a few exemptions for sticks and skates. That’s great news for Bauer and possibly a factor that influenced Martone’s comfort level with making the transition. 

Had he committed to a school aligned with a different equipment brand, like Penn State (a CCM-partnered program), Martone would have been required to wear CCM helmets, gloves, and pants, despite his partnership with Bauer.

That’s precisely the situation facing Gavin McKenna, the top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft and another Bauer-affiliated player. McKenna recently committed to Penn State, which means that while he’ll still use Bauer sticks and skates, the rest of his gear setup will be different. 

It’s far from a deal-breaker, but from a marketing and consistency standpoint, gear manufacturers like Bauer understandably prefer to see their sponsored athletes fully decked out in their equipment.

With Martone heading to Michigan State, Bauer gets exactly that scenario. The rising Flyers prospect will be able to use Bauer gear from head to toe, reinforcing brand visibility and allowing him to remain in sync with his partnership.

This also opens the door for Martone to be one of the featured NCAA players promoting Bauer’s newest stick lines. Whether he takes the ice with the new Pulse, Proto 2, or another upcoming model, he’ll have every opportunity to be a central figure in Bauer’s college-level marketing throughout the season. That exposure not only benefits the brand but helps grow Martone’s own visibility and persona as he inches closer to NHL readiness.

In all, Martone’s decision to join Michigan State represents a win-win scenario. He’ll benefit from a top-tier development program, while Bauer continues to showcase one of its most promising young talents without compromise. With his sights set on an NHL future and a big college season ahead, Porter Martone is a name fans will be seeing a lot more of in 2025-26.

Photo Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer