"5 Minutes in the Box" with the Bellies #1 Pick in the 2009 Junior Draft Curtis Manning

“The Mann Cup was an awesome experience because it put me up with and against the best players in the game, playing the best lacrosse I’ve ever been a part of,” said the Bellies first choice in the 2009 WLA Draft, Curtis Manning. After four years with New Westminster’s junior team, Manning was called up by the seniors during the play-offs last year. He played two games in the series against the Coquitlam Adanacs and traveled with the squad to Brampton to face the Excelsiors in the Mann Cup, suiting up twice and scoring the opening goal in the 4th game of the series. His play back east was enough to impress more than just the Senior Bellies staff. Peter Vipond, head coach of the Brooklin Redmen, approached the Salmonbellies coaches to ask about Manning, calling him the best player in game three. Assistant coach, Troy Poelzer, says that he could tell, when he helped coach a young Curtis, that he was going to be a special player. As far as the Bellies are concerned, he has far surpassed even Poelzer’s expectations. “Curtis is the epitome of a “lead by example” athlete and person,” he said. “His humble personality and well rounded ability and accomplishments – both on and off the floor – are the benchmark of what we look for in a player: a smart, tough, selfless athlete” For a kid born and raised in Surrey, he has always fit into the Salmonbellies red, blue and white uniform. The son of former Bellie icon, Steve Manning, Curtis first started playing lacrosse in New West at the age of five. He feels that serving as captain of the junior team for 3 years taught him something about being an example and he will bring that forward to the team he will be joining this season. Manning says “I learned that, for me, the best was to lead was by going out there and working hard every game, every practice. Doing that makes your teammates hold themselves accountable and try to keep up. I hope that I can come out and work as hard as I can for the whole season, and maybe it will wear off on some teammates.” Manning’s commitment to working hard does not end on the floor. Aside from preparing for the Bellies upcoming training camp, Curtis also plays on the field lacrosse team at SFU while completing his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology.