By Drew Wilson

Another Manson in the NHL?

Jun 26, 2011 | 2:18 PM

Prince Albert's Josh Manson is in select company. Not many 19-year-old, Junior-A hockey players get selected in the NHL draft, but the 19-year-old former Minto has joined the club.

The Salmon Arm Silverback defenseman was taken in the sixth round Saturday by the Anaheim Ducks, a pleasant surprise said Manson.

“I had talked to them during the season once and never knew it was going to happen but knew it was a possibility and when it happened it was really exciting. It kind of took me by surprise at first. It was my advisor Ross Gurney who had called me and he said congratulations and my jaw kind of hit the ground I guess, a little bit of shock. Once it sunk in I started calling my family and they were pretty happy for me.”

That isn't the only new hockey development for Josh Manson. He started his Junior career as a winger but made the switch to defence early last season. A move that was difficult at first but that has paid off, said Manson.

“It happened about 11 games into last season. My coach had said something about it and we kind of tried it out in practice and it never was really working and then we got short handed on the back end and he said no better time than now and ever since then it just kind of stuck.”

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Playing the majority of the season on defence Manson counted 12 goals and 37 assists in 57 regular season games, while adding another two goals and seven assists in 14 playoff games. His 80 penalty minutes during the regular season provides an added snapshot into Josh's style.

His first contact with the Ducks organization went well, said Manson.

“They called me yesterday (Saturday) around 2:30 and said congratulations and told me everything about it (the team) and let me know about a summer camp that they are having and I'm still in the midst of setting that up, so we will see what happens there.”

Josh is the son of former Raider and 16 year NHL veteran Dave Manson who says it's a step (getting drafted) toward a possible pro career for and will be a learning experience for Josh and Raiders Mark McNeill and Harrison Ruopp.

“it's a start and it's a big shot in the arm for the kids to get drafted because the work they have put in is paying off.”

And what kind of advise has he given Josh?

“I've talked to him quite a bit. Now he's got a chance to see what pros do day in and day out for a couple days and then he will see how hard it is and how hard they work.”

After rookie camp with the Ducks Josh plans to play his 20 year old season in Salmon Arm and then move on to U.S. College hockey. It's been an exciting weekend with a possible pro career on the horizon, but keeping things in perspective is important, said Josh.

“I have a scholarship to go play in Quinnipiac in Hamden Connecticut for the 2012-13 season, so I've got four years there, for right now that's the plan, is to go there after Salmon Arm. I haven't really looked too far ahead, just trying to stay in the moment I guess right now.”

The foundation is being laid for a second generation of Manson's patrolling NHL blue lines. That in itself is a scary proposition for future NHL opponents.

dwilson@rawlco.com