Being a marketable athlete at the college level can pay major dividends when it comes time to make some NIL money and that’s been the case with a certain Michigan State hockey star.
We all know that the real money-makers in terms of NIL are usually basketball or football players, but the hockey guys deserve some love, too.
Fortunately for anyone who decides to commit to Michigan State and play for Adam Nightingale, there’s a decent chance that you’re going to make some good NIL money. The Spartan hockey program has been one of the best in the NCAA over the past few years and Michigan State players are being recognized more than ever before.
Isaac Howard was one of the biggest names in college hockey last year before winning the Hobey Baker Award, given to the NCAA’s most outstanding player. He spent this past season with the Edmonton Oilers, posting five points over 29 appearances.
A new star came out of East Lansing this spring and he just so happened to be one of the top 10 NIL earners from the NIL Store in April.
That star was none other than Porter Martone. He was the No. 8 top-earning male athlete in the NIL Store in the month of April, proving that hockey players deserve the love and people are noticing his rise to stardom in the NHL.
The NIL Store's Top Selling Male Athletes of April!!
— Campus Ink (@campus_ink) May 8, 2026
1. David Mirković
2. Keaton Wagler
3. Andrej Stojaković
4. Braden Smith
5. Darius Acuff Jr.
6. Braylon Mullins
7. Alex Karaban
8. Porter Matone
9. Kylan Boswell
10. Milan Momcilovic pic.twitter.com/2yMVwM0U61
The rest of the names on the list are from Illinois, UConn, Braden Smith, Darius Acuff, and Milan Momcilovic other than Martone. That’s a list of some of the biggest names in college basketball, along with arguably the hottest rookie in the NHL over the past month.
Porter Martone has earned all of this attention
Being the only non-basketball player to be listed in the top 10 male earners on the NIL Store means that people noticed his meteoric rise in the NHL over the past month.
After his Spartans were eliminated in a heartbreaker against Wisconsin in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Martone signed a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers despite telling Nightingale that he didn’t want to leave. His coach basically told him that he couldn’t stay and that he was ready — and boy, was he right.
Martone led the Flyers to the NHL Playoffs despite having a 10 percent chance to make it when he was called up. He had 10 points over the final nine games of the regular season and he finished with five playoff points against the Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes.
The excitement in Philadelphia for a future with Martone is palpable. They’re thrilled to have him as the future of the organization and he’s shown that he’s not going to shy away from the bright lights.
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