Joe Manno Leaves Northeastern
Sophomore forward Joe Manno has left the Northeastern hockey team. The Montreal native has been added to the active roster of the Dubuque Saints (USHL), where he will finish the season. The move to the USHL, rather than Major Juniors, maintains his NCAA eligibility and will allow him to transfer to another school next season, where he will be eligible for the second half.
Northeastern and Coach Jim Madigan confirmed his departure in a release today:
“After discussions with Joe, it became apparent he was not content with his role on the team and he decided to pursue other options. We wish him well on his future.”
Manno had appeared in all 14 games for Northeastern, registering 2 goals and 3 assists. His 5 points were tied for 6th best on the Huskies. His departure puts the Huskies in a tough spot, with just 12 forwards on the roster. For a team that entered the year with so much depth, they are alarmingly close to not being able to dress a full 18 skaters.
Manno deserved a much better fate than he got here. His hard work and tenacity was met with benchings and 3rd line duty. But that seems to be the M.O. for Northeastern hockey these days. Madigan likes highly skilled offensive players. Manno was not that. He was a guy that hit people, brought energy and chased pucks in corners. Guys like Manno and Cam Darcy don’t get big roles in this program, those chances go to the Kevin Roys and Cody Ferrieros of the world.
Madigan is determined to build a team that will not be confused with the physical, grinding style we saw under Cronin. Madigan wants skill and finesse. Puck movers and goal scorers. But so does everyone else and the reality is that 9 times out of 10 those guys are ending up at BC or BU or Notre Dame. Joe Manno didn’t fit into Madigan’s grand scheme and it showed in the way he was treated here. He will be back in college hockey, maybe even Hockey East, on a team that appreciates the skill set he brings to the table. And in the meantime, Northeastern will struggle to build a true team because of a failure to recognize what the full make up of one is.
Drew, I agree with you 95 % (the rest being precisions). The long and the short is that Madigan wouldn’t know a coaching manual OR a TEAM productive skill player if they hit him squarely upside his non-existent sideburns. His collection of skill players, that he insists on overusing, are not PREMIUM skill players and the PP numbers bear this out. Saponari, Karlsson,Ferreiro and Roy are either too smaller, too weak or not tough enough to win the necessary battles – they’re all stick checkers with suspect compete levels who DO NOT PAY THE PRICE !
I’ve watched and played enough hockey in my life to understand the new brand of NHL – which remains the template for successful programs who pretend or insist on being a prime feeder system to the NHL.
Manno’s skill set was his speed (hands down fastest player on this team) – toughest forward (easy on this team) and battle/compete level “down low” (a requirement if you want to be generally successful at the next level). And he had a nasty streak (see Evenko upended into UMass bench and other player carted off on clean hit) more inclined for Major Junior, where he made Gerald Gallant’s Memorial Cup winning St John’s Sea Dogs at age 16 but decided to go Prep.
The “Mad Dog” (sic) simply couldn’t appreciate this and allowed teams to simply walk over this squad over the last 2 years – it was embarrassing. His “go-to” guys are: an over-aged undrafted ”skilled” Swede, a soft captain – who with his brother had MAJOR issues at BU and a Brad Marchand wannabe who everyone knows has off-ice “issues” that have NEVER been reigned in by this coaching staff or the Athletic department. Being in Cronin’s doghouse did not help Cody – and the speed and skating fluidity required for pint-sized trouble-makers is grossly lacking here.
While we are on the subject, that stunt Ferriero pulled last game (I was there) and that ultimately spelled the end for Manno, was Squirt-level stupidity. Not having the energy to sustain even ONE intense shift – Ferriero’s blowing off of Manno and arbitrarily deciding that he would double- shift HIMSELF was bush-league. Looking absolutely ridiculously out there in the process, the stunt seemed to have drawn the ire of an incensed Manno – with Coach Madigan subsequently coming to the “rescue” of his prized “A” CAPTAIN and strongly admonishing the sophomore instead. I’ve coached too many years – you never let the culprits get away with stuff – because you simply lose your team in the process. Cronin would have NEVER let that one go. Ferreiro’s antics in Vermont last year were shameful but need we go on and on (see missed practice this week). NO ! – these are Jimmy’s boys – he will ultimately pay the price.
Prediction and warning to NU nation:
Hockey is a tough sport – not for the faint hearted. Skill without grit is useless energy. Antics without
repercussions to even the so-called “go to guys” is the slippery slope to an unhinged dressing room.
Failing to put EVERY player in the best position to succeed is the death-nail to any success.
Not being able to appreciate and work the likes of Manno and Darcy (who at least have the basic qualities – grit – fearlessness – to persevere at the next level) into a team concept – is simply a joke of the highest order that is being played on NU nation. A harbinger of things to come, indeed.
What a sad state of affairs,we will miss Manno and wish him well.
I just wanted to thank you guys for all your support during my year and half at NU. Sadly it didn’t work out for me, I will really miss everyone, from teammates to the doghouse. I wish nothing but the best for NU and the remainder of their season. You guys are truly the best fans in Hockey East. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you all in the future. #huskies
Everyone praises Madigan for his ” great hockey mind” if that is the case, why wasn’t he coaching somewhere else before. Instead he was planting trees as the dean of administration…?
Northender ! You may be right but where did you hear that ANYONE praises Madigan for his hockey mind ? The man is devoid of any creative adjustments between periods and plays his same unsuccessful players to the hilt – and loses with them. Manno had too much class to really say what he may have wanted to say – but fact remains, as you have stated ….. this team and its hockey program is being lead by a clueless hockey guy who may be, much to the horror of this writer, the next AD !
Slammeister! I posted a comment on http://www.uscho.com/2012/11/29/mired-in-a-frustrating-slump-northeastern-looks-inward/. That fact of the matter is just as you stated, Madigan as I see it ( I’m there every home game, ice level sec. 10) does not seem to know anything other than his stubborn system. Every team that they play against, adjusts to Madigan’s system and it and that is why the Huskies can’t win.
Whats the problem with Madigan as AD? He may not be a great coach, but he is well respected at NU, can obviosuly sell the school, and desperately wants the hockey team to be successful (as opposed to Roby who couldn’t care less about the biggest sport on campus, as long as the olympic sports are successful). Plus, he wouldn’t be the coach anymore. That “promotion” would be ideal, in my mind.
We Fighting Saints fans thank you for Joe Manno….He will be a great fit for our team..
According to Coach Madigan, Manno did not accept his role on the team. I guess if you aspire to be a player who’s only purpose is to be a buffer in order to give five or six other players a breather… then I guess Madigan was right about Manno’s non acceptance of his role.
I wonder if Madigan would have accepted this same role when he played.
Adding Manno to the Saints’ active roster demonstrates Coach Montgomery’s keen eye for the obvious. Every team needs a player with the qualities and the skill set Manno brings.
Obviously, Coach Madigan needs to sharpen his instincts. Don’t let the lunatic fringe control our team.