After an impressive 14 AIHL season career, Sydney Ice Dogs Captain Tomas Manco has decided to take a step back from playing.

The stay-at-home defenceman leaves the game with a Goodall cup, 95 points (17 goals and 78 assist) and 491 penalty minutes over 332 career games.

“What a journey it has been. I’ve shared a lot of great memories over the years with the supporters, management, volunteers and most importantly my teammates. One chapter closes and another one opens as I plan to take a step back from hockey and spend time with my family and new addition – our boy Harrison” says Manco

After scoring 9 points in 5 games for the Australian Youth Team at the Division 3 World Championships Tomas Manco entered the AIHL in 2005 at 17 years of age with the Sydney Bears.

In 2007 he signed with the Sydney Ice Dogs after debuting for the Australian Men’s Team at the Division 2 World Championships in South Korea.

“Tomas was an incredible teammate. We gelled early on as defensive pair as he was a great student of the game and listener, especially on the national team. All which then came out as he became a coach of youth hockey later on” adds former teammate and Ice Dogs Captain Anthony Wilson.

Manco became a big piece of the Ice Dogs blue line helping the team to the AIHL Finals in 2008 falling short to the Newcastle Northstars.

Manco would go on to play six years for the Australian Men’s team highlighted by a goal and an assist in the Division 2 World Championships on a gold medal winning Australian team in Melbourne. Manco would be the only Aussie d-man of the tournament to find the back of the net.

“He was a great leader on the ice at state, national and international levels. He had fantastic hockey sense and was a passionate competitor. He should proud of his achievements and what he has given back to Australian hockey” reflects former Ice Dogs head coach Mark Stephenson.

After the 2011 World Championships Manco would go onto post a season high 12 points. A total he would match the next season as an alternate captain for the Ice Dogs as they made back-to-back playoffs.

As Manco continued to elevate his performance, so did the Ice Dogs winning a Goodall Cup in 2013.

After winning the Goodall cup the Number 8 decided to take a year off from the game, then playing one season for CBR Brave before returning to a rebuilding Ice Dogs in 2016.

After being a key part of the leadership group, Tomas Manco was named captain in 2019, where he would match his season high points totals with 3 goals and 9 assists.

What some people in the wider community might not know be aware of is Tomas’s commitment to developing the game and giving back to the youth of our game.

“Tomas has left a legacy and on ice hockey in NSW. He had a vision of splitting the younger playing group up into smaller age groups and for them to play cross ice. This was achieved in the two years when Tomas was the junior development office for IHNSW. He started the program with just a handful of kids and now it’s become the major introduction and development tool for IHNSW adapting this concept into the Mites & Atoms leagues. Cutting the size of the ice effectively increase a child’s involvement in the game by about ten times and Tomas understood this, saw the benefits and made it happen” explains former Ice Dogs defensive coach Dave Costa.

“I want to thank everyone in the hockey community and hopefully see you around the rink in the future. Go the Ice Dogs” finishes Manco.