Born in Merritt and a product of the Merritt Minor Hockey Association, Manny Panghli has made his next big move in the world of hockey.
The 16-year old signed his first major junior contract last week, putting pen to paper with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs.
“We’re very excited to add Manny to our organization,” said Chiefs General Manager Scott Carter. “He is an exciting prospect and an outstanding young man. Both of our goalie coaches — Lucas Gore and Jesse Plewis — have worked with him at the Okanagan Hockey Academy and given high praise, especially for the work ethic and character he exhibits every day.
“He has earned this opportunity and we’re thrilled to have him. Welcome to Manny and the entire Panghli family.”
The young netminder started out as a skater within the MMHA at the age of eight, moving between the pipes at the age of ten.
Panghli and his family moved to Kamloops in 2018, where he began to turn scouts’ heads with the Under-16 AAA Thompson Blazers. He posted an impressive 12-4-0 record between the pipes for the 2019-20 season, earning the team’s Most Valuable Player Award.
From there he enrolled at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, where he has continued to improve in posting a 1.31 goals-against-average in a perfect 4-0-0 start to the season.
“Manny’s development has been incredible in his 4 months here, enabling him to become one of the most promising goalies in the program,” said his Under-17 coach Robert Dirk earlier this year.
As part of the U.S. Division of the WHL, the Chiefs are set to open their regular season in mid-March. The B.C. Division, which included the likes of the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets, is yet to set a scheduled start.
