Luke Manning

Photo by: U.S. Air Force photo / Trevor Co

Height:
5-10
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Stillwater, Minn.
Position:
F

2019-20: Co-recipient of the John Matchefts Award as the team’s top freshman … Played in 35 of the 36 games and had 12 points (8-4-12) … Tied for fourth on the team in goals … Scored two game-winners, one power-play goal and one short-handed goal … Won 261 faceoffs in all games, the most by any AHA freshman and the eighth most in the nation … His .552 winning percentage was the best in the AHA and fourth in the nation among freshmen who have won more than 200 … In a 3-3 overtime tie at Canisius (Feb. 7), scored in the first round of the shootout for the extra point … First career goal came in his fourth game (Arizona State) … 10 points in the final 20 games of the season … Career-high two points (1-1-2) against RIT in the regular-season finale … Career-high two goals as Air Force defeated Mercyhurst to sweep the AHA playoff series, March 7.

Before Air Force: Played in 113 regular-season games over two seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL ... In 2017-18, played in 58 games and had eight points (4-4-8) ... Played in 55 games in 2018-19, and had 23 points (10-13-23), with one power-play goal and one game-winner ... Three points (1-2-3) in five playoff games.

Personal: Member of cadet squadron 22 … Son of Bob and Chris Manning … Has two brothers … Major is undecided … Favorite athlete to follow on social media is Odell Beckham Jr. … Favorite inspirational follow is Earth pics … Funniest follow is Barstool sports … Three people he would have dinner with are Sidney Crosby, Selena Gomez and Kevin Hart … Best advice he received was “Everyone wants to be a beast until it’s time to do what beasts do” … Pregame ritual is to eat goldfish for pregame snack … Favorite musicians are Lil Wayne, juice WRLD, Morgan Wallen … On road trips, never forgets his blanket and pillow … Greatest team moment in sports was winning sections to go to the Minnesota state tournament … Most embarrassing moment in sports was when his cousins painted his nails and forgot to take if off before a game and he took his gloves off, the rest is history … One word to describe himself is witty … Biggest influence on his career are his parents … Favorite sport other than hockey is golf … Hobbies are playing golf and hanging out with friends … Favorite NHL team and player are the Minnesota Wild and Artemi Panarin.