Boston1 — 21 years ago(January 10, 2005 12:19 PM)

Michael's father, Ed, put Michael on skates when he was just under
two years old. I read on Michael's IMDb boards, a man wrote, "Ed was
my coach in HS and he was more of a father to me than my own
father!" Michael was a better skater at 3 than half the team was at
17!" and "The new Varsity kid/or JV player on the roster would be
assigned to keep an eye on Michael and keep him out of trouble at
the local rinksometimes he would get so wound up we would
literally have to hang him up on the coat rack or drop him in the
trash barrel!" Funny right! He also said "He was the toughest little
sucker he'd ever seen!" Michael played Varsity as an eighth grader where he totalled 80 points for the season. As a ninth grader he amassed over 100 points believed to be a Massachusetts first! Great hockey player!!!
Michael played Junior hockey with the Walpole Junior Stars where he
captained the team as a Senior. He impressed coaches in the area,
and with his amazing hockey talent..scouts from UNH and UMaine
offered him packages to play for their colleges. That was
unbelievable, in my opinion, as they are both D1 powerhouses!
Michael visited both campuses and ultimately chose to play for Shawn
Walsh and the Black Bears of Maine. Shawn described Michael as
being "cat quick" and he quickly stepped into one of the top 3 lines
at Maine. Michael, #12, scored the first goal of his college career
on November 21st, 2000 against Cornell University. Three days later
he scored another against Brown. I'm not sure as to exactly what
happened the balance of his freshman year. I think he may have
gotten a shoulder injury? He returned that Fall, his sophomore year,
and sadly, his coach Shawn, died the end of September 2001 after
fighting cancer for some time. This was a HUGE blow to the hockey
team, as well as, the entire Maine hockey community. I think Michael
took it especially hard and the boys had a rough start that year.
Shawn's death coupled with the fact Michael's dad was recovering from
a tremendous stroke led Michael to the realization that it would be
better for him to play closer to home and transferred to UMass/Boston.
He really lit up the hockey program at UMass. His coach there, Joe
Mallen said "Michael is really going to be a big boost for our team."
An article dated on 12/29/2001 titled "Beacon's follow Mantenuto's
lead" also stated.."Sophomore forward, Mike Mantenuto, playing his
first game at UMass-Boston since tranferring from the University of
Maine, had a goal and three assists to lead the Beacons to a 5-4
victory over St. Michael's in the opening round of the 37th annual
Codfish Bowl5b4 hockey tournament last night in Dorchester."
Another article dated 2/2/2002 titled "Mantenuto Nets Four as UMass-
Boston tops Tufts, 7-4" Most of the article states the game was
pretty close until the third period where"It was pretty much all
UMass-Boston. All Mantenuto."
The summer before his Junior year, Michael decided to work on a
fishing boat, trapping eelspartially inspired by one of his
favorite books from HS "The Perfect Storm." Great bookone of my
fav's too by Sebastian Junger. Michael's friends heard @ the
auditions for "Miracle" and knowing he was a hockey player, called
him to inform him of the news. Michael went, thinking he would be an
extra or something, but to his surprise (not mine) kept on getting
called back. He finally went out to LA and further impressed Gavin
O'Connor with his incredible hockey talent and amazing emotional
acting range. The rest is pretty much history as we know it. He
nailed the part of Jack O'Callahan (coolest part in the movie) and is
now continuing his acting career out in LA currently filming a movie
with "Sir" Anthony Hopkins! Impressed right!
Well, I hope that fills some of the newcomers on this board in as to
how great Michael is as a person and an athlete!
ttyl~