Backchecking With … Manny Malhotra

By Susan Slusser, Senior NHL Writer for FanHouse – We get to know NHL players with five quick questions. Today’s subject: Manny Malhotra, who is in his first year with the first-place San Jose Sharks.

What is your earliest hockey memory?

That would have to be tryouts, when I was seven years old. All the kids came together to do an evaluation, doing basic drills and evaluating skating, and my dad, my brother and my sister were there watching. The end boards were along the cafeteria area, and I didn’t know how to stop. I’d just go up the ice and crash into the boards, and go back and crash into the boards. So I crashed right in front of them.

But it turned out all right. I can stop now.

I played road hockey and stuff, like every kid, but I was the youngest of four and we were soccer players; my dad is from East India and was a soccer player and tennis player. But when a kid down the street started ice hockey, I asked if I could try, and my parents were willing to let us play any sport. And they figured I’d get tired of the cold, early mornings. I didn’t.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW AT NHL.FANHOUSE.COM

MANNY MALHOTRA STORM BIO… Manny was originally selected by the Storm in the 1st round of the 1996 OHL Priority Selection… The Mississauga native was named the team’s Rookie of the Year following the 1996-97 season… Manny was drafted in the 1st round (7th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and played with the NY Rangers the following season… Represented Canada at the World Junior Championship… Was returned to the Storm as a 19 year old to finish the 1998-99 season.