Red Wings rookie Anthony Mantha scored his first career goal on Thursday night — and his proud grandfather, four-time Stanley Cup winner Andre Pronovost couldn’t help but tear up.
Mantha put the Red Wings up by four against the Canadiens, but after Detroit’s lapse in the third period, it ended up being the game-winner.
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“It’s an incredible feeling,” Mantha said. “I didn’t think it was going to be the game-winner at first. We had to battle hard through that third period and ended up winning the game, so it’s huge.”
The 21-year-old was called up from the minors last week and told the Free Press that he ordered 15 tickets for Thursday, which was his home debut.
That includes one for his grandfather, Andre Pronovost, a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose career included playing for the Wings in 1962-65. He was among those Mantha phoned March 14, when he found out he was joining the Wings.
“I called him the day I got called up, but haven’t talked to him since,” Mantha said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him this week.”
It doesn’t get much better than Mantha’s home debut coming against the Canadiens. They were the team with which his grandfather began his NHL career in 1956 and the team Mantha adored as a boy.
“That was my club growing up, my hometown, where I grew up, my grandfather brought me to games there,” Mantha said. “It’s going to be special. And a few games after that, we are in Montreal, so that is going to be another exciting one.”
