The Vancouver Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight in a game broadcast across the province and there's no denying people in B.C. love their Canucks.
But there's at least on Flyer who will be getting some loud cheers when he steps out onto the ice tonight at Rogers Arena. Prince George born-and-bred Brandon Manning is now a regular on defence for the Flyers and he'll be wearing jersey No. 23.
Manning, 25, made the Flyers roster in training camp, having signed a one-year, one-way NHL contract in April. He's played seven of the Flyers' 12 games this season and he knows now he's staying put. General manager Ron Hextall told Manning two weeks ago it's time to look for a permanent place to hang his hat.
"That was definitely a big moment for me being able to find a place, knowing I'll be here for the year," said Manning. "I found an apartment downtown and I'll try to get settled in after this 10-day roadtrip.
"With eight guys on one-way (contracts) I was kind of fitting in as the eighth guy and things kind of exceeded expectations with playing the first five games. I knew I could play here and be consistent. You know you're not just playing for right now or this season, you're playing for your next contract and for bigger and better things."
Manning was a healthy scratch Friday in Buffalo but head coach Dave Hakstol told him Sunday he'll be playing against the Canucks.
"That kind of takes a little pressure off me knowing I'm playing -- just to be able to go out and play in front of friends and family, it will be a special night for me," said Manning. "I've watched the Canucks growing up myself, they're always on TV and I'm sure I'll have a lot of friends people reaching out, like I already have. This is a pretty cool roadtrip to come out west and play in some big Canadian markets."
The Manning family entourage, which includes parents, Paula and Leroy, sisters Kaitlyn and Jessica, and his grandparents are in Vancouver for tonight's game and they'll be wearing Manning's Flyers jersey. The Flyers are just beginning a six-day four-game tour of Western Canada which also stops in Edmonton on Tuesday, Calgary on Thursday and Winnipeg on Saturday and the family will be following him.
Manning says he'll always remain close to his roots in Prince George. Last year he bought a house near the Hart Highlands ski hill and he spends his summers training in the city.
"I definitely have moments when I'm out out there in the warmup, whether it's Boston or New York, where I realize this is where I am, and I try to embrace those moments," Manning said. "Coming from a smaller town in Prince George, you don't get to do this stuff all the time. My buddies are at college or are working in the real word and you realize how it could be. I'm trying to enjoy these moments as much as I can and not change who I am as a person, the way my parents raised me."
The six-foot-one, 195-pound Manning has played in 28 NHL games over a four-year span, starting in 2011-12. Still looking for his first NHL goal, the offensive-minded blueliner has five assists, 11 minutes in penalties and a plus-6 rating. He said he'll most likely be paired tonight with Luke Schenn.
Before he got to Philadelphia, Manning played four seasons in the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins, who moved to Victoria in 2012, the year he turned pro in the AHL. Manning also played a year of junior A with the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Flyers have one other Prince George connection. Goalie Jason LaBarbera, 35, has been called up twice this season from the Flyers' farm team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The 16-year-pro, a Prince George minor hockey product, was sent back to the AHL on Thursday.
"I played against Jason for a few years and got to know him in training camp and his last two callups," said Maninng. "He's a real good buddy with Brent Williams, who coached me when I was 16 with the major midget Cougars, and he's an awesome guy. It's nice to see some familiar faces once in awhile."
