We’ll consider this story to be somewhat Red Wings-related in the alumni vein. Former Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha’s sister, Elizabeth, is making her AHL debut as a referee this evening, and she’s earned a hearty cheer from The Malik Report for her efforts, as described in a story by The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir:
Elizabeth Mantha will achieve a milestone many years in the making when she takes the ice as an AHL referee Friday night in Quebec.
Close to 50 friends and family members will be in the crowd at Place Bell, where the Laval Rocket will host the Rochester Americans.
About 600 miles away, there will be another very interested party who won’t be able to make it to Mantha’s debut because, well, he’ll be skating in a professional hockey game of his own. But Capitals winger Anthony Mantha will be sure to text his older sister before leaving Capital One Arena to get all the scoop on her first pro game in stripes.
Anthony and Elizabeth aren’t able to see each other much these days, even in the offseason, due to their hectic schedules. But they frequently make time for a quick text or FaceTime, particularly before or after a game.
“We’re under the same kind of pressure,” Elizabeth told The Athletic in a recent telephone interview. “We know how it’s hard, the pressure that comes with it. So we just encourage each other.”
Continued (paywall)