Joe Martin香蕉视频直播檚 summer was supposed to be about chasing a dream 香蕉视频直播� not running from missiles.
The 26-year-old Victoria native packed his bags at the end of May for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at playing professional hockey overseas, suiting up for the Holon Vipers in the Israel Elite Hockey League (IEHL).
A few weeks later, he was crouched four storeys underground, listening to the walls rattle as a missile dismantled the building across the street from his Tel Aviv apartment.
香蕉视频直播淚f we weren香蕉视频直播檛 in the shelter, we could香蕉视频直播檝e died,香蕉视频直播� Martin said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l never forget that feeling 香蕉视频直播� walking out and just seeing absolute destruction on our street.香蕉视频直播�
Martin grew up playing minor hockey in Saanich before studying Sport Management at Camosun College. He interned with the Victoria Royals during his schooling and now works for the Abbotsford Canucks.
The opportunity to play overseas came through a longtime friend 香蕉视频直播� another Jewish player from Victoria 香蕉视频直播� who had previously skated in the IEHL.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 always wanted to go over there, but I knew tensions were pretty high,香蕉视频直播� Martin said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen my buddy brought it up, it took me a while to decide. I probably sat on it for two months. But I figured, this is a rare chance. Let香蕉视频直播檚 go for it.香蕉视频直播�
He arrived on May 31 and settled into life in Tel Aviv, one of Israel香蕉视频直播檚 largest cities.
On the ice, the league offered a mixed bag 香蕉视频直播� a handful of former professionals, some high-level prospects, and others just hoping to hang on. Martin scored three goals and added an assist in four games, with more planned through early July.
But everything changed on Friday the 13th in June.
香蕉视频直播淚 got woken up at 3 a.m. by this different kind of siren 香蕉视频直播� it was like an Amber Alert on my phone, not the usual air raid system,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what was happening at first. Then word started going around that Israel had attacked Iran香蕉视频直播檚 nuclear facilities.香蕉视频直播�
That strike triggered a series of missile attacks aimed at central Israel.
At first, Martin said, the missiles were intercepted by Israel香蕉视频直播檚 air defence system. But it didn香蕉视频直播檛 take long before some began slipping through.
On the third night of attacks, one struck an apartment building less than 200 feet from his.
The building directly in between absorbed much of the blast, but his own unit was destroyed 香蕉视频直播� walls cracked, windows blown out, glass scattered across the floor.
香蕉视频直播淵ou could feel the impact underground,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen we came up, there were emergency and military vehicles all over the street. Every window in our neighbourhood was shattered 香蕉视频直播� storefronts, houses, cars. There was more glass than concrete on the ground.香蕉视频直播�
With the Tel Aviv airport closed and little direction from the Canadian embassy, Martin and a fellow Canadian teammate crafted their own escape plan.
Another teammate 香蕉视频直播� an ex-military Israeli player armed with an M16 rifle 香蕉视频直播� offered to drive them 45 minutes through the West Bank to the Jordanian border.
The route was risky, but it seemed like the only viable option.
On the other side of the border, a friend of a friend in Jordan was ready to pick them up and drive them to the airport in Amman.
Martin and his friend were seconds from pulling out $1,500 in cash to pay for the trip when everything changed.
香蕉视频直播淩ight as we were about to pay the driver, the email came in from the Canadian embassy saying they were arranging to get us out,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e scrapped the plan immediately. It was a huge relief, but up to that point, we were on our own.香蕉视频直播�
Martin flew back to Canada just under two weeks earlier than expected.
While he missed out on a few more games, the decision to leave wasn香蕉视频直播檛 difficult.
香蕉视频直播淚 got three games in before everything happened. It香蕉视频直播檚 a summer league, so I would香蕉视频直播檝e stayed until around July 4,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut once our apartment was destroyed, we knew it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 worth waiting around.香蕉视频直播�
Now living in Vancouver and settling into his role with the Abbotsford Canucks organization, Martin is still processing the experience.
One moment, he was playing hockey in the sun. The next, he was navigating an active war zone.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a lot to unpack,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou don香蕉视频直播檛 expect to be diving into shelters, planning escape routes through the West Bank, or seeing buildings you lived in blown apart. I just feel lucky 香蕉视频直播� lucky to have made it home, and lucky for the people who helped me get here.香蕉视频直播�
Martin said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 regret going, despite the danger.
香蕉视频直播淚t was still a dream come true in some ways. I got to play the sport I love in a part of the world I香蕉视频直播檝e always wanted to visit,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut yeah 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檒l probably pick a safer spot next time.香蕉视频直播�
