Brandon Manning lived out the childhood dream of many Canadian kids Thursday when he played with the Philadelphia Flyers in his first NHL game against the Florida Panthers.
The 21-year-old defenceman was a plus-two, while managing three shots in 14:59 of ice time in the Flyers 5-0 win over the Panthers, as his parents Leroy and Paula watched their son play on TV in their crowded home in Prince George.
"It was pretty surreal," said Paula. "It was a very exciting time we had our whole family here. He had his aunties and his grandparents, both sets, aunts and uncles, it was great. My coworkers at work were very excited for me and let me go home from work early."
The Flyers called Manning up from their AHL-affiliate Adirondack Phantoms on Thursday morning along with right-winger Harry Zolneirczyk, a Toronto native, to deal with a rash of injuries.
In 32 games with the Phantoms the six-foot-one, 195-pound Prince George native has accumulated four goals and five assists.
"I thought he was a little bit nervous at the start and then I thought he settled well into his game," said a proud Paula. "I thought for his first game he did very well."
Manning's dad Leroy concurred with his wife's assessment of his son's first NHL game.
"I didn't think he looked out of place at all," said Leroy. "He's got a ways to go for sure but I think it's a good start and it'll give him a good idea of what he's got to do to get to that next level."
The Mannings' were awaiting their nightly phone call from their son Thursday after the game but had already decided to fly to Toronto this morning, crossing their fingers their son will be in the Flyers' lineup Saturday when they face the Maple Leafs in a Hockey Night in Canada game.
"We'll probably hex him and then he won't be in it by going, but we'll take that chance I guess," said Leroy.
Manning played 58 games with the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings during the 2007-2008 season, notching seven goals and 26 points before making the jump to the Western Hockey League to play for the Chilliwack Bruins. He played in 194 games with the Bruins over three seasons, picking up 45 goals and 136 points and served as captain during the 2010-2011 season.
Manning attended training camp with the New York Rangers in 2010 but chose to return for his 20-year-old season with the Bruins, signing as a free agent with the Flyers on Nov. 23, 2010.
Whenever the #23 skated across the TV screen Thursday a thunderous smattering of applause burst out of at least one Prince George home.
"Any time anything went his way we had a big cheer for him," said Paula.
She added it'll be easy to find her and Leroy in the throngs of Maple Leafs' fans Saturday.
"We'll be the only Philadelphia Flyers fans right in the middle of the Toronto Maple Leafs fans with our orange shirts on," she said.
