Penguins sign undrafted free agent defenseman Josh Maniscalco

Situated roughly halfway between Philadelphia and Allentown, Perkiomenville is easy to overlook on the map.

Just ask one of its residents.

“A whole lot of trees and wildlife,” said Josh Maniscalco, a defensive prospect who signed with the Penguins on Friday. “It’s a pretty small town. I don’t even know if it’s considered a town. It’s definitely less than 2,000 people. But that’s home. It’s home to me.”

For the record, it’s an unincorporated community nestled on the eastern side of Pennsylvania. In other words, Philadelphia Flyers country.

But geography didn’t dictate his team of choice as a kid.

“When I was 5 or 6 years old, I was at the Hockey Hall of Fame,” Maniscalco said by telephone. “This was right around the time (Penguins forward Evgeni) Malkin was getting drafted. I bought a Penguins pennant.

“My mom, she was laughing when she found out that I decided to sign with the Penguins. She was like, ‘It’s funny how things work out.’”

Childhood loyalties helped steer Maniscalco to the Penguins. So did a phone call from the owner, Mario Lemieux.

“Obviously, the fact that the owner of the organization is calling and just the player that he was back in his day … that meant a lot to me,” Maniscalco said. “Everything that he had to say hit me pretty hard. It was awesome to hear from him. It was exciting to hear him firsthand speak how interested he was in the player that I am.”

Maniscalco and Lemieux have a common connection in Lemieux’s son, Austin Lemieux. They were teammates at Arizona State the past two seasons.

As a sophomore with the Sun Devils, Maniscaclo, 21, broke out with 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in only 36 games.

“I was playing with the same (defensive) partner,” Maniscalco said of his strong season. “Obviously, the same (coaching) staff. I knew the system. From the first game of the season, I knew what was expected and what was needed of me. As a player, that’s exactly what you want. You’ve got to know what’s needed of you. I was just comfortable. I was comfortable with what was needed of me. I was ready to meet the expectations.”

Maniscalco’s pursuit of becoming a professional hockey player has taken him all over the continent. He attended high school at prestigious Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. That was followed by stints with the U.S. National Team Development Program based in Plymouth, Mich., then with the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League.

And Tempe, Ariz. with the Sun Devils.

“Being able to go to the rink in your flip-flops is something that you kind of take for granted when you’re here,” Maniscalco said. “It’s awesome.”

Maniscalco (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) was planning on returning for his junior season in 2020-21. But with virtually all college athletics waylaid in some fashion by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the right-handed defenseman opted to turn professional approximately three weeks ago.

“With everything up in the air about the (coronavirus) situation and the college hockey world, that ultimately just got me interested,” Maniscalco said. “When an opportunity to sign with the Penguins came about, I think it was near impossible for me to say no. You work your whole life for something like this. When it comes knocking, it’s almost a guarantee that you’re going to jump ship and join. I’m excited. I’m really excited to be part of a great organization.”

Three other teams expressed interest in Maniscalco but he chose the Penguins for a variety of reasons beyond his affinity for them as a child. First, they offered a three-year entry-level contract, a considerable term for an undrafted free agent.

And second, they have a strong history with developing undrafted college free agents such as forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Conor Sheary and goaltender Casey DeSmith into NHL players.

“I was looking for not only a world-class organization that holds their guys a high standard … but (a team) that’s comfortable with college free agents,” said Maniscalco, who attended a development camp with the Boston Bruins last summer. “Definitely seeing guys like that have success within the organization makes me look a little closer into what’s going on. Ultimately, that’s exactly what you’re looking for as a college free agent.

“Pittsburgh’s just the perfect situation for me, and I wouldn’t want to be with any other organization.”

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