Speed, Shot, and Passion: A Conversation with Brannon McManus

There’s a lot that goes into being a successful forward in the ECHL — speed, skill, hockey IQ, and the ability to adapt to what the game gives a player. 

When The Hockey News spoke with Brannon McManus, it quickly became clear that he takes pride in the details of his game, especially the parts that allow him to create offense. “I feel like I'm definitely a skilled player,” McManus said. “I think I put a lot of speed, a lot of vision. Try to do my best to help my teammates and have a natural goal-scoring ability.”

That combination of speed and scoring ability is something he’s continued to work on, particularly when it comes to his shot. “I think just playing with speed and definitely my shot,” he said. “I think this year I just found it when I was shooting more, and I worked on my shot all year, so all summer. So I think my shot is definitely what I pride myself on right now.”

Scoring at the professional level isn’t just about having a good shot; it’s about reading the play as it develops. McManus explained that much of his offensive success comes from reading defenders and recognizing what they’re giving him. “I definitely read the gap with the defenseman,” McManus said. “I think if it's a two-on-one, two-on-two, whatever it is, I think if they give me some space, it's a little bit easier to make my plays, but there are times where I have to play more simply, for sure, but I'm definitely reading what the defense is doing.”

And it’s not just the defense he’s watching when he enters the offensive zone. “I'm looking at the D, but I'm also looking at the goalie,” he said. “I think goalies kind of cheat a little bit in times where, if you're kind of selling a shot or selling a pass, there might be anticipating a pass rather than a shot. I feel like I have a pretty good peripheral vision when I'm looking at the goalie. So there are a lot of things you've got to reconsider when you're coming into an offensive zone, but you definitely have to keep your eyes on the goalie.”

Interestingly, some of the biggest improvements in his shot came while he was helping others develop theirs. Over the past two summers, McManus has worked with youth players, coaching shooting — something that helped his own game as much as theirs. “I actually coach, and I obviously train for hockey and stuff, but I actually coach shooting with kids in the youth,” McManus said. “So, I feel like I'm getting my own workout when I'm doing their lessons. I did the last two summers, and I actually felt like it's definitely been a big increase in my shooting.”

Like many players in the ECHL, McManus’ journey has been a long one, and each level brought new challenges and new milestones. “Everyone's good when you're growing up, right?” he said. “I think when you make it to the division one level, I think that's a good stepping stone. That was obviously my first real big accomplishment, and when you get to the pro game, I think I was fortunate to play the AHL to start. That was a real eye-opener in terms of how you want to be as a hockey player and as a pro. I think just making it to the pro game, I think that's been a very cool experience so far.” McManus started directly after his college season ended with the Abbotsford Canucks, where he dressed in seven games and tallied three goals. The next season, he went to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to play two seasons, one season with the Fort Wayne Komets, before landing in Adirondack this season.

Off the ice, McManus says he tries to bring energy and personality to the locker room, which is something he believes is an important part of a long season. “Definitely the upbeat and the character,” he said. “I definitely have my own personality. I think guys will say that too, so I try to just show up with the best version of myself, and there’s time to be serious for sure, but definitely like to let loose in there and keep an upbeat life.”

And at the end of the day, like most players grinding through the ECHL schedule, it all comes back to passion for the game. “I just love the game,” McManus said. “I think you can't play it if you don't love it, especially with the long season. So I definitely have a severe passion for this game, and it definitely drives me to keep playing, for sure.”

McManus also made a point to talk about the importance of teammates who do the little things and what makes an effective line on the ice. “Get it in deep, banging bodies, and just being simple,” he said. “When you're doing that, it runs off on the skill guys. There's a reason why they're in the offensive zone a lot more than they are in the defensive zone. So they're playing the right way. But they know their role, and they do it to perfection.”

It’s a mindset that reflects both skill and respect for the structure of the game, something McManus continues to build his career on, one shot, one shift, and one game at a time.