Manna's Goals Against Average (3.11) and Winning Percentage (.625) are tops in the NE-10

Boston Globe West: Manna is Heavenly as Starting Goalie

By Marvin Pave, Staff Writer 

February 7, 2008

Since taking over as starting goaltender for the Stonehill College men's hockey team, freshman Mike Manna of Framingham has helped turn the team's season around.

The Skyhawks were 1-4-1 when Manna - who was in goal for a season-opening 6-2 loss to Suffolk - was given another shot by first-year head coach Garry Hebert - and he responded with five wins in the next six games.

The squad's record had improved to 7-6-1 after beating Suffolk in a rematch last Saturday, 2-1, in overtime.

Manna was tied for first in the Northeast-10 Conference in goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.940) and was selected as the conference's Freshman of the Week (for the second time) after stopping 25 shots in an 11-2 victory over Worcester State on Jan. 26.

He has also been honored three times as NE-10 Goaltender of the Week. Overall, he is 5-2 with a 3.12 goals-against average.

Manna played high school hockey at Xaverian Brothers in Westwood, where he earned Catholic Conference All-Star honorable mention.

"Mike is a tremendous all-around athlete who has played with an uncommon degree of poise for a freshman at this level," said Hebert.

"He has earned the respect of all of his teammates by being the first on the ice and the last off in practice."