Player Spotlight: Brad Manchester

Brad Manchester, a former Jr. Winterhawk and NCAA player, shares his insights on his hockey journey, his time with the Jr. Winterhawks, and his advice for young players hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Q: Brad, let’s start at the beginning. Can you give us a brief look into your hockey journey?

A: I attended my first Winterhawks game around age eight. My dad knew one of the guys who worked the penalty box, and after the game, I got a broken stick and a puck. Shortly after that, I began taking skating lessons at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink and eventually started playing hockey as a first-year Squirt at Clackamas Town Center. I played house hockey for a few years and then moved on to “rep” teams. My final two years of minor hockey were playing for John McBride on the 18U Jr. Hawks. After 18U Jr Hawks, I did a Post-Grad Year at Shattuck St. Mary’s and then played four years at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Q: You started with the Jr. Portland Winterhawks—what was that experience like, and how did it shape your career?

A: Playing in Portland was the only thing I knew. It was simple in a lot of ways compared to club soccer in town or hockey in a bigger hockey community. We all played on the same team each year. There was no jumping between programs. We were forced to travel a lot to find competition. As a Pee-Wee, we got to travel to Sapporo, Japan to play against teams from Portland, Japan, and Russia. I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in the 17U USA Development Camp in Lake Placid, NY. Competing against the best kids in your age group was a real eye-opening experience.

Q: Then you made the leap to Shattuck St. Mary’s, a well-known hockey academy. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during that transition?

A: It was like drinking from a fire hose. It was the first real experience where you had to compete everyday to make the lineup. In my last year of 18U, we had 9 forwards. At Shattuck, we had 15 forwards. I probably skated more in September and October than I did the entire year back in Portland.

Q: After Shattuck, you went on to play NCAA Division III at St. Mary’s University. How did playing at the college level help you grow both as a player and as a person?

A: Shattuck was more like a marathon junior program, and college hockey is a sprint. College was the first time for me to be playing in a league with standings and playoffs. You only play 18 league games. You have to be on your game each weekend and try to get maximum points. Playing six complete periods in a weekend can be hard. A bad weekend can really change your season.

Q: Looking back, how do you think your time with the Jr. Winterhawks helped set the foundation for your success at Shattuck and St. Mary’s?

A: The guys that I played with in Portland were hockey nuts. Every day off of school, we would be at the rink for “open” hockey. There was a real passion to play hockey and get better together. We loved being at the rink together. You have to have passion to play at higher levels. There are a lot of days that don’t go your way, and without that passion and desire to play, you will get discouraged.

Q: Finally, what advice would you give to our current Jr. Winterhawks players who dream of following a similar path?

A: Play for yourself. Don’t do this to make someone else happy. Play because you love hockey. Enjoy your teammates in Portland. My best friends are guys I played hockey with as far back as Pee-Wees. As you move up, there is always going to be someone more skilled than you. Master the basics. There will always be a place for you to play hockey if you do the basics correctly. Make flat, crisp tape-to-tape passes, skate, be physical, work hard, kill penalties. You can be a very successful player and not be a goal scorer.