Josh Manson’s journey from late rounder to full-time NHL’er

“I think I took it one step at a time. With each step, the end goal was always to sign a contract on a one-way deal, or even just a contract in the NHL,” said Manson, who still has one year left in his entry-level contract he signed in 2014. “It’s been a lot of steps to get to this point, but I think now I’m happy—I’m excited about it.

“I’ve definitely worked towards it my entire life. When you’re a young hockey player, you want to play in the National Hockey League.”

That journey included two years with the Prince Albert Mintos and two years in the BCHL with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks where he changed positions from forward to now his preferred position, defenceman.

Manson then played three years of NCAA hockey with Northeastern University, then a season with the Norfolk Admirals, the Ducks’ AHL affiliate before spending 28 games with the big club last season.

All throughout his voyage, Josh has had his father Dave Manson to help him along the way.

Dave played 16 years in the NHL, played over 1,100 games in the top league and amassed 2,792 penalty minutes. Now, Dave is helping out the Prince Albert Raiders defence as the associate coach for the team.

“He’s done exactly the career that I want to do,” said Josh. “He knows all the steps that it takes to get to that level and to stay around there.

“I pick his brain every chance I get. We try not to talk hockey too, too much, but when it comes up, you can learn a lot of things if you just kind of pay attention to what he says.”

‘Paying attention’ to his father hasn’t always been the easiest thing to do. Josh admits when he was a tyke, he wasn’t as keen to absorb all the hockey lessons Dave was willing to give.

“Obviously when I was younger, I didn’t want to listen to him—just stubborn. I think that’s every kid,” said Josh, now 23-years-old. “Now that I’m in the league, I want to get better and I want to do the things that he did, I really pay attention to the things that he has to say.

“He’s a very knowledgeable man when it comes to that stuff.”

Josh played 28 games last year with the Ducks in his first professional hockey season, spending the rest with the Norfolk Admirals, the Ducks’ AHL affiliate. Manson registered three assists with the Ducks and was an excellent possession player, especially early on.

“It was a huge jump. Going into the year, I didn’t expect the opportunities that I had,” said Josh. “I was extremely fortunate to have those opportunities, not a lot of guys get those in their first year, especially in the first month that I was there.

“I learned an extreme amount in the short time that I was up. The coaches helped me a lot, some of the guys, the veterans on the D-core helped a lot with just learning little things you need to do to be a successful pro and stay around the league for a long period of time.”

Now that the deal is done, Josh can’t wait to report for Ducks’ training camp.

“I’m excited. It’s a good step in my career. I’m just excited to be a part of the Anaheim organization for the years to come here,” said Josh. “I think they’ve got a great thing going on, obviously close (to the finals) last year and I’m just excited to get going with the season here.”

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Josh Manson’s journey from late rounder to full-time NHL’er

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