SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Bryce Manek knows hockey, and he really knows Utah State hockey.
Manek, a Utah native, grew up playing sports through high school and college before transitioning into coaching for 20 years.
“I've coached all age groups. It's amazing. I love the progress, the kids, and the life lessons that are taught,” he said.
Not only does Manek love sports, he loves watching the game grow. With the NHL coming to Utah, he feels his NHL is helping accelerate the development of the game and acknowledged how difficult it is to get “ice time” at the rinks along the Wasatch Front. .
“Given the rinks we have here and the number of players, ice time is still very scarce,” Manek said. “It's expensive. With high school teams, youth teams, junior teams, you skate at 11 o'clock at night and then skate again at 6 o'clock in the morning, so it's tough. It's been tough for a long time.”
Manek has skated with some of the greatest players to ever come out of Utah, including his own bloodline Mason Manek, who went on to play for the Utah Grizzlies.
He is also close to Daniel Brickley, who plays overseas and has an impressive pro career that includes a stint with the LA Kings. Manek witnessed Brickley and current Kings player Trevor Lewis at a Frozen Fury game in downtown Salt Lake City.
So what can fans expect from a full-time NHL environment at the Delta Center?
“Speed, agility, shots, hard hitting and the occasional fight. I mean, they're the best athletes in the world, they're playing the best game on the planet, so to be able to have that right here in our backyard. It's going to be great,” Manek said.
Manek's treasured possessions about the game he loves reside in the basement of his home, which is home to perhaps one of the most impressive hockey bars.
“It's called the 'Penalty Box' because that's where I spent most of my time when I was playing hockey, and I still spend a lot of time here.” Manek said as he walked around the bar.
Please check the “Penalty Box” here.
