Enfield Connection to Actor Who Committed Suicide

DES MOINES, WA — Michael Mantenuto, a college hockey star who became an actor best known for his role in the 2004 docudrama Miracle, was found dead Monday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Washington state. He was 35.

Mantenuto, who portrayed defenseman Jack O'Callahan in the award-winning film about the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team, went on to appear in Dirtbags (2006) and Surfer, Dude (2008) before leaving show business to enlist in the military. He was a member of the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), and was a staff sergeant assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash. at the time of his death.

He is survived by his wife, two children and his father, Ed Mantenuto, a former Enfield schoolteacher who became the first ice hockey coach in the history of Enrico Fermi High School in 1973.

Mantenuto was hired to start the hockey program while teaching at Kosciuszko Junior High School. He guided the Falcons to success right out of the gate, posting a winning record in their first season and capturing the CCIL championship in 1974-75.

After five excellent seasons at Fermi, Ed Mantenuto left Enfield in 1978 and returned to his native Massachusetts, where he became assistant principal and ice hockey coach at Holliston High School. He coached in the Bay State Games, was involved with Team Massachusetts - a team of NHL-draftable players that won a national title in 1989 - and was involved with the USA Hockey program.

In 1981, Michael Mantenuto was born, and from the time he could walk, his dad had him on skates. After high school, he played hockey for one year at the University of Maine before transferring to the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Hollywood came calling a year later, and Mantenuto won a spot in the sports film starring Kurt Russell that launched his career.

Funeral arrangements are not yet completed.

Photo credit: Lee Roth/Associated Press