Prince Albert's Josh Manson shows off the Stanley Cup as young players and fans get a chance to touch it. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

THE STANLEY CUP

Year in Review: Prince Albert’s Josh Manson brings the Stanley Cup home

Dec 28, 2022 | 4:00 PM

As 2022 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

When the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022, they did so against a team vying to be the NHL’s next dynasty.

But as Chris Cuthbert with Hockey Night in Canada eloquently put it in the final seconds, the “dynasty was denied” and a new team “reached the summit”.

That team was the Avalanche, led by All-Star Nathan McKinnon, Captain Gabriel Landeskog and Saskatoon’s Darcy Kuemper between the pipes. It was the team’s third Stanley Cup in franchise history and their first since 2001 when Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, Milan Hejduk, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy led the way.

Among the dozens of names that would eventually be engraved onto hockey’s holy grail this year was Prince Albert’s Josh Manson.

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The 31-year-old spent his entire NHL career with Anaheim before he was traded midway through the season. During the playoffs, he scored three goals and net five assists. However, it was his don’t quit attitude that impressed the Avalanche enough to re-sign him in the off-season.

Weeks before winning the final, Manson and the Avalanche beat the Edmonton Oilers with his Dad, Dave Manson, serving as assistant coach.

During his day with the cup, Manson could have taken it anywhere, but he decided to bring it back to Prince Albert and share it with the minor hockey community as his way of giving back to the city that gave so much to him in his youth hockey days.

On Aug. 3, 2022. Hundreds gathered outside the Art Hauser Centre to witness a once-in-a-lifetime moment: seeing the Stanley Cup in person.

Coming out from the front doors of the centre, Manson lifted the cup high above his head, as the crowd roared loudly, cheering their hometown hero.

Manson wanted all teams with the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association to see the cup first. Each team lined up for a chance to grab a photo, dreaming that one day they might be able to lift the historic trophy.

“For every hockey player growing up, you want to win the Stanley Cup. You never know if you’re going to attain it, you always hope,” Manson said. “To finally do that and live out your dream as a hockey player and be able to share it with your family and the people of the city where you grew up and supported you, it’s special. I can’t put it into words.”

Then, it was the general public’s turn. People from all walks of life came over to grab their own pictures with the cup and Manson himself.

“I’m 43 years old, this is the first time I’ve ever seen the Stanley Cup in my life,” said one hockey dad who was just as awestruck as his kids were. “It’s amazing. I actually got to touch it.”

“It’s awesome!” said one player with the Knights. “It’s big and shiny,” added his teammate.

After the event, Manson reflected on what Prince Albert meant to him as a young hockey player.

“(It’s) the passion that P.A. gave me for the game of hockey. That’s what really carved me out and rooted me in hockey and made me want to have that drive to win the Stanley Cup and make it such a big part of my life,” he said.

The accolades didn’t stop there as later in the year, Manson would be recognized for his achievements during the 2022 Raiders/Kinsmen Sportsman Dinner. Manson was named Male Athlete of The Year at the ceremony.

Josh Manson. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

Speaking from a video message, Manson thanked Prince Albert again for giving him the opportunity to play the sport he loves. He ended by giving the greatest of acknowledgements to his mother.

The Colorado Avalanche are poised to make another run at the cup this year. Currently, they sit in fourth place in the NHL’s Central Division.

So far this season, Manson has two goals and four assists and racked up 40 penalty minutes.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock