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MINI-CAMP DAY 1

Jul 14, 2008

Mannino Interviews

The hockey world is a small one. There are only 30 NHL team with about 22 roster spots but the connections of the underground leagues, whether your playing college, junior or semi-pro, run deep. Today, members of the Denver University National Championship team of 2005, Brett Skinner and Peter Mannino, reunited at the New York Islanders first day of Mini-Camp

The free agency period began on July 1st and Islanders’ General Manager, Garth Snow was intent on helping the defensive structure of the organization by signing both Skinner and Mannino.

“I was really excited to see that he signed with the Islanders on the same day,” Mannino said. “I sent him a text (phone message) right away when the signings were announced saying how excited I was to play with him again.”

The two prospects have not been teammates since that 4-1 victory against North Dakota in the National Championship game on April 9, 2005 in Columbus, OH. Mannino was a freshman goaltender, leading the Pioneers to its second trophy in as many years and was named the Frozen Four’s most Outstanding Player making 85 saves. In the third period of the contest, Skinner got on the score-sheet when he assisted on Denver’s third tally putting the game out of reach.

“I had the privilege to win two championships back-to-back which is something that not many people get to go through,” Skinner said. “It really helped in my development and having the experience I feel has really helped my professional career.”

Skinner is entering his fourth professional season after a career year with the Providence Bruins last season. For Providence, Skinner scored 47 points (7 goals/40 assists) to lead all Bruin defenseman.

“Joining Providence and the Boston organization was a new situation for me,” Skinner said. “The coaching staff gave me the opportunity to play on the power-play and put me in situations that really helped my personal numbers.”

Those impressive numbers earned Skinner a spot on the Canadian AHL All-Star team, along-side Sound Tiger Jeff Tambellini. In Tambellini’s Mic’D Up session , the two have a lengthy conversation that had Skinner explaining his +/- situations and how he had the Sound Tiger leading scorer’s back.

The experiences that Skinner has had throughout his first three seasons are what he hopes to rub off on his former net-minder.

“We have spoken a little about playing at this level but not much because he is such a confident kid who works extremely hard,” Skinner said. “We kidded about some of the inside jokes we had from Denver but overall I’m really happy to skate with him again.”

That work ethic and determination are what helped Mannino lead his team as a freshman to glory and is what he hopes to carry over to the next part of his career in the professional ranks.

“This is a whole new challenge for me,” Mannino said after coming off the ice from his first professional camp. “The guys out here have incredible skills and are at a whole new level.”

Motivational: New York Islanders' Motivational Coach, Gary Parks spoke to the prospects about their mental strength when they hit the ice. His main point was having certainty about your play. If you are confident you can achieve anything.

Lineups:

TEAM MORROW

Forwards
17 Joe Rooney
21 Kyle Okposo
26 Brian Gibbons
27 Joshua Bailey
40 Joel Rechlicz
42 Jason Pitton
46 Brian Day
48 Jason Gregoire
49 Shea Guthrie
50 Tomas Marcinko
51 Anthony Perdicaro
55 David Toews
64 Doug Rogers
65 Matt Christie
77 Trevor Smith

Defensemen
2 Brett Skinner
3 Travis Hamonic
6 Matt Donovan
38 Jack Hillen
43 Andrew MacDonald
47 Blake Kessel
70 Simon Lacroix
71 Mark Katic

Goalies
1 Peter Mannino
33 Andrew Engelage

TEAM TROTTIER

Forwards
12 David Ullstrom
36 Corey Trivino
37 Joe Pereira
41 Robin Figren
45 Matt Martin
52 Tyler Haskins
53 Max Gratchev
57 Blake Comeau
58 Jesse Joensuu
59 Micheal Haley
63 Vladimir Nikiforov
67 Sean Bentivoglio
68 Rob Hennigar
81 Justin DeBenedetto

Defensemen
4 Jyri Niemi
28 Brad Nunn
54 Shane Sims
56 Dustin Kohn
61 Tyrell Mason
62 Jamie Fraser
69 Tyler Spurgeon

Goalies
34 Jase Weslosky
60 Kevin Poulin