Promising hockey player makes a decision to go public
FRAMINGHAM -- The play was so mundane and so in the flow of the action, it was easy to miss.
The Framingham High boys' varsity hockey team faced off against Xaverian in its season opener two weeks ago. Xaverian was en route to a 9-0 victory, but Framingham was pressuring for a goal. The puck was in front of the net, ready to be covered up by the goalie.
So Tommy Manna did what most hockey players would do. Having not heard a referee's whistle, he tried to dig the puck free. Whack! Whack! Whack! The goalie wasn't amused.
''He stared right at me and said 'What are you doing?' " recalled Manna.
It was a Manna on Manna moment.
The goalie that night was Mike Manna, Tommy's brother.
Mike is 17 and attends Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood. Tommy is 15 and is a freshman at Framingham High. When their hockey worlds converged two weeks ago in front of the net, it was a significant moment for Framingham High hockey coach Paul Spear.
Now in his seventh season as coach, the 35-year-old Spear said his program is fighting a difficult perception, that players who want to play college hockey are cheating themselves by playing on public high school teams. But seeing a talented player like Tommy Manna choose Framingham High -- despite the fact his brother Mike is happy at Xaverian -- makes Spear feel like the public schools are not being overlooked.
''What we're trying to do here is show people that you can come to Framingham and still play college hockey," Spear said. ''It seems every year that people say that going to a Catholic school or a private school is the way to go. But I think there is something to be said for putting on the Framingham jersey."
At first, Tommy Manna didn't know what he would do. He took an exam and was accepted at Xaverian. He also heard Mike rave about the school.
But then he thought about playing with some of his friends, the same pals he had skated with in youth hockey starting at the Mite level. He also considered academics and felt honors courses at Framingham High would challenge him.
''At first it was tough," Manna said. ''But by the end, I was 100 percent sure I really wanted to go to Framingham. It's always nice playing with friends you've grown up with."
There was no pressure from his family -- he remembers Mike wishing him luck -- although it did make for some awkward moments the night before the Framingham-Xaverian game.
''It was our first time playing each other," Tommy said. ''He didn't sleep at home that night; he was at a friend's house instead. I just said good luck to him the night before."
Then, in pregame warm-ups, ''I didn't want to stare at him at all." It was inevitable they would meet on the ice at some point, Tommy being a high-flying forward and Mike a top-notch goalie.
Spear said Manna is playing a major role despite Framingham's early season struggles (1-3).
''He's been forced to play a ton on the power play, penalty kill; he's playing every other shift. For him, it's been a total immersion.
''He has a ton of speed and he's a very intelligent player. He brings a real competitive spirit. He just wants to win and you can see that on the ice. He never gives up. He just brings a good attitude."
Spear hopes Manna's presence brings more players who might face a similar situation, questioning whether to play for a private school or for the public high school squad.
''I think there is something to be said for playing your high school hockey years at Loring Arena, and something to be said for representing your community," he said.
''Athletics are one of those ties that binds a community together. Look at Waltham. When they go to the Super 8 [tournament], people are decorating their homes and the town is abuzz with it. I know, when we went to the state finals, we went to the Columbus Club for dinner [as a team] and the whole place stood up and clapped for us. It was an incredible feeling."
Having Manna choose to attend Framingham High is ''a plus sign for us," Spear said. ''It spoke to the idea that we're doing something right."
