NOJHL coach also an OHL scout
Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League has hired veteran junior coach Moe Mantha as its northern Ontario scout.
The 54-year old Mantha is the coach-general manager of the expansion French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. As a side gig, he will also scout the NOJHL and the Great North Midget Hockey League for Saginaw.
Mantha, who resides just outside North Bay in Sturgeon Falls, is no stranger to the OHL.
Before being drafted into the National Hockey League by the Winnipeg Jets — and going on to play in more than 650 NHL games — Mantha was a standout OHL defenceman as a first-round draft pick of the Toronto Marlboros. He later coached in the OHL with both Saginaw and the Windsor Spitfires before a successful five-year run as coach-general manager of the erstwhile Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League.
As Mantha is happy to be back in northern Ontario and heading up hockey operations for the new French River entry, he is also looking forward to doing some scouting for Saginaw after getting a call from new Spirit general manager Dave Drinkill.
“Dave called and asked if I would be interested in scouting the north for Saginaw and I said yes for a couple of reasons,” Mantha told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “First off, it’s an opportunity for players from French River and the other NOJHL teams as well as the midget league to get more exposure and recognition. Also, I know (Spirit owner) Dick Garber and (president) Craig Goslin from back when I was coaching in Saginaw and we have a good relationship.”
Meanwhile, as Saginaw’s new general manager, the aforementioned Drinkill said he wanted a scouting presence in northern Ontario with someone of Mantha’s extensive hockey background and character.
“When looking to round out our scouting staff it was important to make sure we were bringing in not only hard workers but good character people,” said Drinkill. “Moe will do an excellent job for the Spirit organization as one of those quality people.”
nojhl lucky to have moe mantha hockey royalty good luck buddy