Matthew Manza of the Toronto Patriots is the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Rookie for 2023-24, the CJHL announced Wednesday.
The Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season, Manza committed to NCAA Division I Ohio State for 2025 in September.
In garnering the accolades, the 2007-born, Mississauga, Ont., product earned the honour over fellow Top Rookie finalists Jaeden Nelson, (G) Navan Grads (CCHL); Grady Hoffman, (F) Steinbach Pistons (MJHL); Noah Tegelaar, (G) Blind River Beavers (NOJHL) and Carson Olson, (D) Battlefords North Stars (SJHL), following a voting process completed by the CJHL’s nine-member leagues, for their respective efforts during the course of the regular season.
Manza, who turned 16 on Sept. 22, joined the Patriots this past season from his hometown Mississauga Senators U16 team.
The youngest player on the Patriots’ roster, Manza led the team in scoring as a point-a-game guy – 49 in 49. Six of his 26 goals were game-winners.
Selected to play in the OJHL Hudl InStat Prospects Game in Collingwood last January, Manza was named to the OJHL First All-Prospect Team this spring.
“A few days into camp it was evident to us that Matthew had some offensive ability that, perhaps, had gone overlooked,” Patriots Head Coach Vince Bellissimo told the OJHL. “We gave him a good opportunity in the pre-season to build on it and he had an excellent, productive pre-season which led to him starting the year in an offensive role. From there he was able to score consistently throughout the year, not only establishing himself in the league, but also accepting a scholarship to The Ohio State University from the Big 10 Conference.
“We feel Matthew has the potential to be an impactful Division 1 college player and a future pro with continued focus, detailed work and continued consistent offensive production.”
Manza was a ninth-round pick of the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League’s 2023 U16 draft.
“It’s a big jump from minor midget and minor hockey,” Manza told the OJHL of the move to junior. “Stepping in as a 16-year-old, it’s hard to produce numbers. You’re a little bit smaller and less strong than everyone else. But my teammates, coaches, our GM and everyone in the organization helped me all year to do my best and get me ready.”
“Everything becomes more detailed (in junior hockey) and the players are all bigger and stronger. There are more practices and more to the pregame routines. A lot more details go into everything at this level.”
On going the school route.
“Growing up around here, the OHL is more promoted,” he said. “A lot of kids don’t know about the NCAA route. I was on the edge about which way I wanted to go, probably 50/50. But after getting (college offers), it was a no-brainer for me.”
Two weeks into the OJHL season, Manza had already heard from “13 to 15” NCAA schools. A visit to storied Ohio State made his decision easy, he said.
His summer plans are all about “getting bigger, stronger and faster to have an even better season next year.” Look for him in the gym and in skating sessions this offseason.
About the CJHL
The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of the nine Junior A hockey leagues in Canada. The CJHL represents 118 teams and more than 2,500 players. The CJHL operates under the auspices of the Hockey Canada Branch structure and is a member in good standing within Hockey Canada. The CJHL is the only sanctioned Junior A Hockey League in Canada. Each year teams compete for the Centennial Cup, Canadian National Junior A Championship. CJHL players are also selected to represent Canada at the World Junior A Challenge as well as compete at the annual CJHL Prospects Game. Currently, the CJHL has over 2,900 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, college and major junior level across North America.
About the OJHL – “League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. A proud member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL has had more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarships already this season.
Photos/graphic: OJHL Images
