Vancouver Canucks defenceman just graduated university
Not a bad spring so far for this Vancouver Canucks defenceman.
Victor Mancini has had an eventful last 18 months. Back in January, 2025, he was traded to the Canucks from the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade.
He skated in 16 games for the Canucks at the end of that season, showcasing an intriguing mix of size and skating ability. Mancini was then a key cog for the Abbotsford Canucks blueline as they went on to win the Calder Cup.
This season was more of a mixed bag for Mancini. The Canucks took a massive step back after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2024-25, and Mancini was someone who struggled as Vancouver’s defensive system collapsed.
Still, he impressed enough with his toolkit to earn a two-year extension worth $1 million per season with the Canucks back in March.
And now, he’s a University graduate as well.
Mancini recently walked across the stage at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Victor Mancini: NHLer and UNO grad š pic.twitter.com/x5f0iq4O5J
— University of Nebraska at Omaha (@UNOmaha) May 8, 2026
Vittorio Thomas Mancini, as listed in the university’s undergraduate commencement program, graduated with a Magna Cum Laude distinction, meaning he had a GPA between 3.63 and 3.87. Not bad for a 6-foot-5 defenceman who’s been removed from the NCAA for two seasons.
Mancini spent three years playing for the University of Nebraska before joining the Rangers organization in 2024. He surprisingly made the opening night roster out of camp just months before his trade to the Canucks.
The Hancock, Michigan native joins the likes of Canucks alumni like Brendan Morrison and Kevin Bieksa, who graduated with university degrees during their hockey careers.