VANCOUVER - In the world of college and university sports, the caliber of competition is so high, the talent level so immense, sometimes we forget that playing the game isn't the primary reason that young men and women attend post-secondary institutions.
 
They are student-athletes. Emphasis on student.
 
That concept definitely hasn't been lost on Neil Manning, the captain of the UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team, and an Academic All-Canadian for three years running. 
 
Manning, who signed on with the Thunderbirds in 2012 after a stellar five-year career patrolling the blueline for the WHL's Vancouver Giants, is set to graduate from the Sauder School of Business this May with a concentration in finance. Earlier this week, Manning sat down with Aaron Martin of gothunderbirds.ca to discuss his time at UBC, and his plans for the future.
 
AM: We'll start at the beginning – after finishing up with the Giants, I'm sure you had a variety of pathways you could have chosen. What drew you to UBC?
 
NM: That was obviously a huge decision. There was opportunity to try and play pro hockey, but I had decided in my last year with the Giants that I would go to school, no matter what came up hockey-wise, short of an NHL contract. So, I started doing research into possible schools, and I knew that I wanted to get into business – Sauder is obviously a top three program in the country. My final two came down to McGill and UBC. Having lived the past five years in Vancouver, as well as having my grandparents living in North Vancouver, and my parents back in Nanaimo, was a huge factor. I was able to get into Sauder, which was huge, and the hockey team was doing good things, and becoming more competitive, so I felt that UBC was the best opportunity for me to do everything that I love – play high-level hockey on a competitive team, while getting a terrific education."
 
AM: So, you knew from the beginning that you wanted to get into a business program, wherever you ended up. What made you lean towards business?
 
NM: "I guess I could always see myself in a management role for a company, and long-term, I always had the idea of sports management in the back of my mind. I was always interested in learning how to run a business. I'd be lying if I said that I came to university knowing exactly what I wanted to do, but I felt that a business degree would open the most doors and give me a solid foundation of knowledge that would be useful no matter what career I pursued."
 
AM: You've been an Academic All-Canadian several times. Are your marks a point of pride for you?
 
NM: My goal, every year, has been to get over 80 per cent. My first year, actually, I was at 79.4%, so that pissed me off, but in years two and three, and the first semester of my fourth year, I've been above that level. That's kind of the number I strive for, and being a hockey player, I've always been naturally competitive, even with myself. At the end of the day, it's nice to get your marks back and see that you've achieved what you want to achieve.
 
AM: This has probably been asked to every student-athlete ever interviewed, but everyone seems to have their own method – how do you strike that balance between your commitments as an athlete and as a student?
 
NM: Coming into my first year at UBC, I hadn't gone to school in a few years, as I was playing hockey. Really, though that meant I had to be a little extra disciplined, knowing every deadline exactly and things like that, there's no real secret to creating balance. I just used to look in advance and figure out how I should prioritize my time in order to get everything done. There were small things, like I had to be more selective about which nights I went out, and I had to study between classes and practice, but really it's just a matter of understanding the time constraints. I adjusted to it pretty quickly.
 
AM: Which qualities do you possess that have translated between your hockey career and your business aspirations?
 
NM: Having played on a team my whole life, getting comfortable working with other people and in that type of environment, and being considered a bit of a role model, particularly back in junior. You also learn those time management skills, and really, I think you grow up pretty quick playing sports. The biggest thing that will help me in business from my hockey career, though, is the network and the relationships that I fostered – when you play a sport for so long, you realize that the communities are pretty tight-knit and willing to help you out.
 
AM: You're set to graduate in May – do you have any opportunities lined up in terms of work?
 
NM: Yeah, I would probably go work fulltime with at a start-up called Carecru, a tech company that allows patients better access to healthcare. When we release, which should be early 2016, people will be able to book dental appointments online. So, there will be a database of dentists, and it will tell you which ones are available and the best fit for you, basically eliminating the phone tag that patients play with receptionists. The idea is to add in other practitioners once we've solidified the dental aspect. That's where I'll probably end up working if I don't go overseas to play hockey when I'm done.
 
AM: How did you get involved with the start-up?
 
NM: I've known one of their founders, Lonny McLean, for a while. I got connected with him through my billet father with the Giants, Ian Scott, as both of them worked for Microsoft together briefly. I've kept in touch with Lonny over the past few years, and he was kind of a mentor to me throughout school. He founded a software security company about 10 years ago, sold it a couple of years back, and was really successful doing so. Last March, he called to let me know that he was starting a new company and asked if I wanted to help him out and join him on the ride. Starting a company is something that I've always wanted to do, so it's been nice to learn from an experienced entrepreneur like him.
 
AM: Alright, you've a had a great time and found a smart balance between academics and athletics in school. More than that, it sounds like you've got a good grasp your plans for the future. With that said, would you change anything about your time at UBC?
 
NM: No, I wouldn't change a thing. I've had an amazing time, and met some incredible people. I've had a chance to play great hockey, and I've finished my degree in four years where a lot of athletes take five – that was another one of my goals. Between classmates, coaches, and teammates, I'm super happy about everyone that I've met, and I'm pretty excited to be graduating with a degree from Sauder and UBC. Plus, the hockey team has a pretty terrific alumni group that comes out, and I look forward to skating with them for years to come.
 
The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team will be taking on the Lethbridge Pronghorns in a two-game series this weekend, starting off with Friday night's second annual UBC Winter Classic, projected to be the largest T-Birds hockey game in the school's history.
 
 Last year, a great tradition began at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, as over 3000 fans came out to cheer on the Blue and Gold in the first edition of the UBC Winter Classic.
 
This year's pregame festivities kick off at 5 p.m. (PT), with puck drop set for 7 p.m. (PT). There will be music, community booths, prizes, food, drinks, and an epic hockey game.
 
Buy your tickets in advance, online.